Protein (as fed)
37% min
Dog food grade
Instinct Original Kibble Real Chicken Recipe (grain-free)
Instinct · made by Nature's Variety, Inc. (dba Instinct Pet Food)
Graded for a healthy adult dog
A
95/ 100
BEST GRADE TO DATE: A 95 (rubric v2, healthy adult).
This is the baseline grade for a healthy adult dog. In the app the grade re-computes for your dog: life stage, weight, breed size, and conditions can move it (a food not labeled for a growing puppy is capped, for instance).
What's on the label
Protein (dry matter)
41.1%
Fat (as fed)
20% min
Fiber (max)
2.5%
Format
kibble
Bag
22.5 lb · $80
AAFCO statement. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken 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 lbs or more as an adult). (formulation)
Top ingredients
Chicken · Chicken Meal · Peas · Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) · Tapioca · Herring Meal · Menhaden Fish Meal
Flags
- Named protein source
- Grain-free (shown, never scored)
Who makes it
Instinct is made by Nature's Variety, Inc. (dba Instinct Pet Food). Manufacturer credibility on our 20-point WSAVA scale: 20/20 (High confidence). 5 recall events on record, most recent 2015-07. See the full manufacturer record →
How this grade is computed
Four weighted tiers (safety & adequacy, manufacturer credibility, nutrition, ingredient preferences), then personalized to the dog. The whole formula is public and deterministic: two people applying it to this label get the same number. Read the full methodology →
Sources
- https://instinctpetfood.com/products/original-chicken-dry-dog-food/
- https://www.petsmart.com/dog/food/dry-food/instinct-original-all-life-stages-dry-dog-food---grain-free-chicken-21612.html
Grade rubric v2.1 · label verified 2026-07-16