Happy Dog Low Calorie Dry Dog Food (Light Control)
Dry Extruded complete Clear label
Is Happy Dog Low Calorie Dry Dog Food (Light Control) a good dog food?
We score it 52/100 (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 52 out of 100. The meat content contributed +3.3 points, while the overall quality of the ingredient list added +3.6 points to the total. However, the processing format reduced the score by -7 and ingredients without printed percentages decreased it by -9.8.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
75% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe52
- Nutritionalmedium96
- Transparency55
- 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.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 25.50%
- Fat
- 7%
- Fibre
- 6%
- Ash
- 6.50%
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- 0.20%
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- 1.80%
- Calcium
- 1.40%
- Phosphorus
- 0.90%
- Sodium
- 0.35%
Energy: 320.5 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Nutritional additives
Vitamin A (3a672a) 12000 IU/kg; vitamin D3 (3a671) 1000 IU/kg; vitamin E (3a700) 75 mg/kg; vitamin B1 (3a821) 4 mg/kg; vitamin B2 (3a825ii) 6 mg/kg; vitamin B6 (3a831) 4 mg/kg; biotin (3a880) 575 mcg/kg; calcium D-pantothenate (3a841) 10 mg/kg; niacin (3a314) 40 mg/kg; vitamin B12 70 mcg/kg; choline chloride (3a890) 60 mg/kg; L-carnitine (3a910) 200 mg/kg; iron (3b103, 3b106) 105 mg/kg; copper (3b405, 3b406) 10 mg/kg; zinc (3b603, 3b606, 3b607) 105 mg/kg; manganese (3b502, 3b504) 25 mg/kg; iodine (3b202) 2 mg/kg; selenium (3b801, 3b8.12) 0.15 mg/kg
Technological additives
Antioxidants: tocopherol extracts from vegetable oils 1b306(i)
Reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Doesn't list beef, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists poultry
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists poultry
- Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon protein
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists maize / corn
- 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 (35)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animal proteins | Digest / Hydrolysed Animal Proteins | meat | poor | - | 3.6 |
| 2 | 16% poultry | Poultry | meat | medium | 16 | 16.0 |
| 3 | 4% lamb | Lamb | meat | medium | 4 | 4.0 |
| 4 | maize | Maize / Corn | carb | poor | - | 3.6 |
| 5 | maize flour | Corn flour | carb | medium | - | 3.5 |
| 6 | rice | Rice - white | carb | medium | - | 3.4 |
| 7 | barley | Barley | carb | medium | - | 3.4 |
| 8 | lignocellulose | Lignocellulose | fibre | medium | - | 3.3 |
| 9 | 5% salmon meal | Salmon Protein | meat | good | 5 | 5.0 |
| 10 | meat meal | Meat Meal | meat | medium | - | 3.2 |
| 11 | hydrolysed protein | Protein Hydrolysate | other | poor | - | 3.2 |
| 12 | beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 3.1 |
| 13 | oils and fats | Oils and Fats | oil | poor | - | 3.0 |
| 14 | apple pomace | Apple Fibre | fibre | medium | - | 3.0 |
| 15 | potassium chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 2.9 |
| 16 | yeasts | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 2.8 |
| 17 | sodium chloride | Salt | additive | poor | - | 2.8 |
| 18 | seaweed | Seaweed | veg | good | - | 2.7 |
| 19 | linseed (0.15%) | Linseed | veg | good | 0.15 | 0.1 |
| 20 | dried whole egg (0.1%) | Dried Whole Egg | meat | good | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 21 | milk thistle | Milk Thistle | veg | good | - | 2.6 |
| 22 | mussel meat (0.02%) | Mussel Meat Meal | meat | medium | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| 23 | yeasts (extract) | Yeast | supplement | good | - | 2.6 |
| 24 | artichoke | Artichoke | veg | good | - | 2.5 |
| 25 | dandelion | Dandelion Root | veg | good | - | 2.4 |
| 26 | ginger (0.015%) | Ginger | veg | good | 0.015 | 0.01 |
| 27 | birch leaves | Birch Leaves | veg | medium | - | 2.4 |
| 28 | stinging nettle | Nettles | veg | good | - | 2.3 |
| 29 | camomile | Chamomile | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 30 | coriander | Coriander | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
| 31 | rosemary | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 2.1 |
| 32 | sage | Sage | veg | good | - | 2.0 |
| 33 | liquorice root | Liquorice | veg | medium | - | 2.0 |
| 34 | thyme | Thyme | veg | good | - | 1.9 |
| 35 | total dried herbs 0.15% | Herbs | veg | medium | 0.15 | 0.1 |
Brand
- Website
- https://www.happydoguk.com/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- (530) 267-6262
- Address
- 300 Salem Street Chico,CA 95928
- Contact page
- www.happydog.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-15
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.happydoguk.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 | 0.4 | 9.915 | +3.59 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 28.0% | 0.116 | +3.25 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 20.3% | -0.113 | -2.29 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 5.0% | -0.088 | -0.44 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 13.2% | -0.002 | -0.02 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 4.1% | 0.177 | +0.73 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.7% | -0.009 | -0.11 |
| Other share of dry matter | 2.6% | -0.371 | -0.97 |
| Recipe graded poor | 12.2% | -0.045 | -0.55 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.868 | -3.47 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.5% | 0.056 | +0.19 |
| Undeclared quantities | 74.7% | -0.131 | -9.78 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 28.0 | -0.073 | -2.06 |
| Additive penalty | -3.29 | 0.236 | -0.78 |
| 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 | 0.4 | 9.915 | +3.59 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 28.0% | 0.116 | +3.25 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 20.3% | -0.113 | -2.29 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 5.0% | -0.088 | -0.44 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 13.2% | -0.002 | -0.02 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 4.1% | 0.177 | +0.73 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 12.7% | -0.009 | -0.11 |
| Other share of dry matter | 2.6% | -0.371 | -0.97 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.022 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 12.2% | -0.045 | -0.55 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.182 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 4 | -0.868 | -3.47 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 3.5% | 0.056 | +0.19 |
| Undeclared quantities | 74.7% | -0.131 | -9.78 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| 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 | 28.0 | -0.073 | -2.06 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | -0.339 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 16.475 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -3.29 | 0.236 | -0.78 |
| 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
- 51.9
- Final score
- 52/100
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.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 25.5 | 27.7 (band 18 to 40%) | 96.5 |
| Fat | 7 | 7.6 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 78.7 |
| Fibre | 6 | 6.5 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Calcium | 1.4 | 1.5 (band 0.5 to 2.5%) | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 0.9 | 1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%) | 98.9 |
| Calcium:phosphorus ratio | 1.6 | 1.6 (band 1 to 2%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 320.5 | 348.4 | 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 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 8% from the food type.
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 (25.3% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 5.1/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| 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 (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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Five animal protein sources (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| Help your dog shed excess weight with our Low Fat Diet! With just 7% fat and high fibre content, it keeps them feeling full for longer while supporting a healthier lifestyle. (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| For weight loss or maintenance (on pack) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| a reduced-fat, filling complete food for dogs that are slightly overweight or holding a target weight (on pack) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Reduced fat, filling recipe (on pack) | Content | Manufacturer assertion |
| No added sugar (on pack) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| made in Germany (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 Happy Dog
Alternatives to Low Calorie Dry Dog Food (Light Control)
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.