Active Adult Gluten-Free Chicken Dry Dog Food, 50-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Next Level Super Premium Pet Food Active Adult Gluten-Free Chicken Dry Dog Food is a dry food for active adult dogs, with chicken as its main protein source.
This food offers good protein quality, with chicken meal providing solid amino acid coverage. It also uses quality carbohydrate sources that include fermentable fiber. Plus, you'll find premium micronutrient forms like chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for active adult dogs looking for a solid, gluten-free dry food. Nothing serious working against it.
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 and similar active sporting breeds navigating weight management. At 355 kcal/cup this formula runs on the moderate side, with crude fiber at 5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively (Brooks et al., 2014) .
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 63/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 14.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. chicken meal delivers solid amino acid coverage. Secondary contribution comes from carbohydrate quality (+12 points). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. The 12-point gap to the A-tier line is concentrated in protein quality (14.5 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").
Reasonable protein quality. chicken meal delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Top quartile for crude fiber in Next Level Super Premium Pet Food's lineup (5.6% DMB)
- Bottom quartile for DMB fat in Next Level Super Premium Pet Food's lineup (13.3%)
- Bottom quartile for caloric density in Next Level Super Premium Pet Food's lineup (355 kcal/cup)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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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.
- 2grain sorghum
Same as sorghum. Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated.
Position 2: major carbohydrate source.
- 3grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 4: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 5legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 5. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 6fiberdried beet pulp
Soluble fiber from sugar-beet processing. Sometimes treated as a filler, but it's actually one of the better fiber sources in kibble. See why →
Position 6: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 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.
- 8hydrolyzed whole chicken
Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 9protein animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10dried yeast
Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.
- 11blood meal
- 12dehydrated alfalfa meal
Dried alfalfa. Fiber and trace minerals. Not exciting but it's a real plant ingredient.
- 13protein plantpea protein
Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.
Position 13. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 14yeast culture
Fermented yeast. Source of B vitamins and beta-glucans that some research suggests support immune function.
- 15fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 15: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 16othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 17mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 18supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 19mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 20supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 21supplementglucosamine hydrochloride
Joint-support compound. Most useful in larger doses for older dogs. The kibble dose is real but modest.
- 22supplementchondroitin sulfate
- 23fiberdried chicory root
Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.
- 24supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 25supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
Showing first 25 of 43. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.