N&D Brown Coat Lamb, Norwegian Kelp & Carrot Puppy Mini Dry Dog Food, 3.3-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Farmina N&D Brown Coat Lamb, Norwegian Kelp & Carrot Puppy Mini Dry Dog Food is a dry food for puppies, featuring lamb as its main protein source.
This formula offers good protein quality, with lamb providing solid amino acid coverage. It also uses quality carbohydrate sources that include fermentable fiber, and its fat sources are good, featuring named fats and marine oil for EPA and DHA.
The main thing to watch for is the inclusion of MSG, which often comes from yeast extract. While the safety signal is largely internet-fueled, it does raise questions about formulation transparency.
Good fit for small breed puppies. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Labs are the canonical food-motivated breed. Weight management is the dominant practical concern, even more than breed-specific health risks. Good fit for puppy Labrador Retrievers navigating weight management. Caloric density is not declared. The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively (Brooks et al., 2014) .
Looking at this for puppy Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? 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 2 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 3 claims
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 74/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 19.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. lamb delivers solid amino acid coverage. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 3 points. Contains msg. Safety signal is internet-fueled; real issue is transparency. Yeast extract as MSG loophole obscures formulation. This formula sits 1.0 points below the A-tier line. The most direct lever is controversial-ingredient penalty.
Reasonable protein quality. lamb delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Contains msg. Safety signal is internet-fueled; real issue is transparency. Yeast extract as MSG loophole obscures formulation..
- Top 3% for DMB fat in grain-free dry kibbles (24.2%)
- Bottom 5% for crude fiber in grain-free dry kibbles (3.3% DMB)
- Top 10% for carb quality in grain-free dry kibbles (14/16)
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.
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Recipe Puppy Mini Dry Dog Food, 5.5-lb bag
Scores 7 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Farmina N&D Tropical Selection Lamb Puppy Medium & Maxi Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
$3.64/lb vs your seed's $11.21/lb (68% less) at a comparable score.
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
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2dehydrated lamb
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 3: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 4fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 4: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 5herring oil
Concentrated omega-3 from herring. Same role as salmon oil, skin and coat support.
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6hydrolyzed fish
- 7supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 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.
- 9dried carrot
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, antioxidants. Same as carrots, sometimes singular on labels.
- 10supplementturmeric
Spice with anti-inflammatory compounds. Real research in humans, but the dose in kibble is small. Mostly there for label appeal.
- 11fiberpea fiber
Insoluble fiber from peas. Doesn't carry the protein-inflation concern of pea protein. Mostly there for stool quality.
Position 11. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 12suncured alfalfa meal
Sun-dried alfalfa, preserving more of the natural vitamins than heat-dried versions.
- 13chicken cartilage
Position 13: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 14fiberinulin
Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.
Position 14: trace fiber inclusion.
- 15fructooligosaccharide
Prebiotic fiber, often abbreviated FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria.
- 16yeast extract
Yeast broken down to a paste. Strong palatant plus a real source of B vitamins.
- 17dried spinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
- 18psyllium seed husk
Soluble fiber. Supports stool quality. The same fiber humans use for digestive regularity.
- 19brewers dried yeast
Yeast left over from brewing. Rich in B vitamins and amino acids. A traditional and well-tolerated inclusion.
- 20mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 21mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 22fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
- 23mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 24vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 25vitaminvitamin d3 supplement
The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.
Showing first 25 of 49. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.