Is Dr. John Puppy chicken recipe a good dog food?
We score it 47/100 (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 47 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +3.2 points to the total. However, the presence of ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -7. Furthermore, the processing format decreased the score by -6.7, and the carbohydrate content lowered the final result by -4.5.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
66% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe47
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency47
- Safety100
- Evidencelimited67
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 extruded dry food for puppies, with dehydrated poultry proteins, chicken and wheat as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
We found no significant drawbacks in the data we hold for this product.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 27%
- Fat
- 15%
- Fibre
- 2.50%
- Ash
- 7%
Additives & feeding info
No additives recorded yet.
Feeding guide
Feed to appetite up to 2 months. Small dogs under 10kg adult size: 80–180g daily at 2–4 months, 120–200g at 4–6 months, 120–210g at 6–8 months. Medium dogs 10–20kg: 120–250g at 2–4 months, 180–330g at 4–6 months, 200–360g at 6–8 months. Large dogs 20–45kg: 200–500g at 2–4 months, 250–600g at 4–6 months, 320–650g at 6–8 months. Giant dogs over 45kg: 300–600g at 2–4 months, 500–730g at 4–6 months, 600–850g at 6–8 months. Can be fed dry or with water or gravy.
Reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dehydrated poultry proteins
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists dehydrated poultry proteins
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists wheat
- 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 (13)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poultry Meal | Dehydrated Poultry Proteins | meat | good | - | 9.5 |
| 2 | 30% Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | 30 | 30.0 |
| 3 | Wheat | Wheat | carb | poor | - | 8.9 |
| 4 | Barley | Barley | carb | medium | - | 8.4 |
| 5 | Maize | Maize / Corn | carb | medium | - | 7.9 |
| 6 | Chicken Fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | good | - | 7.4 |
| 7 | Maize Gluten | Maize gluten | carb | poor | - | 6.8 |
| 8 | Beet Pulp (1.9%) | Beet Pulp | fibre | medium | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| 9 | Salmon Oil (1.25%) | Salmon Oil | oil | good | 1.25 | 1.3 |
| 10 | FOS (0.625%) | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement | good | 0.625 | 0.6 |
| 11 | Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 6.3 |
| 12 | Linseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 5.8 |
| 13 | Yucca Extract. | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 5.3 |
Brand
- Website
- https://www.gilpa.co.uk/
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-10-06
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.gilpa.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.
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 2026-10-06. 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 | +3.21 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 11.7% | 0.096 | +1.12 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 39.2% | -0.115 | -4.51 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 11.8% | -0.092 | -1.09 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 7.2% | -0.005 | -0.04 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 15.6% | -0.012 | -0.19 |
| Recipe graded poor | 15.8% | -0.065 | -1.02 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.9% | 0.060 | +0.54 |
| Undeclared quantities | 66.2% | -0.106 | -6.99 |
| Additive penalty | -0.20 | 0.222 | -0.05 |
| 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 | +3.21 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 11.7% | 0.096 | +1.12 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 39.2% | -0.115 | -4.51 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 11.8% | -0.092 | -1.09 |
| 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 | 15.6% | -0.012 | -0.19 |
| 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 | 15.8% | -0.065 | -1.02 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.9% | 0.060 | +0.54 |
| Undeclared quantities | 66.2% | -0.106 | -6.99 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | no | 2.294 | +0.00 |
| 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) | 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 | -0.20 | 0.222 | -0.05 |
| 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
- Subtotal
- 46.6
- Final score
- 47/100
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 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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 27 | 29.8 | 100 |
| Fat | 15 | 16.6 | 100 |
Scored over 2 declared nutrients (combined weight 40); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
No nutritional additives section declared on the label.
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 (33.8% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 6.8/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/10 |
| 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, Additives 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.
67/100 · limited — 3 checkable claims: 2 consistent, 1 contradicted.
Contradicted by the label
- "27% protein" — the declared label says otherwise on high protein.
Consistent with the label
- "complete and balanced nutritional diet" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
- "Made in the UK, with locally sourced ingredients where possible" — supported by the declared made in the UK data.
5 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Limited: at least one claim contradicts the declared label, or a recent upheld ASA ruling applies.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| complete and balanced nutritional diet (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| high levels of chicken (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| prebiotics, omega 3s and selected antioxidants to support puppies through every step of their development (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 27% protein (on page) | High/low level | contradicted | Manufacturer assertion |
| 15% fat (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No added artificial colours, flavours or sugars as standard (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made in the UK, with locally sourced ingredients where possible (on page) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Recyclable packaging (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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