Is 1st Choice Toy and Small Breeds Puppy Chicken a good dog food?
We score it 49/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall rating of 49 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +6.5 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -2.5 points.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe49
- Nutritionalmedium92
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- EvidenceNot recorded
The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.
Why you might choose it
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- Meat makes up an estimated 3% of the dry matter; carbohydrates dominate.
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
- Its additive load costs about 3 points in the rating.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 30%
- Fat
- 18%
- Fibre
- 4.50%
- Ash
- 9.50%
- Moisture
- 10%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 0.03%
- Calcium
- 1.25%
- Phosphorus
- 1%
- Sodium
- 0.30%
Energy: 373.7 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 18,000 IU/kg minimum; Vitamin D3 1,700 IU/kg minimum; Vitamin E 100 IU/kg minimum
Feeding guide
Daily feeding guidelines provided by weight and age (2-12 months); standard 250 ml (8 oz) cup = 125 g
Reviews
Trustpilot: 4.9/5 · 2,373 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at small dogs
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists barley
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (51)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken meal | Dried chicken protein | meat | good | - | 2.6 |
| 2 | barley | Barley | carb | medium | - | 2.6 |
| 3 | oats | Oats | carb | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 4 | peas | Peas | veg | medium | - | 2.5 |
| 5 | chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols | Tocopherols | additive | good | - | 2.5 |
| 6 | natural flavor | Flavor | additive | poor | - | 2.5 |
| 7 | flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 2.4 |
| 8 | dried citrus pulp | Citrus Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 9 | salmon oil (a source of DHA) | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 2.4 |
| 10 | suncured alfalfa meal | Alfalfa Meal | fibre | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 11 | salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 12 | yeast extract | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 2.3 |
| 13 | L-lysine | Lysine | supplement | medium | - | 2.3 |
| 14 | DL-methionine | Methionine | supplement | good | - | 2.3 |
| 15 | L-threonine | Threonine | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 16 | chicory extract (a source of inulin) | Chicory Root Extract | fibre | good | - | 2.2 |
| 17 | calcium carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 18 | potassium chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 19 | taurine | Taurine | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 20 | ascorbic acid (vitamin C) | Vitamin C | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 21 | ferrous sulfate | Iron sulfate | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
| 22 | sodium hexametaphosphate | Sodium hexametaphosphate | additive | medium | - | 2.1 |
| 23 | alpha-tocopherol acetate (a source of vitamin E) | Vitamin E | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 24 | zinc oxide | Zinc Oxide | supplement | good | - | 2.0 |
| 25 | turmeric | Turmeric | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 26 | dried rosemary | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 27 | cloves | Cloves | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 28 | yucca schidigera extract | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 1.9 |
| 29 | dried whey | Sweet whey powder | other | medium | - | 1.9 |
| 30 | L-carnitine | L-Carnitine | supplement | medium | - | 1.9 |
| 31 | manganous oxide | Manganese (II) Oxide | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 32 | niacin | Niacin | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 33 | d-calcium pantothenate | Calcium pantothenate | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 34 | vitamin A supplement | Vitamin A | supplement | good | - | 1.8 |
| 35 | cholecalciferol (a source of vitamin D3) | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 36 | thiamine mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 37 | grapefruit extract | Grapefruit | veg | medium | - | 1.7 |
| 38 | biotin | Biotin | supplement | good | - | 1.7 |
| 39 | dried spearmint | Spearmint | veg | good | - | 1.6 |
| 40 | dried parsley | Parsley | veg | good | - | 1.6 |
| 41 | green tea extract | Green Tea | veg | good | - | 1.6 |
| 42 | dried ginger | Ginger | veg | good | - | 1.6 |
| 43 | sodium selenite | Sodium selenite | supplement | poor | - | 1.5 |
| 44 | zinc proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 45 | riboflavin | Riboflavin | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 46 | pyridoxine hydrochloride | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 47 | vitamin B12 supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 48 | manganese proteinate | Manganese proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.4 |
| 49 | calcium iodate | Calcium iodate | supplement | medium | - | 1.4 |
| 50 | copper proteinate | Copper proteinate | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
| 51 | folic acid | Folic acid | supplement | good | - | 1.3 |
Brand
- Website
- https://www.1stchoice.ca/
- Phone
- 1 866 752-7378
- Address
- 1361, Graham Bell Street, Boucherville, Quebec, J4B 6A1, Canada
- Contact page
- www.1stchoice.ca
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-19
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.1stchoice.ca
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Scored with model v3 on 2026-09-26. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.51 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 5.2% | -0.115 | -0.60 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 2.8% | -0.092 | -0.25 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 14.7% | -0.005 | -0.08 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.8% | 0.163 | +1.59 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 56.3% | -0.012 | -0.69 |
| Other share of dry matter | 1.1% | -0.375 | -0.41 |
| Recipe graded poor | 4.0% | -0.065 | -0.26 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.5% | 0.060 | +0.15 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -11.29 | 0.222 | -2.51 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.7 | 9.191 | +6.51 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 5.2% | -0.115 | -0.60 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 2.8% | -0.092 | -0.25 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 14.7% | -0.005 | -0.08 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.8% | 0.163 | +1.59 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 56.3% | -0.012 | -0.69 |
| Other share of dry matter | 1.1% | -0.375 | -0.41 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 4.0% | -0.065 | -0.26 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 2.5% | 0.060 | +0.15 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -11.29 | 0.222 | -2.51 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 48.6
- Final score
- 49/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for puppies and growth. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Scored against FEDIAF growth minima; puppy scoring is under review; Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 30 | 33.1 | 100 |
| Fat | 18 | 19.9 | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.25 | 1.4 | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 1 | 1.1 | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.3 | 1.3 | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 29 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 373.7 | 412.9 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-3 29). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 90); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Medium confidence: the full five-part analysis is on file; where moisture was not declared it was estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) | 15/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidants+ (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| DHA, calcium and phosphorus - Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is essential for puppies' cognitive development and neuronal protection. Minerals and nutrients are also perfectly balanced to ensure optimal bone growth. (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Comfort+ Offer an exceptionally high digestibility rate. In addition, prebiotic fibers nourish the intestinal microbiota to promote bowel function and stool quality. (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Protein 18% (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Chicken 30% (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
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