Hill's Pet Nutrition Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Dry Extruded complete
Is Hill's Pet Nutrition Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe a good dog food?
We score it 38/100 (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".
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall rating of 38 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +3.4 points to the total. However, the presence of ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6. Furthermore, the processing format decreased the score by -6.7, and the carbohydrate content lowered the final result by -4.8.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
- Recipe38
- NutritionalNot recorded
- Transparency45
- Safety100
- EvidenceNot recorded
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.
Why you might choose it
- Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
- Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.
Why you might not
- No analytical breakdown is published.
- 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Estimated composition
Typical analysis (as fed)
No analysis recorded yet.
Dry matter basis
- Protein
- 26.30%
- Fat
- 15.40%
- Fibre
- 2.40%
- Carbohydrates
- 49%
Additives & feeding info
No additives recorded yet.
Feeding guide
Adjust feeding amounts as necessary to maintain optimal weight. New to this food: Mix increasing amounts of new food with decreasing amounts of old food over a 7-day period. Keep fresh water available at all times. See detailed cup/gram amounts by body weight and age (less than 4 months, 4-9 months, 10-12 months, 13-18 months) on the page.
Reviews
Trustpilot: 3.0/5 · 3 reviews
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
- Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at large dogs
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
- Your dog avoids pork: it is listed as an ingredient
- 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. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (25)
| # | As declared | Matched | Category | Tier | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken | Chicken | meat | medium | - | 5.3 |
| 2 | Brown Rice | Rice - brown / whole grain | carb | medium | - | 5.2 |
| 3 | Whole Grain Oats | Oats | carb | medium | - | 5.1 |
| 4 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat | good | - | 4.9 |
| 5 | Cracked Pearled Barley | Barley | carb | medium | - | 4.8 |
| 6 | Chicken Fat | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil | medium | - | 4.7 |
| 7 | Pea Protein | Pea protein | carb | medium | - | 4.6 |
| 8 | Brewers Rice | Rice - white | carb | medium | - | 4.5 |
| 9 | Whole Grain Wheat | Wheat | carb | poor | - | 4.4 |
| 10 | Soybean Meal | Soybean Meal | carb | poor | - | 4.3 |
| 11 | Whole Grain Corn | Whole Grains | carb | good | - | 4.2 |
| 12 | Chicken Liver Flavor | Liver | meat | good | - | 4.1 |
| 13 | Ground Pecan Shells | Ground Pecan Shell | fibre | poor | - | 4.0 |
| 14 | Lactic Acid | unmatched | - | - | - | 3.9 |
| 15 | Pork Liver Flavor | Liver | meat | good | - | 3.8 |
| 16 | Dicalcium Phosphate | Dicalcium phosphate | supplement | medium | - | 3.7 |
| 17 | Flaxseed | Linseed | veg | good | - | 3.6 |
| 18 | Dried Beet Pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 3.5 |
| 19 | Fish Oil | Fish Oil | oil | good | - | 3.4 |
| 20 | Iodized Salt | Salt | additive | medium | - | 3.3 |
| 21 | Dried Citrus Pulp | Citrus Pulp | fibre | medium | - | 3.2 |
| 22 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement | medium | - | 3.1 |
| 23 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement | good | - | 2.9 |
| 24 | Pressed Cranberries | Cranberries | veg | good | - | 2.8 |
| 25 | Calcium Carbonate | Calcium Carbonate | supplement | medium | - | 2.7 |
Brand
- Website
- https://www.hillspet.com/
- Contact page
- www.hillspet.com
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-18
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.hillspet.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 v3 on 2026-09-26. 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 | +3.43 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.7% | -0.115 | -4.80 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.092 | -0.94 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 4.6% | -0.005 | -0.02 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 3.7% | 0.163 | +0.61 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 14.5% | -0.012 | -0.18 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 2.5% | -0.027 | -0.07 |
| Recipe graded poor | 12.7% | -0.065 | -0.83 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.4% | 0.060 | +0.27 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -3.98 | 0.222 | -0.88 |
| 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 | +3.43 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 41.7% | -0.115 | -4.80 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 10.2% | -0.092 | -0.94 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 4.6% | -0.005 | -0.02 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 3.7% | 0.163 | +0.61 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 14.5% | -0.012 | -0.18 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 2.5% | -0.027 | -0.07 |
| Recipe graded poor | 12.7% | -0.065 | -0.83 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 4.4% | 0.060 | +0.27 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | no | 2.294 | +0.00 |
| 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 | -3.98 | 0.222 | -0.88 |
| 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
- Subtotal
- 37.6
- Final score
- 38/100
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
Analytical constituents not declared
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) - not on file | 0/10 |
| 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 (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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Specially made with an optimal level of calcium for controlled bone growth, a unique developmental need of large breed puppies (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contains ActivBiome+ Digestion, a breakthrough blend of prebiotic fibers to support the gut microbiome and digestive system (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Growing bones and teeth supported by balanced minerals (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Healthy brain development, enhanced memory and easier training supported by optimal levels of DHA from marine algae oil (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Developing immune system supported by antioxidant blend (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| 100% Satisfaction guarantee (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Great tasting natural* nutrition for a long, happy life (*plus vitamins, minerals and amino acids) (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| U.S. Veterinarians' #1 Recommended Brand (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Growing muscles fueled by high quality proteins (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Hill's Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe provides complete and balanced nutrition for growing puppies (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.
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