Kind Earth Plant-Based Dog Kibble
Graded by The Sniff System
Open Farm Kind Earth Plant-Based Dog Kibble is a dry food that's entirely plant-based, designed for general maintenance.
This formula uses quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, which is good for gut health. It also includes premium micronutrient forms like chelated minerals and natural vitamin E. Plus, Open Farm provides good evidence with extensive transparency and verification for this product.
The main thing to note is that this is a plant-protein-dominated formula, with barley as the first ingredient. Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for adult dogs whose owners prefer a plant-based diet. Less ideal if you're looking for a meat-based protein source.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Barley leads the deck, with one pulse (fava beans 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 46/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was carbohydrate quality (+13 points): Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. The biggest detractor was protein quality (-23 points): Plant-protein-dominated formula. barley as the #1 ingredient.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
Good evidence with extensive transparency and verification.
Plant-protein-dominated formula. barley as the #1 ingredient.
- Lowest crude fiber in Open Farm's lineup (5.0% DMB)
- Lowest caloric density in Open Farm's lineup (354 kcal/cup)
- Bottom 3% for DMB protein in Open Farm's lineup (24.4%)
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.
RawMix Large Breed Ancient Grains Dog Kibble
Scores 37 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Wild Earth Maintenance Formula Golden Rotisserie Flavor Plant-Based Dog Dry Food, 28-lb bag
$4.24/lb vs your seed's $5.71/lb (26% 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.
- 1grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with barley as the dominant carb.
- 2fava beans
Less common pulse. Same concern as peas when stacked with other legumes.
- 3grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4dried yeast
Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.
- 5vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6protein plantpotato protein
Concentrated potato protein. Like pea protein, it inflates the protein number without matching meat-quality amino acids.
Position 6: moderate plant-protein boost. Less likely to materially shift the protein profile.
- 7fatcoconut oil
Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.
Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 8fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 9fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 10othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 11mineraltricalcium phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.
- 12vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 12: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 13vegetablekale
Leafy green with antioxidants and fiber. Small dose in kibble, but it's not just for marketing.
Position 13: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 14vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 14: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 15dandelion greens
- 16vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 17vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 18vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 19pantothenic acid
- 20vitamin d2 supplement
- 21vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 22vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 23vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 24vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 25vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
Showing first 25 of 41. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Nutrition & Benefits Guaranteed Analysis Calorie Content: 3595 kcal ME/kg, 354 kcal ME/cup Nutrient Percentage of Recipe Crude Protein (min) 22% Crude Fat (min) 14% Crude Fiber (max) 4.5% Moisture (max) 10.0% Calcium (min) 0.5% Phosphorus (min) 0.4% Zinc (min) 120 mg/kg Selenium (min) 0.4 mg/kg Vitamin A (min) 10,000 IU/kg Vitamin E (min) 80 IU/kg Taurine* (min) 0.1% Omega-3 Fatty Acids* (min) 0.6% Omega-6 Fatty Acids* (min) 2.5% Open Farm® Kind Earth™ Plant Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance. View Complete Nutritional Profile