Different Dog Shepherd’s Pie
Fresh Frozen complete High meat Clear label Full label
Is Different Dog Shepherd’s Pie a good dog food?
We score it 94/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This food achieves an overall score of 94 out of 100 based on several key factors. Minimal processing contributed +11.4 points to the total, while the overall quality of the ingredient list added +7.7 points. Additionally, the meat content contributed +7.7 points and the processing format provided +6.6 points.
- Recipe94
- Nutritionalmedium100
- Transparency60
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited33
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.
Complete frozen fresh food for dogs of all life stages, with lamb, lamb heart and lambs liver as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Scores 94, in the top quarter of fresh foods we track.
- Meat makes up an estimated 66% of the dry matter (60% as fed).
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
Why you might not
- High in fat: 44% fat on a dry-matter basis.
- Needs freezer space and defrosting before serving.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 11.60%
- Fat
- 13.80%
- Fibre
- 1.40%
- Ash
- 1.90%
- Moisture
- 68.90%
Energy: 192 kcal/100g
Dry matter basis
- Protein
- 37.30%
- Fat
- 44.40%
- Fibre
- 4.50%
- Ash
- 6.10%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 2500IU; Vitamin D3 400IU; Vitamin E 50mg; Zinc (as Zinc chelate of protein hydrolysates) 18mg; Iron (as Iron (II) chelate of protein hydrolysates) 15mg; Manganese (as Manganese chelate of protein hydrolysates) 7.5mg; Iodine (as Calcium iodate, anhydrous) 0.025mg
Storage
To store: Keep in the freezer.
Reviews
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 · 2,568 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list chicken, beef, turkey, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
- You are limiting fat: 44.4% on a dry-matter basis is in the high band
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 (14)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27.5% Lamb Mince | Lamb | meat | medium | 27.5 | 27.5 |
| 2 | 27.5% Lamb Heart | Lamb Heart | meat | good | 27.5 | 27.5 |
| 3 | 5% Lamb Liver | Lambs Liver | meat | good | 5 | 5.0 |
| 4 | Swede (15%) | Swede | veg | good | 15 | 15.0 |
| 5 | Red Cabbage (7%) | Cabbage | veg | good | 7 | 7.0 |
| 6 | Cauliflower (6%) | Cauliflower | veg | good | 6 | 6.0 |
| 7 | Pear (5%) | Pears | veg | good | 5 | 5.0 |
| 8 | Button Mushrooms (3%) | Mushrooms | veg | good | 3 | 3.0 |
| 9 | Vitamins & Minerals | Vitamin | supplement | good | - | 1.5 |
| 10 | Scottish Salmon Oil (1.2%) | Salmon Oil | oil | good | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| 11 | Mint (0.7%) | Mint | veg | good | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 12 | Chia Seeds (0.3%) | Chia Seeds | veg | good | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 13 | Kelp Seaweed (0.3%) | Seaweed | veg | good | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 14 | Turmeric (0.02%) | Turmeric | veg | good | 0.02 | 0.02 |
Brand
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 01952 456 850
- Address
- Unit 3, Pioneer Park, Halesfield 18, Telford TF7 4FA
- Contact page
- www.differentdog.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-03
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.differentdog.com
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 v2 on 2026-09-22. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.8 | 9.915 | +7.71 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 66.1% | 0.116 | +7.67 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 4.7% | -0.088 | -0.41 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 23.9% | -0.002 | -0.04 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 5.4% | -0.009 | -0.05 |
| Undeclared quantities | 1.5% | -0.131 | -0.19 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | yes | 11.440 | +11.44 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 66.1 | -0.073 | -4.85 |
| Meat share × fresh | 66.1 | -0.339 | -22.38 |
| Fresh × high meat | 1.0 | 16.475 | +16.48 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | yes | 6.583 | +6.58 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.8 | 9.915 | +7.71 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 66.1% | 0.116 | +7.67 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.113 | +0.00 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 4.7% | -0.088 | -0.41 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 23.9% | -0.002 | -0.04 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 5.4% | -0.009 | -0.05 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.371 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.022 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 0.0% | -0.045 | +0.00 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.182 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 0 | -0.868 | +0.00 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 0.0% | 0.056 | +0.00 |
| Undeclared quantities | 1.5% | -0.131 | -0.19 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | yes | 11.440 | +11.44 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | no | -1.988 | +0.00 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.250 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 66.1 | -0.073 | -4.85 |
| Meat share × fresh | 66.1 | -0.339 | -22.38 |
| Fresh × high meat | 1.0 | 16.475 | +16.48 |
| Additive penalty | 0.00 | 0.236 | +0.00 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Raw | no | 13.322 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | 7.712 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | yes | 6.583 | +6.58 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 4.857 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | 0.072 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 11.127 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 9.320 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | 4.569 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -2.321 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | no | -6.996 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.833 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.711 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | 2.935 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | 2.292 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.14
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Nearly all quantities printed on label
- +2 full-disclosure bonus
- Subtotal
- 94.1
- Final score
- 94/100
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.
Score history across model versions
The score shown above is always computed with the latest published model. Earlier scores are kept for the record and are never edited or deleted; a scoring change ships as a new model version with a public write-up on the methodology page.
| Model | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| v2 | 94/100 | current |
| v1 | 93/100 | |
| v1.9 | 95/100 |
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 | 11.6 | 37.3 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 13.8 | 44.4 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 1.4 | 4.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 192 | 617.4 | 100 |
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
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 (98.5% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 19.7/20 |
| 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) - not on file | 0/10 |
| 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 (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 marketing claims made on the pack and product page, and how much evidence sits behind them. We record the claims as stated; we do not assess whether they are true.
| Claim | Type | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken and beef allergies or sensitivities, bone health, digestive health, all life stages (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Fuel for fun and games (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Digestive harmony (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Bones that stay strong (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Premium protein packed with iron and zinc – the building blocks their muscles properly crave (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Bursting with minerals that support strong bones and a happy gut (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Fibre and natural antioxidants from top to tail, doing brilliant work throughout (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Works wonders to soothe and support the digestive system while tackling infamous doggy breath (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Cauliflower and red cabbage keep their bowels healthy and running smoothly, while giving their immune system a proper boost (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| 60% LAMB (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| rich in fibre, vitamin K and vitamin C (on page) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| 7% SUPERFOODS (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| 33% VEG & FRUIT (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| Human-Quality British Lamb (60%) (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
Limited: at least one claim rests on manufacturer assertion alone.
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Other products from Different Dog
Alternatives to Shepherd’s Pie
Foods in our database that are similar on ingredients, protein, format or price. Scores and figures are from the same deterministic model used everywhere on the site.
Community
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.