Athletic Blend Glacier Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Dr. Tim's Athletic Blend Glacier Formula is a dry dog food for all life stages, featuring chicken and egg product as its main protein sources.
This formula has a strong protein profile, with chicken meal as the first ingredient, which means good biological value for your dog. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber and good fat sources like named chicken fat and menhaden fish oil, which provides EPA and DHA.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for dogs of all life stages. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
As of the FDA's June 2019 update on diet-associated DCM, the Saint Bernard was one of the most reported breeds, with 10 cases submitted to the agency (FDA, 2019) . Good fit for lower-energy giant working breeds like Saint Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Great Danes navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken meal anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus herring meal at position 7. What to watch: calorie density (496 kcal/cup) is rich for a lower-activity breed.
Looking at this for adult Saint Bernards or Saint Bernards 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 4 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac concerns with named research if dcm predisposed · diet composition· cited in 3 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
- OFAcardiac concerns with named research if dcm predisposed
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 74/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 21 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with chicken meal as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. Secondary contribution comes from carbohydrate quality (+16 points). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. The 1-point gap to the A-tier line is concentrated in protein quality (21 of 27 possible). Full protein quality requires named-species named-cut proteins in the top of the deck (e.g., "deboned chicken" rather than "chicken meal" or "poultry meal").
Strong protein profile with chicken meal as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Lowest crude fiber in Dr. Tim's's lineup (3.3% DMB)
- Top 1% for DMB fat in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (25.0%)
- Lowest fat quality in Dr. Tim's's lineup (12/16)
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.
Dr. Tim's Heirloom Ancient Grains Fish Formula Dry Dog Food, 15-lb bag
Scores 6 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
$1.10/lb vs your seed's $3.12/lb (65% less) at a comparable score.
VICTOR Professional Active Sporting Gluten-Free Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
Beef instead of chicken, 8 points 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 animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 2: major carbohydrate source.
- 3fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 3: primary fat source. Drives the formula's caloric density and omega-6 content.
- 4dried plain beet pulp
Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality. See why →
Position 4: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 5protein animalegg product
Processed whole eggs. Same nutritional profile as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7protein animalherring meal
Concentrated herring with the water removed. Carries protein and omega-3s in one ingredient.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8ground whole flaxseed
- 9grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 9: minor grain inclusion.
- 10fatmenhaden fish oil
Omega-3 from menhaden, a small oily fish. Same skin and coat support as salmon oil.
Position 10. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 11othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 12catfish meal
Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 13dried porcine plasma
- 14vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 15l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate
A stable form of vitamin C used in pet food. Provides antioxidant support and survives processing better than plain ascorbic acid.
- 16vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 17vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 18vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 19vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 20vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 21vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 22vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 23vitaminvitamin d3 supplement
The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.
- 24vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 25vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
Showing first 25 of 51. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Dr. Tim's Glacier Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lbs. or more as an adult).