Wild-Caught Salmon Grain-Free Dog Kibble
Graded by The Sniff System
Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon Grain-Free Dog Kibble is a dry food for all life stages, featuring salmon as its main protein source.
This kibble has a strong protein profile, with salmon as the first ingredient, providing high biological value. It also includes quality fat sources like marine oil, which offers beneficial EPA and DHA. The formula benefits from diverse, high-bioavailability protein sources, including named fish meals.
The formula contains high legume stacking, with multiple pulse-family ingredients like garbanzo beans, peas, and lentils in the top 15. This is a pattern the FDA has flagged in its DCM investigation, though the named fish meals help mitigate this concern.
Good fit for dogs of all life stages who thrive on a fish-based diet. Less ideal if your dog has a legume sensitivity or heart condition.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for medium-sized herding breeds, including the Australian Shepherd, 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. Zinc is essential for skin immunity and healing; the NRC (2006) established a recommended allowance of 20 mg of zinc per 1000 kcal ME for adult dogs at maintenance (NRC, 2006) .
Looking at this for adult 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 70/100, landing in B-tier territory. The biggest contributor was protein quality (+21.5 points): Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. 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 A-tier is small (5.0 points). Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty would likely close it.
Strong protein profile with salmon as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
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 protein quality in grain-free dry kibbles (21.4/27)
- Lowest carb quality in Open Farm's lineup (8/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Wild-Caught Salmon & Ancient Grains Dog Kibble
Scores 10 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Small Breed Grain-Free Dog Kibble
$7.25/lb vs your seed's $7.50/lb (3% 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.
- 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.
- 2legumegarbanzo beans
Same as chickpeas. Part of the legume stack the FDA investigated. 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.
- 3protein animalwhitefish meal
Whitefish cooked into a dry concentrate. Strong protein source, common in premium formulas.
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4legumepeas
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 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.
- 5protein animalherring meal
Concentrated herring with the water removed. Carries protein and omega-3s in one ingredient.
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6legumered lentils
Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →
Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 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.
- 8legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 8. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 9coconut meal
- 10vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 10: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 11othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 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.
- 13fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
Position 13: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 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.
- 15mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 16fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
- 17fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
- 18fiberdried chicory root
Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.
- 19vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 20vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 21vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 22vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 23vitaminriboflavin supplement
B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.
- 24vitaminthiamine mononitrate
B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.
- 25vitaminvitamin b12 supplement
Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.
Showing first 25 of 42. 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: 3600 kcal me/kg, 420 kcal me/cup Nutrient Percentage of Recipe Crude Protein (min) 30% Crude Fat (min) 14% Crude Fibre (max) 4.5% Moisture (max) 10% DHA (min) 0.11% Calcium (min) 1.2% Phosphorus (min) 1.0% Vitamin A (min) 5000 IU/kg Vitamin E (min) 50 IU/kg Taurine (min) 0.1% Omega-6* (min) 1.25% Omega-3* (min) 0.4% Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult). View Complete Nutritional Profile