Puppy Large Grain-Free High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 23.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
ORIJEN Puppy Large Grain-Free High-Protein Dry Dog Food is a dry food for puppies, featuring chicken, turkey, and salmon as primary proteins.
This formula has a strong protein profile, with chicken as the first ingredient, which means high biological value for your pup. It also uses quality fat sources that are clearly named. Plus, it's been substantiated by AAFCO feeding trials for growth, which is a good sign for puppies.
The formula contains multiple pulse-family ingredients in the top 15, a pattern the FDA has flagged in its DCM investigation. This is partially mitigated by organ meat in the top 10, which are natural taurine precursors.
Good fit for large breed puppies. Less ideal if you prefer foods without multiple pulse-family ingredients.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for lower-energy giant working breeds, including the Saint Bernard, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken anchors position 1, with 2 pulse-family ingredients in the top 15 (red lentils at position 11, lentils at position 15), plus chicken liver at position 5 (a natural taurine precursor) and salmon at position 3. Worth watching: calorie density (451 kcal/cup) is rich for a lower-activity breed. Based on 3,363 OFA cardiac screenings, 1.0% of Saint Bernards had abnormal findings. Dilated cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis are noted heritable cardiac diseases in the breed (OFA) .
Looking at this for puppy Saint Bernards or Saint Bernards 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, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac concerns with named research if dcm predisposed · diet composition· cited in 3 claims
- OFAcardiac concerns with named research if dcm predisposed
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 76/100, landing in A-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+26 points): Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The biggest detractor was controversial-ingredient penalty (-2 points): Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10.
Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources.
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for growth.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest DMB protein in ORIJEN's lineup (43.2%)
- Top 3% for protein quality in grain-free dry kibbles (26.2/27)
- Lowest carb quality in ORIJEN's lineup (8/16)
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.
ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
Scores 5 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
ORIJEN Original Grain-Free High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 31-lb bag
$4.32/lb vs your seed's $4.55/lb (5% 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 animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalsalmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4herring
Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5protein 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 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 6dehydrated chicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7dehydrated turkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8dehydrated sardine
Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 9dehydrated chicken liver
Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.
Position 9. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 10dehydrated egg
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11legumered lentils
Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →
Position 11. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 12eggs
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.
Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 13legumepinto beans
Position 13. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 14legumenavy beans
Position 14. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 15legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 15. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 16legumechickpeas
Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
- 17legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
- 18dried apple pomace
- 19turkey giblets
- 20othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 21pollock oil
- 22fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
- 23dehydrated pumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 24protein animalchicken heart
Organ meat. Dense in taurine, B vitamins, and CoQ10. One of the best ingredients dogs can eat.
- 25mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
Showing first 25 of 53. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
19 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.