The scores
Diamond Naturals: B (78/100) — Above average. Chicken and chicken meal lead, backed by quality whole grains.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie: B (78/100) — Above average. Buffalo, lamb meal, and chicken meal deliver a protein-heavy, grain-free formula.
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients show the divergence:
Diamond Naturals: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Grain Brown Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, White Rice
Taste of the Wild: Buffalo, Lamb Meal, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Diamond Naturals follows a conventional pattern — chicken-based protein with whole grains as the carbohydrate backbone. Taste of the Wild takes the more adventurous route with three different animal proteins and legume-based carbohydrates. Both formulas are solid, just structured differently.
Where Diamond Naturals pulls ahead
Price: This is Diamond Naturals' biggest advantage and it's substantial. It regularly costs 30–40% less per pound than Taste of the Wild. For the same B/78 grade, that's hard to argue with — especially if you're feeding a large breed or multiple dogs.
Grain-inclusive formula: With the ongoing FDA investigation into potential links between grain-free diets and DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy), some owners and veterinarians prefer grain-inclusive formulas. Diamond Naturals uses whole grain brown rice and cracked pearled barley — quality grains, not cheap fillers.
Simplicity: A straightforward chicken-and-grains formula is less likely to cause digestive issues for dogs that haven't been exposed to exotic proteins. If your dog has a predictable stomach, there's no reason to complicate things. Shop on Amazon →
Where Taste of the Wild holds its own
Protein diversity: Three animal protein sources (buffalo, lamb, chicken) provide a wider amino acid profile than Diamond Naturals' chicken-only approach. More protein variety generally means more complete nutrition.
Novel proteins: Buffalo and lamb are less common allergens than chicken. If your dog has shown any sensitivity to poultry — itchy skin, ear infections, digestive issues — Taste of the Wild's multi-protein blend offers alternatives while still including some chicken meal.
Grain-free option: For dogs that genuinely don't tolerate grains well, Taste of the Wild uses sweet potatoes and peas as carbohydrate sources. Some dogs thrive on grain-free diets despite the DCM concerns (which remain inconclusive).
Probiotics: Taste of the Wild includes species-specific probiotics (K9 strain proprietary blend) designed to survive processing and support digestive health. Not all probiotic additions in kibble are effective, but TotW's approach is better than most. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Both foods come from the same manufacturer, both score identically, and both are genuinely good options. The decision is simple: if budget matters (and it always matters), Diamond Naturals gives you the same grade for significantly less money. If you want exotic proteins, a grain-free formula, or your dog has chicken sensitivities, Taste of the Wild is worth the premium.
For most dogs with no specific dietary issues, Diamond Naturals is one of the best values in dog food. You're getting B-grade ingredients at a price point where most brands score C or D. Read our full reviews for the detailed breakdown of each formula.