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PRODUCT LINE

Canidae Under The Sun

A line from Canidae

RECIPES REVIEWED
3
AVG PROTEIN, DM
27.8%
AVG STARCH
44%
FDA RECALLS
1
LINE REVIEW

The Canidae Under The Sun Line, Reviewed

3 recipes, read label by label

Under The Sun is a grain-free kibble line of three adult recipes built on a meat meal followed by legumes. Chicken meal leads two recipes and lamb meal leads the third, and every recipe lists green peas, yellow peas and chickpeas (garbanzo beans) among its first five ingredients.

The recipes barely vary. All three show 25% protein, 11% fat, 4% fiber and 44% estimated starch as fed, with 3280 kcal per kg. The only spread is calories per cup, from 330 in the Large Breed recipe to 357 in the other two. Against the catalog average for 1834 kibbles, the line sits a little below on protein (25% vs 26.9%), above on starch (44% vs 37.4%) and below on calories per cup (348 average vs 395).

The trade-off is limited choice. Owners get a simple pick between chicken and lamb, but protein, fat and starch stay the same from one recipe to the next, and there is no option without peas or chickpeas.

A GOOD FIT FOR
  • Adult dogs whose owners want a grain-free kibble
  • Owners rotating chicken and lamb with identical protein and fat
  • Large breed adults, via the 330 kcal per cup recipe
WORTH KNOWING
  • All three recipes include peas and chickpeas, with green and yellow peas in the first five ingredients.
  • Estimated starch is 44% in every recipe, above the 37.4% kibble catalog average.
  • Every recipe is labeled for adults; none is labeled for puppies.

Canidae Under The Sun Kibble 3 recipes

Recipe Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup First ingredients
Grain-Free Chicken Recipe 25% 11% 44% 357 Chicken Meal, Green Peas, Chickpeas
Grain-Free Lamb Recipe 25% 11% 44% 357 Lamb Meal, Green Peas, Garbanzo Beans
Grain-Free Recipe Large Breed Real Chicken 25% 11% 44% 330 Chicken Meal, Garbanzo Beans, Green Peas
Line average 25% 11% 44% 348

All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.

Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

25% protein · 11% fat · 44% starch · 357 kcal/cup · Adult

The standard chicken recipe pairs chicken meal with chicken fat and lists green peas ahead of chickpeas, at 357 kcal per cup. It suits adult dogs of any size that do well on chicken and need the line's higher calorie density per cup.

Full review of Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

Grain-Free Lamb Recipe

25% protein · 11% fat · 44% starch · 357 kcal/cup · Adult

Only kibble here with lamb

The only lamb recipe in the line opens with lamb meal and uses canola oil where its line mates use chicken fat. It suits owners looking for a lamb-led kibble in place of chicken while keeping 25% protein and 357 kcal per cup.

Full review of Grain-Free Lamb Recipe

Questions About Canidae Under The Sun

Is Canidae Under The Sun grain free?

Yes. Grain-Free Chicken Recipe, Grain-Free Lamb Recipe and Grain-Free Recipe Large Breed Real Chicken all contain no grain. Each one has green peas, yellow peas and chickpeas (listed as garbanzo beans on two bags) in its first five ingredients.

Which Under The Sun recipe has the most protein?

None of them stands out. All three list 25% protein and 11% fat, so the choice comes down to chicken or lamb and calories per cup.

Which Canidae Under The Sun recipe has the fewest calories?

Grain-Free Recipe Large Breed Real Chicken, at 330 kcal per cup. The Grain-Free Chicken Recipe and Grain-Free Lamb Recipe both list 357 kcal per cup, and all three show 3280 kcal per kg.

All recipes

3 foods matched · newest first
DEEP DIVE

Inside The Canidae Under The Sun Range

Across 3 recipes we review

Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (27.8% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).

Starch is higher than average, at 44% of the food as fed.

100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).

100% of recipes are grain-free.

NUTRITION

How The Range Measures Up

this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review

Protein, dry matter 28% 28% to 28%
15%site avg 30%50%
Fat, dry matter 12% 12% to 12%
5%site avg 18%30%
Starch, as fed 44% 44% to 44%
10%site avg 37%60%
Kcal per cup 348 330 to 357
250site avg 395600

Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out

INGREDIENTS

What Goes In The Bowl

Chicken 67% 56%
Lamb 33% 14%

Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.

Ingredients Some Owners Avoid

By-products 0% 13%
Artificial colors 0% 1%
Chemical preservatives 0% 9%
Corn 0% 15%
Wheat 0% 13%
Soy 0% 10%

These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.

LIFE STAGE
  • Adult3
BREED SIZE
  • All Breeds3
  • Large Breed1
SPECIAL DIETS
  • Grain-free (no wheat, corn, rice, barley or oats)3
RECALL HISTORY // CANIDAE

1 FDA Recall On Record

MAY 5, 2012
POTENTIAL SALMONELLA

Canidae dry dog and cat food made at Diamond Gaston, SC plant

See the recall log

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