Score it for your dog

Best-scoring dog foods

Best-scoring dog foods without chicken or beef on the label for a small adult dog, calm, holding weight

For a small adult dog, calm and holding weight, leaving out every food that names chicken or beef on its label, the best-scoring foods among the 265 dog foods BowlWise scores, all sold in Canada, are Acana Highest Protein Pacifica Recipe and Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Ocean Recipe, both at 95 out of 100. The best-scoring of each kind: kibble, Acana Highest Protein Pacifica Recipe and Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Ocean Recipe at 95; gently cooked, Open Farm Gently Cooked Homestead Turkey at 81.5; freeze-dried, Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets at 74.5. 100 of the 265 foods fit this dog. The scores are BowlWise’s own, worked out from each food’s label on October 13, 2026.

Acana Highest Protein Pacifica Recipe: On October 9, 2026 Pet Valu listed the 11.34 kg bag at $110.99 in Canadian dollars.

Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Ocean Recipe: On March 12, 2026 Pet Valu listed the 10.88 kg bag at $99.99 in Canadian dollars.

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Kibble

68 kibble foods fit this dog.

  1. 1st of 68, level with another

    Acana Highest Protein Pacifica Recipe

    95 of 100
    • Balanced protein (35.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (17.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (35.0%) for this dog

  2. 1st of 68, level with another

    Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Ocean Recipe

    95 of 100
    • Balanced protein (32.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (15.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (32.0%) for this dog
  3. 94.5 of 100
    • Balanced protein (38.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (18.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (38.0%) for this dog

    0.5 points under Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Ocean Recipe:

    • Price value, 3.5 against 5. Price per kilogram is above the middle of kibble foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
  4. 94 of 100
    • Balanced protein (27.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (17.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • High protein content (27.0%) for this dog

    0.5 points under Orijen Six Fish Adult Recipe:

    • Nutritional quality, 21 against 25. High protein content (27.0%) for this dog. Excellent Omega-3 (1.0%) for this dog's joints and coat. Optimal caloric density for this dog. Balanced fat content (17.0%) for this dog. Protein is 30.0% of dry matter. Full points for protein start at 33.3%. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given.
    • Price value, 3 against 3.5. Price per kilogram is in the most expensive quarter of kibble foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
  5. 93 of 100
    • Balanced protein (29.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (17.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • High protein content (29.0%) for this dog

    1 point under Now Fresh Small Breed Adult Turkey, Salmon & Duck Grain-Free:

    • Format suitability, 6 against 10. Regular kibble — compatible with this dog's size. This is regular kibble. For a small dog, full points are given for small kibble.

Gently cooked

5 gently cooked foods fit this dog.

  1. 81.5 of 100
    • Balanced protein (9.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (7.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (9.0%) for this dog
  2. 79.5 of 100
    • Balanced protein (7.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (5.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Balanced fat content (5.0%) for this dog

    2 points under Open Farm Gently Cooked Homestead Turkey:

    • Nutritional quality, 13 against 15. Balanced fat content (5.0%) for this dog. Protein is 28.0% of dry matter. Full points for protein start at 33.3%. 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 4,400 kcal per kg of dry matter. For gently cooked food, full points are given between 4,500 and 5,800.
    • Price value, 4 against 5. Good value for this dog. Price per kilogram is in the cheaper half of gently cooked foods, above the cheapest quarter. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
  3. 76.5 of 100
    • Balanced protein (11.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Moderate fat (5.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Formulated for this dog's adult life stage

    3 points under Performatrin Culinary Gently Cooked Fish Florentine:

    • Nutritional quality, 11 against 13. Protein is 27.5% of dry matter. Full points for protein start at 33.3%. 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 4,395 kcal per kg of dry matter. For gently cooked food, full points are given between 4,500 and 5,800. Fat is 12.5% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.
    • 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.

Air-dried

4 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.

  1. 68 of 100
    • Moderate fat (22.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (48.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog
  2. 64 of 100
    • Balanced protein (40.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog

    4 points under Smack Prairie Harvest Pork:

    • Nutritional quality, 15 against 18. Premium protein content (40.0%) 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 30.2% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.
    • 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.

  3. 3rd of 4, level with another

    Ziwi Peak Original Air-Dried Lamb Recipe

    63.5 of 100
    • Balanced protein (38.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Premium protein content (38.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog

    0.5 points under Smack Lip Smacking Lamb:

    • Price value, 3.5 against 4. Price per kilogram is above the middle of air-dried foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
  4. 63.5 of 100
    • Moderate fat (24.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (44.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog

Freeze-dried

17 freeze-dried foods fit this dog.

  1. 74.5 of 100
    • Moderate fat (19.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (57.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.13%) for this dog's joints and coat
  2. 71.5 of 100
    • Balanced protein (40.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.1%) for this dog's joints and coat

    3 points under Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets:

    • Nutritional quality, 18 against 23. Premium protein content (40.0%) for this dog. Excellent Omega-3 (1.1%) for this dog's joints and coat. Optimal caloric density for this dog. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. Fat is 41.3% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.

  3. 3rd of 17, level with two others

    Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Rabbit Nuggets

    70.5 of 100
    • Moderate fat (22.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (54.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.23%) for this dog's joints and coat

    1 point under K9 Natural Lamb & King Salmon Feast Freeze-Dried Dog Food:

    • Price value, 3 against 5. Price per kilogram is in the most expensive quarter of freeze-dried foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.

  4. 3rd of 17, level with two others

    Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey & Sardine Nuggets

    70.5 of 100
    • Moderate fat (23.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
    • Premium protein content (54.0%) for this dog
    • Excellent Omega-3 (1.18%) for this dog's joints and coat

  5. 3rd of 17, level with two others

    K9 Natural Lamb Feast Freeze-Dried Dog Food

    70.5 of 100
    • Balanced protein (41.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
    • Premium protein content (41.0%) for this dog
    • Optimal caloric density for this dog

Toppers

A topper is added to a meal, not fed as one, and is scored on other parts than a meal. Each topper’s score here is for a dog whose food must not name chicken or beef. A topper earns more points for such a dog, so its score here can be higher than on its own page, which is worked out for a dog with no allergy. These are not ranked against the foods above. 6 toppers fit this dog; each number is a topper’s score out of 100:

Left out here because the label names chicken or beef

What was left out, and why

100 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.
  • 2 foodsKibble too large for small breed.
  • 2 foodsNot a complete diet.
  • 1 foodScored under 50, so it is not offered.
  • 121 foodsName chicken or beef on their label.

BowlWise reads the ingredients printed on each label. It cannot see what a label does not say, such as traces from other foods made in the same place. Check the bag itself before you buy.

A dog a little different

The same dog with every food counted: a small adult dog, calm and holding weight.

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 13, 2026.

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