Proportions is the first dog food I’ve reviewed and it’s Romeo’s
Romeo patiently waiting to eat his Proportions
first taste test. Romeo is Sadie’s BFF, and he and I decided we needed a criteria for this undertaking. Here’s what we came up with: 1) Did Romeo like it?, 2) Is it healthy?, 3) What do I think about it?, 4) The facts: Manufacturer, price–stuff like that.
Okay. Let’s get started.
1. Did Romeo like it?
He loved it! I invited Romeo for a sleep-over so we could run the taste test over two meals, dinner and breakfast. Usually when Romeo visits for a slumber party I have to cajole him into eating. While Sadie’s sits at the ready for dinner and breakfast, Romeo dares me to prepare something worthy of his discerning palate. I often fail. Not this time. As soon as I opened the “Hand-carved Chicken in Pumpkin Soup Formula” he pranced into the kitchen, sat at gentlemanly attention while I prepared his food, and then licked his bowl clean.
2. Is it healthy?
In a word, yes. How did I determine that it’s healthy? I relied on
Kibble, Stew, Veggies & Fruits
K9Cusine’s Dog Food Rating Tool. However, using the tool wasn’t exactly straightforward because Proportions comes in three different pre-measured packages that you mix together: Crunchy Blend (kibble), Stew (Hand-carved Chicken in Pumpkin Soup Formula), and Harvest Mix (Dehydrated Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables for Dogs). You have your choice of kibble including varieties of: LiveSmart (the manufacturer’s product), Wellness, Newman’s Own, or you can use your own preferred kibble and mix Proportion’s recommended amount with the stew and veggie & fruit mix. Romeo ate LiveSmart’s chicken and brown rice adult dog formula which scored a B+ using the dog food rating tool. Then I ran Proportions (kibble, stew, and veggies) through the rating tool twice making slightly different estimates about the ‘first 5 ingredients’ since they are different for the kibble and the stew. There are no grains in the stew whereas there are three healthy grains listed in the first five ingredients of the LiveSmart kibble. The food as a whole scored an A+ on the first go around and an A on the second.
I looked for but did not find any labeling on the samples we received or on the Proportions website saying that the three packages combined meet the nutritional standards set by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) for dog food. Dog foods that meet the AAFCO nutrient profile, or pass a feeding trial, can legally be labeled ‘complete and balanced.’ Proportions refers to their food as ‘balanced’ but not ‘complete and balanced.’ This raises a concern for me, despite the very high quality of its ingredients, as to whether Proportions is providing all the nutrition a dog needs. That said, it should be noted that some truly rot-gut dog foods full of sugars, unspecified fat and meat sources, artificial preservatives and coloring, gluten, and other garbage do meet the AAFCO nutritional standards. Go figure.
3. What do I think about it?
Proportions is as much a ‘concept’ as it is a dog food. The idea is to
Proportions: kibble, stew, veggies
reduce carbohydrates by reducing the amount of kibble typically fed, increase the amount of whole food fed (human grade chicken stew), include phytonutrients found in veggies & fruits, and feed the number of calories your dog needs to maintain their ideal weight for their breed (or mix) and level of activity. The ‘proportions’–Your Proportions Plan–are determined when you enter your dog’s vital statistics into the Proportions Calculator on their website. Romeo, for example, ate 459 calories in the form of 5/8 cup of kibble, 7 oz. of stew, and .5 oz of dehydrated veggies & fruit for each meal. His two sample meals arrived in a personalized package stamped with the silhouette of a Standard Poodle, his name and the number of calories in each meal.
Romeo, 1 meal - 459 calories
This seems a little over-the-top to me. Can’t we just feed our dogs a kibble (if we feed our dogs kibble) that scores a high grade from K9Cusine’s Dog Food Rating Tool, add some fresh whole foods and maybe a decent probiotic and call it a meal? But, then, that’s just me. And, truth be told, taking this approach does require doing some research so that you ensure you are not shortchanging your dog nutritionally.
I can also see where a doggie parent who wants to feed their dog a high quality food, maintain their weight—and Dog only knows that obesity among our dogs is as epidemic as it is among us humans—and enjoy the convenience of having it all prepared and shipped free-of-charge to your doorstep would find customized Proportions an attractive choice.
4. The facts.
Proportions is manufactured and distributed by SmartPak Canine in Plymoth, MA. The “Hand-carved Chicken in Pumpkin Soup Formula” is labeled “Product of Thailand” and “Made in a human food facility.” Please anyone, correct me if I’m wrong about this, but as far as I know Thailand’s human food production for export has a good track record.
The cost of Proportions’ meals varies, of course, depending on your particular dog. But, on average it runs a little over $2.00 per meal.
You can receive a free sample by going to the Proportions website.
Full Disclosure: A Proportions representative contacted me asking if I would review the food. I agreed and received a free sample of two meals for Romeo.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rod Burkert, Kim Clune. Kim Clune said: Checking out: Dog Food Review: Proportions http://bit.ly/bl4Fv4 (via @boulderdog1) […]
Nice shot of the food! Sounds like another solid food that delivers to the home and provides maximum information so people can control their dogs’ diet. Thanks Deborah!
Thanks, Mary. What are you doing up so late 🙂
Hi there, can’t sleep either. 🙂 Great review, Deborah! I had been curious about this food. Really like your take on it.
Thank you!
That’s pretty expensive food. If I fed that to Honey every day, we’d spend half as much on her food as I do on my entire food budget for me and my husband!
That said, I’ve seen amazing benefits from cooking nutritionally complete, homemade meals for my dogs but it’s a lot of work. Proportions looks like a pretty good option if you can afford it and don’t have time to prepare your own meals.
I guess everything comes down to time vs money.
You said it—a lot of work! Personally, I think it’s worth it. That’s what I do for Sadie. But, if I didn’t have the time and still wanted a healthy choice I could throw together without thinking about it (a lovely thing when I’m in a hurry or dead tired), Proportions, cost and all, might be worth it.
A thorough review covering everything that matters! As you may know, we feed our dogs food from The Honest Kitchen. It’s also human grade food made in a facility in San Diego. There seems to be a little less preparation involved. The cost is slightly less if buy THK in bulk (gets you a discount and free shipping). Ty likes the food so much that he whimpers when the food comes out of the cabinet!
Awww. That’s what you want, your pup loving his food. I’ve heard lots of good things about THK. If Sadie and I ever take a road trip that’s probably what I’ll use. The way I feed her now requires refrigeration.
Very well done. Excellent review. The food sounds fantastic. Thank you so much for including the K9 Cuisine Dog Food Rating Tool. I am glad you found it useful.
Thanks Anthony. Your dog food rating tool is very handy and educational.
Thanks for this thoughtful review; I too would be both charmed and irritated if Frankie’s food came in a personalized packet: Charmed because it was personalized and irritated because I knew I was paying dearly for that cuteness. My method of feeding is based on a similar concept: I figure the kibble — Wellness Core, which gets an A + on the K9cuisine food calculator — provides the basic nutrition and then I add additional protein. My latest is Evanger’s canned meats: There’s one that’s a chunk of whole beef and nothing but beef, and one that’s whole chicken thigh with a boiled bone intact (you can break it up if you’re worried, it’s that soft). No added salt, just a bit of water that makes a broth. Oh yeah — and it’s kosher, even for Passover. I’m not sure what the benefit of that is, but it cracks me up.
LOL! Well, maybe for people who keep a Kosher kitchen it’s important for their dog’s food to be Kosher so their kitchen stays Kosher since we typically feed our dogs from the kitchen. I hadn’t really thought about it before, and I could be totally wrong. Anyway, it sounds like you have found a feeding plan that works for well for Frankie. That is so small feat. I know.
You’re absolutely right about how Evangers would fit into keeping a kosher kitchen; I was being a bit disingenuous. The company hosts seders for dogs every year, in fact, and I think this year I’ll have to interview them (and perhaps some kosher users of the food) to discuss the concept.
My diet for Frankie is constantly evolving (different low grain kibble, different toppings), but I’ve got the basics down: Good healthy food that’s palatable — essential because if Frankie doesn’t eat, I can’t give him his insulin.
Oh, Edie do interview them. I LOVE it. A seder for dogs. The photos! Can you imagine. Too wonderful!. I wonder what they do for bitter herbs? I bet the lamb shank is a hit
We tried this out and it was way too expensive for 2 100pd plus dogs. But mine gobbled up and I loved the concept.
We are new followers 🙂
Hey, Thank you Karl. Nice to meet you.
Best line?
The idea of it makes a lot of sense, but the cost and other factors do see a bit much for most dog moms.