Ultimates Grain-Free Dog Food Review (Dry)

Ultimates Grain-Free dry product range is made up of four recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 4.5 stars.

These recipes are perfect for dogs that are unable to tolerate grains. Instead of grains, they use potatoes and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants that help boost the immune system. Additionally, all recipes include extra taurine, an amino acid that supports the healthy functioning of the immune, digestive, and nervous systems.

The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Ultimates All Life Stages Bayside Select Grain Free was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is whitefish 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

Whitefish is a marine or freshwater species native to Canada and the California coast.

The second ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The third ingredient includes peas, which are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

The fourth ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. That’s because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.

In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

The next ingredient lists chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, bean and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables, and chickpeas contain about 22% protein.

The seventh ingredient is pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

The eighth item is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

After natural flavor, we find 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.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

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 Pro Pac product.

With four notable exceptions…

First, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.

Next, we note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

This recipe also contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

And lastly, this food 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.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Ultimates All Life Stages Bayside Select Grain-Free looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 26.6%, a fat level of 16.3% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44.8%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26.9% and a mean fat level of 15.2%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 44.8% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Which means this Ultimates Grain-Free product line contains…

Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, flaxseed and chickpeas, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Ultimates Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Ultimates through July 2025.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Ultimates Grain-Free Dog Food

Ultimates Grain Free is a dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.

Highly Recommended

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