Wellness CORE vs Orijen Dog Food Comparison 2021

The next time you walk into your local pet store, take a tally of how many dog food brands are on the shelves. Dozens? Or maybe more, depending on the pet store.

But what really matters in dog food? Our feeling is — if your dog is happy and active, has a shiny, healthy coat, and doesn’t experience any digestive issues — then you’re doing it right. Whichever food you’re feeding is good. It has balanced nutrition, with a big helping of quality proteins and the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals.

And if that description doesn’t match, and perhaps your dog is having some tummy problems or other health concerns, it may be time to switch to a new dog food. We researched two highly-praised brands, Wellness CORE vs Orijen, and put together this review to help you decide between them.

We’ll learn about each company and then decide the winner based on a comparison of nutritional value, ingredients and flavors, price, plus product safety and recall history.

Let’s get down to the core and look into the origin of Wellness CORE and Orijen.

Wellness Pet Food is part of the WellPet LLC umbrella, which also includes Eagle Pack, Mother Hubbard dog snacks, and Holistic Select. The company began producing dog food in 1997. The company’s backbone comprises veterinarians, animal nutrition experts, and food scientists, who test and retest everything that goes into the pet food to ensure your furry friend is healthy, satisfied, and looks forward to mealtimes.

Wellness CORE is just one of Wellness’s product lines (we’ll look at this in detail in the Types of Dog Food section). The CORE line includes 33 types of kibble, 37 different wet foods, and 11 tasty treats. No matter what form it comes in, CORE food has a high percentage of protein, quality ingredients, and tasty grain-free options.

Wellness CORE is expanding into specialized diets. They recently introduced CORE Digestive Health dry and wet foods to help firm up the stool and balance out the bacteria in your dog’s gut.

Now, let’s look at our top-3 picks!

Whether you go for Wellness or Orijen dog food, rest assured, both have a good track record, and countless healthy dogs love it.

CORE Puppy

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Puppies are bundles of energy, and they can take in lots of calories to compensate for their active lives. Plus, their growing bodies yearn for quality macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbs). The CORE Puppy formula’s first five ingredients are Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Lentils, and Peas.

CORE Puppy is grain-free, includes omega fatty acids and probiotics, and has a whopping 491 calories per cup.

Crude Protein (min): 36.0%

Crude Fat (min): 17.5%

Crude Fiber (max): 5.0%

CORE Original

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When your pup is all grown up and enters adulthood, you have the option of keeping him or her on a grain-free diet with CORE Original. The formula’s first five ingredients are Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal (source of Glucosamine), Chicken Meal (source of Chondroitin), Peas, and Dried Ground Potatoes. Glucosamine and Chondroitin have been shown to support joints in independent research.

CORE Original dials down the macronutrients and reduces calories to 417 calories per cup compared to the CORE Puppy formula

Crude Protein (min): 34.0%

Crude Fat (min): 16.0%

Crude Fiber (max): 4.0%

CORE RawRev Original + 100% Raw Turkey Dog Food

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While the first five ingredients are the same as the CORE Original formula (see above), CORE RawRev builds upon the main CORE line of grain-free dry foods with 100% real raw (freeze-dried) pieces of meat. Hence the bump up in protein compared to the Original.

Like all Wellness dog foods, CORE RawRev 100% Raw Turkey meets AAFCO standards. It comes in 4 lb, 10 lb, and 20 lb bags and has 420 calories per cup.

Crude Protein (min): 36.0%

Crude Fat (min): 16.0%

Crude Fiber (max): 4.0%

Wellness CORE Pros

• Meat is the #1 ingredient
• The CORE Digestive Health sub-brand is formulated to aid digestion
• CORE RawRev has real pieces of meat (a rarity in dog food)
• Lots of variety recipe-wise and based on breed and age
• Affordable compared to Orijen

Wellness CORE Cons

• Manufactured in a facility that also processes grains (so it’s a no-go if your dog has a grain allergy)

Read our full Wellness CORE Dog Food Review

Orijen (read: origin) is a Canadian dog food brand that has branched out to the USA. Their Kentucky-based facilities are owned and operated by the parent company, Champion Petfoods, which produced premium dog food. The Orijen philosophy is getting back to nature and biology. Dogs’ ancient ancestors, wolves, ate meat-based diets, including organ meats. Orijen created a line of dry and wet dog food that’s high in protein and grain-free.

Orijen was founded in 1985 and currently makes nine dry foods, six wet foods, and seven treats. You may know or may not know, but Orijen was named in the FDA’s list of companies that have been implicated in the DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) inquiry. From what we know, the FDA has not made any concrete connections between grain-free diets and DCM, and to date, no recalls have been announced.

The company’s philosophy on animal testing is that they only conduct tests on their own pets. Their trials include palatability and digestibility tests to assess taste and digestion (stool analysis only). They also perform AAFCO feeding trials.

A common thread with Orijen is the abundance of proteins in the ingredient list. The dry foods are 85% quality animal ingredients! Plus, you’ll notice fewer Meat Meal and more natural (and raw) ingredients when you compare Orijen vs Wellness.

Orijen Puppy

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The first five ingredients come from five different sources of protein: chicken, turkey, flounder, eggs, and whole Atlantic mackerel. The Puppy recipe, just like any Orijen product, is sourced from the best suppliers and the best conditions (cage-free eggs, free-run chickens, and turkeys). Packs 449 calories per cup.

Crude Protein (min): 38%

Crude Fat (min): 20%

Crude Fiber (max): 6%

Orijen Original

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Crafted for adult dogs. Includes Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, probiotics, and strictly sourced raw and fresh ingredients. In addition to deboned chicken and turkey, the recipe has organ meats, dry morsels of meat, and the right vegetables and fruits. Has 449 calories per cup of kibble.

Crude Protein (min): 38%

Crude Fat (min): 18%

Crude Fiber (max): 4%

Orijen Six Fish

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You could argue that wolves aren’t big on fish, but you’d be surprised. The Alaskan Department of Fish and Game did a story on , so it’s not out of the question that wolves (and, by proxy, dogs) are into seafood. The first nine ingredients of Six Fish are some type of fish. Because the formula is so well-matched to a natural diet, it fits all life stages. Also includes mobility-supporting nutrients and probiotics.

Crude Protein (min): 38%

Crude Fat (min): 18%

Crude Fiber (max): 4%

Orijen Pros

• Made in Kentucky, USA
• Raw and fresh ingredients included in recipes
• Transparency about suppliers and macronutrient profiles
• High-quality animal proteins
• The first 5 ingredients come from animal sources
• The product line includes freeze-dried food

Orijen Cons

• Not many recipes to choose from
• $$$$$ pricey

Read our full Orijen Dog Food Review.

Numbers don’t lie. Wellness CORE is made up of 81 products. Orijen takes a different approach — they’ve been in business for 35+ years and have just 22 products.

Orijen dry foods include:

• Puppy
• Puppy Large
• Small Breed
• Original
• Six Fish
• Regional Red
• Tundra
• Fit & Trim
• Senior

Apart from Six Fish, Regional Red, and Tundra, Orijen dry foods are poultry-based (free-run turkey and chicken)

Orijen’s wet foods offer a bit more variety:

• Puppy Poultry & Fish Pâté Recipe
• Original Stew Recipe with Chicken, Turkey & Eggs
• Chicken Recipe Stew with Shredded Chicken & Eggs
• Beef Recipe Stew with Shredded Beef & Eggs
• Regional Red Stew with Shredded Beef & Lamb
• Tundra Stew Recipe with Shredded Beef, Duck & Lamb

When we researched Orijen dog food vs Wellness CORE, we found that Wellness CORE is three brands: CORE, CORE Digestive Health, and CORE RawRev.

1. CORE — High in protein, grain-free, and grain-inclusive options. Many types of wet food and treats (mixers, toppers,
2. CORE Digestive Health — Easily digestible dry and wet food that’s enriched with probiotics and prebiotics.
3. CORE RawRev — High-protein kibble with pieces of freeze-dried 100% raw meat.

And as you’ll see in the list below, CORE makes it a point to offer reduced fat and weight management options in addition to functional toppers targeting digestive, heart, joint, and skin and coat health.

Wellness CORE Dry Foods:

• CORE Digestive Health Dry
  • Small Breed Chicken & Brown Rice
  • Chicken & Brown Rice
  • Whitefish & Brown Rice
• CORE RawRev
  • Original + 100% Raw Turkey
  • Ocean + 100% Raw Fish
  • Small Breed + 100% Raw Turkey
  • Wild Game + 100% Raw Lamb
  • Puppy Original + 100% Raw Turkey
  • Healthy Weight + 100% Raw Turkey
• CORE Dry
  • Original
  • Puppy
  • Ocean
  • Wild Game
  • Lamb
  • Reduced Fat
  • Senior
  • Small Breed Original
  • Small Breed Puppy
  • Small Breed Healthy Weight
  • Large Breed
  • Large Breed Puppy
• CORE Wholesome Grains Dry
  • Original
  • Ocean
  • Small Breed
  • Puppy
• CORE RawRev Wholesome Grains
  • Original + 100% Raw Turkey
  • Ocean + 100% Raw Fish
  • Small Breed + 100% Raw Turkey
  • Puppy Formula + 100% Raw Turkey
• CORE SIX
  • Cage-Free Duck
  • Free-Range Lamb
  • Sustainably-Sourced Salmon
  • Small Breed Sustainably-Sourced Salmon

Wellness CORE Wet Foods

• CORE Bowl Boosters Mixers and Toppers
  • BARE 100% Beef
  • BARE 100% Turkey
  • TENDER Turkey & Chicken
  • TENDER Whitefish & Salmon
• CORE Simply Shreds
  • Chicken, Beef & Carrots
  • Chicken, Chicken Liver & Broccoli
  • Chicken, Wild Salmon & Pumpkin
  • Tuna, Beef & Carrots
• CORE Pâté
  • Turkey, Chicken Liver & Turkey Liver
  • Whitefish, Salmon & Herring
  • Puppy
  • Beef, Venison & Lamb
  • Weight Management
  • Turkey, Pork Liver & Duck
• CORE Hearty Cuts
  • Beef & Venison
  • Turkey & Duck
  • Whitefish & Salmon
  • Chicken & Turkey
• CORE 95%
  • 95% Chicken with Broccoli
  • 95% Turkey with Spinach
  • 95% Beef with Carrots
• CORE Digestive Health Pâté
  • Chicken Pate
  • Beef Pate
  • Lamb Pate
  • Chicken & Beef Pate
• CORE Bowl Boosters Functional Toppers
  • Digestive Health
  • Heart Health
  • Joint Health
  • Skin & Coat Health
• CORE Small Breed Mini Meals
  • Pâté Chicken Entrée
  • Shredded Chicken & Turkey Dinner in Gravy
  • Shredded Chicken & Lamb Entrée in Gravy
  • Chunky Chicken & Chicken Liver
  • Chunky Chicken & Tuna
  • Pate Beef & Chicken Dinner
• CORE Tender Bites
  • Original
  • Ocean
• CORE Puppy Bites
  • Beef & Turkey Recipe
• CORE Marrow Roasts
  • Beef
  • Turkey
• CORE Bestie Bars
  • Chicken & Carrots Recipe
• CORE Pure Rewards
  • Beef Jerky Bites
  • Chicken & Lamb Jerky Bites
  • Beef & Venison Jerky Bites
  • Turkey Jerky Bites
• CORE Petite Treats
  • Chicken, Cherries & Spearmint
  • Lamb, Apples & Cinnamon
  • Turkey, Pomegranate & Ginger

Wellness CORE is unmatched in variety. Choose from 81 carefully formulated dog food products for all breed sizes, ages, and diet preferences.

Winner: Wellness CORE

Wellness CORE gives Orijen a run for its money in the protein/fat/fiber department. When we compared the nutritional value of our top-3 picks in our Wellness vs Orijen dog food showdown, we had to convert the crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber percentages to a dry matter basis since Orijen has a slightly higher moisture content of 12% vs Wellness’s 10%.

Orijen doesn’t do meat-only recipes. Even though they push the “origin” angle heavily, they understand canine nutrition. Remember, your dog isn’t a wolf. And that’s why Orijen includes fruits and vegetables as sources of nutrients, carbs, and fiber.

Here’s how our top-3 picks matched up.

Orijen wins across the board. Also, note that minimum crude protein is the same for all three.

Winner: Orijen

Orijen sources predominantly raw and fresh ingredients, which they then test and use to create their delicious recipes in their Kentucky facilities. Orijen uses the following proteins: Beef, Bison, Boar, Chicken, Deer, Duck, Eggs, Fish, Goat, Lamb, Pork, Turkey, and Venison. Orijen foods include organ meats such as liver and heart — part of their WholePrey Diet philosophy. In the wild, dogs and wolves devour prey whole, including the organs.

Orijen uses only free-run chickens and turkeys and cage-free eggs. Suppliers ship only the freshest ingredients, and Orijen preserves them using only refrigeration. Raw ingredients are shipped frozen to preserve flavors and nutrients.

Any brand that goes up against Orijen will have a tough time. Looking at Orijen ingredients vs Wellness ingredients, there are some commonalities. For example, Neither brand uses animal by-products. Meat is always the #1 ingredient, and organ meats are included to supplement vitamins and minerals without adding them separately. Wellness CORE uses the following animal proteins: Chicken, Wild Game, Lamb, Duck, Beef, Turkey, Salmon, Whitefish, Tuna, Herring, Venison, and Pork Liver.

Orijen has the best ingredients. However, Wellness CORE has so many options — wet food flavor combinations and the number of recipes overall — that we have to give it up to them.

Winner: Tie

Budgets can be the deciding factor for whether to choose Wellness or Orijen. We compared prices on chewy.com, and prices may vary depending on the website or store.

As you can see, Wellness CORE is cheaper than Orijen for all three of our picks. Compared to other dog food brands, Wellness CORE is on the pricey end, but Orijen is in a league of its own. Factoring in the quality of ingredients, it becomes clear that top-notch ingredients = big bucks.

Winner: Wellness CORE

It wouldn’t be right to skip over DCM. In case you haven’t heard, some boutique and especially grain-free brands have been implicated in causing a serious heart condition. The FDA has not made any recalls, and the investigation is still ongoing.

Some vets recommend dog owners to stay away from grain-free diets, but again, there have only been 1,100 cases (fewer deaths) from January 2014 to July 2020. There’s no conclusive evidence that grain-free is the culprit since millions of dogs and cats eat grain-free diets and have never had a problem.

For our Wellness vs Orijen review, we gave both brands an equal score in product safety and recall history. Neither Wellness CORE nor Orijen has had a recall since opening their doors.

Winner: Tie

Like we’ve said time and time again in other reviews, the best food is what makes the furriest member of your family happy and healthy.

To compare Orijen and Wellness, we looked at the variety and types of dog food available, the nutritional value, ingredients and flavors, price, and safety/recall history. Wellness CORE wins by a small margin. If your budget allows it, Orijen is top-of-the-line, but Wellness CORE isn’t too far behind.