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Nulo Challenger Puppy & Adult Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Dry Dog Food, 11-lb bag
Nulo

Challenger Puppy & Adult Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Dry Dog Food, 11-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry all life stages $5.00/lb

Nulo Challenger Puppy & Adult Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Dry Dog Food, 11-lb bag earns a Sniff Score of 78/100 (A) with Fair evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Strong protein profile with haddock as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with haddock as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources.

FQI

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 39% ⓘ
Protein
35%
min (as fed)
Fat
18%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

47 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    haddock
  2. 2
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

  3. 3
    salmon meal

    Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient.

  4. 4
    turkey meal

    Turkey with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh turkey.

  5. 5
    chicken meal

    Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken.

  6. 6
    oats

    Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.

  7. 7
    chicken fat

    Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid.

  8. 8
    millet

    Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.

  9. 9
    barley

    Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

  10. 10
    acadian redfish
  11. 11
    ground miscanthus grass

    Same as miscanthus grass. A plant fiber source, mostly there for stool quality.

  12. 12
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  13. 13
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  14. 14
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  15. 15
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

  16. 16
    blueberries

    Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.

  17. 17
    dried spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

  18. 18
    dried chicory root

    Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.

  19. 19
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  20. 20
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  21. 21
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  22. 22
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  23. 23
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  24. 24
    l-carnitine

    Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.

  25. 25
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

Showing first 25 of 47. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.

AAFCO statement

NULO Challenger Small Breed Northern Catch Haddock, Salmon, & Acadian Redfish Recipe Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).