Growing Paws Puppy Dog Food
Dry Extruded complete High meat Clear label
Is Growing Paws Puppy Dog Food a good dog food?
We score it 58/100 (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 58 out of 100. The meat content contributed +5.1 points, while the overall quality of the ingredient list added +6.6 points to the total. However, the processing format reduced the score by -7 and ingredients without printed percentages decreased it by -8.3.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
64% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe58
- Nutritionallow100
- Transparency52
- 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 puppies, with chicken, dried chicken protein and pea starch as the main ingredients.
Why you might choose it
- Meat makes up an estimated 44% of the dry matter (47% as fed).
- Prints ingredient percentages on the label.
- High in protein: 30% protein on a dry-matter basis.
Why you might not
We found no significant drawbacks in the data we hold for this product.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
- Protein
- 30%
- Fat
- 15%
- Fibre
- 2.75%
- Ash
- 6.75%
Additives & feeding info
No additives recorded yet.
Feeding guide
See the feeding table on the product page for amounts by age, breed size and weight.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists oats
- 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 (22)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 4.2 |
| 2 | 24% chicken meal | Dried chicken protein | meat | good | 24 | 24.0 |
| 3 | 12.5% freshly prepared chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | 12.5 | 12.5 |
| 4 | Pea starch | Pea Starch | carb | poor | - | 4.1 |
| 5 | Sweet potato | Sweet Potatoes | carb | good | - | 4.0 |
| 6 | Oats | Oats | carb | medium | - | 3.9 |
| 7 | Chicken fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | good | - | 3.7 |
| 8 | Chicken gravy | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 3.6 |
| 9 | Brewer’s yeast | Brewer's Yeast | supplement | good | - | 3.5 |
| 10 | Prairie meal | Prairie Meal | carb | medium | - | 3.4 |
| 11 | Unmolassed beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 3.3 |
| 12 | Salmon oil | Salmon Oil | oil | good | - | 3.2 |
| 13 | Egg powder | Dried Whole Egg | meat | good | - | 3.1 |
| 14 | Seaweed | Seaweed | veg | good | - | 3.0 |
| 15 | Marine algae (source of omega 3 fatty acid DHA) | Seaweed | veg | good | - | 2.9 |
| 16 | Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement | medium | - | 2.8 |
| 17 | Marigold flowers (source of lutein) | Calendula | veg | good | - | 2.7 |
| 18 | Nucleotides | Nucleotides | supplement | medium | - | 2.6 |
| 19 | Blackcurrant | Blackcurrant | veg | good | - | 2.5 |
| 20 | Yucca schidigera | Yucca Schidigera | supplement | good | - | 2.4 |
| 21 | Rosemary | Rosemary | veg | good | - | 2.3 |
| 22 | Pomegranate | Pomegranate | veg | good | - | 2.2 |
Brand
- Address
- Comber, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
- Contact page
- www.growingpaws.co.uk
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-14
- Scored with
- Model v2 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.growingpaws.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 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 | 0.7 | 9.915 | +6.57 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 43.9% | 0.116 | +5.10 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 16.2% | -0.113 | -1.83 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.1% | -0.088 | -0.90 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 10.0% | -0.002 | -0.02 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 15.3% | -0.009 | -0.14 |
| Recipe graded poor | 4.1% | -0.045 | -0.18 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.868 | -0.87 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.1% | 0.056 | +0.23 |
| Undeclared quantities | 63.5% | -0.131 | -8.31 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | yes | 3.194 | +3.19 |
| Complete diet | yes | 1.703 | +1.70 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 43.9 | -0.073 | -3.22 |
| 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 | 0.7 | 9.915 | +6.57 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 43.9% | 0.116 | +5.10 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 16.2% | -0.113 | -1.83 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.1% | -0.088 | -0.90 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 10.0% | -0.002 | -0.02 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.177 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 15.3% | -0.009 | -0.14 |
| 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 | 4.1% | -0.045 | -0.18 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.182 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 1 | -0.868 | -0.87 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.1% | 0.056 | +0.23 |
| Undeclared quantities | 63.5% | -0.131 | -8.31 |
| 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) | yes | -0.506 | -0.51 |
| 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 | 43.9 | -0.073 | -3.22 |
| 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
- Subtotal
- 58.5
- Final score
- 58/100
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 | 58/100 | current |
| v1 | 58/100 |
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 | 30 | 32.6 | 100 |
| Fat | 15 | 16.3 | 100 |
Scored over 2 declared nutrients (combined weight 40); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 8% from the food type.
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 (36.5% of the recipe mass) (voluntary) | 7.3/20 |
| 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) | 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, 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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| higher protein for muscle development (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| DHA for brain and eye development (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| the right balance of calcium and phosphorus for healthy bone growth (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| a high-quality dual-source protein delivering the elevated levels puppies need for rapid muscle and tissue development (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Sweet potato & pea starch - gentle, easily digestible carbohydrates that provide steady energy without the gut irritation of wheat or corn, kind on developing digestive systems (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Oats - a slow-release energy source and natural source of beta-glucan to support early immune function (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Marine algae (DHA) - a direct, highly bioavailable source of omega-3 DHA, essential for healthy brain and eye development in the critical early months (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Salmon oil - additional omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin health and a glossy coat (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Egg powder - a highly digestible complete protein supporting growth and immune function (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Mannan & Fructose Oligosaccharides (MOS & FOS) - dual prebiotics that support the development of a healthy gut microbiome from an early age (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| Marine algae, marigold flowers, blackcurrant & pomegranate - natural antioxidants supporting immunity, eye health and overall vitality (on page) | Functional | Manufacturer assertion |
| without wheat, gluten or artificial additives (on page) | Free-from | Manufacturer assertion |
| No wheat, no gluten, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives (on page) | Free-from | 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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