Orijen Original (Dry, 23.5 lb bag) review 2027
The highest protein in the ranking at 38%, with fresh and raw animal ingredients in the first five — a premium food that formulates rather than feeding-trials
Is the Orijen Original Worth It?
Highest protein. Orijen uses the best-looking ingredients in the ranking and dogs do well on it, but it scores behind the big four because it formulates on paper rather than feeding-trialling, and its grain-free recipe sits in an unresolved FDA inquiry.
Orijen Original Pros & Cons
- 38% protein from named fresh and raw animal ingredients
- Champion owns its kitchens; no US recalls
- Panel dogs ate it eagerly and coat condition was visibly good at two weeks
- Grain-free formulation for dogs with a diagnosed grain allergy
- $2.90 per 1,000 kcal — over twice Pro Plan
- AAFCO statement by formulation; no feeding trial and no published full-time veterinary nutritionist
- Legume-heavy grain-free recipe sits inside the FDA's open dilated-cardiomyopathy inquiry
- Rich enough to upset some dogs on switching
What problem does Orijen Original solve for dogs?
Orijen Original is the highest-protein food in this ranking at 38% crude protein, built from named fresh and raw animal ingredients. It is a dry kibble from Champion Petfoods that suits active dogs, and it is the one food here formulated grain-free for dogs with a diagnosed grain allergy. Our twelve-dog panel ate it eagerly and coat condition was visibly good at two weeks. Champion owns its kitchens and the food has no US recalls in the last ten years. The trade-off is that it formulates on paper rather than running an AAFCO feeding trial, and its legume-heavy grain-free recipe sits inside the FDA's open dilated-cardiomyopathy inquiry.
How did Orijen Original score 7.2 out of 10?
We scored every food across five weighted criteria. Orijen earned 22 of 30 for Nutrition & AAFCO statement, which measures whether the food meets an AAFCO profile and how that was established — a feeding trial counts for more than formulation alone — plus protein, fat and the guaranteed analysis against life-stage needs. It took 19 of 20 for Ingredients & sourcing, which looks at named meat sources, how far down the list the first grain or filler sits, and what the brand will tell you about where it is made. Safety record gave 13 of 20, covering FDA recall history, whether the brand owns its plants, and whether it employs a full-time veterinary nutritionist. Acceptance was a clean 10 of 10: how readily our twelve-dog panel ate it, and stool quality over two weeks. Value returned 8 of 20, based on cost per 1,000 kcal — the only fair way to compare a dense kibble with a fresh food.
What are Orijen Original's standout strengths?
The headline number is 38% protein, the highest in the ranking, drawn from named fresh and raw animal ingredients. Chicken is the first ingredient. Champion owns its kitchens and the food has no US recalls in the last ten years. In our two-week panel, dogs ate it eagerly and coat condition was visibly good. For a dog with a diagnosed grain allergy, the grain-free formulation is a real option. Those strengths sit against a measured cost of $2.90 per 1,000 kcal.
What is in Orijen Original and how is it built?
The food is a dry kibble. Its guaranteed analysis lists 38% crude protein and 18% crude fat, with chicken as the first ingredient. The AAFCO statement reads complete for all life stages, but it was established by formulation, not by feeding trial. No full-time board-certified nutritionist is published for the brand. There are no US FDA recalls in the last ten years. The recipe is grain-free and legume-heavy, which places it inside the FDA's open dilated-cardiomyopathy inquiry.
How does Orijen Original compare with other tested dog foods?
Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Chicken & Rice scored 9 and costs $72, with 26% protein, 16% fat, chicken first, an AAFCO statement complete for adult maintenance established by feeding trial, a full-time veterinary nutritionist, and one limited-lot recall in 2016. Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice scored 8.8 at $78, with salmon first, 26% protein, 16% fat, the same feeding-trial substantiation and nutritionist, and the same 2016 limited-lot recall. Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley scored 8.6 at $79, with 20% protein, 12% fat, chicken first, feeding-trial substantiation, a full-time nutritionist, and two recalls in 2019 on canned product only. Orijen is ahead of all three on protein and on ingredient sourcing, and behind them on substantiation, published nutritionist and cost per calorie.
| Orijen Original | Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Chicken & Rice | Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley | Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.2 | 9.0 | 8.6 | 8.8 |
| Type | Dry kibble | Dry kibble | Dry kibble | Dry kibble |
| Cost per 1,000 kcal | 2.90 $ | 1.20 $ | 1.42 $ | 1.48 $ |
| Crude protein | 38 % | 26 % | 20 % | 26 % |
| Crude fat | 18 % | 16 % | 12 % | 16 % |
| First ingredient | Chicken | Chicken | Chicken | Salmon |
| AAFCO statement | Complete for all life stages | Complete for adult maintenance | Complete for adult maintenance | Complete for adult maintenance |
| Established by feeding trial | No (formulated) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Full-time veterinary nutritionist | No full-time board-certified nutritionist published | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Where does Orijen Original fall short?
It lost points for having no feeding trial and for the grain-free inquiry. At $2.90 per 1,000 kcal it costs over twice Pro Plan. Its AAFCO statement is by formulation, with no feeding trial and no published full-time veterinary nutritionist. The legume-heavy grain-free recipe sits inside the FDA's open dilated-cardiomyopathy inquiry. And it is rich enough to upset some dogs on switching.
Is Orijen Original worth the price?
The bag is $105, and the measured cost is $2.90 per 1,000 kcal. Against the tested rivals, Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials is $1.20 per 1,000 kcal, Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach is $1.48, Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley is $1.42, ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks is $0.88, and Medium Adult Dry Dog Food is $1.68. Orijen is the most expensive per calorie of the group.
Who should buy Orijen Original?
It is still the right choice for active dogs with a diagnosed grain allergy. If your dog needs a grain-free diet confirmed by a vet, and you accept formulation rather than feeding-trial substantiation, the 38% protein and named animal ingredients are the reason to choose it.
Orijen Original at a Glance
Rubric v1: Nutrition & AAFCO statement 30 · Ingredients & sourcing 20 · Safety record 20 · Acceptance 10 · Value 20. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.
Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026
Orijen Original specifications
Where it loses
No feeding trial; grain-free inquiry.
Still the right pick for
Active dogs with a diagnosed grain allergy.
What owners say
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Changelog: Sep 11 — rank 1 → 2 · all changes