Protein Plus+ Clusters Grain-Free Chicken Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
The Honest Kitchen Protein Plus+ Clusters Grain-Free Chicken Dry Dog Food is a dry food built around chicken and chicken liver.
This food includes chicken liver, an organ meat, which adds diverse, high-bioavailability protein. It also uses premium micronutrient forms like chelated minerals. While an AAFCO statement isn't explicitly published, the formulation is inferred to be complete.
The formula contains multiple legume ingredients like peas, lentils, and pea protein in the top 15. This pulse stacking is a pattern the FDA flagged in its DCM investigation, though chicken liver helps mitigate it.
Good fit for dogs whose owners prioritize diverse protein and premium micronutrients. Less ideal if you prefer foods without multiple legume ingredients.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Neutral fit for adult large sporting breeds like German Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners, and Brittanys. Chicken leads the deck at position 1, 36% DMB protein, 400 kcal/cup.
Looking at this for adult German Shorthaired Pointers ? 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.
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Middle-of-pack grade. 58/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Ingredient diversity did the heavy lifting (+5 points): Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein. What we'd flag for vet discussion: 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. B-tier is 2.0 points away. Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty is the most direct route.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared not stated. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
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 10% for fat quality in grain-free dry kibbles (6/16)
- Top quartile for DMB protein in grain-free dry kibbles (36.4%)
- Bottom quartile for crude fiber in The Honest Kitchen's lineup (5.1% DMB)
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.
The Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Grain-Free Lamb Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bag
Scores 13 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Essential Clusters Whole Grain Chicken Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
$3.92/lb vs your seed's $6.26/lb (37% 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.
- 2legumepeas
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 2. 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.
- 3vegetablepotato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
Position 3: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 4protein 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 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 5fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 6legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 7protein plantpea protein
Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.
Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 8mineraldicalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.
- 9othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 10mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 11vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 11: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 12supplementdried kelp
Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.
- 13supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 14iron amino acid chelate
Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 15copper amino acid chelate
Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.
- 16manganese amino acid chelate
Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 17zinc amino acid chelate
Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.
- 18mineralsodium 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 →
- 19supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 20preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
- 21probioticdried bacillus coagulans fermentation product
Probiotic strain. More heat-stable than lactobacillus, which means more of it likely survives kibble processing.
- 22preservative naturalrosemary extract
Natural preservative. Replaces synthetic ones like BHA and BHT.
22 of 22 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.