The scores
Royal Canin Rottweiler: C (58/100) — Below average. A by-product-and-grain-heavy formula that relies on chicken by-product meal as its primary protein source, padded with corn and brewers rice.
Blue Buffalo Large Breed: B (80/100) — Above average. Named deboned chicken leads the formula, supported by chicken meal and wholesome grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and barley.
A 20-point gap is significant. It represents the difference between a formula that cuts corners on protein quality and one that prioritizes real, named animal protein. For Rottweiler owners specifically — a breed prone to joint problems, heart disease, and obesity — that gap in ingredient quality translates directly to nutritional support where it counts most.
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients tell the story clearly:
Royal Canin Rottweiler: Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Fat, Brown Rice, Corn, Brewers Rice
Blue Buffalo Large Breed: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley
Royal Canin Rottweiler leads with chicken by-product meal — a rendered ingredient that includes heads, feet, intestines, and undifferentiated organs. It’s a protein source, but not the kind most owners expect when buying a breed-specific premium formula. The second ingredient is chicken fat, which is fine as a fat source but means two of the top five slots are occupied by by-products and fat rather than quality protein. Brown rice, corn, and brewers rice round out the top five — three grains, two of them low-value fillers.
Blue Buffalo Large Breed starts with deboned chicken — a whole, named meat that you could identify on sight. Chicken meal at number two is a concentrated protein source made from rendered chicken meat (not by-products). The three grains that follow — brown rice, oatmeal, and barley — are all whole grains with genuine nutritional value, unlike the corn and brewers rice in Royal Canin’s formula. There’s no corn, no wheat, and no by-products anywhere in the top five.
Where Blue Buffalo Large Breed pulls ahead
Named deboned chicken as the first ingredient: This is the most fundamental difference between these two formulas. Blue Buffalo starts with a whole, named meat — deboned chicken — followed by chicken meal as the second ingredient. That means two of the five heaviest ingredients by weight are quality animal protein sources. Royal Canin’s top protein source is chicken by-product meal, which is nutritionally inferior and less digestible than whole chicken or standard chicken meal.
L-carnitine, glucosamine, and chondroitin for large breeds: Blue Buffalo Large Breed includes L-carnitine to support healthy metabolism and lean muscle mass — critical for a breed as heavy and muscular as the Rottweiler. It also contains glucosamine and chondroitin, the two most well-researched joint-support compounds in canine nutrition. Rottweilers carry significant weight on their joints, and the breed is predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia. Having these supplements built into the daily diet provides consistent, ongoing joint protection.
Real fruits and vegetables, no by-products, no corn or wheat: Blue Buffalo includes real fruits and vegetables — sources of natural antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients that synthetic vitamin packs can’t fully replicate. The formula contains zero by-products, zero corn, and zero wheat. Royal Canin’s formula includes all three: chicken by-product meal, corn, and a formula that relies heavily on low-value grain fillers to meet its nutritional targets. Shop on Amazon →
Where Royal Canin Rottweiler holds its own
Royal Canin Rottweiler includes taurine supplementation, which is particularly important for Rottweilers. This breed is among the most susceptible to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) — a serious heart condition that can be fatal. Taurine is an amino acid critical for cardiac muscle function, and supplementing it in the diet provides an extra layer of heart support that many general-purpose formulas don’t prioritize.
The formula also includes L-tyrosine, an amino acid that supports coat pigmentation and cognitive function, as well as potassium citrate, which helps maintain urinary pH and can reduce the risk of certain types of bladder stones. These are targeted additions that reflect Royal Canin’s breed-specific research.
Royal Canin’s breed-specific kibble design is another genuine advantage. The kibble shape and size are engineered for the Rottweiler’s broad jaw and brachycephalic bite pattern, encouraging proper chewing rather than gulping — a real concern for a breed prone to bloat and gastric torsion. This is something a general large-breed formula like Blue Buffalo doesn’t specifically address. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Blue Buffalo Large Breed outperforms Royal Canin Rottweiler by 22 points, and the ingredient lists make clear why. One formula leads with deboned chicken and includes two named protein sources, whole grains, and targeted joint support. The other leads with chicken by-product meal and pads its formula with corn and brewers rice. For a powerful, heavy breed like the Rottweiler that needs quality protein for muscle maintenance and joint support to protect against dysplasia, the 20-point gap isn’t just a number — it represents meaningfully better nutrition.
That said, Royal Canin’s taurine supplementation is worth noting. If your Rottweiler has been diagnosed with or is at elevated risk for DCM, discuss taurine supplementation with your vet regardless of which food you choose. A taurine supplement can be added to any diet, but the DCM concern is real for this breed.
Read our full reviews of Royal Canin Rottweiler and Blue Buffalo Large Breed for the complete ingredient breakdown.