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ORIJEN Wild Reserve Free-Run Chicken & Grains Dry Dog Food Recipe, 20-lb bag
ORIJEN

Wild Reserve Free-Run Chicken & Grains Dry Dog Food Recipe, 20-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $5.60/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

ORIJEN Wild Reserve Free-Run Chicken & Grains is a dry dog food featuring chicken, turkey, and salmon as its main protein sources.

This formula has a strong protein profile, with chicken as the first ingredient, providing high biological value. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that offer fermentable fiber, and the fat sources are clearly named and declared, which is a good sign of quality.

Nothing concerning in the deck.

Good fit for adult dogs of any size. Nothing serious working against it.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

Toy and miniature breeds need smaller kibble size and higher calorie density per gram. Look for explicit 'small breed' formulations. Good fit for moderately active toy breeds, including the Toy Poodle, navigating a sensitive stomach. Chicken leads at position 1, but 4 stacked proteins make isolating triggers harder. What to watch: multiple protein sources stacked (harder to isolate triggers).

Looking at this for adult Toy Poodles or Toy Poodles with a sensitive stomach ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.

Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.

Research informing this analysis

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

At 80/100, this formula sits near the top of our catalog. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 22.5 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. Secondary contribution comes from carbohydrate quality (+16 points). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

What lifted the score

Strong protein profile with chicken as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources.

FQI
What pulled it down

No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.

What sets this apart
  • Lowest DMB protein in ORIJEN's lineup (43.2%)
  • Top 5% for crude fiber in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (13.6% DMB)
  • Bottom quartile for fat quality in ORIJEN's lineup (11/16)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Similar dog foods worth considering

Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
ORIJEN

ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag

81

Scores 1 point higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag
ORIJEN

ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag

81

$4.50/lb vs your seed's $5.60/lb (20% less) at a comparable score.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 43% ⓘ
Protein
38%
min (as fed)
Fat
18%
min (as fed)
Fiber
12%
max (as fed)
Moisture
12%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

57 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    turkey

    Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.

    Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.

  3. 3
    chicken giblets

    Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  4. 4
    herring

    Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.

    Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  5. 5
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

    Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  6. 6
    dehydrated chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

    Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  7. 7
    dehydrated chicken liver

    Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.

    Position 7. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  8. 8
    oat groats

    Whole oats with only the inedible hull removed. The most intact form of oats available.

    Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.

  9. 9
    millet

    Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.

    Position 9: minor grain inclusion.

  10. 10
    chicken fat

    Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →

    Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  11. 11
    eggs

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.

    Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  12. 12
    flounder

    Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  13. 13
    turkey giblets

    Position 13. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.

  14. 14
    dehydrated herring

    Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.

    Position 14: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  15. 15
    dehydrated turkey

    Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.

    Position 15: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  16. 16
    dehydrated egg

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.

  17. 17
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  18. 18
    oats

    Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.

  19. 19
    ground whole flaxseed
  20. 20
    freeze-dried chicken
  21. 21
    pollock oil
  22. 22
    quinoa seed
  23. 23
    chia seed

    Plant source of omega-3 and fiber. Like flaxseed, useful in trace amounts.

  24. 24
    inulin

    Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.

  25. 25
    vitamin esupplement

Showing first 25 of 57. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

17 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.