Performance Plus Adult Gluten-Free Beef Dry Dog Food, 40-lb
Graded by The Sniff System
Next Level Super Premium Pet Food Performance Plus Adult Gluten-Free Beef Dry Dog Food is a dry formula for adult dogs, with beef as its primary protein source.
This formula includes quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, which can support gut health. It also uses premium micronutrient forms, like chelated minerals, which are more easily absorbed by your dog's body than standard inorganic forms.
The product does not have a verbatim AAFCO statement published by the retailer, though its formulation is inferred to meet adult maintenance standards.
Good fit for adult dogs, especially those whose owners prefer a gluten-free formula. 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 adult Labrador Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating weight management. Working in its favor: L-carnitine listed (supports fat metabolism). At 395 kcal/cup this formula runs on the moderate side, with crude fiber at 4.5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). 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. 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Solid grade. 64/100 (B) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Carbohydrate quality did the heavy lifting (+13 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. The supporting beat: micronutrient inclusion (+5 points). Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E. What's keeping it out of A-tier: protein quality (13.5 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").
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Lowest crude fiber in Next Level Super Premium Pet Food's lineup (5.0% DMB)
- Top quartile for DMB fat in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (20.0%)
- Bottom quartile for protein quality in Next Level Super Premium Pet Food's lineup (13.6/27)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Next Level Super Premium Pet Food Normally Active Adult Gluten-Free Beef Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
$1.12/lb vs your seed's $1.45/lb (22% 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 animalbeef meal
Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef. 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.
- 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.
- 4grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 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.
- 6blood meal
- 7fiberdried 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 7: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 8protein animalpork meal
Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.
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.
- 10grainmillet
Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.
Position 10: minor grain inclusion.
- 11hydrolyzed whole chicken
Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 12dried yeast
Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.
- 13dehydrated alfalfa meal
Dried alfalfa. Fiber and trace minerals. Not exciting but it's a real plant ingredient.
- 14yeast culture
Fermented yeast. Source of B vitamins and beta-glucans that some research suggests support immune function.
- 15othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 16fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
- 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.
- 21fiberdried chicory root
Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.
- 22supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 23supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 24supplementl-carnitine
Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.
- 25supplementglucosamine hydrochloride
Joint-support compound. Most useful in larger doses for older dogs. The kibble dose is real but modest.
Showing first 25 of 43. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.