Native Dog Food Puppy

Dry Extruded complete

Puppy
Average
our rating

Is Native Dog Food Puppy a good dog food?

We score it 45/100 (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 an overall rating of 45 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +6.3 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -1.7 points.

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

  • Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.

Why you might not

  • Meat makes up an estimated 8% of the dry matter; carbohydrates dominate.
  • No analytical breakdown is published.
  • 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.

View the source page

Estimated composition

supplement52.1%
carb8.4%
meat8.1%
veg6.5%
additive6.5%
mineral5.8%
fibre5.3%
oil5.2%
other2.1%

Typical analysis (as fed)

No analysis recorded yet.

Additives & feeding info

No additives recorded yet.

Feeding guide

Puppies may start nibbling around 4-5 weeks of age. Feed dry or moistened. Self-feeding may be started at any age after weaning. If on a schedule, feed 3 times per day up to 6 months, 2 times per day from 6 months to 1 year. Provide plenty of fresh water. Pregnant females: 50% more food. Lactating females: 2-3 times the normal amount.

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 dried chicken protein
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish meal
  • Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
  • 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 (46)

#As declaredMatchedCategoryTierDeclared %Est. %
1Chicken MealDried chicken proteinmeatgood-2.9
2Brewers RiceRice - whitecarbmedium-2.8
3Ground BarleyBarleycarbmedium-2.8
4Chicken Fat (Mixed Tocopherols Preservative)Chicken Oil and Fatoilmedium-2.8
5Brown RiceRice - brown / whole graincarbmedium-2.8
6Ground FlaxseedLinseedveggood-2.7
7Rice BranRice branfibregood-2.7
8Dried Plain Beet PulpBeet Pulpfibremedium-2.7
9Fish MealFish Mealmeatmedium-2.6
10Dried EggDried Eggmeatmedium-2.6
11Natural FlavorFlavoradditivepoor-2.6
12Brewer's Liquid YeastYeastsupplementgood-2.5
13Yeast CultureYeastsupplementgood-2.5
14SaltSaltadditivemedium-2.5
15Potassium ChloridePotassium Chloridesupplementmedium-2.4
16Fish OilFish Oiloilgood-2.4
17DL-MethionineMethioninesupplementgood-2.4
18L-LysineLysinesupplementmedium-2.3
19Calcium CarbonateCalcium Carbonatesupplementmedium-2.3
20Monocalcium PhosphateMonocalcium phosphatesupplementgood-2.3
21Yeast ExtractYeastsupplementgood-2.3
22Dried AlgaeSeaweedveggood-2.2
23Choline (Choline Chloride)Cholinesupplementgood-2.2
24Zinc Amino Acid ComplexZinc Oxidesupplementgood-2.2
25Vitamin E (a-Tocopherol Acetate)Vitamin Esupplementgood-2.1
26Vitamin B7 (Biotin)Vitamin B complexsupplementgood-2.1
27Reed-Sedge PeatMoorothermedium-2.1
28TaurineTaurinesupplementgood-2.0
29Manganese Amino Acid ComplexManganesesupplementgood-2.0
30Selenium YeastSeleniummineralgood-2.0
31Vitamin C (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate)Vitamin Csupplementgood-1.9
32Ferrous Amino Acid ComplexIronmineralgood-1.9
33Copper Amino Acid ComplexCoppermineralgood-1.9
34Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)Vitamin B complexsupplementgood-1.8
35Vitamin A (Vitamin A Acetate)Vitamin Asupplementgood-1.8
36Sodium SeleniteSodium selenitesupplementpoor-1.8
37Vitamin B5 (Calcium Pantothenate)Vitamin B complexsupplementgood-1.8
38Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)Vitamin B complexsupplementgood-1.7
39Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate)Vitamin B complexsupplementgood-1.7
40Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)Vitamin B complexsupplementgood-1.7
41Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)Vitamin Dsupplementgood-1.6
42Vitamin B12 SupplementVitamin B12supplementgood-1.6
43Rosemary ExtractRosemaryveggood-1.6
44Calcium IodateCalcium iodatesupplementmedium-1.5
45Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)Vitamin B complexsupplementgood-1.5
46Mixed Tocopherols & Citric Acid (preservatives).Citric Acidadditivemedium-1.5

Brand

Native Dog Food logo
Phone
(866) 647-1212
Address
Customer Service, 2905 US Highway 61 N, Muscatine, IA 52761
Contact page
nativedogfood.com

Trust and provenance

Recall history
No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked
2026-09-15
Scored with
Model v3 (methodology)
Product page
nativedogfood.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.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.79.191+6.27
Carb share of dry matter8.2%-0.115-0.95
Oil share of dry matter5.7%-0.092-0.53
Vegetable share of dry matter5.2%-0.005-0.03
Additive share of dry matter6.5%0.163+1.06
Supplement share of dry matter53.4%-0.012-0.65
Other share of dry matter1.1%-0.375-0.43
Recipe graded poor4.3%-0.065-0.28
Number of poor ingredients2-0.876-1.75
Largest single poor ingredient2.6%0.060+0.15
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
Additive penalty-7.860.222-1.74
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 quality0.79.191+6.27
Meat share of dry matter0.0%0.096+0.00
Carb share of dry matter8.2%-0.115-0.95
Oil share of dry matter5.7%-0.092-0.53
Vegetable share of dry matter5.2%-0.005-0.03
Additive share of dry matter6.5%0.163+1.06
Supplement share of dry matter53.4%-0.012-0.65
Other share of dry matter1.1%-0.375-0.43
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor4.3%-0.065-0.28
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients2-0.876-1.75
Largest single poor ingredient2.6%0.060+0.15
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietno2.294+0.00
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-7.860.222-1.74
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
Subtotal
44.7
Final score
45/100

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.

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) - not on file0/10
✗ Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file0/5
✓ 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 file0/5

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

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
High Performance, High Protein Puppy Food for Growing Puppies (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Native® Puppy is formulated to provide the quality nutrition required for growing puppies. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Concentrated Energy - Chicken meat proteins and fats deliver nutrient-dense calories to maintain weight and stamina. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Antioxidant-Rich Nutrients - For a healthy immune system and glossy skin and coat. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids - Essential for normal immune activity and skin, coat, and nail health. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Prebiotics - For digestive health and immune system support. (on page)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Contains no corn, wheat or soy - Only wholesome grains. (on page)Free-fromnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Real Meat Protein and Fat Sources - Top-quality meat meals with no meat by-products. (on page)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion

The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.

Other products from Native Dog Food

See all products from Native Dog Food

Alternatives to Puppy

Foods in our database that are similar on ingredients, protein, format or price. Scores and figures are from the same deterministic model used everywhere on the site.

See all alternatives

Community

Owners' verdict
0 votes

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share how this went down with your dog.

Comments are reviewed before they appear.