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Scanned by Randall Saunders · April 10, 2026
Boundless Acres Boundless Acres Small Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food
85/100
Grade A− Very Good — Very Good
📦 Product Overview
BrandBoundless Acres
TypeDog Food - Dry/Kibble
Life StageAll Life Stages (except growth of large size dogs 70 lb. or more as an adult)
Size5 lb (2.27 kg)
AAFCO Compliant✅ Yes
Label states it is formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult). This is formulation-based compliance, NOT feeding trial validated. Important note for Randall: Bruno is 80 lbs — this food is explicitly excluded for growth of large dogs his size. As an adult, the 'all life stages' claim covers him, but this is a SMALL BREED formula. At 80 lbs, Bruno is NOT a small breed. The kibble size, calorie density, and nutrient ratios are designed for dogs under 20 lbs. This is a mismatch.
🧪 Ingredient Breakdown
✅
Chicken
Named whole meat, first ingredient. Good. But remember — chicken is ~70% water. After cooking, it drops significantly in the list. The real protein workhorses here are chicken meal and turkey meal.
🟡
Chicken Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate)
Named rendered protein. Concentrated protein source. The glucosamine/chondroitin claim is a nice touch for joint support — relevant for Bruno at 80 lbs and 6 years old. Still a rendered meal.
−1 pts
✅
Brown Rice
Whole grain, good digestible carbohydrate. No issue.
❌
Brewers Rice
Rice fragments — the broken, leftover dust from milling. This is cheap filler with minimal nutritional value. It's here to bulk up the formula on the cheap.
−3 pts
❌
Pea Protein
Plant protein isolate that artificially inflates the crude protein percentage on the guaranteed analysis. The 27% protein number is partly a lie because of this ingredient. It makes the food LOOK meatier than it is. Also flagged by FDA in the DCM investigation.
−3 pts
✅
Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)
Named fat, naturally preserved. Good quality fat source.
🟡
Dried Peas
Whole legume. Moderate DCM concern when combined with pea protein already in the formula. Two pea-derived ingredients now.
−1 pts
🟡
Turkey Meal
Named rendered protein. Acceptable secondary protein source.
−1 pts
⚠
Natural Flavor
Source never disclosed. Could be animal digest by another name. 'Natural' is unregulated in pet food. Could be anything.
−2 pts
🟡
Rice Bran
Oxidizes easily. Some fiber and nutrients but not a premium ingredient.
−1 pts
🟡
Dried Plain Beet Pulp
Low-value fiber by-product from sugar beet processing. Moderate prebiotic benefit.
−1 pts
✅
Flaxseeds
Ground flaxseed is a good source of ALA omega-3. Dogs convert ALA poorly to EPA/DHA but it still has fiber and lignan benefits.
✅
Oatmeal
Whole grain, good digestible carb source.
✅
Salt
Sodium is an essential nutrient. Placement this far down the list indicates appropriate levels.
✅
Fish Oil
Unnamed species is slightly concerning but fish oil is a critical source of EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acids. Beneficial for Bruno's joints and skin at age 6.
🟡
Sunflower Oil
Omega-6 only oil. No omega-3. Adds to inflammatory omega-6 load.
−1 pts
✅
Dried Carrots
Whole food, beta-carotene source.
✅
Dried Chicory Root
Prebiotic inulin source. Supports gut health. Good inclusion.
🟡
Dried Sweet Potatoes
Starchy but has some fiber and vitamin A.
−1 pts
🟡
Dried Tomato Pomace
Low-value fiber by-product from tomato processing.
−1 pts
✅
L-Threonine
Essential amino acid supplement. Its presence suggests the base protein matrix may be slightly deficient without it.
✅
Dicalcium Phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus supplement. Standard.
✅
Dried Blueberries
Antioxidant superfood. Good inclusion, though amount is likely tiny at this position in the list.
✅
Dried Cranberries
Urinary tract health support. Antioxidants. Good.
✅
Citric Acid (Preservative)
Natural preservative. Safe.
✅
Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative)
Vitamin E-based natural preservative. The gold standard for kibble preservation.
✅
Potassium Chloride
Potassium supplement. Standard.
✅
Iron Amino Acid Complex
Chelated mineral — more bioavailable than inorganic forms. Good.
✅
Zinc Amino Acid Complex
Chelated zinc. More bioavailable. Good.
✅
Vitamin E Supplement
Essential antioxidant vitamin.
✅
Ferrous Sulfate
Iron supplement. Standard.
✅
Yucca Schidigera Extract
Reduces stool odor. Safe and beneficial.
✅
L-Carnitine
Supports fat metabolism and heart health. Good addition, especially for a 6-year-old 80 lb dog.
✅
Zinc Oxide
Zinc supplement. Less bioavailable than chelated form but standard.
✅
Choline Chloride
Essential B-vitamin. Liver and brain support.
✅
Copper Amino Acid Complex
Chelated copper. Good bioavailability.
✅
Copper Sulfate
Copper supplement. Standard.
⚠
Sodium Selenite
Inorganic selenium. Toxic in excess. Selenium yeast (organic form) is preferred. This is the cheaper option.
−2 pts
✅
Manganese Amino Acid Complex
Chelated manganese. Good.
✅
Vitamin A Supplement
Essential vitamin.
✅
Niacin Supplement
Vitamin B3. Essential.
✅
D-Calcium Pantothenate
Vitamin B5. Essential.
✅
Riboflavin Supplement
Vitamin B2. Essential.
✅
Manganous Oxide
Manganese supplement.
✅
Thiamine Mononitrate
Vitamin B1. Essential.
✅
Vitamin D3 Supplement
Essential for calcium absorption.
✅
Vitamin B12 Supplement
Essential vitamin.
✅
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Vitamin B6. Essential.
✅
Biotin
Supports skin and coat health.
✅
Calcium Iodate
Iodine supplement. Standard.
✅
Folic Acid
Essential B vitamin.
✅
Rosemary Extract
Natural preservative and antioxidant. Safe.
⚖ What's Good / What's Bad
Good
✅ Chicken is the #1 ingredient — named whole meat
✅ Brown rice and oatmeal provide quality whole grain carbohydrates
✅ Chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols — properly named and naturally preserved
✅ No artificial colors, no artificial preservatives, no BHA/BHT/ethoxyquin
✅ Chelated minerals (amino acid complexes) for better bioavailability — better than budget brands
✅ L-Carnitine included — supports heart health and fat metabolism, good for Bruno at 6 years old
✅ Glucosamine (300 mg/kg) and Chondroitin (100 mg/kg) from chicken meal — joint support, relevant for Bruno's size and age
✅ Fish oil included for EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acids
✅ Chicory root for prebiotic fiber — supports gut health
✅ Blueberries and cranberries for antioxidants
✅ Yucca schidigera extract reduces stool odor
✅ Mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract as natural preservatives
Bad
❌ THIS IS A SMALL BREED FORMULA — Bruno is 80 lbs. This food's kibble size, calorie density, and nutrient ratios are designed for dogs under 20 lbs. This is a fundamental mismatch, Randall.
❌ Brewers rice — cheap rice dust filler with minimal nutritional value
❌ Pea protein — plant protein isolate that inflates the 27% protein number. Some of that protein is not coming from meat. The food is less meaty than it appears.
❌ Natural flavor — undisclosed source, could be anything
❌ Sodium selenite — inorganic selenium, cheaper and less safe than selenium yeast
❌ Sunflower oil — omega-6 only, adds to inflammatory load
❌ Formulated only, NOT feeding trial tested — AAFCO formulation is the minimum standard
❌ Glucosamine at 300 mg/kg is quite low for an 80 lb dog — therapeutic doses for a dog Bruno's size are typically 500-1000 mg/day, and at this concentration in food, he'd need to eat an unrealistic amount to get a therapeutic dose
❌ Rice bran oxidizes easily and is a low-value ingredient
🧬 Potential Cancer-Linked Ingredients
✅ None found.
📊 Score Breakdown
Start score100 pts
Ingredient penalties−15 pts
Final score85/100
💬 The Verdict

A decent formula undermined by a few cheap inclusions and a critical mismatch for Bruno specifically.

🧨 Final Verdict

Randall, let me be straight with you about two things. First — the formula itself: Boundless Acres Small Breed Chicken & Brown Rice is a DECENT mid-tier kibble. Chicken is the real first ingredient, brown rice is a solid grain, the preservatives are natural, the mineral package uses chelated forms, and there's no cancer-causing garbage in here. The pea protein inflating the protein number and the brewers rice are the worst offenders — cheap moves, but not dangerous. Score: 85, A-minus. Not bad at all. HOWEVER — and this is the big one — this is a SMALL BREED formula and Bruno is an 80-pound Treeing Tennessee Brindle. This food was designed for Chihuahuas and Yorkies, not a muscular coonhound-type dog. The kibble is likely tiny (designed for small mouths), the calorie density is high (small breed dogs have faster metabolisms), and the glucosamine/chondroitin levels that might be adequate for a 15 lb dog are LAUGHABLY insufficient for Bruno's joints at 80 lbs. At 6 years old, Bruno is entering middle age for a dog his size — he needs a large breed or all-breed adult formula with appropriate kibble size, and a standalone glucosamine/chondroitin supplement at therapeutic doses (500-1000 mg glucosamine per day minimum). Get Bruno off this small breed formula and onto something designed for his actual body. The food isn't bad — it's just wrong for YOUR dog.