Our verdict
Is Naturalnzpetfood Active Dog 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".
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
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 all lifestages
- Doesn't list chicken, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish meal
- 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. Find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (16)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 21.7%
- veg 21.2%
- carb 15.6%
- oil 13.5%
- supplement 9.9%
- unknown 6.9%
- fibre 6.6%
- additive 4.6%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grass fed Beef meal | Beef | meat · medium | - | 8.2 |
| 2 | Ground corn | Maize / Corn | carb · medium | - | 7.9 |
| 3 | brown rice | Rice - brown / whole grain | carb · medium | - | 7.7 |
| 4 | tallow (stabilized with vitamins C & E, rosemary, citric acid) | Tallow | oil · medium | - | 7.4 |
| 5 | blood meal | Blood Meal | meat · poor | - | 7.1 |
| 6 | spray dried blood | unmatched | - | - | 6.9 |
| 7 | flax seed meal | Linseed Cake | fibre · medium | - | 6.6 |
| 8 | fish meal (a natural source of glucosamine) | Fish Meal | meat · medium | - | 6.4 |
| 9 | fish oil (for the correct balance of omega 3 and omega 6) | Fish Oil | oil · good | - | 6.1 |
| 10 | oregano | Oregano | veg · good | - | 5.9 |
| 11 | agrimos (a prebiotic) | Prebiotics | supplement · good | - | 5.6 |
| 12 | kelp (a natural source of chelated minerals) | Kelp | veg · good | - | 5.4 |
| 13 | garlic | Garlic | veg · medium | - | 5.1 |
| 14 | rosemary (a powerful antioxidant and beneficial for cardio/vascular health) | Rosemary | veg · good | - | 4.8 |
| 15 | salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 4.6 |
| 16 | added vitamins and chelated minerals. | Vitamin | supplement · good | - | 4.3 |
- 1. Grass fed Beef meal8.2% estimated
- 2. Ground corn7.9% estimated
- 3. brown rice7.7% estimated
- 4. tallow (stabilized with vitamins C & E, rosemary, citric acid)7.4% estimated
- 5. blood meal7.1% estimated
- 6. spray dried blood6.9% estimated
- 7. flax seed meal6.6% estimated
- 8. fish meal (a natural source of glucosamine)6.4% estimated
- 9. fish oil (for the correct balance of omega 3 and omega 6)6.1% estimated
- 10. oregano5.9% estimated
- 11. agrimos (a prebiotic)5.6% estimated
- 12. kelp (a natural source of chelated minerals)5.4% estimated
- 13. garlic5.1% estimated
- 14. rosemary (a powerful antioxidant and beneficial for cardio/vascular health)4.8% estimated
- 15. salt4.6% estimated
- 16. added vitamins and chelated minerals.4.3% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 24%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Storage
Store in a cool dry place. To maintain freshness, store in the bag in a lidded container. Consume within 6–8 weeks of opening; store in airtight containers.
Feeding guide
1–1½ cups (100-150 g) per 10 kg body weight per day. Working dogs (40hr/week): 3-4% body weight daily. Agility dogs (training): 2.5-3% body weight. Transition: mix 25% with current food over 7 days. Always provide fresh water.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
added vitamins and chelated minerals
Technological additives
stabilized with vitamins C & E, rosemary, citric acid
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-19
Brand and contact: Naturalnzpetfood
- Website
- https://naturalnzpetfood.nz/
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 0275 89 39 29
- Address
- THE HOUSE OF FOOD LIMITED T/a Natural NZ Pet Foods and Treats, 55 Ryburn Road, Newstead, Hamilton, 3286
- Contact page
- naturalnzpetfood.nz
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-19
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- naturalnzpetfood.nz
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 an overall rating of 44 out of 100. The inclusion of ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points, and the processing format adjusted the score by -6.7. Conversely, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +3.7 points, while being labelled nutritionally complete contributed +2.3 points to the final evaluation.
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 | 0.4 | 9.191 | +3.67 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.8% | -0.115 | -2.05 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 17.4% | -0.092 | -1.60 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 9.4% | -0.005 | -0.05 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 5.4% | 0.163 | +0.88 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 11.9% | -0.012 | -0.15 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 4.5% | -0.027 | -0.12 |
| Recipe graded poor | 11.7% | -0.065 | -0.76 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 7.1% | -0.179 | -1.28 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.1% | 0.060 | +0.43 |
| 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 | -5.60 | 0.222 | -1.24 |
| 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 | 0.4 | 9.191 | +3.67 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 17.8% | -0.115 | -2.05 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 17.4% | -0.092 | -1.60 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 9.4% | -0.005 | -0.05 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 5.4% | 0.163 | +0.88 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 11.9% | -0.012 | -0.15 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 4.5% | -0.027 | -0.12 |
| Recipe graded poor | 11.7% | -0.065 | -0.76 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 7.1% | -0.179 | -1.28 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.1% | 0.060 | +0.43 |
| 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 | -5.60 | 0.222 | -1.24 |
| 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
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 43.9
- 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.
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 | 24 | 26.5 (band 18 to 40%) | 93.2 |
Scored over 1 declared nutrients (combined weight 25); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 1 nutritional additive on the label
- added vitamins and chelated minerals
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 (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 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, 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.
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.
Claims on file; none we can check against the label
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ grass-fed beef as the primary protein source (24% minimum) (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| wild-caught fish rich in natural glucosamine (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Premium High-Performance Nutrition for Sporting & Working Dogs (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Endurance Optimisation: Combines highly digestible grass-fed beef proteins for lean muscle maintenance with wild fish oils delivering Omega-3 EPA/DHA to reduce exercise-induced inflammation and accelerate recovery (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Joint Shield Technology: Naturally occurring glucosamine from fish cartilage protects connective tissues (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Dental Biomechanics: unique 50-cent-piece-sized rectangular kibble forces thorough chewing, mechanically scrubbing plaque (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Metabolic & Immune Support: a proprietary blend of garlic, kelp, oregano, and rosemary provides prebiotics, iodine and antioxidants (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| low-temperature extrusion to preserve heat-sensitive nutrients (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 100% natural, NZ-sourced ingredients (on page) | provenance | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Pure Fuel Integrity: zero artificial additives, GMOs, or inflammatory fillers (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| exceeds A.A.F.C.O's standards (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Alternatives to Active Dog
Similar on ingredients, protein, format or nutrition, using the same stored data.
Community0 comments
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.