Don’t let the packaging of Leaps & Bounds dog food deceive you.
It’s the second ingredient in this food for our meat-loving dogs which I see as the biggest red flag – cereals (most likely wheat).
I see wheat as one of the most problematic ingredients in dog food. It’s used because it’s very very cheap, not because it’s healthy for our dogs.
Leaps & Bounds may look affordable, but keep in mind it’s essentially a home brand (or phantom brand) of Petbarn.
If you’re looking for an affordable dog food then here are some alternative recommendations, or if you’re still keep on Leaps & Bounds for your dog then read the full review below:
Leaps & Bounds review
I want you to ignore meat as the first ingredient in Leaps & Bounds, as good as it sounds. You can expect the first three ingredients to be a big part of the formula.
Let’s take a look at Leaps & Bounds Adult Lamb with Rice and Rosemary, but consider the other formulas same same but different.
In no particular order, the first ingredients are vegetable protein from soya, cereals (wheat and rice), and meat meal as a combination of lamb, poultry, and beef (regardless of the meat stated on the front of the bag).
It doesn’t take much to realise the meat (1/3) doesn’t sound as significant as the grains and vegetable protein (2/3). The protein in the food is mediocre at 24%, which is a mix of meat and vegetable protein (meat protein is more digestible for your dog).
With a low amount of fat at 10%, which isn’t guaranteed and could even be less, we’re looking at a product likely 50% or more in unnecessary carbohydrates. I view dogs as carnivores more than omnivores, based on their instincts and biology, which means those carbs aren’t necessary.
Pet food companies love you to think a dog food is full of meat, but what they love more is making it as cheap as possible for the best profit. Cereal grains are great for profit, which is why they’re used.
Chicken fat as the forth ingredient is fine, and everything after that will be a small percentage of the food. It’s really just those four ingredients which make up most of the product.
There isn’t much to say about the remaining ingredients. They’re mostly standard requirements of fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
It’s nice to see fish oil, but it’s two steps down from salt which should be 1%. So not much fish oil then? Or linseed (good for joints), or chicory root inulin as a prebiotic (for better digestion).
When it comes to kelp meal as the second to last ingredient, are we talking about a speck?
Overall Leaps & Bounds comes across as a fairly average dog food. That’s probably being generous, so let’s say a fairly average home brand. Not your best option at Petbarn, so have a look around and if you can pay a little more money – may pay dividends later in the health and wellbeing of your dog.
If you can’t stretch to more, you could look at adding some fresh meat, offal, and raw meaty bones to give your dog some variety.
Where to buy Leaps & Bounds
You can buy Leaps & Bounds directly from Petbarn (or click and collect).
Ingredients
Ingredients of Leaps & Bounds dog food (Leaps & Bounds Adult Lamb with Rice and Rosemary):
Meat meal (poultry, fish, beef and/or lamb), wholegrain cereals (wheat, rice), vegetable protein (soya bean), chicken fat, beet pulp (prebiotic dietary fibre), salt, linseed, fish oil (containing omega 3 fatty acids), minerals (including potassium zinc, iron, copper, manganese, iodine, selenium), chicory root inulin (prebiotic), vitamins (including E, B3, B5, B2, B6, B1, B9, B12, A, D3), choline chloride, yucca extract, garlic, kelp meal, natural antioxidants.
Typical Analysis
Leaps & Bounds uses a Typical Analysis not a Guaranteed Analysis. This means the values listed below may not be in your favour.
Typical Analysis of Leaps & Bounds dog food (Leaps & Bounds Adult Lamb with Rice and Rosemary):
| Protein | 24% |
| Fat | 10% |
| Crude Fibre | 2.5% |
| Carbohydrates * | Estimated 48% |