High Protein Beef, Potato & Peas Recipe with Venison & Lamb Dry Dog Food, 23-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Rachael Ray Nutrish High Protein Beef, Potato & Peas Recipe with Venison & Lamb is a dry dog food featuring beef and chicken as its main protein sources.
This formula has a strong protein profile, with beef as the primary ingredient, which means it offers high biological value. Chicken meal and beef and bone meal also contribute to the protein content.
The biggest watch item here is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified. There's also some legume stacking with dried peas, pea starch, and pea protein, though beef and bone meal in the top 10 might offer some mitigation.
Good fit for dogs who do well on a beef and chicken-based diet. Less ideal if you require verified nutritional completeness.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. Strong fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. At 335 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side, with crude fiber at 5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs (APOP, 2023) .
Looking at this for adult 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 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 59/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 21 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. The ceiling on this score is 59, set because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). The fix path: the brand publishing the AAFCO statement. That would lift the cap and put this formula above the B-band line at 60.
Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Bottom 4% for caloric density in grain-free dry kibbles (335 kcal/cup)
- Top quartile for protein quality in Rachael Ray Nutrish's lineup (21/27)
- Bottom 4% for carb quality in dry kibbles (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.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Salmon, Veggies & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food, 12-lb bag
Scores 12 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Whole Health Blend Real Beef, Pea, & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
$1.37/lb vs your seed's $2.22/lb (38% less) at a comparable score.
Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Lamb, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag
Lamb instead of beef, matched score, 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.
- 1protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3dried potato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
- 4natural pork flavor
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5tapioca
Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.
- 6dried peas
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 →
Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 7pea starch
Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.
Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 8sunflower meal
- 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.
- 10beef and bone meal
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 11: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 12protein plantpea protein
Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.
Position 12. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 13protein animalvenison
Real meat, lean and gamey. Used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities.
Position 13: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 14protein animallamb
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 14: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 15protein animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
Position 15: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 16othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 17mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 18supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 19supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 20mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 21mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 22mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
- 23mineralsodium selenite Flagged
Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →
- 24mineralmanganese sulfate
Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.
- 25mineralcalcium iodate
Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.
Showing first 25 of 29. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.