Rating: 
Go! Fit and Free Grain Free Dog Food receives the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Go! Dog Food dry product line includes 6 kibbles. Yet only three are completely grain-free and include the following products…
- Go! Fit and Free Grain Free Adult
- Go! Fit and Free Grain Free Puppy
- Go! Fit and Free Grain Free Senior
Although we found no AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these dog foods on the Go! website, each product appears to be designed for specific life stage.
Go! Fit and Free Adult dog food was selected to represent the other grain free dog foods in the product line.
Go! Fit and Free Grain Free Adult
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, de-boned chicken, de-boned turkey, de-boned trout, potatoes, peas, tapioca, lentil beans, chickpeas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural chicken flavour, whole dried egg, apples, duck meal, herring meal, salmon oil, alfalfa, de-boned duck, de-boned salmon, sweet potatoes, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), coconut oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), flaxseed, potassium chloride, pumpkin, carrots, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, broccoli, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, blackberries, squash, papayas, pomegranate, dried chicory root, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, inositol, niacin, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (a source of vitamin C), d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, beta-carotene, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc proteinate , iron proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc oxide, manganese proteinate, copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, calcium iodate, manganous oxide, selenium yeast), sodium chloride, taurine, Yucca schidigera extract, dried rosemary, green tea extract, peppermint, parsley, rosehips, zedoary, dandelion, chamomile, ginger, fennel, tumeric, juniper berries, licorice, marigold extract, cardamom, cloves
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first two ingredients include chicken meal and turkey meal. These meals are considered meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
The third ingredient in this recipe includes salmon meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.
The next three ingredients include the following meats…
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Trout
Although they’re all considered quality additions, raw meat contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, these items would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The seventh ingredient includes potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
The eighth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
The ninth ingredient is tapioca. Tapioca is a starchy extract made from the root of the cassava plant. This carbohydrate is not only grain-free, it’s also gluten-free.
Lentils and chickpeas are nutritious members of the legume family. They’re rich in protein and dietary fiber.
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.
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 four notable exceptions…
First, chicory root is naturally rich in a substance called inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, the company appears to have applied friendly microorganisms to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
Thirdly, we note the inclusion of canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
However, plant-based oils (like canola) are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Go! Fit and Free Grain Free Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging from its ingredients alone, Go! Fit and Free looks to be an above-average kibble.
In any case, it’s still important to estimate the probable amount of meat present here before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 38%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 36%.
High protein. Above-average fat. And low carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.
In addition, even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the legumes, this is the profile of a kibble containing a generous amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Go! Fit and Free Grain Free is a meat-based dry kibble dog food using a generous amount of named meats and meat meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
05/28/2010 Original review
12/27/2010 Review updated
11/22/2011 Review updated, new name, 2 new recipes
- Per Petcurean Customer Service, 5/28/2010 ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.