Heirloom Ancient Grains Fish Formula Dry Dog Food, 15-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Dr. Tim's Heirloom Ancient Grains Fish Formula is a dry dog food for all life stages, featuring salmon and pollock as primary proteins.
This formula boasts a strong protein profile, with pollock as the first ingredient, providing high biological value. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber, and good fat sources like named chicken fat and marine oils for EPA and DHA.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for dogs of all life stages, especially those who do well on a fish-based diet with ancient grains. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Pollock anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus salmon meal at position 2. 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 80/100, landing in A-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+21.5 points): Strong protein profile with pollock as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. Also adding to the lift: carbohydrate quality (+16). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Strong protein profile with pollock as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Lowest fat quality in Dr. Tim's's lineup (12/16)
- Top 5% for overall Sniff Score in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (80/100)
- Bottom quartile for crude fiber in 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.
ACANA Sea to Stream Saltwater Fish Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
Scores 7 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Dr. Tim's Kinesis Senior Dog Formula Dry Food, 40-lb bag
$3.02/lb vs your seed's $5.18/lb (42% less) at a comparable score.
ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
Chicken instead of salmon, 1 point 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.
- 1pollock
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalsalmon meal
Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient. See why →
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3grainmillet
Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4grainquinoa
Pseudo-grain with a complete amino acid profile. Rare in dog food because it's expensive.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5spelt
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb 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.
- 7pollock meal
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8protein animalwhitefish
Real fish meat. Lean protein with a clean amino acid profile.
Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 9catfish meal
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10protein animalegg product
Processed whole eggs. Same nutritional profile as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11dried 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 11: trace fiber inclusion.
- 12othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 13dried porcine plasma
- 14fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
Position 14. Trace marine oil. Contributes some omega-3 but well below the level that drives EPA/DHA totals.
- 15mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 16chia seeds
- 17vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 18l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate
A stable form of vitamin C used in pet food. Provides antioxidant support and survives processing better than plain ascorbic acid.
- 19vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 20vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 21vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 22vitaminbiotin
B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.
- 23vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 24vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 25vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
Showing first 25 of 59. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
19 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Dr. Tim's Heirloom Ancient Grains Fish Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lbs. or more as an adult).