Gain

GAIN Junior review

Name: GAIN Junior
Brand: Gain

28.6/100Poor

DryPuppy

One bag meant to see a pup through the junior months, described in broad terms throughout. Protein is declared at 28.0% and fat at 16.0%, and calcium converts to 1.63% of dry matter, which suits a small or medium pup. Most of the ingredients are category names, and that is what keeps it in our Poor band.

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Our view

Likely to suit

Owners who want one straightforward bag through the growing months
Small and medium breed puppies, as calcium sits inside the range growth needs
Pups that do well on a cereal-based kibble
Young guts, with chicory FOS in as a prebiotic
Steady growers. Energy is an estimated 367 kcal per 100g, near the 376 typical of a puppy kibble

Worth watching

Broad headings like cereals and derivatives of vegetable origin, so the plant ingredients can move between batches
Meat and animal derivatives with chicken, beef and fish around them, which rules out a strict exclusion trial
A calcium level above what large and giant breed rearing plans usually aim for
No moisture figure and no additive panel, so the dry matter maths rests on an assumption

Written by our editorial team. Independent guidance, not veterinary advice.

How this scores

How we score

28.6/100Poor

Protein and processingPoor

Nutritional balanceGood

TransparencyPoor

ValuePoor

The details

Dog fit

Listed for puppies of every size. If yours is going to be a big dog, put the calcium figure to your vet before starting.

Food type

Dry

Life stage

Puppy

Breed size

Toy, Small, Medium, Large, Giant

The score, in context

GAIN Junior 28.6

All one Poor. Typical dry food: Good.

The figures the label does commit to read sensibly for a growing dog; the category wording is what holds the score down.

What's in it

CerealsThe lead ingredient, and one word that covers the best grains and the poorest. It can move from batch to batch.
Meat and animal derivativesmin 20%A category with no species share; chicken is named and beef mentioned beside it.
Vegetable protein extractsPlant protein inside the declared 28.0%, with a weaker amino acid profile than meat.
Oils and fatsSource not given.
Derivatives of vegetable originmin 4%
Sugar beet pulp, chicory FOSAn easily tolerated fibre, then a prebiotic that feeds the gut's helpful bacteria.
Minerals
LinseedPlant omega 3.
Fish and fish derivativesA third animal source, again by category.
Products from the processing of plants

Calcium converts to 1.63% of dry matter, above where large and giant breed plans usually settle. Check it with your vet for a big-growing pup.

Named ingredients

Cereals, Meat & animal derivatives (min 20%), Chicken (min 4% beef), Vegetable protein extracts, Oils & fats, Derivatives of vegetable origin (min 4%), Sugar beet pulp, (min 20% Chicory FOS), Minerals, Seeds (Linseed), Fish & fish derivatives, Products from the processing of plants

Against the range

One kibble for the whole growing stage. Cereals lead, the animal content is written as categories with chicken, beef and fish named around them, and chicory FOS is the one clearly useful extra.

Price and value

Sold in 3kg bags.

How much of that bag a pup gets through changes every few weeks, because a growing dog eats towards the size they are becoming rather than the size they are. Start from the guide on the pack, weigh the portion out properly, and step it up or back as your pup's shape asks.

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

367 kcal/100g

Estimated using Modified Atwater factors*

Protein

28%

Fat

16%

Fibre

2.5%

Ash

7.5%

Dry weight

Protein

30.4%

Fat

17.4%

Fibre

2.7%

Ash

8.2%

Carbs

41.3%

As-fed composition

Estimated breakdown of the finished product by ingredient category, from the declared ingredient list and ingoing weights. These are estimates, not measurements.

Meat

40.3%

Carbs

51.7%

Oils

4.1%

Other

3.9%

Pricing & size