Hi kobe –
For a dog without sensitivities to grains, I think that whether or not a kibble contains grains is not important. The ideal diet of a dog would be grain-free and free of starches, however this isn’t feasible with a kibble. Kibble is a bakery product and therefore must contain grain or some other starch (legumes, tapioca, potato, etc.) as a binder. The idea of “grain-free” food and, more recently, “white potato free” food has become a fad – many people are under the [false] impression that because a food is grain-free or white potato free that it’s “species”appropriate” and superior to foods with grains. The reality is, tapioca, legumes or potatoes are no more “species-appropriate” than grains. In fact, I’m seeing may “grain-free” foods hitting the market that are predominately potatoes or peas. The most important thing to look for the the level of animal-derived protein. I recommend looking for foods with at least 30% protein with over 80% of this protein coming from animal-sources. Many of the best kibbles on the market do tend to be grain-free, however their are also may poor quality grain-free kibbles available and many very high quality grain-inclusive kibbles available. Hope this helps.
