Challenger is Nulo's grain-inclusive kibble line, built around several animal proteins in every recipe. All five list fish, turkey and chicken, two add beef, lamb and pork, and one adds duck. Every ingredient list we read includes grain, and none lists peas, lentils or potato.
Protein runs 32% to 35% as fed, fat 14% to 18%, estimated starch 26.5% to 33%, and calories 410 to 438 kcal per cup. Four recipes sit at 35% protein. The Large Breed Puppy recipe is the low point for protein, fat and calories and the high point for starch. Against 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, the line averages 34.4% protein versus 26.9%, 27.9% starch versus 37.4%, and 425 kcal per cup versus 395.
The trade-off is density: every recipe carries more calories per cup than the catalog average, so measuring matters. Owners avoiding chicken, turkey or fish will not find a fit here, and the two fish recipes share identical figures, differing only by the breed size they are sold for.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Ancient Grains Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Recipe | 35% | 18% | 26.5% | 427 | Haddock, deboned salmon, salmon meal |
| Organic Ancient Grains Beef, Lamb & Pork Recipe | 35% | 18% | 27% | 438 | Deboned Beef, Deboned Lamb, Salmon Meal |
| Small Breed Organic Ancient Grains Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Recipe | 35% | 18% | 26.5% | 427 | Haddock, deboned salmon, salmon meal |
| Organic Ancient Grains Duck, Turkey & Guinea Fowl Recipe | 35% | 18% | 26.5% | 423 | Deboned duck, deboned turkey, turkey meal |
| Large Breed Puppy Organic Ancient Grains Beef, Lamb & Pork Recipe | 32% | 14% | 33% | 410 | Deboned Beef, Deboned Lamb, Turkey Meal |
| Line average | 34.4% | 17.2% | 27.9% | 425 |
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.
35% protein · 18% fat · 26.5% starch · 427 kcal/cup
This all-breeds fish recipe leads with haddock, deboned salmon and salmon meal, followed by turkey meal and chicken meal, with no red meat. At 35% protein, 18% fat and 427 kcal per cup, it suits owners who want a fish-first kibble for dogs of any size.
Full review of Organic Ancient Grains Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Recipe35% protein · 18% fat · 27% starch · 438 kcal/cup
This all-breeds red meat recipe leads with deboned beef and lamb, then salmon meal, turkey meal and deboned pork, and carries the most calories in the line at 438 kcal per cup. It suits dogs of any size whose owners want red meat first in a calorie-dense kibble.
Full review of Organic Ancient Grains Beef, Lamb & Pork Recipe35% protein · 18% fat · 26.5% starch · 427 kcal/cup
This is the fish recipe sold for small breeds, leading with haddock, deboned salmon and salmon meal, and it matches its all-breeds fish line mate at 35% protein, 18% fat, 26.5% estimated starch and 427 kcal per cup. It suits small dog owners who want a fish-first kibble.
Full review of Small Breed Organic Ancient Grains Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Recipe35% protein · 18% fat · 26.5% starch · 423 kcal/cup
The only Challenger recipe with duck, it leads with deboned duck and deboned turkey before turkey meal, salmon meal and chicken meal. With 35% protein, 26.5% estimated starch and 423 kcal per cup, it suits owners who want a poultry-first kibble for dogs of any size.
Full review of Organic Ancient Grains Duck, Turkey & Guinea Fowl Recipe32% protein · 14% fat · 33% starch · 410 kcal/cup · Puppy
The only puppy recipe in the line, sold for large breed puppies, it has the least protein (32%), least fat (14%), most estimated starch (33%) and fewest calories at 410 kcal per cup. Leading with deboned beef and lamb, it suits owners of growing large breed dogs who want red meat first.
Full review of Large Breed Puppy Organic Ancient Grains Beef, Lamb & Pork RecipeNo. All five Challenger recipes contain grain, and none of them list peas, lentils or potato.
Four recipes tie at 35% protein as fed: Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish, its Small Breed version, Beef, Lamb & Pork, and Duck, Turkey & Guinea Fowl. The Large Breed Puppy Beef, Lamb & Pork recipe has the least at 32%.
Yes. All five Challenger recipes include chicken, along with turkey and fish, including the Duck, Turkey & Guinea Fowl and Beef, Lamb & Pork recipes.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (38.2% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is lower than average, at 28% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
0% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,215 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
Nulo Challenger Organic Ancient Grains Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Recipe Dry Dog Food
38.9% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Nulo Challenger Small Breed Organic Ancient Grains Haddock, Salmon & Acadian Redfish Recipe Dry Dog Food
27% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Nulo Challenger Large Breed Puppy Organic Ancient Grains Beef, Lamb & Pork Recipe Dry Dog Food
410 kcal per cup
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Nulo has never had one. See the recall log
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