The scores
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey & Sweet Potato: A (90/100) — Excellent. Single-family turkey + turkey meal primary proteins, salmon meal as secondary protein, low-glycemic carbs, BC30 patented probiotic, limited ingredient deck.
Orijen Puppy: A (90/100) — Excellent. Multiple fresh and raw named meats, grain-free with lentils and peas, 85% animal ingredient composition, biologically appropriate formulation with whole organ inclusions.
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients:
Nulo Freestyle Puppy: Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
Orijen Puppy: Chicken, Turkey, Flounder, Cage-Free Eggs, Whole Mackerel
Both lead with multiple named animal proteins in the top five. Nulo opens with a dual-turkey strategy (fresh + meal) plus a secondary salmon meal for marine omega-3 contribution — three named animal proteins in the top five. Orijen opens with five distinct named animal ingredients (chicken + turkey + flounder + whole eggs + whole mackerel), with no plant ingredients yet appearing.
The carb layer diverges. Nulo uses sweet potato + peas at positions four and five — two whole-food carb sources, the sweet potato being the more nutrient-dense of the pair. Orijen pushes carbs (lentils, peas, chickpeas) further down the ingredient deck, behind multiple additional fresh and raw organ meats (chicken liver, turkey heart, chicken heart) and additional whole animal proteins (turkey liver, whole salmon). Orijen’s WholePrey philosophy produces a measurably more animal-ingredient-dense top-15 than Nulo’s streamlined approach.
Where Nulo Puppy pulls ahead
BC30 patented probiotic: Nulo includes Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) at a guaranteed viable count after extrusion. BC30 is one of the few probiotic strains with peer-reviewed evidence for surviving gastric acid and colonizing the lower GI, including published veterinary data on gut health outcomes. Orijen’s probiotic inclusion is a standard panel without the same published survivability evidence.
Simpler ingredient architecture: Nulo’s recipe carries a shorter ingredient list than Orijen’s WholePrey approach. For first-time premium dog food buyers who want an ingredient deck they can fully audit, Nulo is easier to evaluate. Orijen’s 30+ ingredients include many raw and fresh organ meats that some owners aren’t familiar with and some dogs need to adapt to gradually.
Single-protein-family option for puppies with suspected sensitivities: Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey & Sweet Potato is a single-poultry-family formulation — helpful for puppies showing early signs of chicken or multi-protein sensitivity. Orijen’s multi-meat approach is richer nutritionally but also more complex to troubleshoot if a puppy develops a reaction. Shop on Amazon →
Where Orijen Puppy holds its own
85% animal ingredient composition: Orijen’s published 85% animal ingredient commitment is unmatched in the commercial kibble market. For active, working-line, or fast-growing puppies where lean-mass accumulation is the priority, Orijen’s higher animal-ingredient density translates directly to higher protein and amino acid intake per calorie.
Raw and fresh organ meats: Orijen’s ingredient list carries fresh and raw chicken liver, turkey liver, chicken heart, turkey heart, and lamb tripe. These ingredients deliver B-vitamins, taurine, glutamine, and iron in their least-processed, highest-bioavailability form. Nulo delivers meal-form equivalents but not raw organ inclusions at this depth.
Phytonutrient and botanical depth: Orijen includes whole pumpkin, butternut squash, chickpeas, kale, spinach, collards, carrots, whole apples, whole pears, whole cranberries, and a dozen other whole-food botanicals. This phytonutrient diversity matters over long-term single-food feeding — whole-food antioxidants are more bioavailable and more diverse than isolated vitamin/mineral premix approaches. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
This is a genuine top-of-market tie between two exceptional puppy formulations. Nulo Puppy is the simpler, more allergy-friendly, probiotic-documented option — the cleaner choice for first-time premium buyers or for puppies with suspected sensitivities. Orijen Puppy is the biologically-appropriate-maximalist option — more animal ingredient density, more raw organ inclusions, more phytonutrient diversity — the right choice for active puppies in non-DCM-predisposed breeds where maximum protein density and whole-food nutrition is the target. For DCM-predisposed breeds (Goldens, Dobermans, Great Danes), look instead at grain-inclusive premium options like Fromm Gold Puppy. Both Nulo and Orijen rank among our top picks in the best puppy foods guide.