Barking Heads Little Paws - Bowl Lickin' Goodness Chicken Dry Dog Food
Dry Extruded · completeHigh meatClear label
Our verdict
Is Barking Heads Little Paws - Bowl Lickin' Goodness Chicken Dry Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 64/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Complete extruded dry food for adult dogs, with chicken, dried chicken protein and chicken oil and fat as the main ingredients.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
- 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. Find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (17)13% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 47.5%
- carb 27.7%
- veg 16.1%
- supplement 3.9%
- oil 3.5%
- fibre 1.3%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshly Prepared Free Run Chicken (31%) | Chicken | meat · medium | 31 | 31.0 |
| 2 | Dried Chicken (14%) | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | 14 | 14.0 |
| 3 | Chicken Gravy (2.5%) | Chicken | meat · medium | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 4 | Chicken Fat (2.5%) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 5 | Rice (26%) | Rice - white | carb · medium | 26 | 26.0 |
| 6 | Oats | Oats | carb · medium | - | 1.7 |
| 7 | Peas (10%) | Peas | veg · good | 10 | 10.0 |
| 8 | Lucerne | Alfalfa | veg · good | - | 1.6 |
| 9 | Salmon Oil (1%) | Salmon Oil | oil · good | 1 | 1.0 |
| 10 | Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 1.5 |
| 11 | Yeast Products | Yeast | supplement · good | - | 1.4 |
| 12 | Chicory Root Extract | Chicory Root Extract | fibre · good | - | 1.3 |
| 13 | Seaweed | Seaweed | veg · good | - | 1.3 |
| 14 | Dried Carrot | Carrots | veg · good | - | 1.2 |
| 15 | Peppermint | Peppermint | veg · good | - | 1.1 |
| 16 | Rosemary | Rosemary | veg · good | - | 1.0 |
| 17 | Beta Glucans | Beta-Glucans | supplement · good | - | 0.9 |
- 1. Freshly Prepared Free Run Chicken (31%)31% declared31.0% estimated
- 2. Dried Chicken (14%)14% declared14.0% estimated
- 3. Chicken Gravy (2.5%)2.5% declared2.5% estimated
- 4. Chicken Fat (2.5%)2.5% declared2.5% estimated
- 5. Rice (26%)26% declared26.0% estimated
- 6. Oats1.7% estimated
- 7. Peas (10%)10% declared10.0% estimated
- 8. Lucerne1.6% estimated
- 9. Salmon Oil (1%)1% declared1.0% estimated
- 10. Minerals1.5% estimated
- 11. Yeast Products1.4% estimated
- 12. Chicory Root Extract1.3% estimated
- 13. Seaweed1.3% estimated
- 14. Dried Carrot1.2% estimated
- 15. Peppermint1.1% estimated
- 16. Rosemary1.0% estimated
- 17. Beta Glucans0.9% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 25% · Fat 15%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25% |
| Fat | 15% |
| Fibre | 3.50% |
| Ash | 7.50% |
Energy: 373 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 17,000 IU; Vitamin D3 1,000 IU; Vitamin E 100mg; Iron (Iron (II) Sulphate Monohydrate) 60mg; Zinc (Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate) 50mg; Manganese (Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate) 50mg; Zinc (Zinc Chelate of Glycine Hydrate) 15mg; Copper (Copper (II) Sulphate Pentahydrate) 5mg; Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.5mg; Selenium (Sodium Selenite) 0.05mg
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-19
Brand and contact: Barking Heads
- Website
- https://barkingheads.co.uk/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 01344 596325
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.barkingheads.co.uk
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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
111 reviews on this product · 4.5/5
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
This recipe achieves a total score of 64 out of 100 based on several key factors. The processing format contributed -6.7 points, and the carbohydrate content contributed -4.8 points. Conversely, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +6 points, and the meat content contributed +3.6 points to the overall assessment.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. 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 | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.95 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 37.1% | 0.096 | +3.57 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.6% | -0.115 | -4.78 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 5.9% | -0.092 | -0.54 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.2% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 6.1% | -0.012 | -0.07 |
| Undeclared quantities | 13.0% | -0.106 | -1.37 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| 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 | 0.6 | 9.191 | +5.95 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 37.1% | 0.096 | +3.57 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.6% | -0.115 | -4.78 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 5.9% | -0.092 | -0.54 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.2% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 6.1% | -0.012 | -0.07 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.065 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.876 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.060 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 13.0% | -0.106 | -1.37 |
| 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) | yes | 0.707 | +0.71 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -3.158 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 0.00 | 0.222 | +0.00 |
| 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
- 64.0
- Final score
- 64/100
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 adult dogs. 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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 25 | 27.6 (band 18.546961325966855 to 40%) | 95.4 |
| Fat | 15 | 16.6 (band 5.667127071823206 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3.5 | 3.9 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 373 | 412.2 | 100 |
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 10 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin A 17,000 IU
- Vitamin D3 1,000 IU
- Vitamin E 100mg
- Iron (Iron (II) Sulphate Monohydrate) 60mg
- Zinc (Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate) 50mg
- Manganese (Manganous Sulphate Monohydrate) 50mg
- Zinc (Zinc Chelate of Glycine Hydrate) 15mg
- Copper (Copper (II) Sulphate Pentahydrate) 5mg
- Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) 1.5mg
- Selenium (Sodium Selenite) 0.05mg
Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture 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 (87% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 17.4/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Feeding guidance given, 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.
See all current recalls we track.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made with tasty freshly prepared free-run chicken (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Higher protein and fat tailored for small-breed energy needs (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Selenium and Vitamin E to support immune defence and everyday vitality (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Slow-release carbs for steady energy (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| pre-biotics for healthy digestion (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| vet-approved and trusted by specialist pet retailers (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 10% Veggies (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| contains absolutely no nasties & no fillers (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 26% Rice (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 50% Free Run Chicken (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Crafted with natural ingredients only, no nasties or fillers (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| FREE FROM ARTIFICIAL COLOURS, FLAVOURS & PRESERVATIVES (on pack) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Small, bite-sized kibbles perfect for little mouths (on page) | 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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