Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Chicken Recipe Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food
Wilderness rebuilt around wholesome grains for large breeds: three poultry proteins, glucosamine and chondroitin on the label, and the highest fibre in the line. You pay the highest per-pound price of the three Wilderness chicken recipes for it.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 84/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 92/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Deboned Chicken” is named whole meat; 3 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 35.6% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 24%).
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 80/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is a named animal source; among the top five, 0 by-product/unnamed and 0 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 76/100
AAFCO statement: Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 75/100
Nine voluntary recalls; the most recent was March 2017 (elevated beef thyroid hormone in a single lot of Wilderness wet food). Two 2007 events were part of the industry-wide melamine crisis and a 2010 withdrawal involved excess vitamin D. The rest were small lots: a 2015 cat-treat lot containing propylene glycol, salmonella in a 2015 chew-bone lot, a 2016 mould withdrawal, and a March 2017 packaging-seal market withdrawal. Nothing has been recalled since General Mills acquired the brand in 2018.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 94/100
Algorithm: about $1.87 per 1,000 kcal ($$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 91/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Three named poultry proteins in the top five: deboned chicken, chicken meal and dried chicken
- Wholesome grains rather than the pea load of the grain-free Wilderness recipes
- Glucosamine, chondroitin and L-carnitine on the label - nutrients large-breed owners usually buy separately
- 32% protein with 7% fibre, the tightest protein-to-fibre ratio of the three chicken Wilderness recipes
What we don't
- $3.07/lb - the most expensive Wilderness recipe per pound in this ranking
- Sold in a single 28 lb bag at PetSmart, so there is no small bag to trial
- 7% crude fibre is the highest in the Wilderness line here
- Grain-inclusive, so it is not an option for grain-free households
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
The large-breed variant solves a different problem from the rest of the Wilderness line. Deboned chicken, chicken meal and dried chicken give three named poultry sources in the top five, oatmeal and barley carry the carbohydrate, and the label adds glucosamine (700 mg/kg), chondroitin sulfate (550 mg/kg) and L-carnitine - the three supplements large-breed owners most often buy separately. At 32% protein and 7% fibre it sits between the grain-free chicken recipe and Rocky Mountain, and the calorie content is 3,614 kcal/kg.
The cost is the catch. At $3.07/lb in a single 28 lb bag it is the dearest Wilderness recipe here and roughly double the cost per 1,000 kcal of Life Protection, about $1.87 against $1.34. PetSmart lists only the 28 lb, so there is no small bag to trial before committing - Chewy carries a 24 lb as well if you want a cheaper entry point. Worth it for a large-breed dog whose owner wants the joint-support nutrients built in; hard to justify for anything else.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Dry Dog Food:
85/ 100 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Wholesome Grains Adult Dry Dog Food
85/ 100 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe High-Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
Frequently asked questions
Is Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Chicken Recipe Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Large-breed adult dogs, and owners who want joint-support nutrients built into the food. It is not the best fit for: Small dogs and multi-dog households on a budget, and buyers who need a grain-free formula. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Chicken Recipe Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food cost?
Expect roughly $3.07 per pound ($$ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-19 — Product data refreshed: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content and price replaced with values verified against the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews reassessed against that data.