High Protein Chicken Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Crave High Protein Chicken Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is a grain-free dry food for adult dogs, primarily featuring chicken and pork.
This food has a strong protein profile, with chicken as the first ingredient, providing good biological value. It also uses a smart extrusion architecture, pairing fresh chicken with chicken meal.
The formula contains high legume stacking, with split peas, lentils, and pea starch all appearing in the top 10 ingredients. This pattern of pulse reliance is what the FDA flagged in its DCM investigation.
Good fit for adult dogs needing high protein. Less ideal if your dog has a heart condition or a vet-flagged legume sensitivity.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Neutral fit for large sporting breeds, including the German Shorthaired Pointer, at the adult life stage. Chicken leads the deck at position 1, 38% DMB protein, 449 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Solid grade. 60/100 (B) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+20 points): Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What capped it: the score can't exceed 64 because pulse-family ingredients (peas, lentils, chickpeas) are stacked in the top 15 (the pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation). Removing the cap alone wouldn't change the band. Controversial-ingredient penalty is the deeper issue.
Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Named fresh meat paired with same-species meal, a strong extrusion architecture.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Contains high legume stacking. Three or more pulse-family ingredients in top 10. Split-ingredient evidence of pea/lentil/chickpea reliance..
- Bottom 4% for carb quality in dry kibbles (8/16)
- Top 10% for DMB protein in dry kibbles (37.8%)
- Bottom quartile for crude fiber in grain-free dry kibbles (4.4% DMB)
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.
Iams Proactive Health High Protein Chicken & Beef Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag
Scores 18 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Country Vet Naturals 28-16 Grain-Free Dog Food, 30-lb bag
$1.41/lb vs your seed's $2.80/lb (50% less) at a comparable score.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag
Lamb instead of chicken, 8 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 animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3split peas
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.
- 4legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5protein animalpork meal
Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7pea starch
Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.
Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 8dried plain beet pulp
Beet fiber, with the sugar removed. Long unfairly maligned. It's a real soluble fiber that supports stool quality. See why →
Position 8: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 9fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 10othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 11dehydrated alfalfa meal
Dried alfalfa. Fiber and trace minerals. Not exciting but it's a real plant ingredient.
- 12supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14preservative naturalcitric acid
Natural antioxidant preservative. Helps keep fats from going rancid.
Natural preservative. Methodologically preferred over synthetic alternatives.
- 15preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
Natural preservative. Methodologically preferred over synthetic alternatives.
- 16supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 17mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 18vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 19mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 20zinc oxide
Inorganic zinc. Cheapest mineral form on the market. Functional but less bioavailable than chelated alternatives.
- 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 →
- 22vitaminascorbic acid
Vitamin C. Pulls double duty as a natural antioxidant preservative.
- 23vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 24mineralmanganese sulfate
Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.
- 25mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
Showing first 25 of 37. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.