Roost New Zealand Whole Dog Health Adult Grain-Free Chicken Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Wishbone Roost New Zealand Whole Dog Health Adult Grain-Free Chicken Dry Dog Food is a dry food that features chicken as its main protein source.
This dry food is likely formulated to meet the nutritional needs for adult maintenance, based on its declared purpose. However, the specific AAFCO statement isn't published by the retailer.
The main concern here is the protein quality. The chicken meal used as the first ingredient provides limited bioavailable amino acids.
Good fit for adult dogs of any size. Nothing serious working against it.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Working in its favor: taurine listed as added ingredient. Chicken meal anchors position 1, with one pulse (peas at position 2). In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) .
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers 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, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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. 55/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. AAFCO compliance did the heavy lifting (+4 points): AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer. What we'd flag for vet discussion: protein quality (-15.5 points). Low protein quality. chicken meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids. B-tier is 5.0 points away. Improving protein quality is the most direct route.
AAFCO formulation inferred from declared adult maintenance. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.
Low protein quality. chicken meal delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
- Bottom quartile for DMB fat in grain-free dry kibbles (13.3%)
- Bottom quartile for crude fiber in grain-free dry kibbles (4.4% DMB)
- Bottom quartile for caloric density in grain-free dry kibbles (380 kcal/cup)
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.
Wellness Complete Health Adult Wholesome Grains Natural Chicken & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag
Scores 25 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Wholesomes Chicken Meal & Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
$1.18/lb vs your seed's $4.00/lb (70% less) at a comparable score.
Wellness Complete Health Adult Grain-Free Natural Lamb Dry Dog Food, 24-lb bag
Lamb instead of chicken, 12 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 animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
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.
- 3tapioca
Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.
- 4vegetablepotato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
Position 4: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 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.
- 6fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 8brewers dried yeast
Yeast left over from brewing. Rich in B vitamins and amino acids. A traditional and well-tolerated inclusion.
- 9fruitblueberries
Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.
Position 9: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 10fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
Position 10: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 11papaya
- 12mango
- 13fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Position 13: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 14basil
- 15oregano
- 16supplementrosemary
- 17thyme
- 18sunflower seeds
- 19peppermint
- 20mineralsodium chloride
Same as salt. Required mineral, necessary at small doses.
- 21mineralmagnesium sulfate
Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 22buffered vinegar
- 23supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 24mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 25mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
Showing first 25 of 45. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
16 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.