Native Performance Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Native Performance Dog Food earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

The Native Performance product line includes five dry dog foods… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

  • Native Performance Dog Food Level I
  • Native Performance Dog Food Level II
  • Native Performance Dog Food Level III
  • Native Performance Dog Food Level III Puppy
  • Native Performance Dog Food Level IV

Native Performance Dog Food Level III was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Native Performance Level III

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 33% | Fat = 22% | Carbs = 37%

Ingredients: Chicken meal, chicken fat (stabilized with mixed tocopherols), ground rice, ground oats, ground barley, beet pulp, fish meal, ground flaxseeds, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, yeast culture, salt, potassium chloride, dried yeast fermentation solubles, vitamin E supplement, taurine, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, niacin supplement, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyrodoxine hydrochloride, calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, selenium yeast, dl-methionine, rosemary extract, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C).

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

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 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. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The third ingredient lists rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.

The fourth item lists oats. Oats are rich in complex carbohydrates and can be considered a favorable ingredient.

The fifth 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. This is another quality grain ingredient.

The sixth item mentions 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 seventh ingredient includes fish meal… another protein-rich meat concentrate.

Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the species.

We are pleased to note that, unlike many fish meals, this particular item appears1 to be ethoxyquin-free.

The eighth 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.

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 three notable exceptions…

First, yeast culture . Although yeast culture is high in B-vitamins and protein, it may also be used as a probiotic to aid in digestion.

Next, we note the inclusion of dried yeast fermentation solubles which contain protein 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.

What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast should be considered a mildly nutritious additive.

And lastly, this dog 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.

Native Performance Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Containing no critical Red Flag items, Native Performance Dog Food looks like it might be an above-average kibble.

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 33%, a fat level of 22% and estimated carbohydrates of about 37%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 32% and a mean fat level of 21%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 39% for the overall product line.

Above-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 an above-average amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Native Performance Dog Food is a grain-based kibble using an ample amount of lamb or chicken meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four 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

04/09/2010 Original review
11/09/2010 Review updated

  1. Native Performance Customer Service, 11/9/2010 ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Seth… Unfortunately, I cannot provide customized reviews and product recommendations for each reader. For more information, please check out my reviews and visit our FAQ page. Look for the topic, “Help Me Choose a Dog Food”. Or check back for a possible response from one of our other readers. Wish I could be more help.

  • seth

    i have a female coondog that runs a little warm while she is hunting. when it gets really hot out i cant hardly take her. she is just a three yr old. i have had some people tell me to switch to native. problem is i dont know anything about your feed and wouldnt know what feed to put her on. i have always been told a high protein feed in the winter and low protein in the summer. i am not sure what to do on this one and need your help. thanks seth

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Rob L (and Jonathan)… Oops. You’re right. When we first went to our new WordPress query system on April 3, Native Performance had inadvertently not been tagged as “dry”. So, our dynamically generated list never picked up the review for the list. I’ve now corrected the problem. Thanks for the tip, guys. :)

  • Jonathan

    Hey Mike, Rob L is right… this food does not show up under “4-star dry foods”. It is only found under “by Brand” or by searching the name directly.

  • ed

    I like the 30/20 HP Pro Pac the best. One of the best foods on the market.

  • melissa

    Ed-

    I would agree that the dogs are doing well, and its reasonable priced. I do find that the dogs do better with more than one food(dry) and with toppings. I am still using it, but even once its out of the rotation, I would have no problem rotating back.

  • ed

    Melissa, stick with Pro Pac, nothing is better for the money, nothing…it just works and works well. Adult Chunk is available in 44lb bags for like $25-$28.

  • http://agiletask.me Rob L

    I noticed that Native is not listed in the Four Star Dry Dog Foods list (http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/dry/4-star/). I found it by searching for “Native.” Was this intentional?

  • melissa

    Just a “side note” since I posted that I switched to Native..The dogs have all been switched OFF the Native as I was having to feed very high quantities to maintain weight, even at the Level 4. Coats were great though! Two of the dogs that were eating the Level 2 had horrible coat issues develop. Now everyone is eating the Pro Pac for the most part with great luck. It is true that you don’t see the results for 4-6 weeks good or bad!

  • Blake

    Mike,
    I’m considering feeding Native 4 to our team of long distance racing sled dogs. The ingredient list for Native 3+4 is mostly the same. Does it concern you that Chicken Meal is the only named meat source in the first five ingredients? Is Fish meal at the #7 ingredient too far down to be considered as contributing much to the over all meat content? Native 4 is very high in protein at 35%, where is that coming from in the ingredient list?

  • http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com Holly

    Thank you so much for all the work you have put into this site. I have been using Native 2 for about 2 years and my dogs are doing great on it. My only problem is the price so I started looking for a quality dog food that was somewhat cheaper. This site has been so helpful. I have decided to stay with native and possibly mix it with another quality dog food that is cheaper to make the Native last longer.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Whitney… Unfortunately, I don’t maintain serving size recommendations for each of the more than 2,500 products on our website. You’ll have to look on the package or contact the company’s customer service department for this information. Wish I could be more help.

  • Whitney

    What is the suggested feeding amounts on the Native Level 3 and Level 4??

  • Melissa

    I’ve now switched all the dogs over to the Native(from the 4health) and all the issues have resolved for the most part. The dobes that lost weight on the 4health, had to be put on level 3, and are gaining nicely. The others are on the Level 2 for the most part and doing great. One thing to note, I had a few dogs vomitting from the Native after I switched them, on and off. This stopped the minute I cut their twice daily portions by 1/3 of a cup-being “richer” I was obviously over feeding/over loading their stomachs.

  • tom

    This food is easy to get around here, yet I have never heard of it because you can’t buy it @ farm and fleet, or orshelns. The company Kent feeds is actually based 6 miles from me and the people who own it seem to be avid hunters who care about their dogs. I saw their ad in pheasants forever, and looked for retailers. Ironically, you get it @ feed stores around here.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Steve… Thanks for sharing this interesting information. Although I’m sure the data is true, it’s easy to be mislead by manufacturer statements of this nature. When a company claims 89% of a product’s protein comes from an animal source, it can look (to the unsuspecting) like 89% of the product comes from meat.

    But that’s not true. Here’s why. Remember, the product may only contain 33% total protein. So, in reality, the manufacturer is claiming 89% of the product’s 33% protein comes from meat.

    Using simple math, if the product contains 33% protein and 89% of that 33% comes from meat, then only 29.37% (89% x 33%) of the total product actually comes from meat. Not 89% as the example would suggest. Thanks again for your comment.

  • Steve

    Hi Mike, first thanks for a very informative web site. After reading your review of Native Performance Dog Food I contacted the manufacturer because Protein from “meat/animal source” is information I’ve always looked for when buying or evaluating a dog food for my hunting dogs. Also having multiple dogs, price is an issue and I like the $1.00/lb price range. I called the manufacturer to find out how much of the protein is from animal product, this is what they told me:
    Level 1= 89%,
    Level 2= 90%,
    Level 3 (including Puppy)= 93%,
    Level 5= 96%.
    If these numbers are true this would imply a high meat content for the total protein level in the food.

  • Melissa

    Just wanted to mention that I switched my dogs over to this “cold turkey” since I was having so many problems with the 4health, and I am thrilled to say, that they did not have so much as an upset stomach, even with the cold switch. All the dogs cleaned their bowls, and even looked for more! A vast difference between the hesitancy they showed lately to eat the other brand! Hopefully, this proves to be a winner and will see how things look 2-3 mths out!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Melissa… I would agree with your reasoning here. If your goal is to feed a low fat diet, concentrate on the reported macro-nutrient content (protein, fat and carbs) rather than the ingredients list. The average fat content of all the dry kibbles in our database is about 16% (and about 23% for the canned products). So, your 12% or less goal would seem appropriate to me. Hope this helps.

  • Melissa

    The stretched ligaments is not my reasoning -it was mentioned in one of the websites I read regarding the Purdue study. And, the only analogy that I can come up with for that reasoning would be that anything looses its ability to contract effectively after repeated use-ie the more a rubber band is stretched, the less able it is to hold the items required and ‘snap back”. I think for me, I will continue to be concerned over fat/oil as an “overall” rather than by content. Since I also have a dog that has pancreatitis issues, I have learned that the overall seems to be more concerning rather than the actual line up of the ingrediants when it comes to fat levels(ie no matter where the fat falls in the line up, she can only safely consume up to a 12 percent fat level before there are issues) Thanks for all you do and the patience to explain things!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Melissa… I have very little confidence in the Purdue hypothesis. As I previously mentioned on December 14…

    “There is a great deal of controversy about how much truth can be found in that study.

    “One of my favorite explanations calling attention to the the questionable value of that report was written by Linda Arndt (also known as The Great Dane Lady). She does a very good job of presenting the other side of this story… (in) her article, “My Comments on the Purdue Bloat Study“.

    Although it may seem logical, your reasoning that “the food is heavier, thereby stretching the stomach ligaments” is probably not a realistic explanation of the gas-related process behind gastric torsion (bloat).

    In addition, please keep in mind that although every ingredients list displays components in order of pre-cooking weight, the more reliable fat content is actually reflected by a product’s Guaranteed Analysis (as fed, after-cooking).

    As it is here. The product we chose to be an example for the entire product line stands in the middle of the range for protein and fat. Our dashboard represents the list for Level III only. Each recipe portrays a steadily increasing amount of meat (and hence, protein and fat, too).

  • Jonathan

    Thank You for bringing this up Melissa… that is exactly why that study makes NO SENSE.

    On a different (and less reputable) dog food rating site, they note in their wildly off base one star review of Pro Pac, that chicken fat being the third ingredient is a problem because of the Purdue study. But Pro Pac has 15% fat. That’s about normal for a dog food.

    If the chicken meal and corn in Pro Pac make up a substantial percent of the product (as they most certainly do), then the fact that chicken fat is the third ingredient has means nothing.

    Natural Balance has about the same (average) amount of fat as Pro Pac, but here is the ingredients up to the named fat in NB…

    “Chicken, brown rice, lamb meal, oatmeal, barley, salmon meal, potatoes, carrots, chicken fat”.

    So all that really means is that the first 8 ingredients in NB combined, weight about the same as the first TWO ingredients in Pro Pac.

    That Purdue study is hot air.

  • Melissa

    Just a secondary thought on what I was trying to say..Foods needed to be listed from greatest weight to smallest weight in the food. In theory, couldn’t a food list fat as the #1 ingrediant, and still be a lower fat food if it was loaded with a ton of protein and carb sources, all in smaller quantities..This is why I think of fat as an “overall content” verus order listing. I have to take the Purdue paper with a “grain of salt” when it comes to this..

  • Melissa

    Hi Mike-

    Thanks. I do know that they have to be listed by weight, but I guess I am having wrapping my brain this am around this.

    Native level 3 starts out chicken meal, chicken fat, while the DEA starts out chicken meal, chicken, brewers rice, chicken fat. The Native ends up being an overall of 30/20, whilst the Diamond a 35/25. Now, the way I am looking at it is this-I am assuming the chicken when cooked moves down the list leaving us with chicken meal, brewers rice and chicken fat. Again , I am assuming that the Brewers rice is not a big source of fat. However, when chicken is boiled or cooked, we know that a lot of fat is produced. Therefore, wouldn;t the overall content of “chicken fat” be moved up in most foods if its preceeded by fresh “chicken”?

    To be honest, I read the Purdue ‘study” and am questioning the logic behind the statement that foods with oil/fat in the first 4 ingrediants are more likely to cause bloat. If the thought process is that the food is heavier, thereby stretching the stomach ligaments, thereby affording them more opportunity to torse, then why would it not be the “total fat” content verus ingrediant listing? Afterall, an 8oz cup holds either 4 oz of Native or 4 oz of DEA, yet that 4 oz cup of DEA contains 5 percent more fat…

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Melissa… By FDA regulatory law, ingredients must always be listed in order of their pre-cooking weights. So, the higher the position on a list of ingredients, the greater its impact on the overall content of the finished product. Hope this helps.

  • Melissa

    Jonathan-

    I could be wrong, but I think Theresa is referring to the suspicion that has been cast via the Purdue study stating that fat should not appear in the first 4 ingrediants, or a dog eating it will be “more likely” to bloat What I do not understand about that however is why does the ingrediant position have an impact and not the overall fat content-For example, the level 3 has fat as the second ingrediant, giving it a 30/20 reading on the bag for protein and fat-However, Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete has 32/25 protein/fat, but the fat is 4th or 5 th on the ingrediant list. By virtue of the study, the Diamond should be “less likely” to cause bloat because of the position on the ingrediant list, although its clearlt 5 % higher fat overall… Someone please explain to me what the “ingrediant position” makes such a difference in this case, verus the overall fat content?!?!?!?

    Melissa

  • Jonathan

    How does this remind you of Science Diet? There’s no cereal by-products or generic animal fat or by-products. And there is a reasonable amount of meat.

    And what do you think is the problem with protein? Dogs would be eating raw dead animal (fat and protein) if left to their own devices.

    And what’s wrong with the fat content? You say fat is part of the first 4 ingredients. So? This food has 22% fat which is above average for a dry kibble, but that amount is about par for a canned food, and more closely representative of a wolves diet.

    Please expand upon your critique, because I don’t get any of it… this is a very good food.

  • Theresa

    The other problem with the food is that fat is part of the 1st 4 ingredients. Listed as #2 in the level 3. Plus beet pulp. Citric acids. Throws up a lot of red flags for me.

    Level 3 puppy is too high in protein.

    Reminds me a bit like Science diet.

  • Jonathan

    eachanacia was suppose to read ECHINACEA. my bad.

  • Melissa

    Thank you Mike and Jonathan! I try to stay on top of the foods I am feeding, and what is in them. I do understand that of course nothing is 100% perfect, but of course became concerned over these two changes-the other changes seem minimal, just a reshuffling of some of the “contents”. I always had good luck with the Native food, and was disappointed in having to switch. I chose 4Health by TSC and the dogs did great on the chicken & rice for the most part. Unfortuently, the Performance variety had quality control issues and several times the WRONG product was in the bag(TSC and Diamond are aware of this) Since I do have dogs with food sensitivities to wheat/corn, I could not continue to feed the product constantly wondering if the right food was in there!

    Thanks again

    Melissa

  • Jonathan

    Reed Sedge Peat is a source of fulvic acid. Fulvic acid has several unsubstantiated but interesting potential benefits. It is a powerful antioxidant, it aids in the bodies absorption of minerals, it can increase energy, and it can improve development of healthy hair and nails. None of this has been proved by the FDA. Then again, neither has the effects of eachanacia on the duration of colds, but I always feel better quicker when I take it. Either way, it can’t hurt.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Melissa… Sounds like Native Performance may have changed its recipe. As far as I can tell, the whole citric acid debate appears to be related to an article about canine bloat which published a few years ago and originated from Purdue University. There is a great deal of controversy about how much truth can be found in that “study”.

    One of my favorite explanations calling attention to the the questionable value of that report was written by Linda Arndt (also known as The Great Dane Lady). She does a very good job of presenting the other side of this story. Click on the link here to read her article, “My Comments on the Purdue Bloat Study“.

    I know nothing about Reed Sedge Peat. But if this ingredient is found in this dog food, I’ll look into its definition when I get around to updating the product. Hope this helps.

  • Melissa

    Hi Mike-

    First ,I want to thank you for all the time you put into this website. Its a “must have” link for dog owners! Second, I wanted to comment on Native-I fed it for almost a year with wonderful results until (for some strange reason) the company was unable to provide shipping to the Northeast. Recently, I revisited Native and found that once again( last month) retailers would have it available! I bought a few bags. Going to their Native website today however, I noticed that my ingrediants are NOT what is listed on the website. My ingrediant label mimics what your report states-According to their website, the food now contains “Citric acid”(which is disappointing as it has been implicated in bloat in deep chested dogs especially if the food is premoistened, they have rearranged the ingrediants a touch, changed the yeast solubles to “hydrolized Brewer’s Dried Yeast” and added something called “Reed Sedge Peat”. Can you comment on what the latter is and why would one put Peat into a dog food? Good? Bad? or of no consequence? Thanks!

    Melissa

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi John… Allergies are a direct function of your pet’s unique immune system and not usually a problem with the quality of the product itself. In other words, if your dog happens to be allergic to any of the ingredients in any particular food, he will likely develop an unfavorable reaction.

    And because food is only the third leading cause of canine allergies, the symptoms you see may not even be related to your pet’s diet in the first place.

    Since certain recipes have been intentionally designed to help you control or isolate these problems, you may wish to read my recent post, “Suggested Hypoallergenic Dog Foods“. This article contains some of my best suggestions based upon information currently available.

    Unfortunately, choosing the right dog food still involves at least some trial and error. Hope this helps.

  • john petzkow

    WHAT DOG FOOD WOULD YOU SUGGEST FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER, SHE ITCHS ALL THE TIME, THE VET HAS CHANGED HER DOG FOOD MANNY TIMES, NO POSITIVE RESULTS, SHE’S NOW ON NATURAL BALANCE SWEET POTATOE AND VENISON, THERE IS SOME IMPROVEMENT, BUT STILL NOT ITCH FREE.
    PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU