Our verdict
Is Dr. Clauder's Basic Nature Energy a good dog food?
We score it 29/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".
Complete extruded dry food for adult dogs, with barley, pork protein and beef protein and wheat as the main ingredients.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Doesn't list lamb, fish, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dehydrated poultry proteins
- Your dog avoids beef: the label lists pork protein and beef protein
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists dehydrated poultry proteins
- Your dog avoids pork: the label lists pork protein and beef protein
- 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. Find foods that fit your dog.
Nutrition and feedingProtein 30% · Fat 15%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30% |
| Fat | 15% |
| Fibre | 3% |
| Ash | 8.50% |
| Calcium | 1.80% |
| Phosphorus | 1.40% |
| Sodium | 0.30% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Protect from moisture! Store in a cool, dry place!
Feeding guide
Always provide fresh water! See table for daily feeding amounts based on body weight.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 15,000 IU; Vitamin D3 1,500 IU; Vitamin E 85mg; Copper (as copper(II) sulphate, pentahydrate) 12mg; Zinc (as zinc oxide) 84mg; Iodine (as calcium iodate, anhydrous) 2.4mg; Selenium (as sodium selenite) 0.24mg
Technological additives
Antioxidants
Ingredients (9)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 47.6%
- meat 25.4%
- oil 10.3%
- additive 8.7%
- supplement 7.9%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barley | Barley | carb · medium | - | 14.3 |
| 2 | pork protein and beef protein | Pork Protein and Beef Protein | meat · medium | - | 13.5 |
| 3 | wheat flour | Wheat | carb · poor | - | 12.7 |
| 4 | poultry protein | Dehydrated Poultry Proteins | meat · good | - | 11.9 |
| 5 | wheat middlings | Wheat | carb · poor | - | 11.1 |
| 6 | animal fat | Unspecified Animal Fats and Oils | oil · poor | - | 10.3 |
| 7 | wheat | Wheat | carb · poor | - | 9.5 |
| 8 | sodium chloride | Salt | additive · poor | - | 8.7 |
| 9 | potassium chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 7.9 |
- 1. Barley14.3% estimated
- 2. pork protein and beef protein13.5% estimated
- 3. wheat flour12.7% estimated
- 4. poultry protein11.9% estimated
- 5. wheat middlings11.1% estimated
- 6. animal fat10.3% estimated
- 7. wheat9.5% estimated
- 8. sodium chloride8.7% estimated
- 9. potassium chloride7.9% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-09
Brand and contact: Dr. Clauder's
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-09
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.dr-clauder.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.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
The overall score came in at 29 out of 100, after several negative factors weighed against the product. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points, while the processing format took off -6.7. The carbohydrate content reduced the score by -5.9, and lower-quality ingredients cost a further -3.4 points.
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 | -0.3 | 9.191 | -3.02 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 51.2% | -0.115 | -5.90 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 12.4% | -0.092 | -1.14 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.6% | 0.163 | +1.56 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 8.9% | -0.012 | -0.11 |
| Recipe graded poor | 52.4% | -0.065 | -3.40 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 5 | -0.876 | -4.38 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 12.7% | 0.060 | +0.76 |
| 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 |
| High carb and low meat | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| Additive penalty | -10.96 | 0.222 | -2.43 |
| 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 | -0.3 | 9.191 | -3.02 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 51.2% | -0.115 | -5.90 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 12.4% | -0.092 | -1.14 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.005 | +0.00 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 9.6% | 0.163 | +1.56 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 8.9% | -0.012 | -0.11 |
| 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 | 52.4% | -0.065 | -3.40 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 5 | -0.876 | -4.38 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 12.7% | 0.060 | +0.76 |
| 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 | yes | -1.180 | -1.18 |
| 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 | -10.96 | 0.222 | -2.43 |
| 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
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 28.6
- Final score
- 29/100
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.
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 | 30 | 33.1 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 15 | 16.6 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3 | 3.3 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.8 | 2 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 1.4 | 1.5 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Sodium | 0.3 | 0.3 (band 0.1+%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.3 | 1.3 (band 1 to 2%) | 87.1 |
Scored over 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 85); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 7 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin A 15,000 IU
- Vitamin D3 1,500 IU
- Vitamin E 85mg
- Copper (as copper(II) sulphate, pentahydrate) 12mg
- Zinc (as zinc oxide) 84mg
- Iodine (as calcium iodate, anhydrous) 2.4mg
- Selenium (as sodium selenite) 0.24mg
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 (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| 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, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ideal complete food for adult, active dogs (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| meets the needs of dogs in sports and performance and supports their strength and vitality (on page) | Functional | 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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