Unveiling the Magic of Top Breed Dog Food What Makes It So Special
Unveiling Magic
The unveiling of secrets begins in earnest So the 1st book was good, but felt a little boggy at times as the details were constructed & filled in. Book 2 both adds to the mix & relieves it. BUT it's built on the framework of the first, so it's easy to follow now.There's a dystopian feel to this series. The kids' now, as well as their future, often looks rather bleak. The forces against them are substantial & they have almost nothing by comparison. Yet somehow they always have enough. So, yes, one could also argue that Valerie's wildcard natural magic ability gives her outcomes a deus ex machina flavor, but I'll admit that I find it one of the most entertaining aspects of the story. Particularly her sort of sweep of the sweepers at one point.Even though the initial relationship development between Valerie & Ethan was not well supported, it's handled much better in book 2. The secondary characters are fleshed out & really enhance the story line. The supernaturally organic formation of their group is another one of my favorite aspects of the story.So on to book 3!*Clean romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic
Dr. Garys Best Breed Dog Food Review (Dry)
Home Reviews Dr. Garys Best Breed Dog Food Review (Dry)
Dr. Garys Best Breed Dog Food Review (Dry)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: April 22, 2024
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Dr. Garys Best Breed Dog Food receives the Advisors second-highest tier rating of 4 stars.
The Best Breed product line includes 13 dry dog foods.
Each recipe below includes its related AAFCO nutrient profile when available on the products official webpage: Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Important: Because many websites do not reliably specify which Growth or All Life Stages recipes are safe for large breed puppies, we do not include that data in this report. Be sure to check actual packaging for that information.
Use the links below to check prices and package sizes at an online retailer.
Dr. Garys Best Breed Large Breed Dog Diet was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.
Dr. Gary's Best Breed Large Breed Dog Diet
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, dried beet pulp, chicken fat [preserved with natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)], egg product, pearled barley, brewers dried yeast, menhaden fish meal, natural chicken flavor, lecithin, menhaden fish oil, flax seed, canola oil, calcium carbonate, dl methionine, l-lysine, monosodium phosphate, salt, cranberry, alfalfa meal, New Zealand sea mussel, ascorbic acid, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), glucosamine, garlic powder, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product dehydrated, kelp meal, vitamin E supplement, biotin, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, citric acid, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, potassium chloride, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Guaranteed Analysis | 25% | 13% | NA |
Dry Matter Basis | 28% | 14% | 50% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 31% | 44% |
Ingredient Analysis
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 oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The third ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is 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 fifth 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. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The sixth ingredient is egg product, an unspecified (wet or dry?) form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The seventh ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The eighth ingredient is brewers yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although its a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals 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.
In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.
Whats more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The ninth ingredient is menhaden fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. Theyre rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Whats more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1
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 six notable exceptions
First, flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve 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.
Next, we find canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. Thats 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.
In addition, this recipe contains alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.
Next, we note the use of fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener2 probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.
In addition, garlic can be a controversial item. Although many favor the ingredient for its claimed health benefits, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.3
So, one must weigh the potential benefits of feeding garlic against its proven tendency to cause subclinical damage to the red blood cells of the animal.
And lastly, this food includes 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
Judging by its ingredients alone, Best Breed Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the products meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 50% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.
Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the brewers yeast, flaxseed and alfalfa meal, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Dr. Garys Best Breed is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a moderate amount of named meat meals as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating based upon our estimate of their total meat content and (when appropriate) their fat-to-protein ratios.
Best Breed Dog Food Recall History
The following list (if present) includes all dog food recalls since 2009 directly related to Best Breed. If there are no recalls listed in this section, we have not yet reported any events.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls sorted by date. Or view the same list sorted alphabetically by brand.
Compare This Dog Food
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A Final Word
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Our Products
We are always on the hunt for new and better food to give Amber and her siblings. We think its a trial and error process. Some premium brands who claim to be the best in the market (and top bills the pricing as well) wont work for us.
After trying raw feeding (which also didnt really work for Amber), our vet introduced Monge Special Dog to us. Our dogs, including Amber, are not very picky with food but gets sawa after a few months. Surprisingly, its been almost 2 years now and we still havent changed their diet. We give them veggies/home cooked meal sometimes but Monge Special Dog is still their favorite.
We did a little bit of research and found out that Monge is actually the leading pet food manufacturer in Italy thats added confidence that were giving the right food to our pets since Europe has higher standards for the pet food industry.
Pros:Hypo-allergenic and Low Cholesterol FormulaHas Omega 3 and Omega 6Reduces stool odor (most of the time their poop is really not mabaho!)Their canned food has many different flavorsNot very pricey abot kaya!No artificial colouring!
Cons:When we open the can, we have to feed everything. I dont like storing it sa fridge as I dont like the smell of it after a day or 2It doesnt help with Ambers tear stains (Our other dogs wala naman tear stains)The kibbles are very small for Ambers big mouth
Why we recommend it:It works very well with all of our dogs for 2 years now. Amber and her siblings are very well and fit no internal issues or anything food-related!
**Please note that this is an individual review. The views and opinions expressed in this post are presented in good faith and strictly our own. As human beings, our thoughts may change from time to time. This review is only designed to help you when buying dog food. Please be also advised that the owners of this page are not veterinarians but pet parents who only want whats best for their pets.