This is my detailed comparison of Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness dog food brands in 2022. You will be able to find out which is better, and what’s the difference.
I’m sure as a responsible dog owner; you want to buy the best possible pet food. You’ve probably come across these two brands before:
Blue Buffalo and Blue Wilderness.
But which of the two is better? What’s the difference between Blue Buffalo and Blue Wilderness?
You need to know something first: Blue Wilderness is one of the product lines of the Blue Buffalo pet food brand. Therefore, the correct question would be whether Blue Wilderness is better than other Blue Buffalo product lines.
I have found that if you want high-protein dog food, Blue Wilderness is a better choice. However, your pup may have different dietary needs, and in some cases, other Blue Buffalo products may be better alternatives.
I am looking for the answer to this in my article, and I will include a lot of useful information.
Let’s start!
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness: Top Dog Food Product Lines:
The best-known line with real meat at the 1st ingredient. Grain-free and grain-containing formulas are also available. Features LifeSource Bits, which is a special blend, containing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
These are primarily grain-free recipes with very high protein content. (Of course, you will also find grain-containing formulas in this line). The manufacturer’s goal was to mimic the ancient diet of dogs.
In addition to Blue Basics, Blue Freedom is another trendy Limited Ingredient product line. Each recipe is grain and gluten-free. You can also find a blend called LifeSource Bits here that makes these products even healthier.
And how did I pick these product lines? I compared the following similar recipes:
| Dog Food | Name And Features | Pet Worshiper Rating | Where To Buy? |
|---|---|---|---|
Blue Buffalo product with grains  | Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Rice
| 9.4 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Wilderness recipe with grains  | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet
| 9.2 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Buffalo Grain-Free Recipe  | Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free
| 9.4 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Wilderness Grain-Free Option | lue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
| 9.2 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Buffalo Large Breed Formula  | Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Recipe
| 9.1 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Wilderness Large Breed Formula  | Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Large Breed Recipe
| 9.3 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Buffalo Small Breed Formula  | Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Recipe
| 9.3 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Wilderness Small Breed Formula  | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Chicken Recipe
| 9 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Buffalo Puppy Formula  | Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Formula
| 9.4 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Wilderness Puppy Formula  | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Chicken Recipe
| 9.3 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Buffalo Senior Formula  | Blue Buffalo Freedom Senior Chicken Recipe
| 9.3 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Wilderness Senior Formula  | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Chicken Recipe
| 9.1 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Buffalo Canned Wet Food  | Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner
| 9.1 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
Blue Wilderness Canned Wet Food  | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Beef & Chicken Grill
| 9.3 | Check on AmazonCheck on Chewy |
If you are curious about a detailed comparison, be sure to read on!
More about Blue Buffalo
This brand, headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut, dates back to 2003. Bill Bishop founded the company.
The Bishop family’s dog (whose name was Blue) suffered from cancer. As a result, the family began studying commercially available dog food. They found that a lot of recipes contain specifically harmful ingredients.
From then on, their goal was to create a pet food that contained not only nutritious but natural and healthy ingredients. The result of this effort was Blue Buffalo, whose formulas were created with the help of holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists.
The company considers it very important to avoid wheat, corn, soy, unnamed by-products, and various artificial preservatives, dyes, and chemicals.
Today, Blue Buffalo is owned by General Mills, Inc. It is an American multinational food manufacturer. The Blue brand is one of the best-known options in America when it comes to pet food.
Blue Buffalo vs Other Dog Food Brands
Most experts consider Blue Buffalo to be a very high-quality and competitive brand. So it’s no coincidence that it is often compared to many other dog food brands. Below you will find my Blue Buffalo comparison articles:
- Wellness vs Blue Buffalo
- Natural Balance vs Blue Buffalo
- Taste of the Wild vs Blue Buffalo
- Purina Pro Plan vs Blue Buffalo
- Kirkland vs Blue Buffalo
- Purina vs Blue Buffalo
- Royal Canin vs Blue Buffalo
- Blue Buffalo vs Science Diet
Blue Buffalo product lines
Below I list all the main lines offered by Blue Buffalo. This will make it easier to compare them to Blue Wilderness later on.
It is true for all lines that they contain only natural ingredients and a lot of meat.
BLUE Life Protection Formula
This is perhaps the company’s best-known line. The primary ingredient in the products here is some meat. You will find dry food, wet food, treats, sticks, and toppings among the offers.
The ingredients are of good quality, natural. There are grain-free and grain-inclusive products.
You can also find the right food for breeds of different sizes and life stages by examining the Life Protection product line.
A special blend called Lifesource Bits can be found in each recipe. It is a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that maximizes the immune system of dogs.
BLUE Basics Recipes
I consider it important for every brand to have a product that has few ingredients in it. This is because there are many dogs with sensitive stomachs for whom it is critical to avoid potential allergens.
Blue Basics recipes provide exactly what their name suggests. Just the basics, nothing more. Among the ingredients, we find a single source of protein, usually in the first place.
The number of other ingredients is also limited, reducing the chance of possible sensitivities and allergies.
These products also contain LifeSource Bits, which, in addition to the benefits mentioned above, also boosts dogs’ immune systems.
BLUE Wilderness
This is also a trendy Blue product line. In my article, I will also compare these products with the products in the other lines.
Blue Wilderness diets are grain-free and high in protein and fat. The manufacturer aimed to imitate the ancient diet of dogs. Hence the name Wilderness.
The main sources of carbohydrates are various legumes, tubers, and roots. As we have become accustomed to from Blue, a blend called LifeSource Bits also supports dogs’ immune systems in these products.
Check out my detailed Blue Wilderness Dog Food Review.
BLUE Freedom
This product line is similar to Basics in that the number of ingredients is limited here as well. This diet will therefore be useful for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
All recipes are grain and gluten-free. The main source of protein is usually single animal meat. The added omega fatty acids and LifeSource Bits do their job perfectly in contributing to your dog’s health.
BLUE True solutions
The purpose of these recipes is to meet certain nutritional needs in dogs. They are neither prescription nor therapeutic, but many experts recommend them to improve various conditions.
These recipes have a good effect on digestive problems, maintaining skin and coat health, joint health, and weight control.
BLUE Carnivora
As their name suggests, these diets are made for real carnivores. Of course, there is a lot of debate about whether dogs are carnivores or omnivores, but these products are definitely worth mentioning.
They are grain-free, have a very high protein content and a low carbohydrate content. These recipes don’t include the usual LifeSource Bits. Still, because of the variety of animal organs and added vitamins and minerals, you don’t have to worry about not having the right nutrients.
Due to its high protein and fat content, Blue Buffalo Carnivora diets are suitable for working dogs or dogs recovering from sickness. Suitable for dogs of any size and stage of life.
BLUE Homestyle Recipe
The Homestyle product line’s appeal, which contains exclusively wet food, lies in the fact that all recipes are professionally prepared in a standard homemade style. You may want to consider these products.
BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet
It is very positive for me that Blue Buffalo also has a prescription product line. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet products offer solutions to many health problems.
These include allergies, tenderness, kidney, and urinary problems, weight management, joint problems, and gastrointestinal diseases.
These recipes do not contain harmful or questionable ingredients, fillers, grains, or by-products.
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness Dog food comparisons: Which Is Better?
As I mentioned at the beginning of my article, Blue Wilderness is one of the Blue Buffalo brand’s product lines.
However, that doesn’t stop me from asking the question. Which one is better? Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness?
In this section, I compared formulas that were made for a similar purpose. Examples include grain-containing, grain-free, large breed, small breed, senior, puppy, and wet formulas.
I chose products from Blue Wilderness and Blue Buffalo that are as popular as possible in a given purpose category.
With the help of detailed comparison tables, I will easily decide which dog food is better.
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness – Popular Formulas Containing Grains
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Chicken & Brown Rice
Key features:
- 24% protein content
- Contains prebiotics
- Features vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- 0.5% Omega-3 content
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet
Key features:
- High protein formula (34%)
- Prebiotics
- Features vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- 0.25% Omega-3 content
Blue BuffaloLife Protection vs Blue Wilderness Comparison table:
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo Life Protection | Blue Wilderness |
| First 5 ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Pea Starch | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Dried Chicken |
| Main Protein Sources: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Dried Chicken |
| Main Carb sources: | Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal | Oatmeal, Barley |
| Other ingredients: | Flaxseed, Chicken Fat, Tomato Pomace, Added fruits, vegetables, LifeSource Bits | Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Added fruits, vegetables, vitamins, LifeSource Bits |
| Protein content: | 24% | 34% |
| Fat Content: | 14% | 15% |
| Fiber Content: | 5% | 6% |
| Omega-3: | 0.5% | 0.25% |
| Omega-6: | 3% | 2.74% |
| Price rating: | 4.8 | 4.3 |
Observing the table, you will see the differences that can be used to decide which brand is better.
Wilderness has a much higher protein content. Of course, this is not necessarily positive; as for the average dog, 34% can be quite high. The same is true for dogs with kidney disease or bladder stones.
Not to mention that a higher protein content also means a higher price. The Life Protection Formula is cheaper than Wilderness.
Another important difference is the Omega fatty acid content. There are more of these useful ingredients in the Life Protection formula. The Blue Buffalo Life protection formula won this round against the Blue Wilderness.
Blue Buffalo Freedom vs Blue Wilderness – Grain-free Formulas
Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free
Key features:
- 24% protein content
- Contains real chicken
- Features vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- 0.5% Omega-3 content
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
Key features:
- Grain-free formula
- 0.5% Omega-3 content
- Contains glucosamine
- Fortified with vitamins and minerals
Blue Buffalo Freedom vs Blue Wilderness Comparison table:
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo Freedom | Blue Wilderness |
| First 5 ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Peas, Tapioca Starch | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch |
| Main Protein Sources: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Menhaden Fish Meal |
| Main Carb sources: | Potatoes, Peas, Tapioca Starch | Peas, Tapioca Starch, Pea Starch |
| Other ingredients: | Chicken Fat, Dried Tomato Pomace, Pea Protein, Flaxseed, Flavor, Turkey Meal, Alfalfa Meal Added fruits, vegetables, LifeSource Bits, Prebiotics | Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Added fruits, vegetables, vitamins, LifeSource Bits |
| Protein content: | 24% | 34% |
| Fat Content: | 14% | 15% |
| Fiber Content: | 6% | 6% |
| Omega-3: | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Omega-6: | 2.5% | 2.75% |
| Price rating: | 4.6 | 4.6 |
The nutrient content of the two recipes is very similar. The real difference is in the amount of protein.
The 34% may seem quite positive, especially if your dog is living a very active lifestyle. But here, too, you can discover Pea Protein, which I don’t find very beneficial. Fortunately, other protein sources are very beneficial.
The carbs and fat sources are nearly the same for both recipes. The fat content is similar, but the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio is slightly more favorable for the Blue Freedom product.
All in all, the Blue Freedom product is a better choice than Blue Wilderness unless you absolutely want to provide a high-protein diet for your pooch.
Large Breed Formulas
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Recipe
Key features:
- Contains Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Contains real chicken
- Features vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for proper growth
- No fillers or artificial ingredients
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Large Breed Recipe
Key features:
- Contains real beef, lamb, and venison
- Promotes healthy coat and skin
- Free of by-products, and harmful ingredients
- Grain-free diet for sensitive dogs
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness Large Breed Formula Comparison Table:
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo Life Protection | Blue Wilderness |
| First 5 ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley | Deboned Beef, Fish Meal, Peas, Pea Starch, Tapioca Starch |
| Main Protein Sources: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal | Deboned Beef, Fish, Beef Meal, Pea Protein |
| Main Carb sources: | Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Peas | Peas, Pea Starch, Tapioca Starch, Potatoes |
| Other ingredients: | Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat, Pea Protein, Fish Oil, Alfalfa Meal, Added Vitamins and Minerals, Fruits and Vegetables, Prebiotics | Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Canola Oil, Dried Egg Product, Fish Oil, Alfalfa Meal, Deboned Lamb, Deboned Venison, Added Vitamins and Minerals, Fruits and Vegetables, Prebiotics |
| Protein content: | 22% | 28% |
| Fat Content: | 12% | 13% |
| Fiber Content: | 6% | 6% |
| Omega-3: | 0.75% | 1.0% |
| Omega-6: | 2.25% | 1.25% |
| Price rating: | 4.6 | 4.6 |
Here, too, Wilderness’s product contains more protein. This is an important consideration as large breeds need a lot of protein for proper growth.
We find Pea Protein among the ingredients in both recipes. However, it is in sixth place in the Wilderness formula (twelfth in Life Protection), so we can be sure that there are more of this questionable source of protein in this recipe.
However, for both products, the other protein sources are impeccable.
Wilderness is a grain-free formula, so if your dog’s stomach is sensitive, choose this one.
In terms of omega fatty acid profile, Wilderness Rocky Mountain is very positive for me. This is because the 1% Omega-3 content is accompanied by 1.25% Omega-6, which is an exceptionally advantageous ratio.
In terms of their prices, the two products are in the same category.
Overall, I think the Blue Wilderness Large Breed Formula is better than the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Large Breed Recipe in this comparison.
Small Breed Formulas
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Small Breed Recipe
Key features:
- Contains Glucosamine and chondroitin
- Contains high-quality protein sources
- Features vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for proper growth
- No fillers or artificial ingredients
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Small Breed Chicken Recipe
Key features:
- High protein content with quality sources
- Formulated for small breeds
- Free of by-products, and harmful artificial ingredients
- Grain-free diet for sensitive dogs
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness Small Breed Formula Comparison Table:
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo Life Protection | Blue Wilderness |
| First 5 ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Peas, Tapioca Starch |
| Main Protein Sources: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product |
| Main Carb sources: | Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Peas | Peas, Tapioca Starch, Potatoes |
| Other ingredients: | Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Pea Starch, Dried Tomato Pomace, Peas, Pea Protein, Dried Egg Product, Added Vitamins, Minerals, Veggies, Fruits, and Prebiotics | Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Dried Tomato Pomace, Pea Starch, Alfalfa Pellets, Added Vitamins and Minerals, Fruits and Vegetables, Prebiotics |
| Protein content: | 26% | 36% |
| Fat Content: | 15% | 16% |
| Fiber Content: | 4% | 5% |
| Omega-3: | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Omega-6: | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Price rating: | 4.6 | 4.3 |
Both recipes are high in protein, thanks to premium protein sources. However, among the ingredients in Wilderness is Pea Protein, which is not very good news, unfortunately.
The two recipes are very similar in terms of fat sources and fatty acid profiles. But the Life Protection formula is more affordable.
Overall, I find the Life Protection small breed recipe better than the Wilderness small breed recipe.
Puppy Formulas
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Formula
Key features:
- Contains minerals for proper growth
- Contains omega-3 sources
- Features vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- No fillers or artificial ingredients
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Chicken Recipe
Key features:
- High protein content
- Supports the growth of puppies
- Free of by-products, and harmful ingredients
- Promotes healthy coats, skins and brains
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness Puppy Formula Comparison Table:
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo Life Protection | Blue Wilderness |
| First 5 ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Peas, Tapioca Starch |
| Main Protein Sources: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Menhaden Fish Meal, Dried Egg Product |
| Main Carb sources: | Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley, Peas | Peas, Tapioca Starch, Pea Starch |
| Other ingredients: | Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Dried Tomato Pomace, Dried Egg Product, Pea Protein, Fish Oil, Added Vitamins, Minerals, Veggies, Fruits, and Prebiotics | Chicken Fat, Dried, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Natural Flavor, Fish Oil, Added Vitamins and Minerals, Fruits and Vegetables, Prebiotics |
| Protein content: | 27% | 36% |
| Fat Content: | 16% | 16% |
| Fiber Content: | 5% | 5% |
| Omega-3: | 0.75% | 0.9% |
| Omega-6: | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Price rating: | 4.6 | 4.3 |
The right quality and amount of protein are essential for puppies. In addition, the presence of certain minerals in the recipe is important. Fortunately, these conditions are also met by the Blue Buffalo Life Protection and Wilderness formulas.
We still find more protein in Wilderness dog food, but it also contains more Pea Protein.
What is also in favor of Wilderness and the many proteins is the omega fatty acid profile. This is because these fatty acids have a good effect on the development of the coat and brain of dogs.
The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is much more favorable in the Wilderness product. The clear advantage of the Life Protection formula is its price.
Overall, however, I think this comparison was won by Blue Wilderness.
Senior Formulas
Blue Buffalo Freedom Senior Chicken Recipe
Key features:
- Real chicken as the first ingredient
- Contains omega-3 sources and glucosamine
- Features vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- No fillers or artificial ingredients
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Chicken Recipe
Key features:
- High protein content from quality sources
- Features added vitamins and minerals
- Free of by-products, and harmful ingredients
- Glucosamine promotes healthy joints
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness Senior Formula Comparison Table:
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo Freedom | Blue Wilderness |
| First 5 ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Potatoes, Peas, Pea Starch, Chicken Meal | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Pea Protein, Pea Starch |
| Main Protein Sources: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Menhaden Fish Meal |
| Main Carb sources: | Potatoes, Peas, Pea Starch, Potato Starch, Tapioca Starch | Peas, Pea Starch, Tapioca Starch |
| Other ingredients: | Dried Tomato Pomace, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Pea Fiber, Chicken Fat, Pea Protein, Fish Oil, Added Vitamins, Minerals, Veggies, Fruits, and Prebiotics | Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Flaxseed, Chicken Fat, Dried Tomato Pomace, Fish Oil, Added Vitamins and Minerals, Fruits and Vegetables, Prebiotics |
| Protein content: | 18% | 30% |
| Fat Content: | 10% | 12% |
| Fiber Content: | 7% | 7% |
| Omega-3: | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| Omega-6: | 1.75% | 2.0% |
| Price rating: | 4.5 | 4.5 |
In the case of senior dogs, other considerations should be taken into account when choosing food. You need to pay special attention to glucosamine and chondroitin content for joint health.
At the same time, you should not include too many calories in the diet of your elderly pup, as the metabolism of these dogs is slower than that of average adults.
The excessively high protein content is also not advantageous in such situations.
The Blue Wilderness formula I reviewed contains 30% protein, and unfortunately, the Pea Protein, which I object to, is also present here.
The two recipes are similar in terms of fatty acid profile. Both contain the same amount of omega-3s. However, the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is slightly more favorable for the Life Protection formula.
The glucosamine and chondroitin contents are the same in both recipes. In terms of fat and calories, the Life Protection recipe is preferable.
All in all: For Senior formulas, Life Protection is better than Wilderness.
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness: Wet Formulas
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner
Key features:
- Real chicken as the first ingredient
- Nutritious wet food for adult dogs
- Great taste
- No fillers or artificial ingredients
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Beef & Chicken Grill
Key features:
- High protein content for muscle growth
- Real beef and chicken as the first ingredients
- Free of by-products, and harmful ingredients
- Palatable taste
Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness Canned Dog Food Comparison Table:
| Brand: | Blue Buffalo Homestyles | Blue Wilderness |
| First 5 ingredients: | Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Peas | Beef, Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Potatoes |
| Main Protein Sources: | Chicken, Chicken Liver | Beef, Chicken, Chicken Liver |
| Main Carb sources: | Carrots, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal | Potatoes |
| Other ingredients: | Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Flaxseed, Added Vitamins, Minerals, Veggies, Fruits | Carrageenan, Flaxseed, Guar Gum, Cassia Gum, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Added Vitamins and Minerals, Fruits and Vegetables |
| Protein content: | 8.5% | 10% |
| Fat Content: | 5.5% | 9.0% |
| Fiber Content: | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Moisture: | 78% | 78% |
| Calories: | 451 kcal/cup | 523 kcal/can |
| Price rating: | 4.5 | 4.5 |
Wet foods are generally more mouth-watering for dogs than dry versions. This is especially true when the recipes are made from high-quality ingredients. Fortunately, this is also the case here.
Both products contain excellent sources of protein.
The Wilderness formula has a higher protein and fat content so that it can provide far more calories for your pooch. Plus, it’s a Wilderness recipe that doesn’t contain pea protein. In addition, it has fewer types of carbohydrate sources and is also grain-free.
For all these reasons, this comparison was won by Wilderness canned dog food.
Finding the best diet for your dog is not easy. You have to consider several aspects, e.g., activity, breed, age, health condition, etc. If you want to make the best decision possible, check out my comprehensive guide on how to choose the best dog food.
Wilderness and Blue Buffalo Overall Comparison
So far, we’ve seen that sometimes Blue Wilderness and other Blue Buffalo products have proven to be better. I will summarize what has been said so far below, and I will also compare based on new considerations.
Offerings, options
I guess it’s no surprise when I say that the other Blue Lines have more products in total than Wilderness.
I’d rather look at it in terms of whether you can find a recipe for all sorts of problems at Wilderness. Looking at the products and offers, we see that this line meets this expectation.
You can find the right product for dogs of all sizes, life stages, and dietary needs. The only thing missing is a limited ingredient diet.
That is, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, then Wilderness may not be the right choice. In all other cases, I consider it a perfect option.
Meat and protein content
Meat is the most important ingredient in virtually any dog food. If there’s no real meat or meat meal in a recipe, it’s a red flag for me.
-Anyway, a meat meal is not bad; you don’t have to be afraid of it. This is usually a concentrated and minced version of real meat.-
All Blue Buffalo products contain real meat and meat meals.
As we have seen from the analyzes, Wilderness products have a very high protein content. This is very positive when you have a growing or very active dog (e.g., a hunting breed).
But you should know that not all dogs benefit from a high protein content.
It is also important to note that Pea Protein is often found among the ingredients in Wilderness recipes. It’s not necessarily harmful, but it’s not as valuable as real meat.
Carbs and Fats
Each Blue Buffalo product line contains similar carbohydrate and fat sources. For this reason, qualitatively, there can be no complaint about any of them.
Both Wilderness and the other Blue Buffalo lines offer grain-free and grain-containing recipes.
The amount of fat is important for calories. However, my experience is that you can find lower and higher fat products at Wilderness and other lines.
In terms of omega fatty acids, Wilderness performs on average. Generally, all products contain adequate amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. But as you can see in the more detailed comparisons, other lines have products that contain more of these fatty acids.
Cost
Wilderness recipes are high in meat and protein. This, in turn, is reflected in their prices. That is, on average, Blue Wilderness products are more expensive than other Blue Buffalo line products.
Recall history
In recent years, Blue Buffalo has had several recalls. I list these below. Next to the dates and the causes, I write which product lines were tested during the recalls.
- April 2007 – Melamine – Blue Buffalo Spa Select Kitten
- April 2007 – Melamine – Blue Buffalo Blue canned dog food, Blue Buffalo Blue dog treats, Blue Buffalo Blue Spa Select canned cat food
- October 2010 – Potentially too much Vitamin D – Blue Wilderness, Blue Basics, Blue Life Protection Formula
- November 2015 – Propylene glycol – Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe
- November 2015 – Potential for salmonella – Wilderness Wild Chews Bones
- May 2016 – Possible mold – Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula
- February 2017 – Possible aluminum contamination – Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe
- February 2017 – Packaging quality – Blue Divine Delights, Blue Wilderness Trail Trays
As you can see, the product line mentioned in many of my articles has already been recalled. For this reason, I do not consider any of them to be better or worse in this respect.
Real customer reviews
When I compare two brands, I always look at customer reviews available online. This gives me a real picture of what others think of those products. In this section, I have collected positive and negative reviews for you about the most popular products from Blue Life Protection and Blue Wilderness. All come from Chewy’s website.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice
Positive
Dogs LOVE this food!
- I decided to buy this food to try out for our very finicky German Shepherd since I had heard good things and wanted to give him a more nutritious food that he would actually eat. He absolutely loves it! My little Rat Terrier and Chihuahua also really love it so I plan to change them to it once their other food is gone.
It Works for Us
- We just switched to this brand after a family member recommended trying it for our dog’s skin/fur problems. He’s 10 and his allergies seem to have gotten so much worse in the last year. Now he finally stopped licking his fur off. We’re still treating the last ear infection, but hoping those stop recurring as well. Loving Blue Buffalo.
Negative
Good Quality but…
- I like the quality of the dog food and my dog likes it. The only issue for Blue Buffalo, compared with Science Hills, is that its bag is not self sealable.
Dogs like it
- It’s a little stinky, but the dogs like it, and they’re less gassy.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe
Positive
No Problems
- After the year with the Blue Buffalo grain-free puppy food, we changed our Lab to the Blue Buffalo grain-free adult dog food and he loves it just as much as the puppy food. We have had no issues with the change and all seems to be going to plan.
Blue Buffalo
- I have never had a problem having Cody eat Blue Buffalo. He loves it and looks forward to getting it each morning Love your Company. Keep up the good job you are doing!!
Negative
Good food, healthy dog
- Excellent nutrition for my dog and she loves it. The only ding is that the packaging could be a little more environmentally friendly. It’s pretty, but not recyclable
My pup is trying this out
- I decided to order this as a healthier choice in food for my pup. I realized what I was giving her previously had a lot of additives. She is loving it minus one thing, she picks out the smaller pieces of kibble and leaves them all over the place. Although I am happy with the brand, I will try a different type of dry food next time around.
As the Wilderness product receives a higher percentage of 5-star ratings, it will definitely win this round.
My final verdict about Blue Buffalo vs Blue Wilderness
As I mentioned, Blue Wilderness also belongs to the Blue Buffalo brand. Therefore, in this article, I have contrasted different products from Wilderness with products from other Blue product lines.
My experience is that Blue Wilderness is an excellent product line and holds its place in many competitions.
Its protein content is very high. Because of this, if you are looking for something similar to your dog’s ancient diet, these products are good options.
However, it would help if you also looked at other Blue Buffalo products. For example, Blue Basics is a limited-ingredient diet designed specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
The point is to find a recipe that meets the needs of your dog in every way.
