Oven-Baked Chicken Small Bites Recipe Puppy Dry Dog Food, 5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Lotus Oven-Baked Chicken Small Bites Recipe Puppy Dry Dog Food is a dry food for puppies, featuring chicken and chicken liver as primary proteins.
This recipe has a strong protein profile, with chicken and chicken liver providing high biological value. It also uses quality carbohydrate sources that include fermentable fiber, and good fat sources like named chicken fat and marine oil for EPA and DHA.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for puppies of any size. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large herding breeds, including the German Shepherd, navigating a sensitive stomach. Working in its favor: prebiotic fiber (chicory or FOS) for gut health. Chicken leads at position 1. What we'd flag: multiple protein sources stacked (harder to isolate triggers). Shepherds have a documented tendency toward sensitive GI tracts and hip/elbow dysplasia. Limited-ingredient formulas with marine omega-3 source consistently fit better.
Looking at this for puppy German Shepherds or German Shepherds with a sensitive stomach ? 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.
Strong grade. 78/100 (A) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+25 points): Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The supporting beat: carbohydrate quality (+15 points). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Strong protein profile with chicken 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 Lotus's lineup (12/16)
- Top 1% for caloric density in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (674 kcal/cup)
- Bottom 4% for crude fiber in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (3.3% 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.
Lotus Wholesome Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food, 12.5-lb bag
Scores 3 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE Small Breed Puppy Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food, 4-lb bag
$3.12/lb vs your seed's $6.40/lb (51% 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 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 liver
Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.
Position 2. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 3protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4grainrye
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7protein animalherring meal
Concentrated herring with the water removed. Carries protein and omega-3s in one ingredient.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 9fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 10fiberpea fiber
Insoluble fiber from peas. Doesn't carry the protein-inflation concern of pea protein. Mostly there for stool quality.
Position 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 11dried egg product
Whole eggs with the water removed. Same nutritional value as fresh eggs, just shelf-stable.
Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 12mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 13fatground flaxseed
Cracked flaxseed for better digestibility. Same plant omega-3s as whole flaxseed, just easier for the dog to extract.
Position 13: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 14brewers dried yeast
Yeast left over from brewing. Rich in B vitamins and amino acids. A traditional and well-tolerated inclusion.
- 15mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 16vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
- 17vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
- 18fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
- 19fruitblueberries
Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.
- 20vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 21vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
- 22calcium propionate
- 23garlic
- 24mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 25olive oil
Showing first 25 of 47. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.