Barking Heads Golden Years review

A place in our Good band, level with where the typical adult dry food sits, is a quiet achievement for a senior recipe. It gets there without tricks: half the recipe is a named meat, every additive carries a dose, and the label declares enough for the analysis to be read properly.

Ingredients, as declared: Chicken 50% (23% Freshly Prepared Free Run Chicken, 23% Dried Chicken, 4% Chicken Gravy), Rice (26%), Barley, Potato, Peas (8%), Oats (6%), Lucerne, Minerals, Salmon Oil (1%), Yeast Products (1000mg/kg), Chicory Root Extract (FOS 1000mg/kg), Seaweed, Glucosamine (500mg/kg), Dried Carrot (500mg/kg), Mixed Herbs (Peppermint, Rosemary, Oregano & Thyme 500mg/kg), Beta Glucans (300mg/kg), Chondroitin Sulphate (150mg/kg).

Chicken makes up 50%, split evenly at 23% freshly prepared and 23% dried, with 4% chicken gravy for appeal. The even split serves an older dog well, since the dried half holds its protein through the oven. The analysis reflects it, with protein converting to a generous 27.2% of dry matter and fat at a measured 10.9%.

Rice at 26% leads the plant side, with barley, potato, 8% peas and 6% oats behind it. All are steady, well tolerated starches, though together they take estimated carbohydrate to 50.5% of dry matter against a typical 46.2%. For a senior burning fewer calories than they used to, the gentler energy balance is a defensible design, and the food finishes at 352 kcal per 100g.

The senior thinking is the label's best work. Glucosamine at 500mg/kg and chondroitin sulphate at 150mg/kg form a dosed joint pair, taurine at 1000mg looks after the ageing heart, and L-Carnitine at 50mg helps an older metabolism make use of fat. The gut gets beta glucans at 300mg/kg, with chicory root extract and yeast products at 1000mg/kg apiece.

Salmon oil at 1% supplies the omega 3s and is worth registering if fish is off your dog's menu. Seaweed, 500mg/kg of dried carrot and 500mg/kg of mixed herbs finish the list as garnish; the recipe would stand perfectly well without them.

£5.34 a kilo, sold in 2kg and 12kg bags.

For a 15kg adult dog in moderate condition, around 239 grams a day meets a maintenance estimate of about 840 kcal (110 × bodyweight^0.75), putting the cost near £1.27 a day. The label's own guide offers 235 to 290 grams for the 15kg to 20kg bracket, so start conservatively and let the waistline vote.