Orijen Dog Food Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Bojana Radulovic

This is a complete Orijen dog foods review, one of the best-selling dry dog foods on the market.

This premium brand of dog and cat food was originally founded in Alberta, Canada in 1985 by Reinhard Muhlenfeld. Ever since Orijen pet foods are currently sold in 70 countries.

Orijen produces several lines of dry and wet food, and today we’ll focus on their most popular line of dry food for dogs, including grain-free food and the best food for overweight dogs.

Orijen formulas are carefully made in the States with the world’s finest ingredients.

Orijen puts extra care into perfecting their products and continually offering new products, which is why they have a special line of three varieties of Freeze-Dried Foods and thirteen varieties of Freeze-Dried treats – eight dogs and five cats.

Orijen formulas are not only of high quality but they also meet the highest standards of food safety, which is why Orijen formulas meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for cats and dogs.

A quick look at the best Orijen formulas

How we chose

Because choosing the right food for your dog can be confusing and overwhelming, we reviewed all Orijen dog foods.

Every product on our list has been vetted to ensure that it aligns with Barking Royalty’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:

  • adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements
  • is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs)
  • is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
  • is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust

Additional factors we considered included:

  • Ingredients. We looked for supplements that are free of unnecessary ingredients such as fillers and artificial
  • sweeteners and colors.
  • AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile. We checked if the food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO.
  • Price. We included products to suit a range of budgets.

Barking Royalty’s picks for the best Orijen dry foods

Best all life stages

Orijen Original Grain-Free

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3,940 kcal/kg, 473 kcal/cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Adult Grain-Free Food
  • Grain-free: Yes
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 18.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids0.8% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids3% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio3.75, healthy

The first ingredient in this formula is chicken for a certain protein level, and great nutrition, followed by turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, and chicken liver.

For extra flavor, this formula is enhanced with whole peas, whole pears, whole cranberries, and turmeric.

For gut health support, Orijen Original Grain-Free comes with dried chicory root, collard greens, and whole apples.

It also contains guaranteed prebiotic fibers that will boost your dog’s digestive health.

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Best for large breed adults

Orijen Amazing Grains Original

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3920 kcal/kg, 490 kcal/8oz cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Large Breeds Food
  • Grain-free: No
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 18.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids0.8% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids3.5% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio4.37, healthy

Orijen Amazing Grains Original is a formula with chicken as the main ingredient for a fresh bite and great nutrition, followed by turkey, chicken liver, whole herring, and whole mackerel.

This formula is packed with ultimate five ingredients that are made of raw animal protein, including fish to support a dog’s muscle development.

When formula, like Orijen Amazing Grains Original, contains fish in high levels, and pollock oil, in addition, dog owners may expect the dog’s skin and coat to enhance in a short period.

These ingredients are also great when it comes to supporting a dog’s overall health and immunity system.

Besides these superfoods, Orijen Amazing Grains Original formula offers a fair amount of prebiotics and probiotics and a fiber from inulin next to a premium grain blend.

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Best for small breed adults

Orijen Small Breed Grain-Free

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3940 kcal/kg, 473 kcal/cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Small Breeds Food
  • Grain-free: Yes
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 18.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids1.0% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids2.8% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio2.8, healthy

The first ingredient in this formula is turkey as a great protein source, followed by turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), quail, whole blue whiting, and whole mackerel.

For extra flavor, Orijen Small Breed Grain-Free is enriched with pea starch, whole red lentils, whole pinto beans, and pollock oil.

Besides these superfoods, Orijen Small Breed Grain-Free formula contains fibers from juniper berries, dried chicory root, rosemary extract, and pumpkin.

This formula contains up to 85% premium animal ingredients including poultry and fish which are strong sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

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Best for large breed puppies

Orijen Puppy Large Grain-Free

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3760 kcal/kg, 451 kcal/cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Large Puppy Breeds Food
  • Grain-free: Yes
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 16.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids0.8% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids3.0% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio3.75, healthy

The first ingredient in this formula is chicken for a richer taste, great nutrition, and sufficient amount of protein, followed by turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, and chicken liver.

For extra taste and additional flavor, this formula contains whole peas, lentil fiber, whole green lentils, whole navy beans, and pollock oil.

These foods are packed with minerals and vitamins that support overall dog health.

Besides these superfoods, the Orijen Puppy Large Grain-Free formula contains fibers from whole pears, whole cranberries, dried chicory root, and whole apples.

It also contains additional vitamins and supplements that can easily boost a dog’s overall health and especially digestive health.

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Best for small breed puppies

Orijen Puppy Grain-Free

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3760 kcal/kg, 451 kcal/cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Puppy Grain-Free Food
  • Grain-free: Yes
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 20.0% min
Crude Fiber 6.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids0.8% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids3.5% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio4.37, healthy

The first ingredient in this powerful puppy formula is chicken for easy digestion and great taste, followed by turkey, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), flounder, and whole mackerel.

To make puppy food richer in flavor, this formula comes with eggs, chicken liver, and chicken heart, making every bite exciting and fresh.

This formula is enhanced with superfoods such as whole pears, pea starch, whole apples, whole cranberries, and dried kelp.

Besides these superfoods, the Orijen Puppy Grain-Free formula contains fibers from juniper berries and whole pumpkin.

It also contains dried chicory root that will boost your dog’s digestive health.

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Best for seniors

Orijen Senior Grain-Free

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3,630 kcal/kg, 417 kcal/cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Senior Grain-Free Food
  • Grain-free: Yes
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 15.0% min
Crude Fiber 8.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids0.8% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids3.0% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio3.75, healthy

Chicken is the first ingredient in this formula for senior canine citizens, followed by turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, and turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard).

This formula offers 85% premium animal ingredients including fish, or a strong source of mandatory vitamins, minerals, and protein.

This formula for senior dogs always offers the first five ingredients in a form of a fresh or raw animal protein.

Orijen Senior Grain-Free contains fibers from whole green lentils, whole peas, collard greens, and whole pumpkin as well as prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root.

This formula is carefully designed to support lean muscle mass and weight maintenance in senior dogs.

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Best grain-free

Orijen Regional Red Grain-Free

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3860 kcal/kg, 463 kcal/cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Grain-Free Food
  • Grain-free: Yes
Crude Protein 38.0% min
Crude Fat 18.0% min
Crude Fiber 4.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids1.0% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids2.0% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio2.00, suboptimal

The first ingredient in this formula is beef a protein source that helps dogs build muscle, followed by wild boar, goat, lamb, and lamb liver.

For a richer taste, this formula contains goat meal, lamb meal, and beef kidney.

This formula is enhanced with superfoods such as pollock oil, althea root, juniper berries, and rosemary extract.

Besides these superfoods, the Orijen Regional Red Grain-Free formula contains fibers from the whole pumpkin, whole apples, and whole pears.

It also contains guaranteed prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root.

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Best for overweight dogs

Orijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free

  • Price: $$
  • Energy: 3490 kcal/kg, 401 kcal/cup
  • AAFCO Profile: Grain-Free Food
  • Grain-free: Yes
Crude Protein 42.0% min
Crude Fat 13.0% min
Crude Fiber 8.0% min
Moisture 12.0% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids1.0% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids2.5% min
Omega-6 To Omega-3 Ratio2.5, suboptimal

Chicken is the number one ingredient in Orijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free formula, followed by chicken liver, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), turkey, and cod.

These ingredients are carefully blended to provide great taste and one-of-a-kind nutrition.

For a richer taste, the formula contains whole pinto beans, whole peas, natural chicken flavor, and juniper berries.

Besides these superfoods, Orijen Fit & Trim Grain-Free formula contains fibers from the whole pumpkin, whole apples, and whole cranberries.

With around 85% of premium animal ingredients, this formula includes poultry and fish, making it a great source of essential protein, vitamins, and minerals.

It also contains guaranteed prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root.

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