Are ORIJEN and ACANA the same company

Acana vs Orijen Dog Food: 2024 Comparison

As we learn more about proper nutrition for ourselves, many dog owners have also taken a good look at what theyre feeding their pets. This trend has led to many independent premium dog food brands gaining a cult-like following often for a good reason.

Acana and Orijen are two of the most respected dog food brands. While neither brand is widely available in all retailers, their use of quality, regional ingredients and well-balanced nutrition have carved out a corner of the market for these two product lines.

When it comes to choosing between these two brands, however, which is right for your dog? What are the differences between Acana, Orijen, and their various dog food formulas?

A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Acana

Choosing between Acana and Orijen is difficult, especially since these two dog food brands are incredibly similar. While Orijens formulas offer more animal ingredients and protein on average, we ultimately chose Acana as the winner because of its wider range of products, grain-inclusive options, and more affordable price point.

The winner of our comparison:

About Acana

Acana is a premium dog food that is built on using biologically appropriate, regional ingredients whenever it can. Currently, Acanas U.S. catalog can be broken into three core product lines.

Originals

As the name implies, Acanas Originals lineis where it all began. Alongside standard flavors like red meat or poultry, this is where youll find the brands Puppy & Junior Formula and Healthy & Fit Formula.

Regionals

Acanas Regionals line is designed around local ecosystems and the natural protein sources found within. While the Regionals line sold in the U.S. is based around Kentucky, the Canadian line features Alberta-inspired ingredients.

Singles

The Acana Singles recipes are designed with just one source of animal protein per formula. Combined with a somewhat limited list of plant-based ingredients, these formulas are designed for dogs who require a limited ingredient diet due to sensitivities or allergies.

Along with traditional kibble, the Singles line also includes several types of freeze-dried dog treats.

+ Wholesome Grains

Originally, all Acana dog food products were formulated to be entirely grain free. With the introduction of its + Wholesome Grains products, however, Acana has added two grain-inclusive formulas to each of its three main product lines above. Since these recipes rely on oats, not wheat, they are still gluten free.

A Quick Look at Acana Dog Food

• Offers grain-free and grain-inclusive options
• Made in the U.S. and Canada
• Based on fresh, regional ingredients
• Independently owned and manufactured
• High in whole animal proteins
• Competitive pricing for a premium brand

• Not widely available at all retailers
• Not ideal for true limited-ingredient diets
• No senior or small breed formulas available

About Orijen

Like, Acana, Orijen is also formulated with regional, biologically-appropriate ingredients. However, the biggest difference between these two dog food brands is that Orijen tends to use up to 15% more meat and animal-based ingredients in its formulas. Right now, Orijen offers a limited selection of dog food varieties:

Dry kibble

Orijens main product line includes several types of grain-free kibble. Along with a few regular, adult formulas, youll also find specialized recipes for puppies, seniors, different breeds, and weight management.

Freeze-dried

Along with the regular kibble recipes, many dog owners turn to Orijen because of its variety of freeze-dried dog foods and treats. These recipes contain up to 90% animal ingredients that are freeze-dried to preserve nutrition and flavor without the mess or shortened shelf life of a wet formula.

Like Orijens kibble formulas, all of its freeze-dried meals and treats are entirely grain free.

A Quick Look at Orijen Dog Food

• Extremely high in animal proteins
• Ideal for dogs on a grain-free diet
• Made in the U.S. or Canada
• Relies on fresh, local ingredients
• Offers unique freeze-dried meals and treats
• Owned by a small, independent company

• Limited product range
• No grain-inclusive options
• More expensive than some competitors
• Not available in all pet supply retailers

Who Makes Acana & Orijen?

Both of these pet food brands are owned and manufactured by the parent company, Champion Pet Foods. Champion Pet Foods is a Canadian company that has existed for over 25 years.

All Acana and Orijen products are made in one of Champion Pet Foods two independently operated factories. Products made for the Canadian market are made in the Acheson, Alberta, factory. Since 2006, all U.S. products have been made in the Auburn, Kentucky, factory.

Recall history

As of our review, Acana, Orijen, and Champion Pet Foods have not been included in any public pet food recalls.

Consumer relations history

In the past couple of years, multiple consumer lawsuits have emerged regarding Acana, Orijen, and Champion Pet Foods. These lawsuits have claimed that Champion Pet Foods and its labels have sold products containing detectable levels of heavy metal and BPA.

Most of these lawsuits have been legally dismissed. However, according to our research, it appears that at least one case is still in progress.

Champion Pet Foods has made several brief statements regarding these legal issues on its website, which you can read here.

The 3 Most Popular Acana Dog Food Recipes

While we cant take a deep dive into Acanas entire dog food range, weve broken down three of our favorite formulas:

1. Acana Kentucky Farmlands With Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food

The Kentucky Farmlands with Wholesome Grains formula is one of the newest products from Acana, filling the brands gap in grain-inclusive offerings. Although this formula does include carbohydrates from whole grains, it is entirely gluten free. The Kentucky Farmlands formula is part of the Regionals line, featuring whole animal protein sources like chicken, turkey, duck, and eggs.

• High in whole animal ingredients
• Features protein from raw and fresh sources
• Made in the U.S.
• Grain inclusive and gluten free
• Formulated with probiotics

• Pieces are too big for some small dogs
• May be hard to find in stores

2. Acana Meadowland Dry Dog Food

While we prefer Acanas new grain-inclusive formulas for most dogs, the brand offers many grain-free recipes as well. The Meadowland Dry Dog Food is another Regionals formula, including WholePrey ingredients like chicken, turkey, freshwater catfish, eggs, and rainbow trout.

• Ideal for dogs with grain sensitivities
• Made in the U.S.
• Formulated with local Kentucky ingredients
• Contains probiotics for digestion
• High in animal protein
• Grain free and gluten free

• High concentration of legumes
• Not available in all pet food retailers

3. Acana Singles Limited Ingredient Diet Duck & Pear Formula Dry Dog Food

The Singles Limited Ingredient Diet Duck & Pear Formula is designed with a single source of animal protein and a shortened list of plant-based ingredients. This particular recipe uses duck as its primary ingredient, half of which is used in a raw or fresh state. While this formula is advertised for dogs with sensitivities or allergies, it does contain some ingredients that are likely to trigger reactions.

• Uses a single source of animal protein
• Made in the U.S.
• Grain free and gluten free
• Limited list of ingredients
• Formulated with live probiotics

• Contains pea protein
• Not ideal for a true limited-ingredient diet
• Difficult to find in some stores

The 3 Most Popular Orijen Dog Food Recipes

Compared to Acana, Orijens dog food product range is much more limited. Here are three of the most popular formulas currently being offered by the brand:

1. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food

As Orijens flagship recipe, the Original Dry Dog Food is made with whole animal ingredients like chicken, turkey, wild fish, and eggs. Since Orijen uses meat, organs, cartilage, and bones in its formulas, your dog gets all of the key nutrients it would get from hunting in the wild. This particular formula contains 85% animal ingredients, two-thirds of which are used in a raw or fresh state.

• Ideal for dogs on a grain-free diet
• Made in the U.S.
• 85% animal-based ingredients
• Contains freeze-dried liver
• Uses fresh and raw meat sources

• More expensive than some other options
• Not available from all pet food suppliers
• Grain-free formula may not be ideal for all dogs

2. Orijen Puppy Dry Dog Food

The Orijen Puppy Dry Dog Food is similar to the brands other kibble recipes but with additional nutrition to support your dog during its first one or two years. This recipe includes meat, cartilage, bones, and organs from chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs.

If your dog is a large or giant breed, Orijen also offers a Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Foodthat will help support slow and steady growth.

• Formulated for small and medium breed puppies
• Made in the U.S.
• High in animal protein
• Ideal for dogs with gluten or grain sensitivities
• Made with raw and fresh ingredients

• Not ideal for large or giant breeds
• Not widely available in all areas
• Not all puppies require a grain-free diet

3. Orijen Senior Dry Dog Food

On the other end of the spectrum, the Orijen Senior Dry Dog Food formula is designed for older dogs and their unique nutritional needs. This recipe is high in protein to support muscle mass and discourage unhealthy weight gain with increased age. Like the rest of Orijens product range, the Senior formula contains 85% animal ingredients.

• Designed aging dogs of all sizes
• Made in the U.S.
• Formulated with raw and fresh animal ingredients
• Supports lean muscle mass
• Grain and gluten-free

• May not be available in all pet supply stores
• Not ideal for dogs on a grain-inclusive diet

Acana vs. Orijen Comparison

Since both brands are owned and manufactured by the same company, comparing Acana and Orijen reveals few differences. Still, there are factors to consider when selecting a new dog food for your canine companion:

Pricing

While exact pricing may vary slightly between retailers and individual product lines, Orijen products tend to cost more than their Acana counterparts. If youre on a budget, Acana offers near-comparable quality for a more affordable price.

Ingredient quality

There may be slight differences between the ingredients used by Acana vs. Orijen, but we believe that these potential differences are negligible when looking at the big picture. Since both Acana and Orijen are manufactured in the exact same factories, theres a good chance that they also use the exact same ingredients.

Instead, the primary difference in ingredient quality between these two brands is how much of each ingredient is used.

Nutrition

The biggest difference between Acana and Orijen is that Orijen products are formulated with a higher concentration of animal protein.

At the same time, Orijen has yet to release any grain-inclusive formulas. Yes, a large portion of Orijens customer base prefers a grain-free diet, but this does exclude many dogs from trying out the brand. If your dog does not require a grain-free diet, Acana is your only option at the moment.

Final Thoughts

After reviewing Acana and Orijen, there is really no clear winner. Because these two pet food brands share the same parent company, factories, ingredients, and overall mission statement, the final products offered by each label are nearly the same.

With that said, we recommend Acanafor most dogs and their owners. However, if your dog requires a grain-free, high-protein diet and you can afford the higher price tag, Orijen technically offers slightly better nutrition.

Acana and Orijen are two of the highest-quality dog food brands currently on the market, so you cant go wrong trying one of these formulas with your own pets.

Acana vs. Orijen: Which Dog Food Brand Is Better?

Considering Acana vs. Orijen as the dog food of choice for your pup? With hundreds of brands, and thousands of products with endless flavors, how do you make the right decision between these brands or others? It isnt easy if you arent a canine nutritionist, but hopefully with this guide we will help you understand the nutrition basics and point you in the right direction when it comes to your poochs food. By placing two heavyweights of the dog food industry side by side we can show you how they stack up against one another, and ultimately, who is better.

In this article we will look at Acana and Orijen to see who comes out on top. We will walk you through which brand might be best for your pooch, important things and ingredients to look for and who gives the best value for money. This detailed comparison will show you their strengths and weaknesses, nutritional value, brand history, pricing, ingredients and more.

It is slightly different to our previous comparisons as these two brands have the same parent company Champion Pet foods LP, and as such have the same backstory and history. They do not offer a full range of size-specific food varieties, which is how we usually compare brands, so we will compare their popular like for like products, namely their puppy food, original adult food and their fit and healthy recipe food to see which one is worthy of your hard earned cash. So, lets get straight into it.

Foods Comparison at a Glance: Acana vs. Orijen

Acana Puppy & Junior: Acana Puppy free-run Turkey & ChickenOrijen Puppy: Orijen Puppy free-run Chicken & TurkeyAcana Original Adult: Free-run Poultry FormulaOrijen Original Adult: Free-run Chicken & TurkeyAcana Light & Fit: Light & Fit FormulaOrijen Fit & Trim: Fit & Trim Formula

Note: Clicking the above links take you to Amazon.com, where you can get additional product information and customer reviews. If you make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Brand Histories

Acana and Orijen have both been around for a long time. Before you jump in and find what food is right for your dog, its proper to do a little research on both brands so you can understand how committed they are to your dogs health.

Because Orijen and Acana are both well known dog food manufacturers, they are often compared against each other for many different breeds. Both brands also boast to use only GMO-free ingredients. Orijen happens to be one of our favorite foods for Great Danes, as well as one of our top food picks for German Shepherds.

Acana

Both Acana and Orijen are brand names created and manufactured by Champion Pet Foods LP founded by Reinhard Muhlenfeld in 1985. His ethos was to create food that was biologically appropriate, which means to mirror what dogs would eat in the wild. As such, their recipes include lots of meat, and usually upwards of 30 to 40% protein in their dry dog foods. They both work with regional farmers, fishermen and ranchers in Canada to source their ingredients, and have done for over 30 years.

The Acana brand name is a mix of the words Alberta and Canada and it was Champions first branded product. It turned 25 years old in 2016 but has been a premium pet food since its inception due to its high-quality. Acana is well known as a premium dog food for boxer owners, and its one of our favorites for the breed.

Orijen

Orijen launched later in 2005, and it is an intentional misspelling of the Latin word Origin, and it is pronounced the same way. Champion states that their brand embodies the meaning of the word, as it nourishes dogs as nature intended to.

Champion is a world leader in terms of quality and market share. While they are not nearly as big as the likes of Purina and Royal Canin, Orijen generally gets positive reviews. They are also challenging these bigger brands for a big slice of the international market as well as the home turf in Canada and the USA. They both pride themselves on the fact they create, cook and package inhouse and never outsource. This means that they can be certain what goes into their products and have full control over the production line, from inception to customer delivery.They are also commonly compared to other brands like Taste of the Wild and premium options like Fromm.

Nutritional Values

Nutrition is vitally important to all living things, and good nutrition leads to good health, which means that we can enjoy our beloved poochs company for as many years as possible. To that end it is imperative we learn what our pets require to stay healthy, happy and active.

A complete and balanced diet is just as essential as clean fresh water to maintain your dogs health and vitality. This means that he must have the right balance of protein, fats, minerals, vitamins and carbohydrates in order to stay in tip top condition.

Dogs, being developed omnivores, require much higher levels of protein than us humans do, so be sure to feed him high-quality food made for his size, age and energy requirements.

In the following table we take the three products from each brand and compare the nutrient breakdown into the three biggest components; protein, fat and fiber. That way a side-by-side comparison will show you who has the most beneficial balance for your pup.

In order to fully understand the importance of these nutrients, let us recap why the above nutrients are so important for your pup and a word or two about who wins in the battle of nutritional balance.

Protein Content

Protein is calorie rich without being fatty and detrimental, which benefits your pup by boosting energy levels. It will keep your doggo fueled for hours, and then when he is finished exercising it will also provide him with the amino acids needed to repair and rebuild, and it is this process that allows him to become healthier and stronger. High-quality proteins will also encourage healthy skin and a shiny coat, whereas poor-quality proteins can lead to problems such as itchy and irritated skin.

In the protein comparison we can see that both brands offer an exceptionally high protein content on all their foods compared to other brands. The clear winner here Orijen, as we can see that all three foods have a protein content up into the high thirty and early forty percentiles, meaning there is an abundance of protein ingredients.

Fat Content

The fats in your poochs diet are mainly derived from rendered animal fats, seed oils from various plants, and any added sugars. Fats are the most calorific ingredients in food and as such provide the most concentrated source of energy in his diet. Fatty ingredients play an important role within a dogs diet as they supply essential fatty acids carrying important fat-soluble vitamins that aid in cell structure and function. Certain fatty acids are also highly beneficial for dogs skin and coat to remain healthy and shiny. A lack of essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are commonly associated with poor eyesight and impaired cognitive ability.

As we can see the fat content between both brands is similar, with Acana having a slightly lower amount to help balance it against the lower protein content. Both are within the recommended amount for a balanced diet.

Fiber Content

Fiber is not an essential nutrient in your pups diet, but it is very beneficial for his health which is why it is in pretty much every dog food out there. Whilst it doesnt provide any energy or vitamins it does help to improve colon health, weight management, and prevents and remedies tummy troubles such as diarrhea, constipation, and diabetes mellitus.

So, if your pooch is experiencing any of these problems take a minute to think about whether he is getting enough fiber in his diet, and if not, speak to your Veterinarian about changing his food or supplementing fiber in his diet. It is a great way to re-establish intestinal balance and movement and can be beneficial to dogs young and old.

Here we can see that both Acana and Orijen provide similar and high proportions of fiber, which is great for digestive systems and will help pooches to digest the rich protein content. You can see these when looking at Acanas formulas in our in-depth Acana dog food review.

Flavors

As Forest Gump famously said, life is like a box of chocolates, and this is particularly true when it comes to us humans and our nutritional choices thanks to easy access to a wide variety of food. But the same cannot be said for our pooch and his food, and often dogs are given the same food day in and day out for our ease and because their digestive systems prefer routine.

Dry kibble can sometimes be a bit boring for dogs, and some will even turn their nose up and only eat it if there is nothing else on offer (my spoilt English Bull Terrier being the biggest culprit of them all!) Whilst we dont advocate constantly offering an alternative as this promotes fussy eating, sometimes switching it up a little bit can add fun and digestive strength to his routine.

Luckily most brands will offer their food in multiple flavors, which is great because it means a choice for your pups preferences and intolerances. Both Acana and Orijen, whilst not offering the largest selection of flavors amongst pet food creators, do have a handful of flavors for each product, so your doggo should be happy with his meal times should you choose to add a little variety to it.

Cost

Value for money is usually at the top of many pet owners lists when it comes to buying food, especially if you have a big eater such as a Mastiff or Rottweiler. A general rule of thumb for most things is to concentrate on quality not quantity, as you get what you pay for, but bear in mind that the most expensive doesnt always mean the best. Sometimes, like human products, you can be paying for the name not the quality.

Prices can vary wildly for effectively the same food, so it is important to know how to sort the wheat from the chaff.

To do this you first need to know what type of diet your pooch needs and why. For example, smaller dogs with high energy will burn a lot of calories so a food with a higher calorie content per cup is best, compared to a sedentary old timer who will need less calories and more in the way of beneficial vitamins and glucosamine. Then when you have identified your poochs needs, you can narrow it down to a few good-quality foods. Then it becomes a simple calculation of value for money and who gives you better quality protein ingredients, calories and vitamins for the least amount of money.

This table offers a quick comparison of the average cost of both brands on their most popular grain free size specific and weight management dry food.

On a pound for pound basis Acana comes out considerably cheaper than Orijen by over a dollar per pound which directly correlates to the price breakdown per calorie. While Orijen does have a much higher protein content, the price would appear to be disproportionately higher on a percentage-based cost comparison.

For example, you get approximately 10% more protein but the price increases by over 30%. Calories are slightly higher per cup with Orijen, but not enough to warrant the extra price, so here, we feel that Acana offers better value for money.

Pros and Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

As with all products there will be questions that are not answered by nutrition content alone. We get many of these questions every week here at Love Your Dog, so weve done our best to outline them for you below. If weve missed anything, feel free to drop us a line in the comments section.

Are expensive dog foods worth it?

We believe that paying for good food is worth the extra cost in the long run. A good quality food will make your pup healthier and help to stave off a lot of health conditions that can be caused by poor diet and dog food ingredients. That being said, you should balance cost and benefits in regards to your budget.

Where can I buy Acana and Orijen?

Both brands are readily available in most pet stores and easily purchased via online marketplaces such as Amazon. So finding and trying it will be easy enough, just be sure to start with the smallest bag before spending a bunch of money, because if for whatever reason it doesnt sit well with your pup, youll end up chucking it in the bin or better yet, donating it to a shelter.

How do I know which has better nutritional content for my dog?

As we discussed in this article there are certain things to look out for when purchasing food. A good balance of protein and fat is the main one. There are also ingredients we want to avoid such as unnamed meat sources and artificial flavors and preservatives, but thankfully both of these brands offer high-quality ingredients and nutritional content.

Which brand is better for picky eaters?

Both brands do pretty well because they both have a variety of different flavors made by each manufacturer. Siberian huskies are notoriously picky eaters, and Orijen has some food flavors that do well with this breed. Dog foods made of bison meat have also been known to satisfy pups with food-specific food preferences.

Final Thoughts

Comparing Acana vs. Orijen is a very popular comparison to make due to their as nature intended ethos. They use high quantities of good-quality meat to produce their kibble. They are both dedicated to sourcing local and finest quality ingredients which means that their food is both tasty and nutrient-dense for your pup. Coupled with their variety of flavors and formulas aimed at different ages, sizes and energy levels, their products are certainly deserving of their premium reputation.

If you are looking for a senior kibble, then Orijen wins as Acana doesnt offer this option, and this is the only real criticism we have of Acana. However, Acana offers better value for money, and this is important to us and our readers, and on that front. With that being said, this verdict is truly a toss-up. Both brands offer great value for the money, and you really cant go wrong with either food.