Label analysisGrade BListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Wellness

Wellness CORE Large Breed Puppy Grain-Free

Editor ingredient insight

Wellness CORE Large Breed Puppy Grain Free starts with chicken, chicken meal, peas, turkey meal, lentils, potatoes, and EPA+DHA.

It is worth considering for large puppies needing high protein and joint support, not for poultry, legume, or potato sensitivity.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of chicken beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 34%Fat 13%Other 53%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 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
Calcium1.3%
Phosphorus1%
Crude fiber5%
Omega-31.5%
Omega-63%

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.

Chicken ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Chicken
B4.5/6Ingredient gradeGood
Ingredient #1 · Deboned ChickenTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Chicken MealUpper
Named Meal
Ingredient #3 · PeasLower
Whole Plant Protein
Ingredient #1Top

Deboned Chicken

Deboned Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Upper

Chicken Meal

Chicken 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
Deboned Chicken — Primary positive ingredientsChicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) — Support positive ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsTurkey Meal — Support positive ingredientsLentils — Caution ingredientsDried Ground Potatoes — Neutral ingredientsDried Plain Beet Pulp — Support positive ingredientsChicken Fat — Neutral ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsSalmon Oil — Support positive ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsDried Chicory Root — Support positive ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsVitamin E Supplement — Support positive ingredientsSpinach — Neutral ingredientsBroccoli — Neutral ingredientsCarrots — Neutral ingredientsParsley — Neutral ingredientsApples — Neutral ingredientsBlueberries — Neutral ingredientsKale — Neutral ingredientsMixed Tocopherols (added to preserve freshness) — Neutral ingredientsNiacin — Neutral ingredientsZinc Proteinate — Support positive ingredientsZinc Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsFerrous Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsIron Proteinate — Neutral ingredientsVitamin A Supplement — Neutral ingredientsThiamine Mononitrate — Neutral ingredientsCopper Sulfate — Support positive ingredientsd-Calcium Pantothenate — Neutral ingredientsCopper Proteinate — Support positive ingredientsSodium Selenite — Support positive ingredientsPyridoxine Hydrochloride — Neutral ingredientsManganese Sulfate — Neutral ingredientsRiboflavin — Neutral ingredientsManganese Proteinate — Neutral ingredientsBiotin — Support positive ingredientsVitamin D3 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsYucca Schidigera Extract — Support positive ingredientsVitamin B12 Supplement — Neutral ingredientsCalcium Iodate — Support positive ingredientsFolic Acid — Neutral ingredientsAscorbic Acid (Vitamin C) — Neutral ingredientsDried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product — Support positive ingredientsDried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Product — Neutral ingredientsDried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Product — Neutral ingredientsRosemary Extract — Neutral ingredientsGreen Tea Extract — Neutral ingredientsSpearmint 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 · Deboned Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) (#2), Turkey Meal (#4)

Plant protein · Peas (#3), Lentils (#5)

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 ingredientChicoryGut support ingredientTaurineHeart support ingredientYucca extractStool odor support ingredientProbioticsGut support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientEPA+DHASkin, joint, and heart support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredientVitamin EAntioxidant and skin support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Dried Ground Potatoes supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

Peas, Lentils 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 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. If a protein must be excluded, any of these sources can change the decision; the first ingredient alone does not make this a single-protein diet.

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 typical, and calorie density is typical. This combination is worth comparing when protein matters but a higher-calorie food is not the aim. High protein alone does not make it an active-dog-only food; judge weight changes against total daily calories.

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

Wellness background

Founded in 1997 in the United States.

Disclosure confidence C1

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Recall information

This brand has a confirmed recall history linked to the 2012 Diamond-manufactured event.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.