Choose the Right Formula
Choosing the right dog food formula starts with understanding your dog’s activity level, energy output, and body condition. These factors determine how much nutrition your dog actually needs each day and help guide better feeding decisions over time.
Inukshuk formulas are nutrient dense and designed to deliver more energy in smaller portions. That means feeding less volume while supporting better digestion, consistent energy, and long-term body condition.
Before choosing a formula, it’s important to identify what problem you’re trying to solve, if any, and how much energy your dog truly burns each day.
Start by Identifying Your Dog’s Needs
Before choosing a formula by activity level, rule out whether your dog has any specific feeding needs that should be addressed first. If one of the situations below applies to your dog, start there. If not, move on to the activity level section.
Dogs With Sensitive Skin or Stomachs
Our Marine 26/16 & Marine 30/25 formulas are ideal for dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs. If your dog struggles with loose stools, gas, itching, or inconsistent digestion, nutrition should focus on digestibility and fat quality before increasing calories. Learn more about feeding dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs.
Dogs That Struggle to Maintain Weight or Have High Energy Output
Inukshuk’s higher-energy formulas like 30/25, Marine 30/25, and 32/32 are designed for dogs that burn through calories faster than they can eat them. High drive, fast metabolism, cold weather, and daily work can all make it difficult to maintain weight, even with proper feeding. In these cases, weight gain comes from choosing the right energy level, not feeding more food. Learn more in our guide to weight gain and hard keeper dogs.
Match Formula to Activity Level
Once digestive concerns are addressed, choosing a formula comes down to how much work your dog does each day.
Inactive to Moderate Activity
Pets, seniors, puppies, with light daily exercise less than 2 hours a day.
Lower daily calorie demand
Focus on maintenance nutrition and digestibility
Supports steady weight and overall health
Common choice: 26/16 or Marine 26/16
Moderate to High Activity
Active pets, sport dogs, seasonal work, training getting 2+ hours of activity a day
Increased calorie demand supporting muscle maintenance and recovery
Useful for dogs that lose weight during activity.
Great for dogs that aren’t food motivated.
Common choice: 30/25 or Marine 30/25
Extreme or Sustained Activity
Working dogs, heavy training, recovery, and hard keepers
Very high energy output
Requires maximum calorie density
Used when weight loss persists despite proper feeding
Common choice: 32/32
Feeding to Body Condition Comes First
No formula replaces observation.
Regardless of the formula you choose, feeding should always be adjusted based on:
Visible ribs and muscle coverage
Stool quality
Energy consistency
Recovery after activity
If your dog gains too much weight, reduce portions or transition to a lower-energy formula. If weight is still difficult to maintain, a higher-energy formula may be required long-term, especially for breed-specific or high-output dogs.
Find the Best Formula for Your Dog
All life stage Formulas for Healthy Growth and Maintenance
Our all life stage formulas are designed for house pets, puppies, pregnant dogs, whelping mothers & senior dogs. 26/16 and Marine 26/16 formulas are for moderately active dogs that get less than 2 hrs of activity a day. They have 26% protein & 16% fat.
High & Extreme Energy Formulas
Our high energy formulas are designed for working dogs, sporting dogs, hunting dogs that need increased stamina and muscle support. 30/25 and Marine 30/25 formulas are for moderate to high activity dogs that get more than 2 hrs of activity a day. 30/25 and Marine 30/25 have 30% protein & 25% fat. 32/32 is for extremely athletic dogs. It’s also good for underweight dogs and hard keepers. 32/32 has 32% protein & 32% fat.
Five Formulas-Choose the Best One for Your Dog
Inukshuk formulas are designed around how dogs live and work.
26/16 and Marine 26/16 are All Life Stages formulas that support puppies, pregnant and breeding dogs, seniors, and adult companions with moderate activity.
30/25 and Marine 30/25 are built for active adult dogs that train, work, or exercise for extended periods.
32/32 is our highest-energy formula, designed for extreme endurance, cold environments, and dogs with very high calorie demands.
There’s always one
If your dog struggles with maintaining weight, low food motivation, or loose stool, the issue is often a mismatch between energy needs and formula choice. Use this guide to match nutrition to activity level and restore balance through the right formula, not guesswork.
Sensitivities
Marine 26/16 & Marine 30/25 is free from chicken, corn, soy & wheat. It’s good for dogs that have sensitivities or allergies to these ingredients.
Underweight
30/25, Marine 30/25 are the go to formulas for underweight dogs. 32/32 is for hard keepers who aren’t food motivated.
Overweight
26/16 & Marine 26/16 at a reduced feeding amount will restore a healthy weight. Feed the inactive amount to the desired weight.
This isn’t your regular dog food
Our formulas deliver optimal nutrition through nutrient dense kibble. We’ve developed a series of innovations that guarantee a finer, fresher, nutritionally dense professional dog food.
We fine grind our ingredients
We grind ingredients in a specialized hammer mill rotating at high speeds, producing a consistency similar to flour. Finely ground ingredients produce a highly digestible, denser pellet with less bag dust. The smaller kibble size improves oral health and is easy for any dog to eat.
Healthy fat infusion
During this process, air is removed completely from the production chamber, forcing nutrient-rich oils to permeate the kibble without making it greasy. Nutrients stay deep within the kibble, creating a clean, dry, nutritious food with a high level of healthy fats.
Freshness starts with the one way valve on the bag
Our unique freshness valve keeps oxygen out and food fresh. Our bags are hermetically sealed, not vacuum sealed and it’s our special packaging method that protects food from air and light. Dog food protected from oxidation delivers healthy fats and vitamins with more potency and flavor, and lasts longer in your home.
An unopened bag of 26/16, 30/25 or 32/32 lasts 24 months and Marine 26/16 & Marine 30/25 lasts 18 months from the date of manufacturing.
Feeding recommendation
High nutrient density means you’ll feed your dog less, they’ll absorb more nutrients, and they’ll excrete less stool.
Feed multiple times a day with lots of fresh water available
Multiple feeding times allow for your dog to digest and absorb more nutrients. It helps to reduce chances of bloat and restores balance to your dog's digestive health. Bowel movements will become more predictable and since they are eating less, less will come out.
Storing your bag of Inukshuk
We recommend making a cut in the top of the bag big enough to get your scoop through. Then fold over the bag and clamp it with a bag clip. Push down on the bag and the air will escape through the one-way valve.
Feeding calculator
It’s important to feed your dogs based on their age and activity level. We consider an active dog to be getting 2+ hours a day of a combination of off leash play, running, walking and/or work and training. Figure out how much to feed your dog here.
Inukshuk Formula Comparison Chart
| Formula | 26/16 | 30/25 | 32/32 | Marine 26/16 | Marine 30/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 26% | 30% | 32% | 26% | 30% |
| Animal Protein | 81.1% | 90.1% | 93.7% | 81.7% | 89.9% |
| Fat | 16% | 25% | 32% | 16% | 25% |
| Calories | 472 kcal/cup | 578 kcal/cup | 720 kcal/cup | 474 kcal/cup | 580 kcal/cup |
| Protein Sources | Chicken, Herring | Chicken, Herring | Chicken, Herring | Salmon, Herring, Whitefish | Salmon, Herring, Whitefish |
| Grain Sources | Barley, Corn, Wheat, Brown Rice | Barley, Corn, Wheat, Brown Rice | Barley, Corn, Wheat, Brown Rice | Brown Rice, Whole Oats, Barley | Brown Rice, Whole Oats, Barley |
| AAFCO Statement | Suitable for All Life stages, including large breed puppies (70lbs or larger as adults) | Adult Maintenance | Adult Maintenance | Suitable for All Life stages, including large breed puppies (70lbs or larger as adults) | Adult Maintenance |
Formula Nutrition
Our balanced formulas provide a complete diet for your dog with all of the minerals, vitamins and nutrients that your dog needs. All Inukshuk products are made in our facility in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Protein
The majority of protein in Inukshuk kibble is animal protein. In 26/16, 30/25 & 32/32 proteins are sourced from chicken and herring. In the Marine formulas proteins are sourced from salmon, herring & whitefish. The rest is naturally occurring in the grains, dried brewer’s yeast and flaxseed amino acids.
Fats
Our dog food contains Omega 3-6 along with other healthy fats. You don’t need to add extra oils as our food contains all of the healthy fats your dog needs.
Prebiotics and Probiotics
Prebiotics
26/16, 30/25, 32/32: chicory root, yucca schidigera, barley, wheat and flaxseed.
Marine 26/16 & 30/25: chicory root, yucca schidigera, oats, barley and flaxseed.
Probiotics
These delicate cultures can be destroyed by both heat and acidity and are difficult to include in kibble due to the cooking and extrusion process. Probiotics like yogurt and cheese, and supplemental forms can be consumed by the dog adding to the beneficial microorganism load in the intestines.
When to add probiotics to your dog food
These are very beneficial if an animal has been sick and had to take an antibiotic, which can drastically reduce the quantity of good bacteria alongside the bad. They can help restore and add to the pool of “good” bacteria and replace them if the supply is low.
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The two numbers represent the Protein and Fat percentages of the food. For example, Inukshuk 26/16 has 26% protein and 16% fat. Each step up is higher in protein and in fat. The formulas correspond to the increasing energy needs of dogs as they work harder. The common ingredient base allows the dog to move up or down within the Inukshuk product range without any digestive upset.
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Protein has several roles in a dog's body. It provides the energy needed in repairing and buildings muscle tissues, growing new skin cells, hair, nails, it creates the hormones and enzymes needed to function normally and it keeps their immune system strong. Two of the best sources of protein are chicken and fish, which are key components of Inukshuk Dog Food.
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Dogs use fat as their primary source of energy, therefore, it is very important that high energy dogs use food that can meet their needs. Fats are a dense source of energy that is necessary to keeping your dog active and healthy. They help maintain a shiny coat and can prevent skin disorders.