Under the Sun Dry Dog Food: Grain Free Lamb Recipe
Graded by The Sniff System
Canidae Under the Sun Dry Dog Food: Grain Free Lamb Recipe is a dry food featuring lamb as its primary protein.
This formula includes premium micronutrient forms like chelated minerals, which are easier for your dog's body to absorb. The brand also provides good evidence for its claims, showing extensive transparency and verification.
Protein quality is a watch item here, as lamb meal can deliver limited bioavailable amino acids. Also, there's high legume stacking with multiple pulse-family ingredients in the top 15, though taurine is supplemented.
Good fit for dogs whose owners value transparency and premium micronutrients. Less ideal if you are looking for higher protein quality or want to avoid high legume content.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Neutral fit for adult German Shorthaired Pointers and similar sporting breeds. Lamb meal leads the deck at position 1, 29% DMB protein, 511 kcal/cup.
Looking at this for adult German Shorthaired Pointers ? 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.
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At 50/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from micronutrient inclusion, worth 4 points to the final number: Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 15 points. Low protein quality. lamb meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids. The path to B-tier is about 10 points; protein quality is the structural lever.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
Good evidence with extensive transparency and verification.
Low protein quality. lamb meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest protein quality in Canidae's lineup (9.8/27)
- Top 10% for crude fiber in Canidae's lineup (6.1% DMB)
- Lowest fat quality in Canidae's lineup (6/16)
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.
All Life Stages Dry Dog Food Real Lamb & Ancient Grains Recipe
Scores 22 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
CANIDAE Under the Sun Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
Chicken instead of lamb, 9 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animallamb meal
Lamb cooked down to a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh lamb. See why →
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2legumegreen peas
Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. See why →
Position 2. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 3legumegarbanzo beans
Same as chickpeas. Part of the legume stack the FDA investigated. See why →
Position 3. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 4legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5fatcanola oil
Plant oil. Some omega-3 from the parent plant, though dogs absorb it less efficiently than fish-derived omega-3. Fine in moderation.
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 6suncured alfalfa meal
Sun-dried alfalfa, preserving more of the natural vitamins than heat-dried versions.
- 7protein animallamb
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 9othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 10supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 11mineraliron proteinate
Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 12mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 13mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 14mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 15mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 16mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 17mineralpotassium iodide
Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 18mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 19manganous oxide
Inorganic manganese. Functional, cheaper than chelated forms, less efficiently absorbed.
- 20mineralmanganese sulfate
Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.
- 21mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
- 22vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 23vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 24vitaminascorbic acid
Vitamin C. Pulls double duty as a natural antioxidant preservative.
- 25vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
Showing first 25 of 51. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
25 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
CANIDAE Under the Sun Dry Dog Food: Grain Free Lamb Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.