The Maine Pooch Freeze Dried Chicken Dog Food

Dry Freeze Dried · complete

70out of 100

Good

our rating

Our verdict

Is The Maine Pooch Freeze Dried Chicken Dog Food a good dog food?

We score it 70/100 (Good). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.

How we 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.

Why you might choose it

Scores 70, in the top quarter of dry foods we track.
Doesn't list grain ingredients.

Why you might not

Meat makes up an estimated 9% of the dry matter (18% as fed); carbohydrates dominate.
100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.
Its additive load costs about 3 points in the rating.

Who is this food for?

Suits

Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
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 (28)100% of the recipe is estimated

Estimated composition

veg 37.1%
supplement 20.8%
meat 17.7%
additive 9.6%
mineral 7.5%
oil 3.9%
fibre 3.5%

#	As declared	Matched	Label reading	Declared %	Est. %
1	Chicken	Chicken	meat · medium	-	4.7
2	Ground Chicken Bone	Bone	mineral · medium	-	4.6
3	Chicken Liver	Chicken Liver	meat · good	-	4.5
4	Chicken Gizzard	Chicken Gizzard	meat · good	-	4.5
5	Cantaloupe	Cantaloupe Melon	veg · good	-	4.4
6	Carrots	Carrots	veg · good	-	4.3
7	Broccoli	Broccoli	veg · good	-	4.2
8	Lettuce	Lettuce	veg · medium	-	4.1
9	Egg	Egg	meat · good	-	4.0
10	Ground Flaxseed	Ground Flaxseed (2%)	supplement · good	-	3.9
11	Fish Oil	Fish Oil	oil · good	-	3.9
12	Apple Cider Vinegar	Apple Cider Vinegar	additive · medium	-	3.8
13	Blueberry	Blueberries	veg · good	-	3.7
14	Cranberry	Cranberries	veg · good	-	3.6
15	Inulin	Inulin	fibre · good	-	3.5
16	Dried Kelp	Kelp	veg · good	-	3.4
17	Potassium Chloride	Potassium Chloride	supplement · medium	-	3.4
18	Sodium Chloride	Salt	additive · poor	-	3.3
19	Ginger	Ginger	veg · good	-	3.2
20	Parsley	Parsley	veg · good	-	3.1
21	Garlic	Garlic	veg · medium	-	3.0
22	Zinc Proteinate	Zinc Proteinate	supplement · good	-	2.9
23	Iron Proteinate	Iron Proteinate	mineral · good	-	2.9
24	Vitamin E Supplement	Vitamin E	supplement · good	-	2.8
25	Copper Proteinate	Copper proteinate	supplement · good	-	2.7
26	Manganese Proteinate	Manganese proteinate	supplement · good	-	2.6
27	Mixed Tocopherols (as preservative)	Tocopherols	additive · good	-	2.5
28	Vitamin D Supplement.	Vitamin D	supplement · good	-	2.4

1. Chicken4.7% estimated
Chicken · meat · medium
2. Ground Chicken Bone4.6% estimated
Bone · mineral · medium
3. Chicken Liver4.5% estimated
Chicken Liver · meat · good
4. Chicken Gizzard4.5% estimated
Chicken Gizzard · meat · good
5. Cantaloupe4.4% estimated
Cantaloupe Melon · veg · good
6. Carrots4.3% estimated
Carrots · veg · good
7. Broccoli4.2% estimated
Broccoli · veg · good
8. Lettuce4.1% estimated
Lettuce · veg · medium
9. Egg4.0% estimated
Egg · meat · good
10. Ground Flaxseed3.9% estimated
Ground Flaxseed (2%) · supplement · good
11. Fish Oil3.9% estimated
Fish Oil · oil · good
12. Apple Cider Vinegar3.8% estimated
Apple Cider Vinegar · additive · medium
13. Blueberry3.7% estimated
Blueberries · veg · good
14. Cranberry3.6% estimated
Cranberries · veg · good
15. Inulin3.5% estimated
Inulin · fibre · good
16. Dried Kelp3.4% estimated
Kelp · veg · good
17. Potassium Chloride3.4% estimated
Potassium Chloride · supplement · medium
18. Sodium Chloride3.3% estimated
Salt · additive · poor
19. Ginger3.2% estimated
Ginger · veg · good
20. Parsley3.1% estimated
Parsley · veg · good
21. Garlic3.0% estimated
Garlic · veg · medium
22. Zinc Proteinate2.9% estimated
Zinc Proteinate · supplement · good
23. Iron Proteinate2.9% estimated
Iron Proteinate · mineral · good
24. Vitamin E Supplement2.8% estimated
Vitamin E · supplement · good
25. Copper Proteinate2.7% estimated
Copper proteinate · supplement · good
26. Manganese Proteinate2.6% estimated
Manganese proteinate · supplement · good
27. Mixed Tocopherols (as preservative)2.5% estimated
Tocopherols · additive · good
28. Vitamin D Supplement.2.4% estimated
Vitamin D · supplement · good

Nutrition and feedingProtein 50% · Fat 29%

Guaranteed analysis (as fed)

Nutrient	As fed
Protein	50%
Fat	29%
Fibre	7%
Moisture	5%

Additives & feeding info

Feeding and storage

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place. Shelf-stable; does not need to be refrigerated or frozen. Once opened, keep in an airtight container to maintain freshness.

Additives declared on the label

Nutritional additives

Zinc Proteinate; Iron Proteinate; Vitamin E Supplement; Copper Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Vitamin D Supplement

Technological additives

Mixed Tocopherols (as preservative)

Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-21

Brand and contact: The Maine Pooch

The Maine Pooch

Website: https://themainepooch.com/collections/treats

Trust and provenance

Recall history: No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked: 2026-09-21
Scored with: Model v3 (methodology)
Product page: themainepooch.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 an overall score of 70 out of 100 based on our assessment. The presence of ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6 points to the score. Meanwhile, the processing format contributed +6.6 points, and the overall quality of the ingredient list added +6.5 points. Finally, the additive load contributed -2.6 points to the final calculation.

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	0.7	9.191	+6.46
Oil share of dry matter	6.7%	-0.092	-0.61
Vegetable share of dry matter	18.4%	-0.005	-0.09
Additive share of dry matter	15.0%	0.163	+2.45
Supplement share of dry matter	33.3%	-0.012	-0.41
Recipe graded poor	3.3%	-0.065	-0.21
Number of poor ingredients	1	-0.876	-0.88
Largest single poor ingredient	3.3%	0.060	+0.20
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	-11.56	0.222	-2.57
Processing multiplier	1.11	33.786	+37.50
Processing: Dry Freeze Dried	yes	6.629	+6.63

Show all 40 components

Component	Input	Coefficient	Contribution
Base score	-	30.909	+30.91
Average ingredient quality	0.7	9.191	+6.46
Meat share of dry matter	0.0%	0.096	+0.00
Carb share of dry matter	0.0%	-0.115	+0.00
Oil share of dry matter	6.7%	-0.092	-0.61
Vegetable share of dry matter	18.4%	-0.005	-0.09
Additive share of dry matter	15.0%	0.163	+2.45
Supplement share of dry matter	33.3%	-0.012	-0.41
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	3.3%	-0.065	-0.21
Poor-quality meat in recipe	0.0%	-0.179	+0.00
Number of poor ingredients	1	-0.876	-0.88
Largest single poor ingredient	3.3%	0.060	+0.20
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	-11.56	0.222	-2.57
Processing multiplier	1.11	33.786	+37.50
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	yes	6.629	+6.63
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	no	-6.713	+0.00
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: +0.06
Additives declared on label: +2 transparency bonus
Subtotal: 70.0
Final score: 70/100

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	50	52.6 (band 18 to 40%)	100
Fat	29	30.5 (band 5.5 to 20%)	100
Fibre	7	7.4 (band 0.5 to 5%)	100

Scored over 3 declared nutrients (combined weight 50); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score.

Declared fortification: 6 nutritional additives on the label

Zinc Proteinate
Iron Proteinate
Vitamin E Supplement
Copper Proteinate
Manganese Proteinate
Vitamin D Supplement

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) - not on file	0/10
✓ 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, Feeding guidance given, 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.

100/100 · moderate — 1 checkable claim: 1 consistent, 0 contradicted.

Consistent with the label

"Grain-free" — supported by the declared grain-free data.

5 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
complete and balanced diet (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
No need to keep frozen - an easy way to feed raw at home or on the go (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
made from only high-quality ingredients, manufactured with care and product safety in mind under USDA human food standards (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
HPP (High-Pressure Processing) effectively kills pathogens and increases food safety without nutrient-degrading heat (on page)	Functional	not checkable	Manufacturer assertion
Grain-free (on page)	Free-from	consistent	Manufacturer assertion
gluten-free, corn, wheat, and soy-free (on page)	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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