Rating: 
Wysong Archetype Canine Diet Dog Food earns the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
Wysong Archetype is a dehydrated raw dog food product intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.
The company recommends “for maximum health benefits, [users] rotate Archetype with fresh foods and other Wysong Diets”.
Wysong Archetype Canine Diet
Raw Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken hearts, chicken livers, ground chicken bone, grass powders, apple, blueberry, cranberry, plums, flax seed, fish oil, lecithin, seaweed, grape skin and seed extract (source of resveratrol), mixed vitamin E tocopherols, citric acid (antioxidant), oregano, rosemary, and sage extracts (herbal antioxidants and preservatives), inulin (source of prebiotics), probiotics (dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Lactococcus lactis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus lactis fermentation product), dried yeast culture (source of vitamins, enzymes, prebiotics), dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product (source of enzymes), dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product (source of enzymes), choline chloride, ascorbic acid, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, manganese proteinate, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A acetate, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1
The second ingredient is schicken heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing to us humans, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The third ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
Chicken meats and its associated organs are naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
However, even though they’re all considered quality items, raw chicken contains about 80% water. As a result of dehydration, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to a fraction of its original weight.
So, after processing, these items would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished dry product.
The fourth ingredient is ground chicken bone, an excellent source of natural calcium.
The fifth ingredient mentions grass powders. Is this wheat grass, barley grass or something else? Without knowing more, it’s difficult to accurately judge the nutritional content of this component.
The next four items are all nutritious fruits and vegetables…
- Apple
- Blueberry
- Cranberry
- Plums
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, we find flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
Next, we note the inclusion here of fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Thirdly, the company appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Wysong Archetype Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Wysong Archetype appears to be an above-average dry dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 46%, a fat level of 36% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 10%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbohydrates as compared to a typical dehydrated dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a dehydrated raw food containing a significant amount of meat.
For those looking to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet, Wysong Archetype makes an excellent choice.
Bottom line?
Wysong Archetype is a meat-based dehydrated raw dog food using a significant amount of chicken as its main source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
For even more raw diet suggestions, be sure to visit the Advisor’s Recommended Raw Dog Foods summary page.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
12/13/2009 Original review
07/08/2010 Review updated
01/26/2012 Review updated (new recipe)
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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