Orijen is a dog food brand that taps into your pup's ancestral diet, using only fresh or raw meat in its recipes. All Orijen dog foods are freeze-dry coated to preserve their raw flavor. All fresh ingredients in Orijen's foods are refrigerated until they're ready for cooking, while raw ingredients are frozen when they're freshest.

Orijen believes providing a whole-prey, biologically appropriate diet consisting of only the best cuts of meat is key to your pet's nutrition. To mimic a dog's natural diet in the wild, most parts of the animal — including organs and cartilage — are used in the whole-prey diet.

At least 85% of Orijen dog foods are high-quality animal ingredients, with the first 5 ingredients always fresh or raw animal protein. The other 15% comprises premium fruits, vegetables, botanicals, vitamins, minerals, and natural preservatives. Orijen doesn't use artificial preservatives or genetically modified fruits or vegetables.

Orijen must be doing something right — Business Insider awarded the brand the Best Dog Food Overall in 2020 and 2021. But is Orijen dog food best for your dog? Read our in-depth Orijen dog food review to find out!

Orijen offers over 25 dog food products across five product ranges, including a line of dog treats. 

All Orijen dog foods are "complete and balanced" meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for all life stages, maintenance (adults), or growth (puppies).

Orijen grain-free dry dog food is Orijen's flagship range. These recipes are grain-free and suitable for all life stages. Each recipe consists of at least 85% high-quality animal protein, with five fresh or raw animal proteins as the first five ingredients. 

For example, Orijen's Original recipe lists chicken, turkey, flounder, whole mackerel, and chicken liver as the first five ingredients. Secondary ingredients include red lentils, which are rich in B vitamins and calcium, and whole chickpeas, which are a great source of iron. Further down the ingredient list you'll find nutritious all-natural produce, like pumpkin, apples, collard greens, and cranberries. 

Orijen grain-free dry dog foods are high in protein and fat to fuel your pup's active lifestyle. Orijen Original dry dog food contains above-average protein (43.1% as dry matter) and above-average fat (20.4% as dry matter) compared to standard canine kibble. 

We love the quality and nutrient levels in Orijen grain-free recipes, with Orijen Original ranking highly in our round-up of the best dry dog foods!

Amazing Grains is Orijen's grain-inclusive range, featuring 90% premium animal ingredients. 

Each recipe contains a blend of oat groats, millet, chia seeds, and quinoa seeds instead of lentils, beans, and peas. Oat groats are the eighth ingredient in each food and the most common grain. Oat groats provide nutritional value for dogs, as they're rich in B vitamins and linoleic acid. 

Aside from the change from pulses and legumes to grains, the overall ingredient quality is the same as Orijen's grain-free dog foods. 

Orijen Amazing Grains Original contains 43.1% protein as dry matter and 20.4% fat as dry matter, which is above average for dry dog food and the same as Orijen's Original grain-free recipe. 

Orijen’s puppy recipes are specially formulated to support growth. Both Puppy and Puppy Large contain 85% poultry and fish ingredients, as they're excellent sources of vitamins and minerals. 

Orijen includes high fish and fish oil quantities in its puppy recipes. Fish and fish oils are rich in DHA and EPA fatty acids and vitamin A, which promote immune health, skin health, and brain development. Grain-free and grain-inclusive Orijen puppy recipes are available. 

Orijen puppy foods have similar protein but higher fat levels than Orijen's adult foods to fuel your pint-sized pooch's development. Orijen Puppy grain-free dry food contains above-average protein (43.1% as dry matter) and above-average fat (22.7% as dry matter) compared to standard puppy food. 

We highly rate Orijen puppy food — so much so we included it in our round-up of the best dog foods for puppies!

Wet foods are the newest addition to Orijen’s product range. These canned foods contain at least 95% premium animal ingredients. Orijen’s wet foods have great texture, with visible shreds of high-quality meat and chunks of veggies. The brand-new pâté varieties have a smooth consistency for pups that have trouble chewing. 

Each recipe lists real meat, broth, and liver among the top five ingredients. Common secondary ingredients include carrots, broccoli, dried eggs, and pumpkin. Carrots are high in fiber and provide vitamin A, while broccoli is rich in vitamin K and vitamin C. 

Orijen wet dog foods all exceed AAFCO nutrient guidelines by a considerable distance — Orijen Original  Stew with Chicken, Turkey & Eggs contains 61.1% protein as dry matter and 22.2% fat as dry matter.

Overall, the quality of Orijen wet foods is top tier — highly recommended. 

Freeze-drying preserves the nutrient content of raw ingredients and extends the shelf life of dog foods. You'll need to crumble up the medallions into your dog's bowl, then add warm water and stir before serving. Freeze-drying dog food preserves high nutrient levels and ensures shelf-stability for easy storage. 

While the top five ingredients are quality cuts of meat, Orijen Freeze-Dried Food Medallions can't be considered limited ingredient and contain some filler ingredients, like pea fiber. That said, the overall ingredient quality in Orijen Freeze-Dried Medallions is top-of-the-line, making them a great choice for your doggo. 

Orijen Original Freeze-Dried Food Medallions contains 41.6% protein as dry matter and 35.4% fat as dry matter. High fat contents means Orijen Freeze-Dried Medallions may not be the best choice for overweight dogs. 

Orijen Freeze-Dried Epic Bites contain almost identical ingredients to its Freeze-Dried Food Medallions. The main difference is Orijen Freeze-Dried Epic Bites come in bite-sized morsels, making them great as a topper or for miniature mutts. As with the Freeze-Dried Medallions, you need to add warm water before serving. 

Orijen Freeze-Dried Epic Bites contain the same protein levels as Orijen Freeze-Dried Food Medallions.

Orijen Freeze-Dried Dog Treats are limited-ingredient dog treats that contain 99% animal ingredients. They're great for dogs with food allergies, and with only five calories per treat, they're suitable as high-value training rewards. 

Orijen Freeze-Dried Dog Treats contain 40% protein as dry matter on average, which is high for a dog treat product. 

Orijen produces two specialty dog foods for weight management and senior dogs:

Here are a few reasons why Wag! gives Orijen dog food a flawless five out of five paws up!

Orijen dog foods contain a minimum of 85% premium animal ingredients. The first five ingredients in most Orijen recipes are fresh or raw animal protein. Fresh ingredients are never frozen, and raw ingredients are frozen at the height of freshness. Common ingredients like whole mackerel, chicken liver, and turkey are quality sources of lean protein. 

Fresh, high-quality fruits, vegetables, and botanicals make up 5% to 15% of the ingredients in most of Orijen's foods. Chicory root is a popular ingredient in high-quality dog foods as it contains inulin, a source of soluble dietary fiber. Inulin is also a prebiotic that helps the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Other ingredients in Orijen's foods, like whole apples, whole pumpkins, and turmeric, are nutritionally valuable to pups.

According to the AAFCO, all Orijen's dog foods (except for specially formulated varieties for puppies and seniors) are suitable for all life stages. Protein, rather than carbohydrates, is the primary energy source in Orijen's foods. This is especially beneficial for dogs on a weight management diet since calories from excess amounts of carbs are stored as body fat. 

Orijen is transparent about its dog food production and sources its ingredients from trusted sources. All dry dog food sold in Canada, Europe, and parts of Asia are cooked at Orijen's kitchens in Auburn, Kentucky. Champion Petfoods also has kitchens in Morinville, Alberta, Canada that make recipes sold in Canada, Europe, and other parts of Asia.

Orijen's protein sources come from cage-free chickens, ranch-raised cows, and wild-caught or responsibly farmed fish. The company is also transparent about where ingredients are sourced — for example, the lamb in Orijen's recipes comes from New Zealand.

Here are some concerns and considerations to think about before purchasing Orijen dog food.

Premium ingredients and human-grade protein sources mean higher prices. At the time of writing, a 4.5-pound bag of Orijen Original available through Chewy, one of Orijen's leading retailers, costs $33.29, which works out to $7.40 per pound. This pricing makes Orijen one of the most expensive dog food brands on the market.

Many of Orijen's recipes are grain-free and contain pulses and legumes. There are concerns among scientists and veterinarians that dog foods that are high in pulses and legumes can be harmful to dogs. In 2018, the FDA opened an investigation into reports of a connection between these dog foods and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). 

Initially, this investigation focused on grain-free dog foods, but recent statements from the FDA state that it includes grain-free and grain-inclusive dog food varieties. There is no concrete evidence that legumes and pulses are harmful to dogs, and the FDA's investigation is ongoing. 

Consult your vet if you have any questions about feeding your dog a diet high in legumes and pulses. 

"This stuff is great. I have been feeding my dogs raw for two years, but I am getting tired of the hassle that I tails raw feeding. I found Origen after the endless search for a quality kibble to change them to. Origen fit the bill. It has everything in it that feeding raw delivers. This is quality food and my dogs love it too."

"My Greyhound is not a big eater and a bit picky so when I gave him his first taste of Orijen I was surprised that he ate the whole bowl! That is a first for dry food. I like the ingredients list with a variety of proteins."

"This dry food is full of protein (and not pea protein!) from animals and other nutrients. [It] is worth paying a little extra and my dogs love it!"

Read more reviews on Chewy.

Orijen is manufactured by Champion Petfoods, a Canadian pet food company founded in 1985 by Reinhard Mühlenfeld, philanthropist and pet lover. Outside of his work with Champion Petfoods, Mühlenfeld is a patron of arts and education who supports local pet rescue programs throughout Alberta.

Champion Petfoods began as a small operation, with just a dozen employees working with local farmers and businesses to produce food using limited equipment in a small factory. Today, Champion Petfoods has over 500 employees and sells products in 90 countries. To sell its foods internally, Champion Petfoods must meet the pet food quality control standards of that country. The approval process can be long, particularly in European countries where pet food regulations are stricter.

Champion Petfoods also manufactures Acana dog food. The company partners with the veterinary college at the University of Guelph, as well as Best Friends Animal Society.

In February 2023, Mars Petcare, Inc. acquired Champion Petfoods, which is still operating independently as a Mars Petcare business unit. Mars Petcare, Inc. owns several pet food brands, including Pedigree and Royal Canin.

There have been no recalls of Orijen dog food as of February 2025. 

All product images sourced from Chewy. Copyright Mars Petcare US, Inc.