Under the Sun Dry Dog Food: Grain Free Whitefish Recipe
Graded by The Sniff System
Canidae Under the Sun Dry Dog Food: Grain Free Whitefish Recipe is a dry food that features fish as its primary protein source.
This recipe includes named fish ingredients like fish meal and whitefish, which contribute to a diverse and highly bioavailable protein profile. The brand also provides good evidence with extensive transparency and verification for this product.
The formula contains a high amount of legume stacking, with peas, garbanzo beans, and green peas all appearing in the top ingredients. This is partially mitigated by the inclusion of taurine.
Good fit for dogs needing a grain-free diet with fish as the primary protein. Less ideal if you prefer formulas with fewer legumes.
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. Fish meal leads the deck at position 1, 29% DMB protein, 515 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.
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 40/100, landing in D-tier territory. The biggest contributor was ingredient diversity (+5 points): Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein. The biggest detractor was controversial-ingredient penalty (-2 points): Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10. The gap to C-tier is small (5.0 points). Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty would likely close it.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Good evidence with extensive transparency and verification.
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 overall Sniff Score in Canidae's lineup (40/100)
- Top 10% for crude fiber in Canidae's lineup (6.1% DMB)
- Bottom 3% for protein quality in Canidae's lineup (10.6/27)
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.
Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated Wild-Caught Whitefish Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Scores 30 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 fish, 19 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 animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2legumepeas
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 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.
- 4legumegreen peas
Same as peas. Useful in small amounts. The concern is when pulses dominate the top of the ingredient list. 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 animalwhitefish
Real fish meat. Lean protein with a clean amino acid profile.
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.
- 11supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 12mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 13mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 14mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 15vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 16mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 17preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
- 18supplementparsley
Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.
- 19vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 20sage
- 21green 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.
- 22vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
- 23cinnamon
- 24supplementrosemary
- 25vegetablevegetable
Unnamed vegetable. No way to know what species. Named vegetables are far more transparent.
Showing first 25 of 48. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
CANIDAE Under the Sun Dry Dog Food: Grain Free Whitefish Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.