Best-scoring dog foods

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

For a small puppy, calm and holding weight, leaving out every food that names beef on its label, the best-scoring food among the 265 dog foods BowlWise scores, all sold in Canada, is Acana Puppy Small Breed Recipe, a kibble, at 97 out of 100. The best-scoring of each kind: kibble, Acana Puppy Small Breed Recipe at 97; gently cooked, Open Farm Gently Cooked Chicken & Brown Rice at 84; air-dried, Smack Chunky Chicken at 81. 126 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 Puppy Small Breed Recipe: On March 3, 2026 Pet Valu listed the 5.99 kg bag at $58.99 in Canadian dollars.

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Kibble

83 kibble foods fit this dog.

1st of 83
Acana Puppy Small Breed Recipe
97 of 100
- Balanced protein (33.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (20.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (33.0%) for this dog
2nd of 83
Open Farm Small Breed Grain-Free
96.5 of 100
- Balanced protein (34.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (17.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (34.0%) for this dog
0.5 points under Acana Puppy Small Breed Recipe:
- Price value, 3.5 against 4. Price per kilogram is above the middle of kibble foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
3rd of 83
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
1.5 points under Open Farm Small Breed 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.
4th of 83
Open Farm Small Breed Ancient Grains
94.5 of 100
- Balanced protein (27.5%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (16.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- High protein content (27.5%) for this dog
0.5 points under Acana Highest Protein Pacifica Recipe:
- Nutritional quality, 21 against 25. High protein content (27.5%) for this dog. Excellent Omega-3 (1.2%) for this dog's joints and coat. Optimal caloric density for this dog. Balanced fat content (16.0%) for this dog. Protein is 30.6% of dry matter. Full points for protein start at 33.3%. DHA is 0.15% as fed. Full points for DHA start at 0.3%.
- Price value, 3.5 against 4. Price per kilogram is above the middle of kibble foods. Full points are given for the cheapest quarter.
5th of 83, level with five others
Acana Highest Protein Wild Prairie Recipe
94 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
0.5 points under Open Farm Small Breed Ancient Grains:
- 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.
5th of 83, level with five others
Acana Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe
94 of 100
- Balanced protein (31.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (20.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (31.0%) for this dog
5th of 83, level with five others
Acana Healthy Grains Sea to Farm Puppy Recipe
94 of 100
- Balanced protein (31.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (20.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (31.0%) for this dog
5th of 83, level with five others
Acana Puppy Recipe
94 of 100
- Balanced protein (33.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (20.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (33.0%) for this dog

And 2 more at the same score.

Gently cooked

2 gently cooked foods fit this dog.

1st of 2
Open Farm Gently Cooked Chicken & Brown Rice
84 of 100
- Balanced protein (9.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (4.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (9.0%) for this dog
2nd of 2
Open Farm Gently Cooked Puppy
66 of 100
- Balanced protein (10.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Premium protein content (10.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
18 points under Open Farm Gently Cooked Chicken & Brown Rice:
- Activity and goal, 17.5 against 35. Balanced protein (10.0%) for this dog's lower activity level. Fat is 35.4% of dry matter. For this dog, a calm dog holding weight, full points are given between 10% and 30%.
- Nutritional quality, 15 against 20. Premium protein content (10.0%) for this dog. Optimal caloric density for this dog. Omega-3 is 0.3% as fed. Full points for omega-3 start at 0.8%. DHA is 0.08% as fed. Full points for DHA start at 0.3%. Fat is 35.4% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.

Air-dried

8 air-dried foods fit this dog.

1st of 8
Smack Chunky Chicken
81 of 100
- Balanced protein (35.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Moderate fat (24.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (35.0%) for this dog
2nd of 8
Smack Prairie Harvest Pork
66.5 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
14.5 points under Smack Chunky Chicken:
- Activity and goal, 17.5 against 35. Moderate fat (22.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog. Protein is 51.1% of dry matter. For this dog, a calm dog holding weight, full points are given between 22% and 45%.
3rd of 8, level with another
Open Farm Harvest Chicken Air-Dried Recipe
62.5 of 100
- Balanced protein (32.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Premium protein content (32.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
4 points under Smack Prairie Harvest Pork:
- Nutritional quality, 15 against 18. Premium protein content (32.0%) 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 34.1% 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.
3rd of 8, level with another
Smack Lip Smacking Lamb
62.5 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

Freeze-dried

25 freeze-dried foods fit this dog. No freeze-dried food scores 70 or more for this dog; the closest is Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets at 69.5.

1st of 25
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Venison Nuggets
69.5 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
2nd of 25
K9 Natural Lamb & King Salmon Feast Freeze-Dried Dog Food
66.5 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%.
3rd of 25, level with four others
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Lamb Nuggets
65.5 of 100
- Balanced protein (39.0%) for this dog's lower activity level
- Premium protein content (39.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
1 point under K9 Natural Lamb & King Salmon Feast Freeze-Dried Dog Food:
- Nutritional quality, 17 against 18. Premium protein content (39.0%) for this dog. Optimal caloric density for this dog. Omega-3 is 0.54% as fed. Full points for omega-3 start at 0.8%. The label gives no DHA figure, so those points could not be given. Fat is 38.0% of dry matter. Full points for fat are given between 13.3% and 22.5%.
3rd of 25, level with four others
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Rabbit Nuggets
65.5 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
3rd of 25, level with four others
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Turkey & Sardine Nuggets
65.5 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
3rd of 25, level with four others
K9 Natural Chicken Feast Freeze-Dried Dog Food
65.5 of 100
- Moderate fat (27.0%) prevents weight gain for this dog
- Premium protein content (48.0%) for this dog
- Optimal caloric density for this dog
3rd of 25, level with four others
K9 Natural Lamb Feast Freeze-Dried Dog Food
65.5 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 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. 8 toppers fit this dog; each number is a topper’s score out of 100:

Stella & Chewy's Chewy's Chicken Meal Mixers61.8
Stella & Chewy's Dandy Lamb Meal Mixers63.8
Stella & Chewy's Duck Duck Goose Meal Mixers70.8
Stella & Chewy's Tantalizing Turkey Meal Mixers63.8
Vital Essentials Chicken Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs63.8
Vital Essentials Turkey Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs65.8
Vital Essentials Duck Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs68.8
Vital Essentials Rabbit Entree Freeze-Dried Mini Nibs70.8

Left out here because the label names beef

Open Farm Gently Cooked Beef & Brown Rice2nd among gently cooked foods without the allergy, at 77. Its label names beef.
Open Farm Pollock & Lamb Air-Dried Recipe3rd among air-dried foods without the allergy, at 62.5. Its label names beef.
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Scoopable Pronto Puppy1st among freeze-dried foods without the allergy, at 80.5. Its label names beef.
Primal Freeze-Dried Raw Scoopable Pronto Beef2nd among freeze-dried foods without the allergy, at 78. Its label names beef.
Stella & Chewy's Stella's Super Beef Meal MixersA topper without the allergy, at 58.8 as a topper. Its label names beef.
Vital Essentials Beef Entree Freeze-Dried Crunchy Mini NibsA topper without the allergy, at 60.8 as a topper. Its label names beef.

What was left out, and why

126 of the 265 foods fit this dog. The others:

77 foodsMade for the adult life stage, not puppy.
11 foodsMade for the senior life stage, not puppy.
7 foodsKibble too large for small breed.
2 foodsNot a complete diet.
2 foodsScored under 50, so it is not offered.
40 foodsName 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 puppy, 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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