Wild Reserve Wild-Caught Fish Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
ORIJEN Wild Reserve Wild-Caught Fish Dry Dog Food is a dry formula built around a variety of wild-caught fish, with salmon as a primary protein.
This formula offers good protein quality, with herring providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes quality fat sources, like marine oil, which is a good source of EPA and DHA. Plus, it has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation.
The main thing to watch is the high legume stacking, with multiple pulse-family ingredients like red lentils and pinto beans appearing in the top 15. This pattern is partially mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat.
Good fit for active dogs or those needing a high-protein diet. Less ideal if you prefer formulas with minimal legume content.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Aussies are working-line dogs that thrive on high-protein performance formulas. Coat quality also benefits from EPA+DHA. Strong fit for adult Australian Shepherds and similar herding breeds navigating skin allergies. The protein deck stacks 4 distinct named species in the top 10. The National Research Council (2006) recommends a minimum of 2.6 grams of linoleic acid (an omega-6) per 1000 kcal of metabolizable energy to maintain skin barrier function in adult dogs (NRC, 2006) .
Looking at this for adult Australian Shepherds or Australian Shepherds with skin allergies ? 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.
At 68/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 16.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. herring delivers solid amino acid coverage. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 2 points. Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10. The path to A-tier is about 7 points; controversial-ingredient penalty is the structural lever.
Reasonable protein quality. herring delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest carb quality in ORIJEN's lineup (8/16)
- Top 2% for DMB protein in grain-free dry kibbles (45.5%)
- Bottom 2% for protein quality in ORIJEN's lineup (16.7/27)
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.
ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
Scores 13 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
ORIJEN Large Breed Adult Grain-Free High-Protein Dry Dog Food, 23.5-lb bag
$4.55/lb vs your seed's $6.65/lb (32% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1herring
Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalsalmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3monkfish
- 4acadian redfish
- 5flounder
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6whiting
- 7sardine meal
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8herringmeal
- 9blue whiting meal
- 10pollock meal
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11legumered lentils
Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →
Position 11. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 12legumepinto beans
Position 12. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 13legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 13. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 14dehydrated salmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 14: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 15fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
Position 15: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 16legumenavy beans
- 17legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
- 18natural fish flavor
- 19dried applepomace
- 20herring oil
Concentrated omega-3 from herring. Same role as salmon oil, skin and coat support.
- 21freeze-dried shrimp
- 22safflower oil
- 23vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 24preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
- 25mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
Showing first 25 of 54. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
11 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.