Salmon Grain-Free Puppy Kibble
Graded by The Sniff System
Open Farm Salmon Grain-Free Puppy Kibble is a dry food for growing puppies, with salmon as its main protein source.
This food offers good protein quality, with salmon providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes named fish meals like ocean menhaden and whitefish for diverse, highly bioavailable protein sources. The brand provides good evidence with extensive transparency and verification.
The formula contains multiple pulse-family ingredients like peas, fava beans, and red lentils in the top 15. This legume stacking is a watch point, though it's mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat in the top 10.
Good fit for growing puppies. Less ideal if you prefer foods without significant legume content.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for medium-sized herding breeds like Australian Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs, and Border Collies navigating skin allergies. Three named animal-protein species appear in the top 10. Aussies are working-line dogs that thrive on high-protein performance formulas. Coat quality also benefits from EPA+DHA.
Looking at this for puppy Australian Shepherds or Australian Shepherds with skin allergies ? 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.
Sniff scored this formula 57/100, landing in C-tier (acceptable-with-notes). The biggest contributor was protein quality (+18 points): Reasonable protein quality. salmon delivers solid amino acid coverage. The biggest detractor was 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. The gap to B-tier is small (3.0 points). Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty would likely close it.
Reasonable protein quality. salmon delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Good evidence with extensive transparency and verification.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest crude fiber in Open Farm's lineup (5.0% DMB)
- Top quartile for caloric density in dry kibbles (435 kcal/cup)
- Bottom 2% for carb quality in Open Farm's lineup (11/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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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 animalsalmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2ocean menhaden fish meal
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3legumepeas
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 3. 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.
- 4vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 4: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 5fava beans
Less common pulse. Same concern as peas when stacked with other legumes.
- 6fatcoconut oil
Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.
Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 7protein animalwhitefish meal
Whitefish cooked into a dry concentrate. Strong protein source, common in premium formulas.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8legumered lentils
Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →
Position 8. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 9fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 10fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 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.
- 12vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 12: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 13othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 14fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Position 14: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 15fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
Position 15: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 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.
- 19vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 20vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 21vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 22vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
- 23vitaminpyridoxine hydrochloride
B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.
- 24vitaminfolic acid
B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.
- 25mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
Showing first 25 of 36. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Nutrition & Benefits Guaranteed Analysis Calorie Content: 3,750 kcal/kg, 435 kcal/cup Nutrient Percentage of Recipe Crude Protein (min) 30% Crude Fat (min) 15% Crude Fiber (max) 4.5% Moisture (max) 10% Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min) 0.2% Calcium (min) 1.2% Phosphorus (min) 1% Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min) 1% Omega-6 Fatty Acids (min) 2% Taurine (min) 0.2% Open Farm Puppy Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutrient levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Growth including growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult). View Complete Nutritional Profile