Rating: 
Laughing Dog dry dog food receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Laughing Dog product line includes three dry dog foods. Although each formulation appears to be designed for a specific life stage, we found no AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these dog foods on the Laughing Dog website.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Laughing Dog Young Dog Puppy Formula (5 stars)
- Laughing Dog Brave Dog Adult Formula
- Laughing Dog Wise Dog Senior Formula (3 stars)
Laughing Dog Brave Dog Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Laughing Dog Brave Dog Adult Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, whole oats, whole barley, brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, fish meal (with wild herring), potato, potassium choride, kelp, calcium propionate, carrots, spinach, apples, tomatoes, pea flour, garlic, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, chicory root, dried yeast, virgin coconut oil, glucosamine, minerals: zinc, iron, maganese, copper, iodine, cobalt, selenium vitamins: vitamin E, vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, d-pantothenic acid, thiamine, vitamin A, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.6%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 18% | 45% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 37% | 39% |
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 whole oats. Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
The third ingredient lists barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The fourth ingredient is brown rice… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fifth ingredient lists 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 sixth ingredient includes a herring-based fish 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 seventh ingredient includes potato. Assuming they’re whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
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, garlic can be a controversial item. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Thirdly, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein.1 This makes them easier to absorb.
However, in this case, Laughing Dog has stated that these minerals are indeed chelated. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Laughing Dog Dry Dog Food…
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Laughing Dog 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 29%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45%.
The below-average protein content of the Wise Dog Senior Formula prevented us from awarding this food anything more than 3 stars. On the other hand, the 36% meat content of the Young Dog Puppy Formula compelled us to this recipe our highest rating.
In any case, as a group, the brand features an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 18%.
Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 45% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Laughing Dog is a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly 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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
05/31/2011 Original review
05/31/2011 Last Update
- Laughing Dog Customer Service Comment on DFA Blog, 6/1/11 ↩
- Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
- Laughing Dog Customer Service Comment on DFA Blog, 6/1/11 ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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