Our verdict
Is Techni-Cal LifeStages Puppy/Junior a good dog food?
We score it 44/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".
Complete extruded dry food for puppies, with dried chicken protein, turkey and wheat as the main ingredients.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, pork as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dried chicken protein
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists turkey
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists salmon oil
- Your dog avoids duck: it is listed as an ingredient
- 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. Find foods that fit your dog.
Nutrition and feedingProtein 31% · Fat 16%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 31% |
| Fat | 16% |
| Fibre | 2% |
| Ash | 6% |
| Moisture | 9% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.57% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 2.38% |
Energy: 393 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Use our feeding guide for recommended daily amounts. Adjust as necessary according to your puppy's weight, age or level of activity. Always ensure your puppy has fresh water available.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
3a672a Vitamin A - retinyl acetat 19,980 IU; 3a671 Vitamin D3 - cholecalciferol 1,998 IU; 3a700 Vitamin E - alpha-tocopherol 350 mg; 3a820 Vitamin B1 3.33 mg; 3aE101 Vitamin B2 13.32 mg; 3a831 Vitamin B6 2.66 mg; 3a314 Niacin 28.64 mg; 3a842 D-Pantothenic acid 39.96 mg; 3a Vitamin B12 0.13 mg; 3a880 Biotin 0.03 mg; 3a316 Folic acid 0.53 mg; 3a890 Choline chloride 2100 mg
Ingredients (12)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 21.2%
- carb 19.4%
- oil 17.1%
- veg 14.4%
- supplement 13.1%
- fibre 8.6%
- additive 6.3%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dehydrated chicken | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 10.8 |
| 2 | turkey and duck | Turkey | meat · medium | - | 10.4 |
| 3 | wheat | Wheat | carb · poor | - | 9.9 |
| 4 | maize | Maize / Corn | carb · medium | - | 9.5 |
| 5 | chicken fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 9.0 |
| 6 | beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 8.6 |
| 7 | salmon oil | Salmon Oil | oil · good | - | 8.1 |
| 8 | dried apple | Apples | veg · good | - | 7.7 |
| 9 | brewers yeast | Brewer's Yeast | supplement · good | - | 7.2 |
| 10 | linseed | Linseed | veg · good | - | 6.8 |
| 11 | sodium chloride | Salt | additive · poor | - | 6.3 |
| 12 | fructo-oligosaccharides | Fructo-oligosaccharides | supplement · good | - | 5.9 |
- 1. Dehydrated chicken10.8% estimated
- 2. turkey and duck10.4% estimated
- 3. wheat9.9% estimated
- 4. maize9.5% estimated
- 5. chicken fat9.0% estimated
- 6. beet pulp8.6% estimated
- 7. salmon oil8.1% estimated
- 8. dried apple7.7% estimated
- 9. brewers yeast7.2% estimated
- 10. linseed6.8% estimated
- 11. sodium chloride6.3% estimated
- 12. fructo-oligosaccharides5.9% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-14
Brand and contact: Techni-Cal
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-14
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- technical-international.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.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
This recipe achieves a final score of 44 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list added +4.6 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6. Additionally, the processing format deducted -6.7 and the carbohydrate content contributed -2.3.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. 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 | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.56 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 20.0% | -0.115 | -2.30 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 19.9% | -0.092 | -1.83 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 15.2% | -0.005 | -0.08 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.7% | 0.163 | +1.08 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 14.1% | -0.012 | -0.17 |
| Recipe graded poor | 16.2% | -0.065 | -1.05 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 9.9% | 0.060 | +0.59 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -7.69 | 0.222 | -1.71 |
| 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 | 0.5 | 9.191 | +4.56 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 20.0% | -0.115 | -2.30 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 19.9% | -0.092 | -1.83 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 15.2% | -0.005 | -0.08 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 6.7% | 0.163 | +1.08 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 14.1% | -0.012 | -0.17 |
| 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 | 16.2% | -0.065 | -1.05 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 9.9% | 0.060 | +0.59 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| 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) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| 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 | -7.69 | 0.222 | -1.71 |
| 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
- Additives declared on label
- +1 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 44.2
- Final score
- 44/100
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 | 31 | 34.1 | 100 |
| Fat | 16 | 17.6 | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 393 | 431.9 | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100, omega-3 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.
Declared fortification: 12 nutritional additives on the label
- 3a672a Vitamin A - retinyl acetat 19,980 IU
- 3a671 Vitamin D3 - cholecalciferol 1,998 IU
- 3a700 Vitamin E - alpha-tocopherol 350 mg
- 3a820 Vitamin B1 3.33 mg
- 3aE101 Vitamin B2 13.32 mg
- 3a831 Vitamin B6 2.66 mg
- 3a314 Niacin 28.64 mg
- 3a842 D-Pantothenic acid 39.96 mg
- 3a Vitamin B12 0.13 mg
- 3a880 Biotin 0.03 mg
- 3a316 Folic acid 0.53 mg
- 3a890 Choline chloride 2100 mg
High confidence: full analysis plus minerals or omegas and declared energy.
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) | 5/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| 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 (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.
100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "highly digestible, complete dry pet food for all puppies" — supported by the declared complete and balanced data.
6 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rich in high quality animal protein (on pack) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| highly digestible, complete dry pet food for all puppies (on pack) | Content | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| supports the immune system (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| supports the gut mobility and stabilize the gut flora (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| healthy growth and development (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| for a shiny coat and healthy skin (on pack) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| No artificial colorings, flavorings added (on pack) | Free-from | 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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