Rating: 
Orijen Dog Food Puppy receives the Advisor’s highest rating of five stars.
Currently, the Orijen Dog Food Puppy line includes two kibbles… each designed to be “biologically appropriate for puppies”.1
- Orijen Puppy (for all breeds)
- Orijen Puppy Large Breed
Orijen Puppy Large Breed was selected to represent both products in the line for this review.
Orijen Puppy Large Breed
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Fresh deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, russet potato, fresh deboned salmon (a natural source of DHA and EPA), herring meal, sweet potato, peas, fresh deboned lake whitefish, fresh deboned walleye, chicken fat (naturally preserved with vitamin E and citric acid), chicken liver, salmon meal, fresh deboned turkey, fresh whole eggs, fresh deboned herring, sun-cured alfalfa, salmon oil, chicory root, dehydrated organic kelp, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, turnip greens, apples, cranberries, saskatoon berries, black currants, choline chloride, psyllium, licorice root, angelica root, fenugreek, marigold flowers, sweet fennel, peppermint leaf, chamomile flowers, dandelion, summer savory, rosemary, sea salt, vitamin supplements (vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, niacin, vitamin C, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12), mineral supplements (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, selenium), dried Lactobacillus acidophilus product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is fresh chicken. Raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.
That’s what makes uncooked chicken a much smaller contributor to the overall protein content of any dry food than chicken meal… the second item on the list.
The next two ingredients are chicken and turkey meals. Both of these items are considered meat concentrates… and contain more than three times as much protein as fresh poultry.
The fourth ingredient is russet potato. Frequently referred to as an Idaho potato, this is the most common type of potato grown in the United States. Assuming they are whole, potatoes are a good source of digestible carbohydrates and other healthy nutrients.
In keeping with its pledge to make each product 70 percent meat2, Orijen continues its ingredient list with no less than nine animal based items…
- Salmon
- Herring meal
- Lake whitefish
- Walleye
- Chicken liver
- Salmon meal
- Turkey
- Whole eggs
- Herring
By the way, Orijen also promises buyers that all its fish ingredients are totally ethoxyquin-free… a rare (and welcome) feature.
Orijen Puppy gets most of its fat in the form of healthy omega-3 fatty acids naturally supplied by its abundant fish content… as well as from chicken fat.
Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… another essential fatty acid.
In addition, Orijen also adds a number of healthy fruits and veggies including sweet potato, peas, spinach, alfalfa, carrots and pumpkin.
And two important notes…
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to proteins. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
Orijen also adds botanicals and friendly bacteria to enhance the nutritional value of its recipe.
Orijen Dog Food Puppy… the Bottom Line
This Orijen Puppy food has all the makings of a top quality kibble. And the nutrient numbers quickly confirm that impression…
The dashboard reports a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 20% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 28%.
High protein. Moderate fat. And low carbohydrates. An impressive nutrient profile… especially when you consider this is a dry kibble.
So, what’s the bottom line?
Actually, this Orijen Puppy product may be more easily defined by what it’s not… rather than what it is.
After all, there’s no dairy. No corn. No wheat. No soy. No artificial preservatives. No coloring. No flavoring.
And not a single Red Flag ingredient… anywhere in sight.
All things considered, both Orijen Puppy Dog Food products readily earn the Advisor’s top grade of five stars.
I know… I know… it’s not cheap. But how could any dog food this well-made… be cheap?
If Orijen Puppy is within your budget… go ahead. Grab a bag… and take it home for your favorite baby dog. This stuff is truly worth the price.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Some Final Thoughts
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?
Please feel free to share your comments below.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Remember the Orijen Brand is a Canadian product from Alberta. Penny for penny is is not much more than the (so called) high end “Eukanuba” kibble and even less expensive than some other well known “Grain Free” foods.
Orijen is a really top grade food. Sometimes too rich if not measured correctly but WOW what a shine on their coat and in their eyes!!!
Yes, I agree…I use Orijen/Acana is my dogs’ rotation. Fantastic food!
My four month old Boston love this food. She “stands” on her back legs just before I put the bowl down.
I served as a K-9 handler for 28 years, and wish I had discovered this food for my PD dogs.
Stools are good and her energy and coat are great. We love her more than enough to gove her the very best.
I have been using Orijen Puppy and Orijen Adult, for almost 2 yrs now. I have 4 dogs, two of which are Champion lined Show Pekingese. Their coats are fabulous and their eyes are clear, they have a healthy bounce to their step and I would highly recommend Orijen to anyone who wants a healthy show-quality coat and a vibrant happy dog. I have done a lot of research as well as tried other high end brands but nothing gave me the results that Orijen has. Other brands caused hot spots, itching, hair loss, lack of appetite and stool consumtion. I find it a bit pricey but well worth the money in the long term and for my piece of mind.
I tried the Orijen puppy when my Rotty was about 6 months old. I ndid just as the person I bought it from suggested by mixing it in with his other food gradually for about a week. I had bought two bags and after about a bag and a half his stomach was still not adjusted. His stool was very runny and the smell was terrible. I switched to Royal Canin and he adjusted quickly to it. I switched to blue buffalo at 13 months and would like to go back to Orijen because it is a great food. Has anyone else had a dog that had trouble adjusting to Orijen and did you try it more than once? My vet told me the food has to much protein.
Hi Kendall… although the dog food hasn’t changed since you last tried Orijen, your dog’s age (and GI development) have. When you’re ready, try “dovetailing” SLOWLY into the newer dog food. Start with just 10-20% new food and 80-90% old food… do that for (at least) a few days and observe his stools.
After a while, increase the “dose” a little more… to maybe 30-40% or so. And then re-check his stools. If you take a week or two to do this, you might find he can tolerate the richer food.
If not, you can always try another 4 or 5-star food. In any case, always “dovetail” SLOWLY… from mostly old… to mostly new. Hope this helps.
Hi Mike,
I am getting Mudi puppy. Currently I have adult corgis eating The Honest Kitchen, Evangers 100% meat classics and Advoderm kibble. My dogs are doing very well on this combination, however I think the protien level in the Advoderm puppy is too low and was wondering if you think feeding the Orijen with The Honest Kitchen, Thrive and Embark with cooked chicken would be a wise choice. Or should I just consider The Honest Kitchen with added meat and skip the kibble?
Thanks.
Hi Kim… Wow, your Corgis are lucky dogs, indeed. I love your interesting “mixes”. As far as kibbles go, Avoderm is a great food. But generally speaking, kibbles are the least natural forms of dog food available. However, you can’t go wrong with these picks.
Hi,
I have a 5 months Labrador retriever and for about 1 month I feed him with Orijen. He likes it very much, his stools are normal, but my vet suggested that 40% protein is too much and I should switch to another pet food (he didn’t mention any brand) which has a less amount of proteins. So far I haven’t noticed anything wrong with my dog, but I still wonder if this is the best choice for him and if indeed is too much protein.
Hi Cristina… How much protein to feed to a puppy is a controversial issue. Many today believe high protein diets are good for growing puppies. Yet others (like your vet) feel it is not appropriate.
So far, my personal favorite overview regarding the use of a high protein canine diet can be found in a white paper entitled “The Biologically Appropriate Food Concept and the Dietary Needs of Dogs and Cats“. This article is published by the makers of Orijen and Acana dog foods.
Be sure to read the portions of that article relating specifically to puppies. Since there are other issues besides protein content when feeding growing dogs, you may wish to discuss this further with your vet.
Hi Mike,
I’ve endlessly researched which food to food my 6 month and 12 year old corgi. I think Orijen is the front runner. At what age would you recommend switching the 6 month old to an adult or all stage formula? He’s an active little guy, larger corgi (large parents) he’s 6 months and 24 pounds but a very normal healthy weight. Do you have a suggestion on which formula would be a good one to start with?
Right now they both are on Acana wild prairie. My 12 year old has DM (puppy’s DNA tested negative, yahoo!) and she has been affected quickly by the DM so I was thinking the Orijen Senior because of the less carbs and fat would be a good choice. Thought on that?
I appreciate and value your professional opinion!
Jacque
Hi Jacque… Although I’ve become an expert at reading and interpreting pet food labels, I’m not a veterinarian or nutritionist. So, it would be misleading to offer my opinion regarding DM. If I am correct in my assumption by DM your are referring to diabetes mellitus. please pay close attention to our estimated carb content for your chosen foods. Many senior formulas are low in protein and fat… which automatically makes them very high in carbs.
Don’t be afraid to consider some of the many high-quality, low carb canned foods. Many of them are ideal for seniors and diabetes sufferers.
For your other dogs (and maybe even your senior?), Acana and Orijen are two of my personal favorites. The quality and design of their recipes are excellent.
Hi Mike,
I’ve been doing research for weeks on which food to get my tiny poodles. I have a tiny picky eater he is 12 weeks old and weighs 1 pound and a 7 month old that weighs 3 pounds. I want to try Orijen Puppy, but I am concern because I read that the high protein in this food can cause problems. Please Help?
I want the best for my little ones? Thanks
Hi Daisy… high protein is a common concern for many. Yet since I’m not a veterinarian or an animal nutritionist, it would be misleading for me to assure you that a high protein diet is 100% for all dogs.
However, my personal favorite explanation of high protein canine diets can be found in a white paper entitled “The Biologically Appropriate Food Concept and the Dietary Needs of Dogs and Cats“. This article is published by Champion Petfoods… the makers of Orijen and Acana dog foods. Please read the parts about puppies… I believe you’ll find these areas of the paper very interesting.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Mike, I appreciate your help. I have decided to feed them Orijen. I am planning to start the transition this weekend. I hope they do well on it. Happy 4th
Hi I have a seven month old Sheltie that I have been trying to find the right food for. He was on Bil-Jac, when I got him at eight weeks. He liked it, but I wanted to give him better food, so I slowly switched him to Blue Buffalo puppy which he wasn’t to thrilled about. I then tried Wellness puppy, which he wouldn’t eat, so I just bought Orijen puppy, and gave him a little which he didn’t eat. Right now he is just on Newmans Own canned with a little chicken mixed in which he does eat. I sent away for a sample of Nutris dog food to try and then I read the rating and saw how bad it is, but he does like it. How do I get him to like the good dog food, as he seems only to like the poor food. Thanks Pam
Hi Pamela… Kibble is the furthest thing from “natural” a dog food can get. Our own rescue, Bailey has given us the same challenge. What finally resolved the issue for us was thoroughly mixing a good quality canned dog food with his kibble. Now he can’t wait to eat. Hope this helps.
Hi Mike, I have a 5 months old Pomeranian, each time I feed him dogfood he only eat not more than 10 gram each time, before I feed him with royal canin, Avoderm , and today I just bought Orijen for puppy and just try if he can eat more than 10 gram any advice to me for my Pomeranian to eat around 20 gram each time?
Hi Iswandi… Since I am not a veterinarian or breeder, I’m not sure if 20 grams should be your goal. Use the recommendation on the package or call the company for help.
If you’re having difficulty getting him to eat 20 grams (and if that is the recommended serving size), try “topping” his kibble with a quality wet food and mixing the two. Hope this helps.
Hello,Mike Today I just bought wellness canned core chicken and try to mix it with orijen dogfood, Is this a right combination cause I saw that two contains no grains , and what is the best combination? 50 % orijen 50% wellness canned core or else? Thanks.
Hi Iswandi… Nice idea. I like your chosen grain free combination. We use no special formula for the mix. What’s more important is not increasing (or decreasing) the calories. Hope this works for you.