Taste of the Wild vs Blue Buffalo Wilderness: Two Grain-Free Kibbles Compared
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Recipe with Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison
Full review →Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe High-Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
Full review →The short answer. This is the closest pair in the ranking — two points apart. Taste of the Wild is $0.77 cheaper per pound, carries the highest value score here at 99, and has seven times more owner ratings behind it. Wilderness has two more points of protein and a slightly better manufacturer recall record. On budget, Taste of the Wild wins; on safety record, Wilderness does.
Side by side
Every number below comes from the manufacturer's current label or current US retail listings, scored on the same 6-dimension model. Shaded cells mark the better value on that row.
| Attribute | Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Recipe with Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe High-Protein Adult Dry Dog Food |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 83 / 100 | 85 / 100 |
| Protein quality & source (30%) | 91 | 92 |
| Ingredient transparency (20%) | 80 | 80 |
| Nutritional standards (18%) | 73 | 76 |
| Recall history & safety (14%) | 68 | 75 |
| Value for money (10%) | 99 | 95 |
| Owner & pal feedback (8%) | 92 | 91 |
| Protein (as fed) | 32.0% | 34.0% |
| Protein (dry matter) | 35.6% | 37.8% |
| Fat (min) | 18.0% | 15.0% |
| Fibre (max) | 4.0% | 6.0% |
| Moisture | 10.0% | 10.0% |
| Calorie density | 3,719 kcal/kg | 3,632 kcal/kg |
| Price per lb | $2.11/lb | $2.88/lb |
| Price per 1,000 kcal | $1.25 | $1.75 |
| Owner rating | 4.6/5 (9,841 ratings) | 4.6/5 (1,400 ratings) |
| First ingredient | Water Buffalo | Salmon |
| Form | Dry (kibble) | Dry (kibble) |
| Life stage | Adult maintenance | Adult maintenance |
| Best for | Owners who want novel proteins and high protein on a mid-range budget | Adult dogs that do well on fish-based protein, and owners who want high protein without grain-free pricing |
Where the difference actually comes from
Both foods target the same buyer: someone who wants grain-free and high protein without paying Orijen money. Taste of the Wild delivers that at $2.11/lb against Wilderness at $2.88/lb, and its value sub-score of 99 is the highest in this comparison. It does it with novel proteins — water buffalo, bison and venison — which is genuinely useful if you are rotating proteins.
Wilderness gives up the price fight and wins two other places. Its 34% protein beats High Prairie's 32%, and Diamond's recall history is longer than Blue Buffalo's, which shows up as a 68 versus 75 on the safety sub-score. Neither brand is clean here; the question is which record you are more comfortable with.
The review sample is worth noting: Taste of the Wild carries 9,841 ratings at 4.6/5 against Wilderness's 1,400 at the same average. A 4.6 held across that many reviews is a stronger signal than the same average across a tenth of the sample.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Taste of the Wild if
Novel proteins matter to you, you are feeding on a mid-range budget, or you want the largest owner-review sample behind the food you are buying.
Choose Blue Buffalo if
You want the higher protein percentage, you prefer a slightly shorter recall history, or your dog already does well on a fish-based recipe.
Pros and trade-offs
Taste of the Wild
What owners and our testing liked
- Water buffalo leads, followed by lamb meal and chicken meal - unusual proteins at a mainstream price
- 32% protein and 18% fat at about $1.25 per 1,000 kcal, the best protein-per-dollar here
- 4.6/5 across nearly 9,900 Chewy ratings, one of the largest review bases in this ranking
- Roasted bison and roasted venison appear as named ingredients, not just flavourings
Trade-offs
- Made by Diamond, whose 2012 salmonella withdrawal was the largest pet food recall in US history by weight
- Formulated-to-meet only, with no feeding-trial evidence
- Pea flour and peas in the top five; the grain-free legume load is a consideration given the FDA DCM signal
Blue Buffalo
What owners and our testing liked
- Real salmon first, backed by salmon meal and chicken meal - three named animal proteins in the top three
- 34% protein at a mid-premium price, roughly $1.75 per 1,000 kcal
- Includes wholesome grains (oatmeal, barley, brown rice) rather than the pea-heavy grain-free version
- LifeSource Bits add a separate antioxidant blend that Blue Buffalo cold-processes to preserve potency
Trade-offs
- Formulated-to-meet only - no AAFCO feeding trials back this recipe
- Pea protein appears mid-label, which lifts the crude protein number with plant protein
- 6% crude fiber is high; a handful of owners report larger, softer stools on this formula
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to feed per day?
Taste of the Wild High Prairie, clearly. At $2.11/lb against $2.88/lb, and with slightly higher calorie density per kilogram, it costs materially less per 1,000 kcal. For a 60 lb dog that difference compounds across a year of feeding.
Is grain-free necessary for most dogs?
No. Grain-free is a marketing category more than a nutritional necessity for the majority of dogs; true grain allergies are rare compared to protein allergies. Both of these foods are grain-free, so if you have no reason to avoid grains you may be paying for a feature your dog does not need.
Do novel proteins like bison and venison help with allergies?
They can, if the dog has never been exposed to them. An elimination diet requires a protein the animal has not eaten before, which is exactly what water buffalo or venison offers. This only works if you feed it strictly — no treats or table food with other proteins during the trial.
Want to compare more than two? Use the comparison tool — up to four foods side by side. Individual animals vary; if your pet has a diagnosed condition, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.