Grain Free (3lb / 4 Bags)
Graded by The Sniff System
A Pup Above Grain Free (3lb / 4 Bags) is a wet food featuring turkey, chicken heart, and chicken liver as its main protein sources.
This food offers reasonable protein quality, with turkey providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber. The formula benefits from diverse, high-bioavailability protein sources like organ meats.
The main thing to watch is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. Also, there's no declared omega-3 source like fish oil or algae oil.
Good fit for dogs whose owners prioritize whole food ingredients and organ meats. Less ideal if you need verified completeness or a dedicated omega-3 source.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Turkey anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus chicken heart at position 2 (a natural taurine precursor). In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) .
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 55/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was protein quality (+18.5 points): Reasonable protein quality. turkey delivers solid amino acid coverage. A hard cap of 59 also applied because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). Even without the cap, the base component scores sit below the next band. The structural fix would need to address fat quality as well.
Reasonable protein quality. turkey delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Lowest protein quality in A Pup Above's lineup (18.3/27)
- Top 10% for DMB fat in wet foods (33.3%)
- Lowest fat quality in A Pup Above's lineup (4/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
ACANA Premium Pate Poultry in Bone Broth Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 12.8-oz, case of 12
Scores 17 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
American Journey Limited Ingredient Diet Premium Loaf Poultry Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz can, case of 12
$3.84/lb vs your seed's $13.16/lb (71% less) at a comparable score.
Tiki Dog Petites Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 3.5-oz pouch, case of 12
Chicken instead of turkey, 4 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 50%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalchicken heart
Organ meat. Dense in taurine, B vitamins, and CoQ10. One of the best ingredients dogs can eat.
Position 2. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 3protein animalchicken liver
Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.
Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 4vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 4: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 5green beans
Real vegetable. Fiber and a small amount of vitamins. Often used in weight-management formulas because it bulks up a meal without adding calories.
- 6chicken bone broth
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7protein animalduck liver
Position 7. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 8fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Position 8: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 9fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
Position 9: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 10thyme
- 11supplementturmeric
Spice with anti-inflammatory compounds. Real research in humans, but the dose in kibble is small. Mostly there for label appeal.
- 12supplementparsley
Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.
- 13apa nutrient mix
- 14protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 14: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 15protein animalbeef liver
Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.
Position 15. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.
- 16russet potatoes
- 17tomatoes
Real fruit. Lycopene and trace antioxidants. Different from tomato pomace, which is the fiber byproduct.
- 18beef bone broth
Real bone broth. Adds flavor, moisture, and a small amount of collagen. Pleasant inclusion.
- 19vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
- 20legumegreen peas
Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. See why →
- 21safflower oil
- 22supplementturmeric
Spice with anti-inflammatory compounds. Real research in humans, but the dose in kibble is small. Mostly there for label appeal.
- 23thyme
- 24supplementparsley
Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.
- 25apa nutrient mix
Showing first 25 of 35. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
17 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.