Instinct vs Orijen Dog Food (2026): Raw-Infused vs Biologically Appropriate

Quick Verdict

Category	Instinct	Orijen
Overall Score	8.8/10	9.2/10
Ingredient Quality	Premium	Premium
Price (avg bag)	~$85–$100/22 lb	~$110–$130/25 lb
AAFCO Compliant	Yes	Yes
Best For	Raw-boosted nutrition, wider availability	Maximum meat content, WholePrey ratios

Brand Overview

Instinct (Nature’s Variety) is produced in Lincoln, Nebraska. Known for raw-coated kibble and freeze-dried raw recipes, Instinct bridges the gap between conventional kibble and a full raw diet. Their Original and Raw Boost lines feature cage-free chicken or grass-fed beef as primary proteins.

Orijen (Champion Petfoods) produces the highest-protein kibble on the market at 38–40% protein with 85–90% animal ingredients. Made in Canada (and a newer US facility in Kentucky), Orijen uses WholePrey ratios—fresh and raw meat, organs, and cartilage.

Ingredient Comparison

Instinct Original features cage-free chicken as first ingredient, followed by chicken meal, turkey meal, and canola oil. Raw-coated with freeze-dried raw pieces. No grain, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial additives. About 37% protein in Original.

Orijen Original features fresh chicken, turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, whole herring, and multiple organ meats. 85%+ animal ingredients. 38% protein minimum. Whole prey with liver, heart, and kidney inclusions.

Nutritional Comparison

Nutrient	Instinct Original Chicken	Orijen Original
Crude Protein (min)	37%	38%
Crude Fat (min)	20%	18%
Crude Fiber (max)	4%	4%
Calories (kcal/cup)	~475	~449

Pros and Cons

Instinct

Pros

Raw-coated kibble provides raw nutrition benefits without full raw diet management
Excellent protein content (37%) comparable to Orijen
Available at Petco and other chain retailers
Raw Boost adds freeze-dried raw pieces
Less expensive than Orijen

Cons

More expensive than standard natural brands
High caloric density (475 kcal/cup)—careful portioning needed
Some recalls in the Nature’s Variety family (2015 raw food recall)

Orijen

Pros

85–90% animal ingredients—industry-leading
WholePrey ratios include organs and cartilage
38–40% protein, multiple named fresh/raw proteins
Clean recall record
Available in regional flavor varieties (Tundra, Six Fish, etc.)

Cons

Extremely expensive ($110–$130 per 25 lb)
Very calorie-dense—easy to overfeed
Rich formulas may cause digestive upset for sensitive dogs
Limited retail availability

Best For

Choose Instinct if: You want the benefits of raw-infused feeding at a lower price than Orijen, with decent retail availability.

Choose Orijen if: Only the highest meat content and most biologically appropriate formula will do, and budget is not a constraint.

Alternatives

[Orijen vs Taste of the Wild](/compare/orijen-vs-taste-of-the-wild)
[Instinct vs Blue Buffalo](/compare/instinct-vs-blue-buffalo)
[Acana vs Blue Buffalo](/compare/acana-vs-blue-buffalo)
[Full Instinct Review](/reviews/instinct-dog-food)
[Full Orijen Review](/reviews/orijen-dog-food)

FAQ

Is raw-coated kibble actually healthier? Raw coating adds enzymes and probiotics from freeze-dried raw pieces. Whether this provides measurable health benefits over standard kibble is debated, but many owners report improved coat quality and digestion.

Which has more protein, Instinct or Orijen? They’re nearly equal—Instinct Original at 37% and Orijen at 38%. Practically identical.

Is Instinct good for puppies? Yes. Instinct Puppy features 37% protein with DHA. Transition slowly as the richness can cause initial digestive upset.

Does Orijen have a raw line? Yes. Orijen Freeze-Dried is available in 16 oz bags. It can be used as a meal or as a topper on kibble.

Is Instinct widely available? More so than Orijen. Instinct is sold at Petco, Chewy, and some independent stores. Orijen is primarily independent pet store exclusive.

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