Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Sport Dog Food Elite Series product range is made up of four recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Sport Dog Food Elite Series Working Dog | 5 | A |
| Sport Dog Food Elite Series Sporting Dog | 5 | A |
| Sport Dog Food Elite Series Sled Dog | 5 | A |
| Sport Dog Food Elite Series Herding Dog | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Sport Dog Elite Series Herding Dog was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Sport Dog Elite Series Herding Dog
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Buffalo meal, dried sweet potato, dried potato, pork meal, coconut oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), catfish meal, cassava root, yeast culture, salmon oil, calcium propionate, choline chloride, potassium chloride, kelp meal, natural flavors, zinc amino acid complex (chelate), sea salt, iron amino acid complex (chelate), inulin (chicory root), dried pumpkin, dried carrot, dried blueberry, dried cranberry, Yucca schidigera extract (probiotic), vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, manganese amino acid complex (chelate), ferrous sulfate, copper amino acid complex (chelate), selenium yeast, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), niacin (vitamin B3), l-carnitine, d-calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin A supplement, biotin (vitamin B8), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, green tea extract, folic acid, rosemary extract, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product (probiotic), Lactobacillus casei fermentation product (probiotic), Bifido bacterium bifidium fermentation product (probiotic), Enterococcus faecium fermentation product (probiotic)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 6% | 54% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 33% | 13% | 54% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is buffalo meal. Buffalo meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh buffalo.
The second and third ingredients include sweet potato and potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is coconut oil, a natural oil rich in medium-chain fatty acids.
Medium-chain triglycerides have been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs.1
Because of its proven safety2 as well as its potential to help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) and chronic skin disorders, MCT can be considered a positive addition to this recipe.
The fifth ingredient is pork meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The sixth ingredient is catfish meal, yet another high protein meat concentrate.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.3
The next ingredient is cassava root. Cassava is a root vegetable and the source of tapioca starch. This item is rich in carbohydrates and calories while its nutrient profile is otherwise unremarkable.
The eighth ingredient is yeast culture. Although yeast culture is high in B-vitamins and protein, it can also be used as a probiotic to aid in digestion.
After the natural flavor, we find salmon oil, which is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Sport Dog product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
We note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
And lastly, this food includes selenium yeast. Unlike the more common inorganic form of selenium (sodium selenite), this natural yeast supplement is considered a safer anti-cancer alternative.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Sport Dog Elite Series looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 16.5% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42.5%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31.9% and a mean fat level of 18.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 41.5% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 59%.
Which means this Sport Dog product line contains…
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a dry dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
Sport Dog Food Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Sport Dog Food through December 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Sport Dog Food Elite Series Grain Free Dog Food
Sport Dog Elite Series is a grain-free dry dog food that utilizes a significant amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Sport Dog Food Elite Series Dog Food
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A Final Word
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