Rating: 
Royal Canin Breed-Specific Puppy Foods earn the Advisor’s mid-tier rating of three stars.
Currently, the Royal Canin Breed-Specific Puppy line includes four dry kibbles.
- Royal Canin Chihuahua Puppy (8 weeks to 8 months)
- Royal Canin German Shepherd Puppy (8 weeks to 15 months)
- Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy (8 weeks to 15 months)
- Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier Puppy (8 weeks to 10 months)
It’s important to recognize there are obvious differences between these breed-specific recipes.
But there are also similarities, too. All four puppy products share some combination of the same four ingredients… chicken meal, rice, chicken fat and gluten.
So, Royal Canin Chihuahua Puppy 30 was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Royal Canin Chihuahua Puppy 30
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat, oatmeal, brown rice, dried beet pulp, wheat gluten meal, natural chicken flavor, anchovy oil (source of EPA/DHA), sodium silico aluminate, soya oil, fructo-oligosaccharides, dried egg product, potassium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, salt, taurine, dried brewers yeast extract (source of mannan-oligosaccharides), Vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), inositol, niacin supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), D-calcium pantothenate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement (vitamin B2), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A acetate, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], choline chloride, trace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], marigold extract (Tagetes erecta L.), rosemary extract, preserved with natural mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E) and citric acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.1%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than even fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is rice. Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it could mean brown rice (which is good) or brewers rice (bad, a by-product). So, it’s difficult to judge the quality of this particular item.
The third item is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate (the nutritious stuff) washed out of it.
Compared to meat, glutens are inferior grain-based proteins lacking many of the essential amino acids dogs need to sustain life.
This inexpensive plant-based ingredient can significantly boost the total protein content reported in this dog food.
The fourth item lists chicken fat. Chicken fat is a quality ingredient obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
The fifth ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in fiber, B-vitamins and (unlike many other grains) is entirely gluten-free.
The sixth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient. It’s a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is completely acceptable.
The eighth item is wheat gluten meal. Like corn gluten meal (just discussed), this is yet another grain-based protein booster (meat substitute). Wheat gluten is not a quality ingredient.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to proteins. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
The Bottom Line
On the surface, Royal Canin Chihuahua Puppy 30 looks interesting. But does the product’s nutrient profile compare favorably with other puppy formulas?
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 21% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 38%.
Fairly high protein… and fat. Leaving less room for carbohydrates… which is clearly reflected in the unusually low carb reading.
But where does all that protein come from?
Well, unfortunately, not just from the chicken meal. Much of that reported protein is a direct result of the abundant use of the corn and wheat gluten meals.
It’s hard to ignore the low biological value of these inferior glutens. After all, we’ve just never been fans of these second-rate meat substitutes.
After reviewing the facts, Royal Canin breed-specific puppy foods still deserve a respectable three stars.
Recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
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