Ingredient #1Top
Chicken
Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
Label analysisGrade CListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Instinct
Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Puppy
Editor ingredient insight
Instinct Raw Boost Chicken Puppy starts with chicken, turkey meal, and peas, so it is not a simple chicken-only puppy food.
With 36% protein, 21.5% fat, 4,450 kcal/kg, and DHA, It is worth considering for energetic puppies that need calories, not for poultry/pea sensitivity or easy weight gain.
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 36%Fat 21.5%Other 42.5%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type
Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.
Protein positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.
Fat positionHigher
This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.
Calorie densityHigher
This food is on the higher side for calorie density among extruded foods. The same serving can provide more energy, so check portion guidance.
Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.2%
Phosphorus1%
Crude fiber3.5%
Omega-30.5%
Omega-62.5%
Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.
02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE
Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade
The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.
Listed ingredients
Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.
Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · ChickenTop
Fresh MeatIngredient #2 · Turkey MealUpper
Named MealIngredient #3 · PeasLower
Whole Plant ProteinIngredient #2Upper
Turkey Meal
Turkey Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
Ingredient #3Lower
Peas
Peas is a whole plant-protein ingredient. It is not a processed protein concentrate, but when it appears near the top it can still weaken the animal-protein-led structure. It reads as an lower-tier plant protein booster.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken — Primary positive ingredientsTurkey Meal — Support positive ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsMenhaden Fish Meal — Support positive ingredientsEgg Product — Primary positive ingredientsChicken Meal — Support positive ingredientsTapioca — Neutral ingredientsChicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) — Neutral ingredientsChickpeas — Caution ingredientsFreeze Dried Chicken — Support positive ingredientsSalmon Oil — Support positive ingredientsMontmorillonite Clay — Neutral ingredientsFreeze Dried Chicken Liver — Support positive ingredientsLamb Meal — Support positive ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsPumpkinseeds — Neutral ingredientsFreeze Dried Chicken Heart — Support positive ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin) — Support positive ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsApples — Neutral ingredientsCranberries — Neutral ingredientsMinerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide) — Support positive ingredientsDried Tomato Pomace — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsDried Kelp — Support positive ingredientsBlueberries — Neutral ingredientsDried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product — Support positive ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide
Whole plant protein source in the top 3
Animal protein · Chicken (#1), Turkey Meal (#2), Menhaden Fish Meal (#4), Egg Product (#5), Chicken Meal (#6), Freeze Dried Chicken (#10), Freeze Dried Chicken Liver (#13), Lamb Meal (#14), Freeze Dried Chicken Heart (#17)
Plant protein · Peas (#3), Chickpeas (#9)
The crude protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.
This is not the same as processed protein boosting, but it is not purely meat-led.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Salmon oilSkin and joint support ingredientCranberryUrinary support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientProbioticsGut support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredient
03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG
What to consider before feeding
Chicken, Turkey Meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Tapioca supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
Peas, Chickpeas contribute plant protein alongside carbohydrates and fiber among the leading ingredients. Total crude protein is not a measure of meat-derived protein alone. Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.
Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including chicken, turkey, menhaden, egg, lamb. Some protein sources are not fully identified, which limits choices that require excluding a specific protein.
What works well in this food
- The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
- Crude protein is on the higher side.
- Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.
Check before feeding
- Phosphorus is 1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
- Fresh meat carries a moisture variable. When whole plant protein sources are also high in the list, part of the crude-protein number may come from those plant ingredients.
- Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is higher. Compare this combination when both protein and concentrated energy matter. It can help plan smaller portions, but dogs prone to weight gain should not switch gram-for-gram from a less calorie-dense food.
Consider it first when
- Public-data-first comparison
- Baseline shortlist building
- Conservative first-pass screening
Choose another food first when
- You want a stronger ingredient-quality story first
- You need dog-specific fit instead of public-review screening
High calorie density remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart chicken / turkey alternatives
Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.
05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE
Manufacturer background & public information
Instinct background
Founded in 2002 in the United States.
Disclosure confidence C1
Current data and recipe-level variation are visible, but validation breadth still needs a closer look.
Recall information
This brand has a confirmed public recall history.
May 12, 2026