[CFrance]

One thing to remember about all these dog food reviews is the fact that the heavier the concentration of meat in the food, the better grade they get. Be sure to look at the fat percentage, the protein percentage, and the calories per cup. Some very active dogs can tolerate a higher percentage of protein and fat better than your basic couch potato or dog that is simply walked a couple times a day.

When I was feeding Science Diet to our first golden in the 1990s, he became overweight. My vet advised me that Science Diet Lamb and Rice was very calorie intense, and I was feeding him too much of it. She cut him back to two one-cup servings a day, and he lost 15 lbs in a year, going from 90 lbs to 75. And still healthy, with shiny coat and bright eyes.

Generally, the amount suggested on the back of the bag is too much.

Our current golden, while bigger frame and taller than our first, tends to bulk up a bit. He's on 3/4 cup of Nature's Logic Sardine twice a day at roughly 400 calories a cup, so that we can continue with his healthy treats and add-ins such as Missing Link and pumpkin without causing a weight problem.