The scores
Dr. Tim’s Pursuit Active Dog Formula: B (77/100) — Very Good. Chicken meal + brown rice + chicken fat + oat groats + beet pulp. Formulated by Dr. Tim Hunt, a veterinarian and sled-dog musher, for hard-working dogs with demanding caloric requirements.
First Mate Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original Formula: B (77/100) — Very Good. Ocean fish meal + two potato varieties + tomato pomace + chicken fat. Canadian-made limited-ingredient formulation designed for dogs with common-protein sensitivities.
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients:
Dr. Tim’s Pursuit Active: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Whole Oat Groats, Dried Plain Beet Pulp
First Mate Pacific Ocean Fish: Ocean Fish Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols)
Both formulas lead with a named animal-source meal in position one — a strong signal of concentrated protein density. Dr. Tim’s uses chicken meal; First Mate uses ocean fish meal. That’s the first big divergence: a chicken-based working-dog formula vs a fish-based LID formula.
Dr. Tim’s follows with a performance-athlete carbohydrate architecture: brown rice (complex carb for sustained energy), chicken fat (dense calorie source), whole oat groats (slow-release energy + soluble fiber), and beet pulp (gut health + stool quality). This is a deliberate high-calorie, high-digestibility formulation for dogs doing real work — hunting, sledding, agility, field trials.
First Mate follows with a limited-ingredient potato-based architecture: two potato varieties (Burbank + Norkotah) as the primary carbohydrate, tomato pomace for fiber, and chicken fat for palatability + fatty acids. The tight ingredient deck intentionally avoids common allergens — no chicken, no beef, no lamb, no eggs. This is a specific “my dog reacts to chicken” or “my dog has a limited-ingredient vet prescription” formulation.
Further down, Dr. Tim’s adds fish meal, pork meal, flaxseed, natural flavor, salmon oil, a proprietary probiotic premix (Direct Fed Microbial blend), chelated minerals, and the Pursuit-line performance vitamin package. First Mate adds herring meal, canola oil, flaxseed, inulin (prebiotic), salmon oil, and a limited vitamin/mineral premix. Dr. Tim’s carries more ingredients by design; First Mate keeps the list short by design.
Where Dr. Tim’s pulls ahead
Performance-dog formulation: Dr. Tim Hunt is a working vet and musher, and the Pursuit line is built around the caloric demands of hard-working dogs (30% protein, 20% fat minimums). For hunting dogs, sled dogs, agility competitors, and working dogs generally, this is a purpose-built formula, not a general-purpose B-tier.
Multi-source protein profile: Chicken meal + fish meal + pork meal across the ingredient list delivers broader amino acid diversity than First Mate’s single-source fish meal + herring meal profile. For dogs without food sensitivities, the protein diversity is a meaningful nutritional advantage.
Proprietary probiotic premix: Dr. Tim’s Direct Fed Microbial blend is a multi-strain probiotic package engineered for digestive resilience in working dogs under performance stress — a specific feature not replicated in First Mate. Shop on Amazon →
Where First Mate holds its own
Novel-protein LID formulation: For a dog diagnosed with a chicken or beef allergy, First Mate Pacific Ocean Fish Original is one of the cleanest commercial LID options on the market — no poultry, no red meat, no eggs, no common grain allergens. The entire formula is engineered to be the elimination-diet starting point.
Fish-first for EPA/DHA density: Ocean fish meal + herring meal + salmon oil delivers an omega-3 fatty-acid profile substantially richer than chicken-based formulas. For dogs with inflammatory skin conditions, arthritis, or allergic dermatitis, the EPA/DHA density matters.
Canadian single-facility manufacturing: First Mate operates out of a single plant in Chilliwack, British Columbia, with direct supply-chain control and tight QC. For owners who want small-batch manufacturing attention, First Mate delivers what larger brands can’t. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
If your dog is an active working or sporting breed without food sensitivities, Dr. Tim’s Pursuit Active is the right pick — purpose-built for performance demand, multi-source protein, probiotic-rich premix. If your dog has a diagnosed chicken/beef allergy or you’re starting an elimination diet, First Mate Pacific Ocean Fish Original is one of the cleanest LID options available — novel protein, no poultry, no red meat, tight ingredient deck. Same score, completely different use cases. See our best dog food for allergies guide for more LID options.