Rating: 
Ole Jack’s Dog Food receives the Advisor’s below-average rating of 1.5 stars.
The Ole Jack’s Dog Food product line includes just one kibble.
Since we could not locate AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements for these products on the Ole Jack’s website, we’re unable to report life stage recommendations.
Ole Jack's 21/8 Kennel Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Ground yellow corn, wheat middlings, poultry & porcine meal, poultry fat (preserved with BHA), salt, calcium propionate, potassium chloride, artificial garlic flavoring, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement (as d-alpha tocophecyl acetate), riboflavin supplement, niacin supplement, biotin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, folic acid, and mineral oil
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.1%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 21% | 8% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 24% | 9% | 59% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 21% | 56% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
The second ingredient is wheat middlings… commonly known as “wheat mill run”. Though it may sound wholesome, wheat mill run is actually an inexpensive by-product of cereal grain processing.
In reality, middlings are nothing more than milling dust and floor sweepings.
The third ingredient lists poultry and porcine meal. Poultry and porcine meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than either fresh poultry or pork.
The fourth ingredient is poultry fat. Poultry fat is obtained from rendering… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. However, we would have preferred a single-species item (like chicken fat).
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, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
Next, 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.
And lastly, this Ole Jack Dog Food product contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Ole Jack’s Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Ole Jack’s Dog Food looks to be a below-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 24%, a fat level of 9% and estimated carbohydrates of about 59%.
Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-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 only a modest amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Ole Jack’s Dog Food is a grain-based kibble using a modest amount of poltry and porcine meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 1.5 stars.
Not 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
06/08/2011 Original review
06/08/2011 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.