Best-scoring dog foods
Best-scoring dog foods for a large adult dog, very active, losing weight
For a large adult dog, very active and losing weight, the best-scoring food among the 265 dog foods BowlWise scores, all sold in Canada, is Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Woodlands Recipe Large Breed Adult, a kibble, at 94 out of 100. The best-scoring of each kind: kibble, Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Woodlands Recipe Large Breed Adult at 94; gently cooked, Performatrin Culinary Gently Cooked Turkey Dinner at 75.8; freeze-dried, Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets at 74.5. 202 of the 265 foods fit this dog. The scores are BowlWise’s own, worked out from each food’s label on October 12, 2026.
Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Woodlands Recipe Large Breed Adult: On March 12, 2026 Pet Valu listed the 10.88 kg bag at $95.99 in Canadian dollars.
Open the form with this dog filled inKibble
122 kibble foods fit this dog.
94 of 100- High protein (27.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Low fat (12.0%) + high fiber (5.0%) supports this dog's weight loss
- High protein content (27.0%) for this dog
93 of 100- High protein (28.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Low fat (12.0%) + high fiber (5.5%) supports this dog's weight loss
- High protein content (28.0%) for this dog
1 point under Performatrin Ultra Wholesome Grains Woodlands Recipe Large Breed Adult:
- Nutritional quality, 18 against 19. High protein content (28.0%) for this dog. Balanced fat content (12.0%) for this dog. Protein is 31.1% of dry matter. Full points for protein start at 33.3%. Omega-3 is 0.75% as fed. Full points for omega-3 start at 0.8%. DHA is 0.12% as fed. Full points for DHA start at 0.3%. Calories are 3,590 kcal per kg of dry matter. For kibble, full points are given between 4,000 and 5,000.
87.2 of 1003rd of 122
Open Farm RawMix Large Breed Grain-Free
- High protein (30.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (30.0%) for this dog
- Excellent Omega-3 (1.0%) for this dog's joints and coat
5.8 points under Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Original Recipe Large Breed Adult:
- Activity and goal, 26.2 against 35. High protein (30.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss. Fat is 16.7% of dry matter and fibre is 4.5% as fed. For this dog, a very active dog losing weight, full points need fat under 13.5% with fibre of 5% or more.
- Price value, 3 against 5. Price per kilogram is in the most expensive quarter of kibble foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
86.2 of 100- High protein (32.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (32.0%) for this dog
- Excellent Omega-3 (1.2%) for this dog's joints and coat
1 point under Open Farm RawMix Large Breed Grain-Free:
- Format suitability, 6 against 10. Regular kibble — compatible with this dog's size. This is regular kibble. For a large dog, full points are given for large kibble.
85.2 of 1005th of 122, level with another
Orijen Fit & Trim Adult Recipe
- High protein (40.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog
- Excellent Omega-3 (0.9%) for this dog's joints and coat
1 point under Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Ocean Recipe:
- Price value, 4 against 5. Good value for this dog. Price per kilogram is in the cheaper half of kibble foods, above the cheapest quarter. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
85.2 of 1005th of 122, level with another
Open Farm RawMix Large Breed Ancient Grains
- High protein (29.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- High protein content (29.0%) for this dog
- Excellent Omega-3 (1.0%) for this dog's joints and coat
Gently cooked
20 gently cooked foods fit this dog.
75.8 of 100- High protein (8.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (8.0%) for this dog
- Balanced fat content (3.0%) for this dog
71.3 of 1002nd of 20
Tom & Sawyer Classic Pork Stew
- High protein (10.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (10.0%) for this dog
- Balanced fat content (3.0%) for this dog
4.5 points under Performatrin Culinary Gently Cooked Turkey Dinner:
- Nutritional quality, 15 against 18. Premium protein content (10.0%) for this dog. Balanced fat content (3.0%) for this dog. The label gives no omega-3 figure, so those points could not be given. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. The label states 1,633 kcal per kg and moisture of 82% at most. Those two do not give a usable figure for calories in the dry matter, so those points could not be given.
- Formulation integrity, 9 against 10. Fresh meat as primary ingredient for this dog. No controversial ingredients — clean nutrition for this dog. The label names 1 main protein. Full points for variety are given for 3 or more. No formulator with a veterinary nutrition credential or a doctorate in nutrition is on file for this food. No feeding trial is on file for this food.
- Price value, 3.5 against 4. Price per kilogram is above the middle of gently cooked foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
70.8 of 1003rd of 20
Tom & Sawyer Beef & Broccoli
- High protein (9.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (9.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
0.5 points under Tom & Sawyer Classic Pork Stew:
- Price value, 3 against 3.5. Price per kilogram is in the most expensive quarter of gently cooked foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
Air-dried
11 air-dried foods fit this dog. No air-dried food scores 70 or more for this dog; the closest is Smack Prairie Harvest Pork at 68.
68 of 1001st of 11
Smack Prairie Harvest Pork
- High protein (48.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (48.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
65 of 1002nd of 11
Smack Chunky Chicken
- High protein (35.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (35.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
3 points under Smack Prairie Harvest Pork:
- Nutritional quality, 15 against 18. Premium protein content (35.0%) for this dog. Optimal caloric density for this dog. The label gives no omega-3 figure, so those points could not be given. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. Fat is 25.8% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.
64 of 1003rd of 11, level with two others
Open Farm Harvest Chicken Air-Dried Recipe
- High protein (32.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (32.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
1 point under Smack Chunky Chicken:
- Price value, 4 against 5. Good value for this dog. Price per kilogram is in the cheaper half of air-dried foods, above the cheapest quarter. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
64 of 1003rd of 11, level with two others
Open Farm Pollock & Lamb Air-Dried Recipe
- High protein (40.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog
- Balanced fat content (15.0%) for this dog
64 of 1003rd of 11, level with two others
Smack Lip Smacking Lamb
- High protein (40.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
Freeze-dried
39 freeze-dried foods fit this dog.
74.5 of 100- High protein (57.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (57.0%) for this dog
- Excellent Omega-3 (1.13%) for this dog's joints and coat
71.8 of 1002nd of 39, level with another
Vital Essentials Rabbit Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Patties
- High protein (55.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (55.0%) for this dog
- Balanced fat content (15.0%) for this dog
2.7 points under Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets:
- Nutritional quality, 15 against 23. Premium protein content (55.0%) for this dog. Balanced fat content (15.0%) for this dog. The label gives no omega-3 figure, so those points could not be given. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. Calories are 4,459 kcal per kg of dry matter. For freeze-dried food, full points are given between 5,000 and 6,200.
- Life stage, 11.5 against 15. Formulated for this dog's adult life stage. The label gives no omega-3 figure, so those points could not be given.
71.8 of 1002nd of 39, level with another
Vital Essentials Duck Entree Freeze-Dried Soft Nibs
- High protein (45.0%) preserves this dog's muscle during weight loss
- Premium protein content (45.0%) for this dog
- Balanced fat content (15.0%) for this dog
Toppers
A topper is added to a meal, not fed as one, and is scored on other parts than a meal. These are not ranked against the foods above. 10 toppers fit this dog; each number is a topper’s score out of 100:
- Stella & Chewy's Stella's Super Beef Meal Mixers65.3
- Stella & Chewy's Chewy's Chicken Meal Mixers63.3
- Stella & Chewy's Dandy Lamb Meal Mixers65.3
- Stella & Chewy's Duck Duck Goose Meal Mixers67.3
- Stella & Chewy's Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers65.3
- Vital Essentials Chicken Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs65.3
- Vital Essentials Turkey Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs67.3
- Vital Essentials Duck Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs65.3
- Vital Essentials Rabbit Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs71.1
- Vital Essentials Beef Entree Freeze-Dried Crunchy Mini Nibs67.3
What was left out, and why
202 of the 265 foods fit this dog. The others:
- 28 foodsMade for the puppy life stage, not adult.
- 11 foodsMade for the senior life stage, not adult.
- 16 foodsKibble too small for large breed.
- 2 foodsNot a complete diet.
- 6 foodsScored under 50, so it is not offered.
A dog a little different
- Another sizesmall, medium
- Another agea puppy, a senior dog
- More or less activecalm, moderately active
- Another goalholding weight, building muscle
How to read this
These scores are BowlWise’s own, worked out from each food’s label for one kind of dog at a time. They are not veterinary advice. How a score is worked out: How we score.
Worked out on October 12, 2026.
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