Help me in Favor

What is the context? I do think lumping some foods into "high quality" and the rest into "low quality" is a little too much of a generalization. I'm VER picky about my foods, but I have used PMI Nutrition, Diamond (the new naturals line), and even Purina One. The first two have products that don't include any of the "iffy" ingredients you listed. But they are by no means "premiums". And it's very difficult to find a high-energy food suitable for livestock guardian dogs, working herding dogs, or sled dogs, that would fall in the first classification.

I think we need new terms. It's too early, I have no suggestions - anyone?

If I was using this site as a reference, I'd like to see categories like:
 
Premium
High quality
Medium quality
Low quality
Or a 5-star rating system
 
Within each category, I would then like to see sub-categories:
 
High protein foods
Grain free foods
Allergy formulas
Holistic formulas (?)
 
 

i agree with the above posters. it seems that your "high quality" foods are simply a reprint of the whole dog journal's list of top dry foods. there are several foods that are on your low quality list that we either feed, have fed, or would feed. i dont think blackwood, sensible choice, royal canin,... can be equated to ol' roy or kibble n bits.

not to mention, you list pinnacle on your high quality list and breeder's choice on your low quality list. pinnacle is made by breeder's choice. (check their web site... [linkhttp://www.breeders-choice.com/]http://www.breeders-choice.com/[/link] )

Several of the foods are spelled wrong. Also, if one plans to include a specific Formula, it needs to read completely. For example:

Barking - should be Solid Gold, Barking at the Moon. Which, by the way, is a Super Premium.

I agree that more classifications are needed, and that some in the low quality are actually good foods, and some in the high quality list are NOT.

I agree with everyone else, plus I don't think your titles are very informative. Perhaps these additions would give your reader more information:

Commonly used Poor-Quality Protein Ingredients

Possibly Harmful Chemical Preservatives, Artificial Colors & Flavors

Other low or poor quality ingredients to be avoided

Look For Pet food that has
- NO Corn, Soybean, Digest or other low quality Fillers
- Oven-Baked Kibbles
- Concentrated High Protein formula

Corn isn't necessarily a "bad ingredient" per se. Unless an individual dog is sensitive or allergic to corn, it is no better and no worse than other cereal grains, as long as it is used as a source of carbohydrates and not as a main source of protein." www.dogfoodproject.com

Pet food that is oven baked can be processed at temperatures of 425 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and for much longer time periods than the extrusion process takes. Modern manufacturing techniques allow for very low temperatures during the extrusion process. Oven baked kibble also tends to stick to the dog's teeth a lot worse than extruded dry food. www.dogfoodproject.com

Concentrated high protein formulas are not a good choice for every dog.

I like Kelly's points a lot. I've had my post chores shower, breakfast, and a Coke, and I've got some ideas now on neutral terminology.

Foods are better divided by function. When these discussions come up, seems like we get a lot of sputtering, "But I feed X because of . . ."

Like Scout said, there's High Protein, Grain Free, Single Protein/Meat (technically the carb sources add some protein too), Holistic/Organics, and Special Needs (including prescription diets and a lot of the Royal Canin line). Among the other foods there's Economy, Economy High Energy, Economy Special Needs, and, I'm at a loss here - the compromise feeds like Nutro and the higher end Purina products. And I honestly don't know what to call Science Diet, Iams, and Euk since it's not economy or holistic but it's not a special needs deal. Maybe "If You Really MUST"?

It's a start. I'm looking for value-neutral terminology, remember (so I guess we'll have to call ix-nay on that last little slip [] ).

Thanks everyone. I'll take all of yours suggestions & advice