Challenger Puppy & Adult Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Dry Dog Food, 11-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Nulo Challenger Puppy & Adult Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish is a dry food formulated for all life stages, featuring a blend of fish proteins.
This formula boasts a strong protein profile, with haddock as the first ingredient, providing high biological value. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that offer fermentable fiber, and the fat sources are clearly named and declared.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for small breed dogs of all life stages, from puppies to adults. 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 puppy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and similar moderately active toy breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Salmon anchors position 2, with zero pulses in the top 15. The FDA's 2019 investigation update on diet-associated DCM included 13 reported cases in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, making them one of the top 15 most frequently reported breeds at that time (FDA, 2019) .
Looking at this for puppy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 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 2 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac · diet composition· cited in 3 claims
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 78/100, landing in A-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+21 points): Strong protein profile with haddock 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 haddock as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources.
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Top 4% for DMB protein in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (38.9%)
- Top 10% for overall Sniff Score in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (78/100)
- Top quartile for DMB fat in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (20.0%)
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.
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Scores 6 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
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$2.80/lb vs your seed's $5.00/lb (44% less) at a comparable score.
Nutro Ultra Adult Small Breed High Protein Trio of Proteins Chicken, Lamb & Salmon Dry Dog Food, 12-lb bag
Chicken instead of salmon, 3 points lower, 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.
- 1haddock
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalsalmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalsalmon meal
Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient. See why →
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4protein animalturkey meal
Turkey with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh turkey. See why →
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 8grainmillet
Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 9grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 9: minor grain inclusion.
- 10acadian redfish
- 11ground miscanthus grass
Same as miscanthus grass. A plant fiber source, mostly there for stool quality.
- 12othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 15vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 15: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 16fruitblueberries
Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.
- 17dried spinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
- 18fiberdried chicory root
Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.
- 19mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 20supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 21supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 22supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 23vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 24supplementl-carnitine
Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.
- 25mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
Showing first 25 of 47. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
NULO Challenger Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon, & Acadian Redfish Recipe Dog Food 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 lb. or more as an adult).