Ingredient #1Lowest
Chicken by-product meal
Chicken by-product meal is a by-product meal. It can still contribute protein, but the primary-ingredient read should stay conservative. It reads as an bottom-tier protein source.
Label analysisGrade DListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)
Royal Canin
Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy Dry Dog Food
Editor ingredient insight
Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy leads with chicken by-product meal, corn, and wheat gluten, with controlled minerals and high glucosamine disclosure.
It is worth considering for breed-specific Shepherd puppy growth, not for grain/gluten/by-product avoidance.
Lower transparency leadPlant booster present
01. NUTRIENT PROFILE
Key nutrients & mineral profile
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 28%Fat 14%Other 58%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 positionTypical
This food sits around the typical crude protein range among extruded foods.
Fat positionTypical
This food sits around the typical crude fat range among extruded foods.
Calorie densityTypical
This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.
Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
Calcium1.08%
Phosphorus0.9%
Crude fiber3.9%
Omega-3Not disclosed
Omega-6Not disclosed
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 gradeConservative
Ingredient #1 · Chicken by-product mealLowest
By-product MealIngredient #2 · cornMid
Refined CarbIngredient #3 · wheat glutenLowest
Processed Plant ProteinIngredient #2Mid
corn
corn is a refined carbohydrate source. It usually reads as a starch and energy source rather than a protein driver. It reads as an mid-tier carb source.
Ingredient #3Lowest
wheat gluten
wheat gluten is a processed plant-protein booster. It can lift crude protein without the same animal-protein share, so the animal-protein read should stay separate. It reads as an bottom-tier plant protein booster.
Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Chicken by-product meal — High-caution ingredientscorn — Neutral ingredientswheat gluten — High-caution ingredientsoat groats — Neutral ingredientsbrewers rice — Neutral ingredientschicken fat — Neutral ingredientsbrewers rice flour — Neutral ingredientsbrown rice — Neutral ingredientsnatural flavors — Support positive ingredientsdried plain beet pulp — Support positive ingredientscorn protein meal — High-caution ingredientssodium aluminosilicate — Neutral ingredientsmonocalcium phosphate — Neutral ingredientsfish oil — Support positive ingredientsvegetable oil — Neutral ingredientspea fiber — Neutral ingredientscalcium carbonate — Neutral ingredientspotassium chloride — Support positive ingredientspowdered psyllium seed husk — Support positive ingredientsvitamins[DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A acetate, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement] — Support positive ingredientsfructooligosaccharides — Neutral ingredientssodium tripolyphosphate — Neutral ingredientssalt — Neutral ingredientsyeast extract — Neutral ingredientsDL-methionine — Neutral ingredientscholine chloride — Support positive ingredientsrosemary extract — Neutral ingredientspreserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid — Neutral ingredientstaurine — Support positive ingredientsL-lysine — Neutral ingredientsglucosamine hydrochloride — Support positive ingredientstrace minerals[zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, copper proteinate] — Support positive ingredientsmarigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.) — Neutral ingredientsYucca schidigera extract — Support positive ingredientscarotene — Neutral ingredientschondroitin sulfate. — Support positive ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide
Unclear animal protein source
Animal protein · Chicken by-product meal (#1)
Plant protein · wheat gluten (#3), corn protein meal (#11)
Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.
Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.
Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
Fish oilSkin and joint support ingredientPsyllium huskGut support ingredientFOSGut support ingredientYeast cultureGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientLuteinEye support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredient
03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG
What to consider before feeding
Chicken by-product meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. corn, oat groats supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.
wheat gluten, corn protein meal supplement plant protein within the first three ingredients. The crude-protein figure includes both animal and plant contributions. chicken fat add fat and energy; fat content is a separate choice criterion from the protein sources.
What works well in this food
- Crude protein does not drop into a clearly low band.
- Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.
Check before feeding
- By-product meal is a rendered ingredient that can include parts such as heads, feet, and organs. It can still provide protein, but it is harder to tell exactly what parts are included and in what proportion, so ingredient transparency is read more conservatively.
- Plant proteins can lift crude protein on the label, but the real animal-protein share still needs a closer check.
- By-product meal and grains both sit high in the recipe, so this does not read as a meat-centered formula.
When this food fits your dog
Among foods made the same way, protein is typical, fat is typical, and calorie density is typical. Calorie density alone does not separate this into an active-dog or weight-management food. Consider protein exclusions and fat, then set portions for the dog’s weight and activity.
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
Plant-protein concentration remains the clearest trade-off here.
04. COMPARE FOODS
Smart chicken alternatives
Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.
05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE
Manufacturer background & public information
Royal Canin background
Founded in 1968 in France.
Disclosure confidence C1
There is a usable disclosure baseline, but the public record is still fairly thin.
Recall information
This brand has a confirmed public recall history, with a recent 2023 mislabeling case in public sources.
May 12, 2026