Grain-Free Sky Recipe Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Redbarn Grain-Free Sky Recipe Dry Dog Food is a dry formula featuring turkey, chicken, and duck as its main protein sources.
This food has a strong protein profile, with turkey as the first ingredient, which means good biological value for your dog. It also includes premium micronutrient forms like chelated minerals, which are easier for dogs to absorb.
The biggest thing to note is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness isn't verified. Also, there's high legume stacking with lentils, garbanzo beans, and peas all appearing in the top 15 ingredients.
Good fit for dogs needing a high protein diet with quality micronutrients. Less ideal if AAFCO verification or low legume content is a priority.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Labrador Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating weight management. At 425 kcal/cup this formula runs on the rich side, with crude fiber at 7% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). 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. 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 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 59/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was protein quality (+23 points): Strong protein profile with turkey as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. A hard cap of 59 also applied 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). If the brand publishing the AAFCO statement were on the label, the cap would lift and this formula could clear the B-band threshold (60).
Strong protein profile with turkey as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
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..
- Lowest carb quality in Redbarn's lineup (11/16)
- Top 10% for protein quality in dry kibbles (23.1/27)
- Lowest overall Sniff Score in Redbarn's lineup (59/100)
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.
Redbarn Whole Grain Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Scores 25 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food, 26-lb bag
$1.79/lb vs your seed's $3.64/lb (51% less) at a comparable score.
Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated Cage-Free Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
Duck instead of turkey, 10 points higher, 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 animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 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.
- 4protein animalduck meal
Duck cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh duck.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5protein animalturkey meal
Turkey with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh turkey. See why →
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 6: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 7legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 8legumegarbanzo beans
Same as chickpeas. Part of the legume stack the FDA investigated. See why →
Position 8. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 9vegetablepotato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
Position 9: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 10legumepeas
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 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 11fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 11: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 12fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 12: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 13vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 13: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 14ground miscanthus grass
Same as miscanthus grass. A plant fiber source, mostly there for stool quality.
- 15sunflower meal
- 16othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 17protein animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
- 18mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 19mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 20mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 21supplementdl-methionine
Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.
- 22supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 23mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 24mineraliron proteinate
Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 25mineralcalcium iodate
Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.
Showing first 25 of 52. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.