Growing Paws Premium Lamb & Rice Dog Food

Dry Extruded · completeClear label

Premium Lamb & Rice Dog Food
Average
our rating

Our verdict

Is Growing Paws Premium Lamb & Rice Dog Food a good dog food?

We score it 53/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

Complete extruded dry food for dogs of all life stages, with lamb, rice and oats as the main ingredients.

How we score

Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.

74% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.

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.

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
  • Doesn't list beef, turkey, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken oil and fat
  • Your dog avoids lamb: the label lists lamb
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists green-lipped mussel
  • Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - brown / whole grain
  • 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 24% · Fat 13%

Typical analysis (as fed)

NutrientAs fed
Protein24%
Fat13%
Fibre3%
Ash7.50%

Additives & feeding info

No additives recorded yet.

Ingredients (27)74% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

  • meat 32.9%
  • veg 23.9%
  • supplement 17.4%
  • carb 15.6%
  • oil 6.9%
  • fibre 3.4%
#As declaredMatchedLabel readingDeclared %Est. %
1Lamb (min 26%)Lambmeat · medium2626.0
2Whole grain riceRice - brown / whole graincarb · medium-4.0
3Whole grain oatsOatscarb · medium-4.0
4Whole grain barleyBarleycarb · medium-3.9
5Chicken fatChicken Oil and Fatoil · good-3.8
6Prairie mealPrairie Mealcarb · medium-3.7
7Lamb gravyLambmeat · medium-3.6
8Dried peasPeasveg · good-3.5
9Full fat linseedLinseedveg · good-3.5
10Beet pulpBeet Pulpfibre · medium-3.4
11Dried eggDried Eggmeat · medium-3.3
12Brewer’s yeastBrewer's Yeastsupplement · good-3.2
13Salmon oil (source of omega 3 fatty acids)Salmon Oiloil · good-3.1
14MineralsVitamins and mineralssupplement · medium-3.0
15Mannan oligosaccharidesMannanoligosaccharidessupplement · good-2.9
16GlucosamineGlucosaminesupplement · good-2.9
17Milk thistle (0.12%)Milk Thistleveg · good0.120.1
18SeaweedSeaweedveg · good-2.8
19Nettle (0.1%)Nettlesveg · good0.10.1
20Green lipped musselGreen-Lipped Musselsupplement · good-2.7
21Yucca schidigeraYucca Schidigerasupplement · good-2.6
22BlackcurrantBlackcurrantveg · good-2.5
23pomegranatePomegranateveg · good-2.4
24rosemaryRosemaryveg · good-2.4
25rosehipRose Hipveg · good-2.3
26spinachSpinachveg · good-2.2
27beetrootBeetrootveg · good-2.1
  1. 1. Lamb (min 26%)26% declared26.0% estimated
    Lamb · meat · medium
  2. 2. Whole grain rice4.0% estimated
    Rice - brown / whole grain · carb · medium
  3. 3. Whole grain oats4.0% estimated
    Oats · carb · medium
  4. 4. Whole grain barley3.9% estimated
    Barley · carb · medium
  5. 5. Chicken fat3.8% estimated
    Chicken Oil and Fat · oil · good
  6. 6. Prairie meal3.7% estimated
    Prairie Meal · carb · medium
  7. 7. Lamb gravy3.6% estimated
    Lamb · meat · medium
  8. 8. Dried peas3.5% estimated
    Peas · veg · good
  9. 9. Full fat linseed3.5% estimated
    Linseed · veg · good
  10. 10. Beet pulp3.4% estimated
    Beet Pulp · fibre · medium
  11. 11. Dried egg3.3% estimated
    Dried Egg · meat · medium
  12. 12. Brewer’s yeast3.2% estimated
    Brewer's Yeast · supplement · good
  13. 13. Salmon oil (source of omega 3 fatty acids)3.1% estimated
    Salmon Oil · oil · good
  14. 14. Minerals3.0% estimated
    Vitamins and minerals · supplement · medium
  15. 15. Mannan oligosaccharides2.9% estimated
    Mannanoligosaccharides · supplement · good
  16. 16. Glucosamine2.9% estimated
    Glucosamine · supplement · good
  17. 17. Milk thistle (0.12%)0.12% declared0.1% estimated
    Milk Thistle · veg · good
  18. 18. Seaweed2.8% estimated
    Seaweed · veg · good
  19. 19. Nettle (0.1%)0.1% declared0.1% estimated
    Nettles · veg · good
  20. 20. Green lipped mussel2.7% estimated
    Green-Lipped Mussel · supplement · good
  21. 21. Yucca schidigera2.6% estimated
    Yucca Schidigera · supplement · good
  22. 22. Blackcurrant2.5% estimated
    Blackcurrant · veg · good
  23. 23. pomegranate2.4% estimated
    Pomegranate · veg · good
  24. 24. rosemary2.4% estimated
    Rosemary · veg · good
  25. 25. rosehip2.3% estimated
    Rose Hip · veg · good
  26. 26. spinach2.2% estimated
    Spinach · veg · good
  27. 27. beetroot2.1% estimated
    Beetroot · veg · good

Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14

Brand and contact: Growing Paws
Growing Paws logo
Address
Comber, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

Trust and provenance

Recall history
No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked
2026-09-14
Scored with
Model v3 (methodology)

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?

This food achieves an overall score of 53 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list adds +6.8 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages deduct -7.8, the processing format removes -6.7, and the carbohydrate content subtracts -2.6.

Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.79.191+6.75
Meat share of dry matter11.9%0.096+1.14
Carb share of dry matter22.6%-0.115-2.60
Oil share of dry matter11.2%-0.092-1.03
Vegetable share of dry matter17.8%-0.005-0.09
Supplement share of dry matter26.1%-0.012-0.32
Undeclared quantities73.8%-0.106-7.79
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.79.191+6.75
Meat share of dry matter11.9%0.096+1.14
Carb share of dry matter22.6%-0.115-2.60
Oil share of dry matter11.2%-0.092-1.03
Vegetable share of dry matter17.8%-0.005-0.09
Additive share of dry matter0.0%0.163+0.00
Supplement share of dry matter26.1%-0.012-0.32
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor0.0%-0.065+0.00
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients0-0.876+0.00
Largest single poor ingredient0.0%0.060+0.00
Undeclared quantities73.8%-0.106-7.79
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietno2.294+0.00
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)no0.707+0.00
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)no-3.158+0.00
High carb and low meatno-1.180+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages0.00.000+0.00
Meat share × fresh0.00.000+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.011.084+0.00
Additive penalty0.000.222+0.00
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Rawno-0.054+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno0.000+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedno6.629+0.00
Processing: Dry Air Driedno6.331+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.174+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.146+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksno-0.672+0.00
Processing-type offset
+0.02
Subtotal
53.4
Final score
53/100

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.

ModelScore
v353/100current
v257/100
v151/100
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.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein2426.5 (band 18 to 40%)93.2
Fat1314.4 (band 5.5 to 20%)100
Fibre33.3 (band 0.5 to 5%)100

Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); 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.

ItemPoints
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
✓ Printed percentages on the label (26.2% of the recipe mass) (voluntary)5.2/20
✗ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file0/15
✗ Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file0/10
✗ Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file0/5
✓ Complete/complementary designation (mandatory)5/5
✗ Feeding guidance given (mandatory) - not on file0/10
✓ Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory)10/10
✓ Country of manufacture stated (voluntary)10/10
✗ Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file0/5

Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Additives 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 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.

0/100 · limited — 1 checkable claim: 0 consistent, 1 contradicted.

Contradicted by the label

  • "Wheat-Gluten Free" — the declared label says otherwise on grain-free.

8 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.

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
Hypoallergenic (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
supports healthy joints and long-term mobility (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
supporting skin health, coat condition and reducing inflammation (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
supporting a healthy gut microbiome (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
support immunity, coat health and overall vitality (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
No wheat, no gluten, no artificial additives (on page)Free-fromnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Lamb & Rice Dog Food (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion
source of omega 3 fatty acids (on page)Nutrientnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Wheat-Gluten Free (on page)Free-fromcontradictedManufacturer assertion

The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.

Alternatives to Premium Lamb & Rice Dog Food

Similar on ingredients, protein, format or nutrition, using the same stored data.

See all alternatives

See all products from Growing Paws

Community0 comments

Owners' verdict
0 votes

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.

Comments are reviewed before they appear.