Essential Foods THE JAGUAR
Dry Extruded complete
Is Essential Foods THE JAGUAR a good dog food?
We score it 56/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Why this score?
This recipe achieves a total score of 56 out of 100 based on several key factors. The meat content contributed +2.2 points, and the overall quality of the ingredient list added +7.7 points. However, the processing format reduced the score by -7 points. Additionally, ingredients without printed percentages resulted in a deduction of -13.1 points.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe56
- Nutritionalmedium98
- 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 extruded dry food for adult dogs, with chicken, salmon and potatoes as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Doesn't list grain ingredients.
- High in protein: 43% protein on a dry-matter basis.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 40%
- Fat
- 17%
- Fibre
- 3.50%
- Ash
- 9%
- Moisture
- 7%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 1.10%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 4.50%
- Calcium
- 1.50%
- Phosphorus
- 1.20%
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A 26000 IU/kg; Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 1600 IU/kg; Vitamin E 600 IU; Taurine 2000 mg; L-Carnitine 105 mg; Zinc (Zinc Chelate Acid Hydrate) 90 mg/kg; Iron (Iron (II) Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 65 mg; Manganese (Manganese Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 25 mg; Copper (Copper (II) Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate) 7.6 mg; Iodine (Calcium Iodate Anhydrous) / Potassium Iodide) 0.73 mg; DL-Methionine 2000 mg
Technological additives
Enterococcus faecium DSM 10663/NCIMB 10415 1000000000 cfu; natural preservative (rosemary); natural antioxidants
Storage
Always store in a cool, dry place (5-18 degrees), away from direct sunlight and in an airtight container
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon
- Your dog avoids duck: it is listed as an ingredient
- 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 (33)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshly prepared British free-range chicken and free-run welfare assured British country duck | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 4.0 |
| 2 | dried chicken and duck | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 3.9 |
| 3 | fresh Scottish salmon and trout | Salmon | meat | good | - | 3.9 |
| 4 | potato | Potatoes | carb | medium | - | 3.8 |
| 5 | fresh whole eggs | Egg | meat | good | - | 3.8 |
| 6 | sweet potato | Sweet Potatoes | carb | good | - | 3.7 |
| 7 | peas | Peas | veg | good | - | 3.6 |
| 8 | fresh chicken liver | Chicken Liver | meat | good | - | 3.6 |
| 9 | chicken fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | good | - | 3.5 |
| 10 | flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 3.5 |
| 11 | liver stock | Liver | meat | good | - | 3.4 |
| 12 | alfalfa sprouts | Alfalfa Sprouts | veg | good | - | 3.3 |
| 13 | pea fibre | Pea Fibre | fibre | medium | - | 3.3 |
| 14 | salmon oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 3.2 |
| 15 | vitamins | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 3.2 |
| 16 | minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 3.1 |
| 17 | cranberries | Cranberries | veg | good | - | 3.0 |
| 18 | acai | Acai | veg | good | - | 3.0 |
| 19 | blueberries | Blueberries | veg | good | - | 2.9 |
| 20 | mulberries | Mulberry | veg | good | - | 2.8 |
| 21 | apple | Apples | veg | good | - | 2.8 |
| 22 | tomato | Tomato | veg | good | - | 2.7 |
| 23 | orange | Orange | veg | medium | - | 2.7 |
| 24 | pear | Pears | veg | good | - | 2.6 |
| 25 | carrot | Carrots | veg | good | - | 2.5 |
| 26 | spinach | Spinach | veg | good | - | 2.5 |
| 27 | cauliflower | Cauliflower | veg | good | - | 2.4 |
| 28 | seaweed | Seaweed | veg | good | - | 2.4 |
| 29 | marigold | Calendula | veg | good | - | 2.3 |
| 30 | ginseng | Ginseng | supplement | medium | - | 2.2 |
| 31 | green tea | Green Tea | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 32 | ginger | Ginger | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 33 | probiotic supplement | Probiotic | supplement | good | - | 2.1 |
Brand
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-08-22
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- essentialfoods.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 | +7.72 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 19.1% | 0.116 | +2.22 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 4.4% | -0.113 | -0.50 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 15.6% | -0.088 | -1.38 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 31.3% | -0.002 | -0.06 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 22.7% | -0.009 | -0.20 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.131 | -13.09 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Processing multiplier | 1.00 | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.996 | -7.00 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 32.336 | +32.34 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.8 | 9.915 | +7.72 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 19.1% | 0.116 | +2.22 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 4.4% | -0.113 | -0.50 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 15.6% | -0.088 | -1.38 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 31.3% | -0.002 | -0.06 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 22.7% | -0.009 | -0.20 |
| 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 | 100.0% | -0.131 | -13.09 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 3.194 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 11.440 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | -0.506 | +0.00 |
| 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 | 0.0 | -0.073 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | -0.339 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 16.475 | +0.00 |
| 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 | no | 6.583 | +0.00 |
| 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 | yes | -6.996 | -7.00 |
| 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
- -0.01
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 56.1
- Final score
- 56/100
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 | 56/100 | current |
| v1 | 56/100 | |
| v1.9 | 56/100 |
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 | 40 | 43 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 17 | 18.3 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 3.5 | 3.8 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.5 | 1.6 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 1.2 | 1.3 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 100 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.3 | 1.3 (band 1 to 2%) | 85 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). 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.
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) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| 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) | 5/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Feeding guidance given).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| A grain-free diet helps sensitive digestion (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| keep your dog's blood sugar stable (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Naturally rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| support healthy skin, a shiny coat, and overall heart and joint health (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Source of omega 3 (on page) | Nutrient | Manufacturer assertion |
| grain-free (on page) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| no grain, no fillers (on page) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made with at least 95% free-range British free-run country duck, free-range British chicken, Scottish salmon, trout and whole egg (on page) | 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.
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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.
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