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ZIWI Peak Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food, 16-oz bag
ZIWI

Peak Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food, 16-oz bag

Evidence Fair
air dried $29.98/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

ZIWI Peak Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food is an air-dried food featuring lamb and lamb liver as its main protein sources.

Lamb is the primary ingredient, offering a strong protein profile with high biological value. The formula also includes organ meats for diverse, highly bioavailable protein, and it uses quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber.

The biggest watch item is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness is unverified and capped its overall score. Also, there is no declared source of omega-3s like fish oil.

Good fit for dogs whose owners prioritize a high-protein, organ-rich diet. Less ideal if you require an AAFCO statement for nutritional assurance.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Lamb anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus lamb tripe at position 2 (a natural taurine precursor). 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

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

  • FDA, 2022
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

Middle-of-pack grade. 59/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+20.5 points): Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What capped it: the score can't exceed 59 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). How it could climb: the brand publishing the AAFCO statement, which would lift the cap into B-band range.

What lifted the score

Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK
What pulled it down

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.

FQI

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF
What sets this apart
  • Lowest crude fiber in ZIWI's lineup (3.5% DMB)
  • Top quartile for DMB protein in air-dried foods (44.2%)
  • Lowest fat quality in ZIWI's lineup (4/16)

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.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Open Farm

Surf & Turf Air Dried Recipe for Dogs

75

Scores 16 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Spot & Tango

Beef & Barley UnKibble

59

$3.75/lb vs your seed's $29.98/lb (87% less) at a comparable score.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
Spot & Tango

Chicken & Brown Rice UnKibble

66

Chicken instead of lamb, 7 points higher, different brand.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 44% ⓘ
Protein
38%
min (as fed)
Fat
30%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3%
max (as fed)
Moisture
14%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

25 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    lamb

    Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    lamb tripe

    Position 2. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  3. 3
    lamb lung

    Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  4. 4
    lamb heart

    Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  5. 5
    lamb liver

    Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver, dense in B vitamins, iron, vitamin A.

    Position 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  6. 6
    lamb bone

    Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  7. 7
    green mussel

    Mussel from New Zealand. Natural source of glucosamine and omega-3s. Common in joint-support formulas.

  8. 8
    lamb kidney

    Position 8. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  9. 9
    lamb spleen

    Position 9. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  10. 10
    lecithin

    Natural emulsifier, usually from soy or sunflower. Helps blend fats and water. Safe at typical inclusion.

  11. 11
    lamb cartilage

    Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  12. 12
    parsley

    Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.

  13. 13
    dried apple pomace
  14. 14
    inulin

    Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.

    Position 14: trace fiber inclusion.

  15. 15
    dipotassium phosphate
  16. 16
    magnesium sulfate

    Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  17. 17
    zinc amino acid complex

    Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.

  18. 18
    iron amino acid complex

    Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  19. 19
    copper amino acid complex

    Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.

  20. 20
    manganese amino acid complex

    Manganese bound to amino acids for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

  21. 21
    selenium yeast

    Organic selenium grown in yeast. The form premium brands use, gentler and more bioavailable than sodium selenite.

  22. 22
    dried organic kelp
  23. 23
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  24. 24
    citric acid

    Natural antioxidant preservative. Helps keep fats from going rancid.

  25. 25
    mixed tocopherols

    Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →

15 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.