Leader

Leader Puppy Small Breed review

Name: Leader Puppy Small Breed
Brand: Leader

68.4/100Good

DryPuppy

A small-breed puppy kibble on dehydrated chicken at 39%, and it lands in our Good band. The fat figure gives it its character, declared at 17.0%. Little pups burn energy at a rate their size never quite explains, and a denser bowl suits them.

Where to buy: coming soon

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Our view

Likely to suit

Small-breed puppies, the dogs this recipe was written for
Busy little pups needing a lot from a small bowl: fat at 17.0% and protein at 30.0%
Owners who want dried meat leading the list
Pups that do well on rice, here in brown and white

Worth watching

No calcium figure on the label, so ask the maker
A rich recipe, so weigh portions for a placid pup
Hydrolysed liver protein with no animal named

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

How this scores

How we score

68.4/100Good

Protein and processingGood

Nutritional balanceGood

TransparencyOutstanding

ValueGood

The details

Dog fit

Written for small-breed puppies. A pup's needs change almost weekly, so start from the chart for age and expected adult weight, then let the ribs settle it.

Food type

Dry

Life stage

Puppy

Breed size

Small

Main protein

Chicken

The score, in context

Leader Puppy Small Breed 68.4

All one Good. Typical dry food: Good.

The dried meat share does most of the work and puts it above the midpoint of the growth kibble field; the missing calcium line is the clearest gap.

What's in it

Dehydrated chicken39%Water gone before it goes in, so the printed figure holds in the finished kibble.
Brown rice, white riceEasy going once cooked.
Chicken fatNames the same bird.
Dehulled oats
Whole linseed, alfalfaPlant omega 3 from the linseed.
Hydrolysed liver proteinThe animal is not named.
Minerals, yeast extract, chicory inulinInulin is the prebiotic; yeast extract adds palatability and B vitamins.
Dried cranberries, dried beetroot, rosemary, ginger, turmeric, yuccaFlavour and good intent, not a working dose.
Glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulphateA long-term nod on a puppy food, with no quantities printed.

Vitamins A, D3 and E, zinc as the oxide and as an amino acid chelate, with iron, manganese, copper, iodine and selenium, all with figures.

No calcium figure on the label. Small-breed growth is the least demanding case, but the number has to come from the maker.

Named ingredients

Dehydrated Chicken (39%), Brown Rice, White Rice, Chicken Fat, Dehulled Oats, Whole Linseed, Alfalfa, Hydrolysed Liver Protein, Minerals, Yeast Extract, Chicory Inulin, Dried Cranberries, Dried Beetroot, Rosemary, Ginger, Turmeric, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Yucca schidigera, Chondroitin Sulphate.

Against the range

One small-breed puppy kibble led by dehydrated chicken at 39%, with brown and white rice and dehulled oats carrying the starch and chicken fat naming the same bird. Linseed, chicory inulin and an unquantified run of botanicals and joint ingredients follow, and the trace element panel is filled in properly.

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

370.2 kcal/100g

Estimated using Modified Atwater factors*

Protein

30%

Fat

17%

Fibre

Ash

6.5%

Moisture

10%

Dry weight

Protein

33.3%

Fat

18.9%

Fibre

2.2%

Ash

7.2%

Carbs

38.4%

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

40.9%

Carbs

48.1%

Veg

2.2%

Oils

5.3%

Other

3.6%

Pricing & size