When it comes to feeding your dog, you have many options. Of course, feeding kibble is the most popular choice for many reasons- convenience and affordability being two of them. But if you want to give your pup something healthier, raw food may be the way to go.
However, there are pros and cons regarding both types of food. Each brand has its ingredients that make its products different from others on the market. There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pets.
Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, and cost, among others, are important considerations in determining which is suitable for your pup.
In this post, we’re going to compare Merrick vs. Orijen dog foods to help you decide which brand is best for your pooch! Here are some of the famous dog foods from both brands.
Merrick
- Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Recipe
- Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Recipes Chicken
- Merrick Grain-free salmon recipe Dog Food
- Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef
- Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble
Orijen
- ORIJEN Dry Dog Food
- ORIJEN Regional Red Dry Dog Food
- ORIJEN Six Fish Dry Dog Food
- ORIJEN Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- ORIJEN Puppy Large Grain-Free
Merrick Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato Recipe
Your best friend deserves the world’s most delicious and nutritious food, but we know that doesn’t always come easy. That is why this dog food brand created Merrick Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato Recipe! Made with real beef and sweet potato; no chicken.
This grain-free recipe has 65% protein for healthy weight maintenance or increased energy, plus omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health like never before.
A grain-free, natural dog food made with high-quality protein and healthy fat ingredients. The number one ingredient in the recipe is deboned beef, which helps maintain muscles and energy levels! In addition, this product includes all of the vitamins, minerals, fruits, vegetables, and other essential nutrients needed for your four-legged friends to thrive.
Merrick Beef and Sweet Potato Recipe use leading omega-3 and -6 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat, while glucosamine and chondroitin support hip and joint function. Merrick makes this kibble in their Hereford, Texas kitchen without poultry ingredients, corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or artificial preservatives. This terrier taco recipe is the perfect way to fuel your furry friend all day long!
Key Features:
- Real beef is the first ingredient for a great texture and flavor
- Protein and healthy fat combination to help maintain weight and energy levels
- Promega’s to support skin/coat health, hairball prevention, joint mobility
- Glucosamine & chondroitin for bone/joint health
Merrick Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe
Looking for grain-free dog food that will satisfy your pup’s cravings? Try Merrick Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe. This recipe is made with whole foods, including real deboned chicken as the #1 ingredient.
This dog’s food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs of all breeds, with 65% protein and healthy fat ingredients and 35% produce, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients.
Merrick’s Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe is the best dog food with a perfect combination of high-quality protein and healthy fats to help your pup maintain optimal weight and increased energy.
The recipe includes natural ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin to help maintain healthy hips and joints, omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and a shiny coat, and real deboned chicken as the first ingredient. Get a bag today!
Key Features:
- It contains 35% of produce ingredients to provide vitamins, minerals, and other natural healthy benefits
- Crafted with 65% protein from animal sources for more lean muscle growth
- 84% of the protein comes from animal sources—ideal for increased energy levels
- No soy or corn – Derived exclusively from high-quality meats
Merrick Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
Looking for healthy and delicious dry food for your pup? Look no further than Merrick Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe. This top-quality food is made with 60% protein and healthy fat, with deboned salmon as the number one ingredient.
It also includes producing fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients to create a complete and balanced diet. And it’s grain- and gluten-free! Plus, this food is developed with high levels of omega fatty acids to help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Merrick Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe is the perfect meal for your fur baby! With quality ingredients sourced from trusted farmers, this recipe is free from poultry, corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or artificial preservatives. Dog owners can feed this to their dogs without worrying about harmful preservatives.
Plus, every batch is cooked in the U.S.A. and crafted in Merrick’s Hereford, Texas kitchen!
Key Features:
- Made with real, deboned salmon- the #1 ingredient
- Provides an excellent source of protein and healthy fats for your pup
- The grain-free recipe contains high levels of omega fatty acids to promote skin and coat health
- Features glucosamine and chondroitin to support joints
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef is specially formulated to give your furry friend the energy and strength they need to take on the day. With real deboned beef as the first ingredient, this recipe also includes essential vitamins and minerals and brown rice and ancient grains like quinoa for a balanced diet.
This incredible dog food blends the latest science with real fresh beef, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin. Its natural balance of protein helps build strong muscles while giving joints their much-needed support.
With no potatoes, peas, or lentils, you can be sure to get out there with your pup for walks without worry!
Plus, it tastes great, so your sidekick will love it! This is a classic dog food that always leaves your pup feeling full and satisfied! They understand what it looks like to see those curls of fur drifting through the air, so they use real meat and quality ingredients for total satisfaction. After all, our pups are family too!
Key Features:
- Affordable and sustainable food for your dog
- No animal by-products or filler ingredients in the food
- It contains pure protein from beef, so less carbo-loading is needed in a day’s diet
- Full of healthy grains and fats to provide a balanced nutrition plan
Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble
Keep your pup feeling full and active with Merrick Healthy Grains Raw-Coated Kibble Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe Freeze-Dried Dry Dog Food. Each piece of kibble is rich in nutritious grains (like brown rice) and veggies. The first ingredient listed is real deboned chicken!
With no peas or lentils, your dog will be getting lots of healthy ingredients like produce and vitamins C & E to keep them running all day long.
But don’t worry: they didn’t leave out that tasty raw goodness. Every delicious bite has a freeze-dried coating for that satisfying crunch you love from the outside to the inside!
Merrick Healthy Grains are just that – healthy! This recipe is made with all-natural ingredients and whole grains, which promote healthy digestion. In addition, the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids maintain healthy skin and coat, while the glucosamine, chondroitin, and other nutrients help promote your hippo’s happy hips. And know this – Merrick Healthy Grains are free of peas, lentils, or potatoes.
Key Features:
- Grain-free for sensitive stomachs
- It contains real chicken as the first ingredient
- Omega-3 and omega-6 to promote healthy skin/coat
- Supports healthy joints with glucosamine and chondroitin
ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Are you in search of a nutritious and delicious food option for your canine companion? ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is packed with biologically appropriate ingredients that your dog will love.
Featuring fresh or raw free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught or sustainably farmed fish, and cage-free chickens, this recipe provides your dog with an ideal diet that mirrors his natural ancestral carnivore diet.
With 85% quality animal ingredients, this kibble is also crafted with WholePrey animal ingredients, including organs and bone, delivering the most nutrient-dense meal possible.
ORIJEN Original will ensure your pup is always eating the absolute best—fresh, raw protein and fresh meats are combined with nutrient-rich organs to provide optimum WholePrey nutrition. Clearly labeled “Grain Free,” it’s made in the U.S.A. with 100% ingredients sourced from North America or New Zealand. It’s also freeze-dried to give your pal that burst of unforgettable flavor on every bite!
Key Features:
- WholePrey – Made with the world’s finest ingredients
- The first five ingredients are always fresh or raw animal protein
- It comes in various flavors, making it fun to try new things.
- High-quality ingredient list – packed with nutrient-rich organ meats.
ORIJEN Regional Red High-Protein Grain-Free
With twice the protein of most grain-free biscuits on the market, these treats are made in America with only the best ingredients.
This ORIJEN Regional Red High-Protein Grain-Free Biscuit Dog Treats contain no added sugar, providing your four-legged friend with plenty of energy free of artificial ingredients or fillers like wheat, soy, and corn.
Made with fresh, raw, and frozen animal ingredients, these biscuits are packed with protein to help keep your dog healthy and energized. Plus, the first three ingredients are all fresh or raw, meaning that these biscuits mirror a wild dog’s diet. So give your pup something tasty and good for them with ORIJEN Regional Red High-Protein Grain-Free Dog Biscuits.
Tempt your best friend with a healthy, protein-packed treat that’s free from artificial preservatives. ORIJEN Regional Red treats are made with fresh regional ingredients and feature a delicious blend of wild boar, salmon, and bison. These grain-free treats are perfect for dogs of all sizes and ages.
Key Features:
- It helps fuel your dog’s mental and physical performance
- Encourages a healthy lifestyle by adding an energizing reward for good behavior
- Feeds your pet with all of the nutrients needed to stay strong and healthy
- A natural diet that mimics what is found in the wild
ORIJEN Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
The perfect balance of water-packed proteins, veggies, and antioxidants. Feed your dog the best with ORIJEN’s Six Fish Grain-Free Wet Dog Food! With fresh ingredients like whole mackerel and herring sourced from Canadian fisheries, this diet has a winning combination: vitamin-rich vegetables and antioxidant cranberries to flush out toxins; Omega 3 for healthy skin; glucosamine to maintain joint health; and omega 6 for coat lustrousness.
And as always, each meal is certified sustainable seafood safe by A.S.C. (North American Seafood Premier), helping clean up the waterways one pet at a time.
All dogs love a delicious taste that packs protein into every bite, enhanced with vitamins and minerals to keep them full of energy throughout the day. Hence, this ORIJEN Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is the perfect food for your pup! It’s made of six fresh, wild-caught fish that are freeze-dried and coated in raw flavor dogs love. Plus, this food is grain-free, so it’s great for those with allergies or sensitivities.
Key Features:
- 85% fish ingredients
- WholePrey nutrition (rich in organs)
- Packed with protein and other essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals
- Handmade in the U.S.A., not made cheaply overseas
ORIJEN Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
You might think your old dog has pretty much slowed down, but with the proper diet, you can help them maintain their youthful energy and vitality. ORIJEN Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food provides all the nourishment they need to stay active and playful well into their golden years.
Created to address the unique needs of senior dogs, ORIJEN Senior Grain-Free Dry Dog Food delivers a premium recipe with more nutrient-rich parts from whole animal ingredients.
Enables lean muscle mass and weight maintenance, or lack thereof, for older canine companions. This kibble is made with 85% quality animal ingredients, including whole prey animal ingredients like organs and bone, to mimic their ancestral diet and support lean muscle mass and weight maintenance. Plus, it’s grain-free for easy digestion.
Key Features:
- A healthy, high-quality dog food that is made with all fresh or raw animal protein sources
- It contains vitamins and minerals for a vital source of essential protein
- It has whole prey nutrition to give your essential pup nutrients from organs too
- Made in the U.S.A. and contains top-of-the-line ingredients sourced around the world.
ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food
Looking for a biologically appropriate diet for your growing pup? ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food is here to the rescue! This yummy kibble is packed with protein and fat from fresh, raw chicken and turkey, wild-caught or sustainably farmed fish, and cage-free eggs.
It’s also made with WholePrey animal ingredients, including organs and bone, delivering 85% quality animal ingredients.
High-quality dry dog food for puppies, made with a touch of love. ORIJEN Puppy Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food is natural, grain-free, and made from the world’s finest ingredients that allow your puppy to thrive from the inside out! Packaged in 1 lb. bags formulated explicitly for adults 18 months or younger, ORIJEN promotes healthy growth and development with its unique WholePrey nutrition. Plus, it’s freeze-dried to lock in all the nutrients. Your pup will love this food!
Key Features:
- Contains no filler, corn, wheat, or soy
- 100% Natural ingredients
- Provides balanced life stages nutrition for each animal prey item
- The only freeze-dried food with fresh meat
Buying Guide
Merrick Company History
Merrick dog food company was founded in 1988 by Garth Merrick. The founder’s inspiration to ensure his beloved poodle Gracie ate only the best possible diet led him to create natural and organic pet foods. As a result of this mission, they created an array of delicious flavors for pets, including cat & canine diets and dental chews, all made with care.
In 2012, Merrick took over ownership and management at Castor & Pollux. A few years later, in July 2015, he announced that Nestlé Purina PetCare Company was purchasing this company along with all its food businesses they had recently acquired, such as Organix Natural Ultramix Good Buddy treats.
Orijen Company History
Champion Pet Foods’s two pet food brands are Orijen and Arcana. Created in 1985, Reinhard Muhlenfeld created this Canadian-based company to export products from Canada, which was not common for a brand new enterprise like him.
With help from The Canadian Government, he has been very successful so far despite being unconventional about his marketing strategy- relying primarily on word-of-mouth advertising instead of using any traditional plan or technique as competitors often do nowadays because they believe it best suits their needs better than other companies.
Recalls
Since 2010, Merrick and Orijen have never recalled their dry dog food. This is quite the accomplishment, considering how many companies constantly issue recalls for products they manufacture or sell! I’m glad that since then, both brands have avoided any negative publicity due to safety issues, which means we can feel safe giving our pup something nutritious!
Differences between Merrick and Orijen
Price
When it comes to dog food, you’re looking for something that will keep your pup happy and healthy. With Orijen being a higher-protein option with tons of superfoods while Merrick still managed to be on top even without all those goodies in there! This is because they average over $4 per pound vs. under $3 like what we saw from them before, which adds up when compared against large dogs or multiple animals sharing meals as well.
Taste
Dogs seem to like both foods, but Orijen was preferred by most dogs a little more over Merrick. We believe that the protein-forward recipes in their food may be what tips the scale for lovers of this brand! This could differ from dog to dog, though, as each dog has different tastes!
Ingredients
It’s always a tough choice deciding between companies. You want what they have to offer, but you also need something that fits your needs and can’t just switch products whenever there are changes made within the industry!
We think Orijen has more superfoods than raw ingredients in their recipes, so it could be worth looking into how those taste before making any final decisions on who’ll make good pet food for Fido or Fluffy (or whichever furry friend deserves better quality).
Conclusion
We can confidently recommend two brands of dog food for your furry friend. Orijen is a high-protein, superfoods brand that will be excellent at helping him maintain muscle mass while boosting his immune system.
At the same time, the classic variety of Merrick dog food contains grains that are good for heart health. This brand also has the added benefit of glucosamine and chondroitin to ensure healthy joints.
In terms of nutritional value, Orijen has slightly more to offer with no preservatives or artificial flavors and no sweeteners. The price for this brand may be off-putting, though, because it’s much higher than Merrick’s average cost per pound ($2). But, on the other hand, if variety is what you’re looking for in a dog food company, then look no further than Merrick!
If you are trying to decide between Merrick and Orijen for your dog, there is no correct answer. The decision will depend on what type of food your pet prefers, which ingredients they tolerate best, how much time you have to prepare the meals, etc.
Ultimately it’s up to you! You may find that one brand works better than another, so stick with it if this is the case. Or you can do whatever feels good at the moment. Keep these notes about our comparison in mind when deciding, though, because we think both brands are great!
Related Links
Blue Buffalo Vs Wellness Dog Food In 2022
