Grilled Chicken & Rice Flavor Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Atta Boy Grilled Chicken & Rice Flavor Dry Dog Food is a dry kibble with a chicken and rice flavor profile, though it's primarily plant-based.
This formula includes quality fat sources, with named animal fat and fish oil, which provides beneficial EPA and DHA.
The formula is plant-protein dominated, with yellow corn as the first ingredient. There's also no AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified.
Good fit for owners seeking a value-priced dry food. Less ideal if you prioritize verified nutritional completeness or animal-based protein.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. Good fit for adult Labrador Retrievers navigating weight management. At 320 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side, with crude fiber at 4% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs (APOP, 2023) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 37/100, this formula sits below where we look for everyday picks. The lift comes from fat quality, worth 12 points to the final number: Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). The ceiling on this score is 59, set because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). The cap isn't the binding constraint here. Protein quality would also need to improve to reach the next band.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Plant-protein-dominated formula. yellow corn as the #1 ingredient.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Bottom 1% for protein quality in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (1.8/27)
- Bottom 10% for carb quality in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (10/16)
- Bottom 10% for overall Sniff Score in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (37/100)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
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Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1grainyellow corn
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with yellow corn as the dominant carb.
- 2meat and bone meal
Unnamed animal protein with bone included. Cheap, vague, and not traceable to a specific species.
- 3grainground wheat
Whole wheat. Fine for most dogs, though a portion are sensitive. Not a quality concern, just a fit-for-your-dog question.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4wheat mill run
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5protein plantcorn gluten meal
Concentrated corn protein. Inflates the protein percent on the label without matching meat-quality amino acids.
Position 5: plant protein in the top 5. Stacked with animal protein, can inflate the crude protein number without matching the amino-acid quality of named animal sources.
- 6animal fat
Unnamed fat source. The species matters: 'chicken fat' or 'beef fat' is fine, but 'animal fat' tells you nothing about origin.
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 8protein animalpoultry by-product meal
Unnamed poultry. The mix can include any combination of chicken, turkey, or other birds, with no traceability. Named by-product meals are fine. This one isn't.
Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 9brewers rice
Broken rice kernels left over from milling, usually destined for human beer-making. Cheaper than whole or even white rice. Same carbs, less nutrition than the brown version. See why →
Position 9: minor grain inclusion.
- 10fatfish oil
Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.
Position 10. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 11fibertomato pomace
The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.
Position 11: trace fiber inclusion.
- 12mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 15supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 16mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 17zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 18mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 19manganous oxide
Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.
- 20mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 21mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 22mineralcalcium iodate
Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.
- 23mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 24mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
- 25cobalt carbonate
Showing first 25 of 26. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.