Level 4 Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Native Level 4 Dry Dog Food is a dry food with chicken meal as its primary protein source.
This formula uses quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber. Its protein quality is reasonable, with chicken meal offering solid amino acid coverage. The inclusion of dried egg and fish meal also adds diverse, highly bioavailable protein.
The biggest watch item is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. Also, the formula contains yeast extract, which can be a way to include MSG without explicitly listing it.
Good fit for owners looking for a dry food with reasonable protein and carb quality. Less ideal if you require an AAFCO statement for nutritional completeness.
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 adult Saint Bernards and similar lower-energy working breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken meal anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus fish meal at position 6. What to watch: calorie density (510 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 59/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from carbohydrate quality, worth 16 points to the final number: Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. 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 fix path: the brand publishing the AAFCO statement. That would lift the cap and put this formula above the B-band line at 60.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Reasonable protein quality. chicken meal delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
Contains msg. Safety signal is internet-fueled; real issue is transparency. Yeast extract as MSG loophole obscures formulation..
- Top 4% for DMB protein in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (38.9%)
- Bottom 4% for crude fiber in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (3.3% DMB)
- Top 1% for DMB fat in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (27.8%)
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.
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Scores 3 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Wholesomes High Energy 26/18 Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
$1.30/lb vs your seed's $1.60/lb (19% less) at a comparable score.
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.
- 2fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 2: primary fat source. Drives the formula's caloric density and omega-6 content.
- 3grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4ground oats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6protein animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7protein animaldried egg
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8fatground flaxseed
Cracked flaxseed for better digestibility. Same plant omega-3s as whole flaxseed, just easier for the dog to extract.
Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 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.
- 10plain dried beet pulp
Position 10: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 11othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 12brewer's liquid yeast
- 13yeast culture
Fermented yeast. Source of B vitamins and beta-glucans that some research suggests support immune function.
- 14mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 15mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 16mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 17supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 18supplementl-lysine
Essential amino acid. Plant-protein-heavy formulas sometimes add it to round out the amino acid profile.
- 19yeast extract
Yeast broken down to a paste. Strong palatant plus a real source of B vitamins.
- 20supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 21vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 22vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 23reed-sedge peat
- 24mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 25supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
Showing first 25 of 46. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.