When selecting commercial food, what must the first ingredient listed signal?

A specific, named meat or meat meal, signaling a solid protein base.

Selecting high-quality commercial food for the Yakutian Laika requires the owner to scrutinize the ingredient panel closely, focusing immediately on the composition listed first. The foundational principle is that the very first ingredient must explicitly identify a specific type of meat or a named meat meal. This requirement is crucial because it immediately establishes that the food is built upon a solid, identifiable protein base, which is vital for supporting the muscle maintenance needs of this active, spitz-type working dog. The text emphasizes moving past generic guidelines; seeing a clear identification of the primary protein source confirms the necessary quality benchmark, distinguishing it from foods whose primary components might be vague fillers or non-meat sources that do not adequately fuel their demanding metabolism.