Small Bites Beef & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food, 13.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Chicken Soup for the Soul Small Bites Beef & Brown Rice Recipe is a dry food for adult dogs, featuring beef and turkey as its main protein sources.
This recipe has a strong protein profile, with beef as the first ingredient, followed by turkey and various meals, providing high biological value. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources like pearled barley, millet, and brown rice, which contribute fermentable fiber for gut health.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for adult dogs, especially those who prefer a smaller kibble size. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15. In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) .
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? 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.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 77/100, landing in A-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+22 points): Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. Also adding to the lift: carbohydrate quality (+16). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Lowest crude fiber in Chicken Soup for the Soul's lineup (4.4% DMB)
- Top 10% for overall Sniff Score in dry kibbles (77/100)
- Top quartile for caloric density in Chicken Soup for the Soul's lineup (375 kcal/cup)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Beef & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag
Scores 2 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bag
$1.83/lb vs your seed's $2.44/lb (25% less) at a comparable score.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food, 15-lb bag
Chicken instead of beef, 1 point lower, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalturkey meal
Turkey with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh turkey. See why →
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4protein animalbeef meal
Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef. See why →
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5grainpearled barley
Barley with the outer hull removed. Easy to digest, steady carb release.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6rye flour
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7grainmillet
Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.
Position 7: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 8oat groats
Whole oats with only the inedible hull removed. The most intact form of oats available.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 9grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 9: minor grain inclusion.
- 10fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 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.
- 12protein plantpotato protein
Concentrated potato protein. Like pea protein, it inflates the protein number without matching meat-quality amino acids.
Position 12: trace plant protein.
- 13fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 13: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 14othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 15mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 16fiberinulin
Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.
- 17mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 18supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 19vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 20vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 21vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 22thiamin mononitrate
- 23vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 24vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 25vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
Showing first 25 of 50. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.