Most people glance at a dog food bag, see a few words they recognize, and call it good. There's actually a lot more useful information on there if you know where to look. Here's how to read one properly, front to back.
The Ingredient List: Order Matters
Ingredients are listed by weight, heaviest first. That's why you'll see Open Farm recipes lead with a named protein — like wild-caught salmon or grass-fed beef — rather than a generic “meat meal” or “animal by-product.” The first few ingredients tell you the most about what's actually driving the nutritional profile of the food.
Watch for vague terms like “meat meal,” “animal fat,” or “natural flavor” without a specified source. Open Farm's recipes name their protein sources specifically, which is part of what “traceable” actually means in practice.
The Guaranteed Analysis
This is the box listing minimum percentages of crude protein and fat, and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture. It's a useful comparison tool between recipes, but keep two things in mind: these are minimums and maximums, not exact figures, and comparing wet food to dry food directly is misleading because of the huge difference in moisture content — wet food's percentages look much lower simply because a big chunk of its weight is water.
The AAFCO Statement
Somewhere on the bag, you'll find a statement about whether the food meets AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutritional standards, and for which life stage — puppy, adult maintenance, or “all life stages.” This is genuinely important: it tells you whether the food is formulated to be a complete and balanced diet on its own, versus intended only as a treat or supplemental food.
Calorie Content
Usually found near the guaranteed analysis or feeding guidelines, this tells you calories per cup or per can — essential if you're trying to manage your dog's weight, since two recipes with similar-looking bags can have meaningfully different calorie density.
The Feeding Guide
This is a starting point based on your dog's weight, not a precise prescription — see our feeding guide for how to adjust it based on your individual dog's body condition and activity level.
What Open Farm's Labels Emphasize
Beyond the standard required information, Open Farm's packaging highlights a few things most conventional brands don't:
- A lot code that can be entered on Open Farm's website for ingredient sourcing information specific to that batch
- Certifications like Certified Humane, where applicable to that recipe's protein source
- Clear callouts for grain-free, non-GMO, and the absence of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Comparing Two Bags Side by Side
When you're trying to compare two recipes — whether both Open Farm or Open Farm against another brand — line up the first five ingredients, the guaranteed analysis, and the calorie content together rather than relying on marketing claims on the front of the bag. That's where the real substance of the comparison lives.
Shop Open Farm at The Hungry Puppy
Once you know what to look for, browsing our full Open Farm selection becomes a lot easier — you'll be able to compare recipes on the details that actually matter for your dog.
We've been helping Farmingdale-area pet parents make sense of pet food labels since 1987. If you want a hand comparing two specific recipes, call us at 732-938-4470.