Raw Coated Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Puppy Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 10-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated Cage-Free Chicken Recipe is a grain-free dry food for puppies, featuring chicken as its main protein.
This food has a strong protein profile, with chicken as the primary ingredient, which means high biological value for your dog. It also includes quality fat sources like named chicken fat and salmon oil, providing beneficial EPA and DHA. The formula uses named fresh meat paired with same-species meal, which is a strong approach for extruded kibble.
The main thing to note is that an AAFCO statement is not present. This is an important piece of information for a puppy formula.
Good fit for puppies who need a high-protein diet. Less ideal if you prefer a food with a clear AAFCO statement.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active small hounds like Beagles, Dachshunds, and Boston Terriers navigating weight management. At 438 kcal/cup this formula runs on the rich side, with crude fiber at 5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). Beagles will eat anything and gain weight on it. Portion control matters more than formula choice for most owners; mid-density adult-maintenance formulas with measurable feeding guidelines work well. 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 puppy Beagles or Beagles 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 2 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 3 claims
- 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 73/100, landing in B-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+22 points): Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. Also adding to the lift: fat quality (+12). Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source). The 2-point gap to A-tier sits mostly in carbohydrate quality (8 of 16 possible). Full carbohydrate quality requires whole-grain or single-source carbohydrates with a declared fermentable fiber.
Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Named fresh meat paired with same-species meal, a strong extrusion architecture.
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Lowest carb quality in Stella & Chewy's's lineup (8/16)
- Top 4% for DMB protein in dry kibbles (40.9%)
- Top quartile for protein quality in Stella & Chewy's's lineup (22.1/27)
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.
Stella & Chewy's SuperBlends Raw Coated Wholesome Grains Puppy Cage-Free Chicken & Wild-Caught Salmon Recipe with Superfoods Dry Dog Food, 21-lb bag
Scores 10 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Stella & Chewy's Raw Coated Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
$4.09/lb vs your seed's $5.00/lb (18% 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 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.
- 3legumepeas
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 3. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 4legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 6fibertomato pomace
The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.
Position 6: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 7fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
Position 7. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 8protein animalchicken heart
Organ meat. Dense in taurine, B vitamins, and CoQ10. One of the best ingredients dogs can eat.
Position 8. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 9protein 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 9. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.
- 10othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 11suncured alfalfa
- 12protein animalchicken gizzard
Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 13fenugreek seed
Herb seed. Trace inclusion, mostly for flavor and label appeal.
- 14fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 14: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 15coconut flour
- 16pumpkin seed
Real seed. Source of magnesium, zinc, and traditionally used as a mild dewormer (the evidence is folkloric, not clinical).
- 17fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
- 18vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
- 19vegetablebroccoli
Real vegetable. Adds fiber and some antioxidants. Fine in the small amounts used in kibble.
- 20beets
Whole beets, not to be confused with beet pulp. Real vegetable, fiber and antioxidants.
- 21vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
- 22squash
Real vegetable. Fiber, vitamin A, gentle on the stomach. Similar nutrition role to sweet potato.
- 23fruitblueberries
Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.
- 24vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
- 25fiberinulin
Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.
Showing first 25 of 54. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.