Rating: 
Gentle Giants Dog Food receives the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of 3.5 stars.
The Gentle Giant product line includes one dry dog food claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
Gentle Giants Canine Cuisine (Dry)
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, pearled barley, brown rice, oatmeal, beet pulp, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flax seed, poultry liver flavors, fish meal, dried egg product, brewers yeast, salt, potassium chloride, dried kelp, vegetable pomace (dried carrots, dried celery, dried beets, dried parsley, dried lettuce, dried watercress, dried spinach), dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation solubles, dried sweet potatoes, dried peas, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, dried apples, taurine, Yucca schidigera extract, glucosamine hydrochloride, dried seaweed meal, mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract, ascorbic acid (a source of vitamin C), chondroitin sulfate, beta carotene, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, vitamin E supplement, niacinamide, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, manganous oxide, vitamine B12 supplement, vitamine A supplement, calcium pantothenate, biotin, thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin, pyrodoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), ethylenediamine dihydrolodide, vitamine D3 supplement, folic acid, cobalt carbonate, Enterococcus faecium
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 22% | 9% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 24% | 10% | 58% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 23% | 54% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index, barley can help support more stable blood sugar levels.
The third ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.
The fifth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
After poultry liver flavors, we find fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears2 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The tenth ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, we find dried fermentation solubles, a by-product of commercial fermentation operations. This ingredient is most likely included in this recipe as a digestive enzyme.
Next brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.
What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
Thirdly, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
Next, we also note this product contains menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Since vitamin K isn’t required by AAFCO in either of its dog food nutrient profiles, we question the use of this substance in any canine formulation.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Gentle Giants Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Gentle Giants Canine Cuisine appears to be an above-average dry dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 24%, a fat level of 10% and estimated carbohydrates of about 58%.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 41%.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing only a modest amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Gentle Giants Canine Cuisine is a plant-based kibble using a modest amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3.5 stars.
Recommended.
Special Alert
Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.
A Final Word
The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.
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Notes and Updates
06/06/2012 Original review
06/06/2012 Last Update
