Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Wellness CORE+ product range consists of 12 recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 4.5 stars.
CORE+ offers the convenience of dry dog food with the taste of raw; each recipe is high-protein kibble combined with 100% raw meat pieces to create a savory, nutrient-rich meal, including options for puppies, weight management, and small breeds.
Pros
- Transparency with ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, and quality control measures
- High-quality ingredients
- Premium brand yet affordable
Cons
- Does not support hydration
The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating. The AAFCO nutrient profile is not included on the company website.
Although no AAFCO profile is specified that AAFCO feeding protocols have been carried out.
Scientifically proven to support the 5 Signs of Wellbeing. Wellness dry dog recipes have been substantiated by completing AAFCO-recognized feeding trial protocols, which are rigorous, long-term studies that evaluate the nutritional efficacy of a diet. In these feeding trials, the 5 Signs of Wellbeing are assessed during veterinary exams and other health checks that ensure the food supports the whole-body health of the dogs in the study.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Wellness Core+ Grain Free for Puppies was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Wellness Core+ Grain Free for Puppies
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), turkey meal, potatoes, lentils, peas, chicken fat, dried plain beet pulp, flaxseed, turkey liver, turkey hearts, salmon oil, natural flavor, salt, dried chicory root, potassium chloride, taurine, vitamin e supplement, choline chloride, spinach, broccoli, carrots, parsley, apples, blueberries, kale, mixed tocopherols added to preserve freshness, vitamin B3 (niacin), zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate), copper sulfate, d-calcium pantothenate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, manganese sulfate, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), manganese proteinate, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, yucca schidigera extract, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, folic acid, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 37% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 41% | 18% | 33% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 35% | 37% | 28% |
Ingredients Analysis
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
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The next two ingredients are chicken meal and turkey meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The fourth ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
Next, we find peas and lentils. These are both a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, they contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The eighth 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 and blood sugar 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 entirely acceptable.
The ninth ingredient is 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.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
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 the product.
This recipe has five notable exceptions.
Taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
Next, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
This recipe also includes salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
This food also contains chelated minerals, that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Lastly, chicory root. Chicory is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Wellness Core+ Grain Free for Puppies looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 42.4%, a fat level of 19% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 25.2%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 37.5% and a mean fat level of 16.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 32.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 44%.
This means this Wellness CORE product range contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and near-average fat, when compared to typical dry dog food.
Wellness Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Wellness through January 2026.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Wellness CORE+ Dog Food
Wellness CORE+ is a dry dog food that includes grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes and incorporates a significant amount of named meat and meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
About
Wellness was founded in 1997. Both dog and cat food are manufactured by Wellness Pet Company, and are produced in the USA, specifically at facilities in Minnesota and Indiana.
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