Backcountry is built around meat-first recipes. Every recipe lists a deboned meat first, most kibbles are sold as raw infused, and the line spans 13 kibbles, 4 wet foods and 4 freeze-dried toppers. Grain free is the default: 10 of 13 kibbles and all of the wet foods and toppers skip grain.
Kibble protein runs from 28% to 38% as fed, averaging 33.8% against a catalog kibble average of 26.9%. Estimated starch runs from 24.5% to 37.5%, averaging 29.2% against 37.4%. Fish, chicken and turkey are the most common proteins, with beef, lamb, pork, duck, bison, rabbit and venison in specific recipes. The wet foods average 9.3% protein against 8.3% for catalog wet food, and the toppers average 39.5% against 18.4% for catalog toppers.
There are trade-offs. Peas or lentils are in 11 of 13 kibbles, all but one kibble lists potato, and the kibbles average 434 kcal per cup against a catalog average of 395. The toppers average 29.8% estimated starch, far above the 11.1% catalog topper average. Two kibbles, Wild Fields and High Plains, are marked discontinued.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Infused Hero’s Banquet Grain-Free | 38% | 17% | 24.5% | 396 | Deboned Beef, Pork Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Raw Infused Wild Fields Recipe Grain-Free | 38% | 17% | 24.5% | 402 | Deboned Duck, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Raw Infused High Plains Recipe Grain-Free | 38% | 17% | 24.5% | 402 | Deboned Beef, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe Grain-Free | 35% | 17% | 27.5% | 394 | Deboned Beef, Pork and Bone Meal, Salmon Meal |
| Bone Broth Coated Beef & Bison | 34% | 16% | 29.5% | 522 | Deboned Beef, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes |
| Raw Infused Large Breed Recipe Grain-Free | 34% | 17% | 28.5% | 459 | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Raw Infused Big Game Recipe Grain-Free | 34% | 17% | 28.5% | 392 | Deboned Lamb, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Raw Infused Game Bird Recipe Grain-Free | 34% | 17% | 28.5% | 386 | Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal |
| Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe + Grains | 34% | 17% | 28.5% | 399 | Deboned Beef, Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal |
| Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe Grain-Free | 32% | 16% | 31.5% | 464 | Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes |
| Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe + Grains | 32% | 16% | 31% | 477 | Deboned Salmon, Salmon Meal, Brown Rice |
| Raw Infused Puppy Recipe Grain-Free | 28% | 14% | 37.5% | 462 | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes |
| Raw Infused Puppy Recipe + Grains | 28% | 16% | 35.5% | 480 | Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal |
| Line average | 33.8% | 16.5% | 29.2% | 433 |
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.
38% protein · 17% fat · 24.5% starch · 396 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
This is the only kibble labeled for all life stages, leading with deboned beef, pork meal and turkey meal, plus fish and lamb. It ties for the top kibble protein at 38% and lowest estimated starch at 24.5%, and unlike its two twins it is not marked discontinued.
Full review of Raw Infused Hero’s Banquet Grain-Free38% protein · 17% fat · 24.5% starch · 402 kcal/cup · Adult
Deboned duck leads this kibble, and it is the only Backcountry kibble with rabbit, alongside chicken, turkey and fish. It ties for the highest kibble protein at 38% and lowest estimated starch at 24.5%, but the data marks it discontinued.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Raw Infused Wild Fields Recipe Grain-Free38% protein · 17% fat · 24.5% starch · 402 kcal/cup · Adult
This kibble leads with deboned beef and adds chicken, turkey, fish and pork, with the same 38% protein, 17% fat and 24.5% estimated starch as Wild Fields. Like Wild Fields it is marked discontinued, so it suits owners who still find it and want a beef-first, lower-starch kibble.
We believe this recipe has been discontinued.
Full review of Raw Infused High Plains Recipe Grain-Free35% protein · 17% fat · 27.5% starch · 394 kcal/cup · Adult
Pork and bone meal and salmon meal follow deboned beef here, making this a grain-free kibble built on beef, pork, fish and lamb with no chicken or turkey listed. With 35% protein and 27.5% estimated starch, it suits owners who want a red-meat kibble without poultry.
Full review of Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe Grain-Free34% protein · 16% fat · 29.5% starch · 522 kcal/cup
This is the only Backcountry kibble with bison, pairing it with beef, chicken and turkey, and it is sold as bone broth coated rather than raw infused. At 522 kcal per cup it is the most calorie-dense kibble here, suiting dogs that need more calories in a smaller scoop.
Full review of Bone Broth Coated Beef & Bison34% protein · 17% fat · 28.5% starch · 459 kcal/cup · Adult
This kibble is made for large breeds and leads with deboned chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal, with lamb also listed. It has 34% protein, 17% fat and 459 kcal per cup, suiting owners of big adult dogs who prefer grain free.
Full review of Raw Infused Large Breed Recipe Grain-Free34% protein · 17% fat · 28.5% starch · 392 kcal/cup · Adult
Deboned lamb leads this kibble, and it is the only one in the line with venison, alongside chicken, turkey and beef. It has 34% protein and 28.5% estimated starch, suiting owners who want a lamb-first grain-free recipe.
Full review of Raw Infused Big Game Recipe Grain-Free34% protein · 17% fat · 28.5% starch · 386 kcal/cup · Adult
Turkey appears twice at the top, as deboned turkey and turkey meal, with chicken, fish and duck also listed. At 386 kcal per cup it is the least calorie-dense kibble in the line, suiting owners who want a poultry recipe with fewer calories per scoop.
Full review of Raw Infused Game Bird Recipe Grain-Free34% protein · 17% fat · 28.5% starch · 399 kcal/cup · Adult
This grain-inclusive Great Plains Red puts chicken meal and salmon meal behind deboned beef, then brown rice and oatmeal. It is the only kibble here without potato, though it does contain peas or lentils, suiting owners who want grain but no potato.
Full review of Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe + Grains32% protein · 16% fat · 31.5% starch · 464 kcal/cup · Adult
This is the grain-free fish-only kibble, with deboned salmon and salmon meal followed by sweet potatoes, potatoes and peas. It has 32% protein, 31.5% estimated starch and 464 kcal per cup, suiting owners who want fish as the sole animal protein without grain.
Full review of Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe Grain-Free32% protein · 16% fat · 31% starch · 477 kcal/cup · Adult
Fish is the only animal protein in this kibble, with deboned salmon and salmon meal ahead of brown rice, barley and oat meal. It has no peas or lentils, 32% protein and 31% estimated starch, suiting owners who want a fish-only adult kibble with grain.
Full review of Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe + Grains28% protein · 14% fat · 37.5% starch · 462 kcal/cup · Puppy
This grain-free puppy recipe has the least fat (14%) and the most estimated starch (37.5%) of the kibbles, with 28% protein. It leads with deboned chicken, chicken meal, sweet potatoes and potatoes, suiting puppy owners who prefer to skip grain.
Full review of Raw Infused Puppy Recipe Grain-Free28% protein · 16% fat · 35.5% starch · 480 kcal/cup · Puppy
Brown rice, barley and oat meal sit among this puppy kibble's first five ingredients, and it is one of two kibbles without peas or lentils. With 28% protein, 16% fat and 35.5% estimated starch, it suits puppy owners who want grain included.
Full review of Raw Infused Puppy Recipe + Grains| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain Free Real Beef | 10% | 6% | 78% | 1,099 | Deboned Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver |
| Grain Free Real Chicken | 10% | 6% | 78% | 1,219 | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver |
| Grain Free Hero’s Banquet | 9% | 4% | 82% | 919 | Deboned Beef, Beef Broth, Turkey Broth |
| Slow-Cooked BBQ Chopped Lamb Grain-Free | 8% | 3% | 82% | 1,126 | Deboned Lamb, Beef Broth, Chicken Broth |
| Line average | 9.3% | 4.8% | 80% | 1,091 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
10% protein · 6% fat · 395 kcal/can · Adult
Beef and egg are the only animal proteins in this wet food, with deboned beef, beef broth and beef liver leading the list. It has 10% protein, 6% fat and 1,099 kcal per kg, suiting owners who want a single red meat with no poultry.
Full review of Grain Free Real Beef10% protein · 6% fat · 1,219 kcal/kg · Adult
Chicken and egg are the only animal proteins here, led by deboned chicken, chicken broth and chicken liver. At 1,219 kcal per kg it is the most calorie-dense wet recipe in the line, suiting owners who want a chicken-only wet food.
Full review of Grain Free Real Chicken9% protein · 4% fat · 328 kcal/serving · Adult
This wet recipe mixes beef, lamb and egg, with turkey broth also listed, and includes both potato and peas or lentils. At 919 kcal per kg and 328 kcal per serving it is the lightest wet food here, suiting owners watching calories.
Full review of Grain Free Hero’s Banquet8% protein · 3% fat · 405 kcal/can · Adult
Deboned lamb leads, followed by beef broth, chicken broth, chicken and red peppers, and it is the only wet recipe without peas or lentils. It has the least protein and fat of the wet foods at 8% and 3%, suiting owners who want a legume-free wet option.
Full review of Slow-Cooked BBQ Chopped Lamb Grain-Free| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freeze-Dried Raw Mixer Real Chicken Recipe | 40% | 15% | 30% | 290 | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Liver, Peas |
| Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Mixer Real Beef Recipe | 40% | 18% | 27% | 230 | Deboned Beef, Beef Liver, Dried Potatoes |
| Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Mixer Real Chicken Recipe | 40% | 15% | 30% | 290 | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Liver, Peas |
| Freeze-Dried Raw Mixer Real Beef Recipe | 38% | 15% | 32% | 301 | Deboned Beef, Beef Liver, Peas |
| Line average | 39.5% | 15.8% | 29.8% | 278 |
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.
40% protein · 15% fat · 30% starch · 290 kcal/cup · Adult
This Mixer topper uses chicken as its only animal protein, with deboned chicken, chicken liver and peas leading the list, at 40% protein and 30% estimated starch. Its label figures match the Meal Mixer chicken exactly, so a shopper weighing the two gets the same printed numbers.
Full review of Freeze-Dried Raw Mixer Real Chicken Recipe40% protein · 18% fat · 27% starch · 230 kcal/cup · Adult
The Meal Mixer beef is the only topper without peas or lentils, listing dried potatoes and potato protein instead, and it has the least estimated starch at 27%. It also has the most fat (18%) and fewest calories (230 kcal per cup) of the toppers, suiting owners avoiding legumes.
Full review of Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Mixer Real Beef Recipe40% protein · 15% fat · 30% starch · 290 kcal/cup · Adult
The Meal Mixer chicken topper lists deboned chicken, chicken liver, peas, chicken broth and gelatin first and prints 290 kcal per cup. It is a chicken-only option for owners avoiding beef, with the same 40% protein and 15% fat as the plain Mixer chicken.
Full review of Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Mixer Real Chicken Recipe38% protein · 15% fat · 32% starch · 301 kcal/cup · Adult
This beef Mixer has the most estimated starch (32%) and calories (301 kcal per cup) of the toppers, with peas third after deboned beef and beef liver. Its 38% protein is the lowest topper figure, suiting owners who want a beef-only topper and do not mind peas.
Full review of Freeze-Dried Raw Mixer Real Beef RecipeMost of it is. 10 of 13 kibbles and every wet food and topper are grain free. Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe + Grains, Raw Infused Puppy Recipe + Grains and Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe + Grains include grains such as brown rice and oatmeal.
Among kibbles, Raw Infused Hero’s Banquet Grain-Free, Wild Fields and High Plains tie at 38%, though Wild Fields and High Plains are marked discontinued. Among toppers, the Freeze-Dried Raw Mixer Real Chicken, Meal Mixer Real Chicken and Meal Mixer Real Beef reach 40%.
Most recipes do: peas or lentils are in 11 of 13 kibbles, 3 of 4 wet foods and 3 of 4 toppers. Options without them include Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe + Grains, Raw Infused Puppy Recipe + Grains, Slow-Cooked BBQ Chopped Lamb and Freeze-Dried Raw Meal Mixer Real Beef.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (38.0% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 29% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
86% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
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.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Wild Fields Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
42.7% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused High Plains Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
25% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Game Bird Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
386 kcal per cup
Beef dog treat varieties
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
Copied. Paste it anywhere your friends will see it.
Want the reason behind every answer? The 80-page e-book, $7.99
Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 3,207 foods.
