Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food Classic Small Bites Adult Natural Dry Dog Food - Beef & Brown Rice Recipe

Dry Extruded complete

Average
our rating

Is Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food Classic Small Bites Adult Natural Dry Dog Food - Beef & Brown Rice Recipe a good dog food?

We score it 48/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

How we score

Why this score?

This recipe achieves a final score of 48 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list added +5.5 points. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6. Additionally, the processing format deducted -6.7 and the carbohydrate content contributed -2.7.

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.

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

  • 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
  • Its additive load costs about 2 points in the rating.

View the source page

Estimated composition

veg25.7%
carb23.4%
supplement20.3%
meat14.4%
additive7.7%
oil4.3%
fibre4.2%

Typical analysis (as fed)

Protein
26%
Fat
14%
Fibre
4%
Moisture
10%
Omega-3 fatty acids
0.90%
Omega-6 fatty acids
2.20%
Calcium
1.30%
Phosphorus
1%

Energy: 355.5 kcal/100g

Additives & feeding info

Nutritional additives

Zinc Sulfate; Ferrous Sulfate; Manganese Sulfate; Copper Sulfate; Zinc Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Calcium Iodate; Sodium Selenite; Vitamin A Supplement; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Vitamin E Supplement; Vitamin B3 (Niacin); Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid); Vitamin B7 (Biotin); Vitamin B5 (Calcium Pantothenate); Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate); Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride); Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin); Vitamin B12 Supplement; Taurine; L-Carnitine; DL-Methionine; Choline Chloride

Technological additives

Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative); Rosemary Extract; Green Tea Extract; Spearmint

Feeding guide

Feed based on weight: 10 lbs or less: ½–¾ cup; 10–20 lbs: ¾–1½ cups; 20–30 lbs: 1½–2 cups; 30–40 lbs: 2–2½ cups; 40–60 lbs: 2½–3¼ cups; 60–80 lbs: 3¼–4 cups; 80–100 lbs: 4–5 cups; over 100 lbs: 5 cups plus ¼ cup for every 10 lbs over 100 lbs. Based on 8 oz. standard measuring cup. Adjust based on body condition, life stage, activity and environmental temperature. Keep fresh water available at all times.

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
  • Doesn't list lamb, fish, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken oil and fat
  • Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef
  • Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists dehydrated turkey protein
  • 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 (27)

#As declaredMatchedCategoryTierDeclared %Est. %
1BeefBeefmeatmedium-4.9
2Beef MealBeefmeatmedium-4.8
3Turkey MealDehydrated turkey proteinmeatgood-4.7
4Brown RiceRice - brown / whole graincarbmedium-4.6
5Grain SorghumSorghumcarbmedium-4.5
6PeasPeasvegmedium-4.4
7Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)Chicken Oil and Fatoilmedium-4.3
8Dried Plain Beet PulpBeet Pulpfibremedium-4.2
9FlaxseedLinseedveggood-4.2
10Natural FlavorsFlavoradditivepoor-4.1
11OatmealOatscarbmedium-4.0
12Pearled BarleyBarleycarbmedium-3.9
13Potato ProteinPotato proteincarbmedium-3.8
14Potassium ChloridePotassium Chloridesupplementmedium-3.7
15SaltSaltadditivemedium-3.6
16Choline ChlorideCholinesupplementgood-3.5
17DL-MethionineMethioninesupplementgood-3.4
18TaurineTaurinesupplementgood-3.3
19L-CarnitineL-Carnitinesupplementmedium-3.3
20Dried Chicory RootChicory rootveggood-3.2
21Yucca Schidigera ExtractYucca Schidigerasupplementgood-3.1
22ApplesApplesveggood-3.0
23BlueberriesBlueberriesveggood-2.9
24CranberriesCranberriesveggood-2.8
25CarrotsCarrotsveggood-2.7
26Sweet PotatoSweet Potatoescarbgood-2.6
27Dried KelpKelpveggood-2.5

Brand

Chicken Soup for the Soul Pet Food

Email
[email protected]
Phone
203-861-4000

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.

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.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.69.191+5.47
Carb share of dry matter23.1%-0.115-2.66
Oil share of dry matter6.0%-0.092-0.55
Vegetable share of dry matter15.7%-0.005-0.08
Additive share of dry matter9.7%0.163+1.57
Supplement share of dry matter26.1%-0.012-0.32
Recipe graded poor4.1%-0.065-0.26
Number of poor ingredients1-0.876-0.88
Largest single poor ingredient4.1%0.060+0.24
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
Additive penalty-9.290.222-2.06
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 quality0.69.191+5.47
Meat share of dry matter0.0%0.096+0.00
Carb share of dry matter23.1%-0.115-2.66
Oil share of dry matter6.0%-0.092-0.55
Vegetable share of dry matter15.7%-0.005-0.08
Additive share of dry matter9.7%0.163+1.57
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 poor4.1%-0.065-0.26
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients1-0.876-0.88
Largest single poor ingredient4.1%0.060+0.24
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietyes2.294+2.29
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)no0.707+0.00
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
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 penalty-9.290.222-2.06
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
Additives declared on label
+2 transparency bonus
Subtotal
48.4
Final score
48/100

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.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein2628.7 (band 18 to 40%)99.3
Fat1415.5 (band 5.5 to 20%)100
Fibre44.4 (band 0.5 to 5%)100
Calcium1.31.4 (band 0.5 to 2.5%)98.1
Phosphorus11.1 (band 0.4 to 1.6%)100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.31.3 (band 1 to 2%)88
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)--100
Energy (kcal/100g)355.5392.8100

Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.

Scored over 8 declared nutrients (combined weight 100); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% 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.

ItemPoints
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
✗ Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file0/20
✗ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file0/15
✓ Additives declared (mandatory)10/10
✓ 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 file0/5

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

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
No by-product meals, artificial colors or flavors (on pack)Free-fromnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Protected Probiotics support a healthy GI (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Taurine promotes a healthy heart (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Fortified with calcium and phosphorous to support strong bones and teeth (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Antioxidants and superfoods like apples and blueberries help build immune health (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Balanced Omegas 3 & 6 promote healthy skin & coat (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Holistic for Health (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
No corn, wheat, or soy (on pack)Free-fromnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Real Beef as #1 Ingredient promotes strong muscle development (on pack)Contentnot checkableManufacturer 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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