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Spot & Tango

Cod & Salmon UnKibble

Evidence Limited
air dried all life stages $3.75/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Spot & Tango Cod & Salmon UnKibble is an air-dried food for all life stages, featuring cod and salmon as its main protein sources.

This formula uses quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, which is good for gut health. It also includes named fish like salmon and cod for diverse protein, and premium micronutrient forms like chelated minerals.

The main thing to watch here is the protein quality. Cod, while a named fish, delivers limited bioavailable amino acids, which impacts the overall protein score.

Good fit for dogs of all life stages who benefit from quality carbs and fermentable fiber. Less ideal if you prioritize very high protein bioavailability.

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

Who this is for

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. Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. Caloric density is not declared, with crude fiber at 5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs  (APOP, 2023) .

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

Methodology

The 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

At 57/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from carbohydrate quality, worth 15 points to the final number: Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 19.5 points. Low protein quality. cod delivers limited bioavailable amino acids. This formula sits 3.0 points below the B-tier line. The most direct lever is protein quality.

What lifted the score

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

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

STACK

Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.

MNI
What pulled it down

Low protein quality. cod delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI
What sets this apart
  • Lowest protein quality in grain-free air-dried foods (5.6/27)
  • Lowest overall Sniff Score in grain-free air-dried foods (57/100)
  • Bottom quartile for DMB fat in grain-free air-dried foods (17.0%)

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 18 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Worth a look
Different brand, different protein
ZIWI Peak Mackerel & Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food, 35.2-oz bag
ZIWI

ZIWI Peak Mackerel & Lamb Grain-Free Air-Dried Dog Food, 35.2-oz bag

59

Mackerel instead of salmon, 2 points higher, different brand.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 38% ⓘ
Protein
33%
min (as fed)
Fat
15%
min (as fed)
Fiber
5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
12%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

38 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    cod

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

  2. 2
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

    Position 2: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  3. 3
    sunflower seeds
  4. 4
    tapioca

    Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.

  5. 5
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

    Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  6. 6
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

    Position 6: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  7. 7
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

    Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  8. 8
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

    Position 8: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  9. 9
    parsley

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

  10. 10
    rosemary
  11. 11
    strawberries
  12. 12
    dried kelp

    Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.

  13. 13
    salt

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

  14. 14
    mixed tocopherols

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

    Natural preservative. Methodologically preferred over synthetic alternatives.

  15. 15
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  16. 16
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  17. 17
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  18. 18
    flaxseed oil
  19. 19
    l-threonine

    Essential amino acid. Sometimes added when plant proteins dominate, since threonine is naturally lower in plants than meat.

  20. 20
    l-tryptophan

    Essential amino acid. Sometimes added in calming or weight-management formulas.

  21. 21
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  22. 22
    iron chelate
  23. 23
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  24. 24
    selenium yeast

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

  25. 25
    copper amino acid chelate

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

Showing first 25 of 38. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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

AAFCO statement

Formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult)