Victor and Taste of the Wild are two comprehensive dog food companies that offer a premium variety of excellent recipes. Similar to one another, both lines of food offer grain and grain-free high protein, fiber-rich, fat-dense recipes.
These companies set the bar for dry kibble and wet food selections compared to other premium dog food brands. But who beats out who in this scenario? Let’s find out!
A Sneak Peek at the Winner: It’s A Tie!
Image Product Details
VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula
High protein content
Perfect for active lifestyles
Grain-inclusive
Check Price
Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie
K9 Strain probiotics
Easy to digest grains
High protein
Check Price
When it comes to choosing the best dog food possible between these two brands, it’s impossible to do. Each of them has its strengths, providing excellent nutrition for your canine buddies.
All ingredients are considered premium, and the recipes are well thought out. We think that you would be happy with either of these selections as they are closely similar formulas.
Find out why we think there’s no winner in this game!
About Victor
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by All About Dogs & Cats (@sgfallaboutdogsandcats)
Victor is a pet food company that is based in Mount Pleasant, Texas. All formulas are crafted in the United States with strict standards. Each line aims to give your dog a majority of animal proteins, appealing to a natural canine dining experience.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by All About Dogs & Cats (@sgfallaboutdogsandcats)
A post shared by All About Dogs & Cats (@sgfallaboutdogsandcats)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Victor creates both grain and grain-free diets with exceptional ingredients. You can buy both canned and dry kibble recipes. Victor’s recipes are available online and in-store.
About Taste of the Wild
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Hank (@hank_the_chocolate)
Taste of the Wild, owned by Diamond Pet Foods, is a company that started with the mission of giving dogs a more primal diet. All recipes are crafted in facilities in the United States, and the ingredients are globally sourced from trusted partners.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Hank (@hank_the_chocolate)
A post shared by Hank (@hank_the_chocolate)
Known as food fit for wolves, the company marketed high protein, dense fat diets, both grain, and grain-free. Taste of the Wild is available in certain pet stores and online.
3 Most Popular Victor Dog Food Recipes
When it comes to the best all-around diet that could benefit most healthy canines, we have to pick VICTOR Classic Hi-Pro Plus Formula. It has excellent protein and healthy grains nourish your dog’s system.
Main Ingredients Beef meal, grain sorghum, chicken fat, pork meal
Calories 406 per bag/3,815 per bag
Protein 0%
Fat 0%
Fiber 8%
Check Price on Chewy
The first ingredient in the recipe is beef meal, providing a concentrated amount of protein. It has a high amount of fat, so we caution against feeding this to overweight dogs. However, most healthy adults can benefit from this combination of ingredients.
This recipe would be an excellent option for dogs who lead active lifestyles since it nourishes muscles, skin, and bones. It also has a healthy helping of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and fiber to make sure all bodily systems are running smoothly.
This recipe is specifically designed for overall health management through the adult years, and we love the ingredients list. However, it won’t work for specific allergies, sensitivities, and weight levels.
Pros
High protein content
Perfect for active lifestyles
Grain-inclusive
Cons
Not for overweight dogs
VICTOR Lamb and Rice Formula Pate
Check Latest Price
Main Ingredients Lamb, vegetable broth, lamb liver, brown rice
Calories 529 calories per can/1,414 per container
Protein 0%
Fat 0%
Fiber 0%
VICTOR Lamb and Rice Formula Pate is an excellent selection if you’re looking for wet canned food as a standalone and or topper. Lamb is super high in nutrients, making it an ideal red meat choice over beef.
High protein content
Perfect for active lifestyles
Grain-inclusive
- High protein content
- Perfect for active lifestyles
- Grain-inclusive
Not for overweight dogs
- Not for overweight dogs
Check Latest Price
Main Ingredients Lamb, vegetable broth, lamb liver, brown rice
Calories 529 calories per can/1,414 per container
Protein 0%
Fat 0%
Fiber 0%
On top of using a superb main protein, it also contains lamb liver—a nutrient-dense, healthy organ. This includes 9.0% of protein and has 529 calories per cup—which can be too high for some dogs. So, be mindful of portions.
However, the recipe is soft and easy to eat for any canine. To boot, it contains zero artificial additives and easily digestible grain, so your dog can safely eat without mucking up its system.
We love your dog’s added moisture—the bone broth is incredibly beneficial.
Pros
It contains nutrient-rich organ meat
Perfect for a topper
Bone broth for flavor and hydration
Cons
Very high calories
VICTOR Purpose Active Dog and Puppy dog food is a perfect all-life stages food—meaning your dog can enjoy this from puppy to senior years. It is explicitly for sensitive dogs—both grain and otherwise. We think that they would benefit tremendously from it.
It contains nutrient-rich organ meat
Perfect for a topper
Bone broth for flavor and hydration
- It contains nutrient-rich organ meat
- Perfect for a topper
- Bone broth for flavor and hydration
Very high calories
- Very high calories
Main Ingredients Beef meal, sweet potato, chicken fat, menhaden fish meal
Calories 384 per cup/3,614 per bag
Protein 0%
Fat 0%
Fiber 8%
The sweet potato provides lots of vitamins and minerals and aids in digestion. It has very high protein, topping out at 33.0% with lots of valuable nutrients. This recipe contains 384 calories per cup, making a modest dinner.
We love that this recipe contains such high protein but has modest fat and calorie content. This is an excellent meal choice for any age, nourishing bones, skin, and all systems.
We want to point out that you should only feed this recipe to your dog if they have a grain allergy unless your vet says differently.
Pros
Great for dogs with food sensitivities
High protein, modest calories
For all life stages
Cons
Not all dogs benefit from grain-free diets
Great for dogs with food sensitivities
High protein, modest calories
For all life stages
- Great for dogs with food sensitivities
- High protein, modest calories
- For all life stages
Not all dogs benefit from grain-free diets
- Not all dogs benefit from grain-free diets
3 Most Popular Taste of the Wild Dog Food Recipes
We think you’d love any Taste of the Wild recipe, but here’s a look at our favorites.
If you want a grain-inclusive recipe for your pup, we think you’ll be impressed with the Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie. It features tastes from many wild sources like water buffalo, bison, and venison. Your dog will definitely get an exotic dining experience.
Main Ingredients Water Buffalo, pork, chicken meal, grain sorghum
Calories 445 per cup/3,920 per bag
Protein 0%
Fat 0%
Fiber 0%
In one serving, there is 32.0% protein, which is incredibly high and super healthy—especially for active dogs. In each cup, there are 445 calories. So, if you have an overweight dog, be mindful of portions. The fat content in this recipe is also pretty high, so we recommend this for active dogs only.
This recipe contains K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics to promote a healthy gut. The formula contains no artificial flavors or harsh grains. Instead, there are easier-to-digest options like grain sorghum and cracked pearl barley.
This recipe will certainly nourish the bodies of active pups and is suitable for all life stages.
Pros
K9 Strain probiotics
Easy to digest grains
High protein
Cons
Not for overweight dogs
We loved Taste of the Wild Wetlands Canine Formula if you want wet canned food. It contains duck as the first ingredient, providing a rich dark waterfowl experience. What we love about the wet food lines is that they work splendidly as standalone or toppers to regular kibble.
K9 Strain probiotics
Easy to digest grains
High protein
- K9 Strain probiotics
- Easy to digest grains
- High protein
Main Ingredients Duck, Duck broth, chicken broth, fish broth, chicken liver
Calories 334 per serving/893 per can
Protein 0%
Fat 5%
Fiber 0%
This grain-free recipe contains solid carbohydrates in place of grains like potatoes and peas. The egg fills the recipe with omega-fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat. A single can contains 80.0% moisture, giving optimal hydration and nutrients in fish and chicken broth.
The first ingredient in this recipe is duck, rich dark meat with lots of natural oils and a ton of protein. There are plenty of amino acids to support muscles just like your omnivorous pooch needs. This recipe would be especially good for dogs who need to spruce up their coats.
Pros
Dark meat for ultra-nutrition
Broth for hydration
Omega fatty acids and amino acids
Cons
Not all dogs benefit from grain-free
When it comes to the best grain-free recipe you can find, we love the Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-free dry kibble. It is an easily digestible ingredient, using ingredients like salmon and sweet potato to soothe the digestive tract.
Dark meat for ultra-nutrition
Broth for hydration
Omega fatty acids and amino acids
- Dark meat for ultra-nutrition
- Broth for hydration
- Omega fatty acids and amino acids
Not all dogs benefit from grain-free
- Not all dogs benefit from grain-free
Main Ingredients Salmon, ocean fish meal, sweet potato, potatoes
Calories 408 per cup/3,600 per bag
Protein 0%
Fat 0%
Fiber 0%
Salmon has even more omega fatty acids, making this a suitable recipe for allergies of all kinds—protein, grain, and otherwise. It has 80 million live probiotics per bag—guaranteed. With added probiotics, it gives your dog a soothing recipe that will agree with the gut.
Instead of using harsh carbohydrates, this recipe has potatoes, sweet potatoes, and lentils. Salmon shows up in the first several ingredients, giving this recipe a high volume of protein.
The aroma is stronger than other Taste of the Wild kibble, so it might be more attractive to pickier dogs.
Pros
Salmon abundant recipe
Full of omega fatty acids
Excellent source of probiotics
Cons
Not all dogs benefit from grain-free diets
Salmon abundant recipe
Full of omega fatty acids
Excellent source of probiotics
- Salmon abundant recipe
- Full of omega fatty acids
- Excellent source of probiotics
Recall History of Victor and Taste of the Wild
When offering quality dog food, Victor seems to be on top of things. We found no recalls for Victor at this time.
Taste of the Wild, on the other hand, has had a few recalls as well as involvement in lawsuits for various reasons.
In May of 2012, several units of Taste of the Wild food tested positive for salmonella and were taken off the shelves.
They were included in a lawsuit with Diamond Pet Foods and other companies regarding grain-free diets beginning in 2019. There was quite a bit of scrutiny for dogs using peas in grain-free recipes.
Victor vs. Taste of the Wild Comparison
Victor and Taste of the Wild each give each other a run for their money. Here’s a complete breakdown of why we couldn’t choose between the two.
Victor Select Grain-Free Lamb Meal & Sweet Potato Recipe Taste of the Wild Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free Roasted Lamb
Main Ingredients: Lamb meal, sweet potato, chicken fat, garbanzo beans Lamb, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, egg product
Calories: 366 per cup 410 per cup
Protein: 30.% 25.0%
Fat: 16.0% 15.0%
Fiber: 3.8% 5.0%
Moisture: 9.0% 10.0%
For comparison, we have taken two similar recipes from Victor and Taste of the Wild. Here you can see the contents side-by-side.
For the main ingredients, Victor starts with lamb meal, and Taste of the Wild starts with lamb. Since Taste of the Wild uses a whole protein source, your dog can reap more benefits. Both recipes use sweet potato as the main grain replacement since it is nutrient-rich and easy to digest.
For calories, Taste of the Wild significantly outdoes Victor, measuring 410—perfect for active dogs. Victor at 366 calories works better for a larger variety of activity levels.
Even though Victor starts off with lamb meal instead of a whole protein, they have higher protein content in this recipe, measuring 30.0%.
Taste of the Wild and Victor are neck-in-neck with fat content, being only a single percent off from one another.
Fiber promotes digestibility. Taste of the Wild definitely gives a suitable dose of fiber, measuring 5.0%–with Victor close behind at 3.8%.
Moisture is almost a tie again, with Taste of the Wild slightly being ahead.
As you can see, these two recipes are very similar. Each offers excellent recipes with premium nutrients—varying by a few percent.
Taste
Taste of the Wild
Some dogs aren’t picky at all, while you can barely get others to eat anything you put in their bowl. Whether you have a picky eater or canine vacuum cleaner, taste is essential.
Of the two of them, by a slight margin, we think our dogs enjoyed Taste of the Wild more.
Nutritional Value
When it comes to nutritional value, both of these companies know what they’re doing. Each has facilities in the United States with globally sourced ingredients from trusted suppliers.
Each company is highly transparent about where they obtain their ingredients so you can have faith in what you’re feeding your pooch. However, when we analyze each recipe, Taste of the Wild recipes come out on top.
Rather than using potentially irritating ingredients, they never use common proteins. Many sensitive dogs can join these recipes as well as healthy adults.
Price
Victor
Victor and Taste of the Wild have similar recipes, but the pricing varies slightly. Even though each has basically the same concept when constructing these formulas, Victor is noticeably less expensive than its competitor.
Recall History
Unfortunately for Taste of the Wild, they’ve had quite a few run-ins with recalls and lawsuits. While they have maintained its integrity as a company and have not been publicly demeaned, they have still been under scrutiny for more than the Victor brand.
Selection
We appreciate the effort those companies put into their dietary selections. However, Taste of the Wild has really expanded its recipe lines, coming up with a very comprehensive list of dry kibble and wet dog food selections
Here is a brief examination of each recipe line the company offers. As you can see, Taste of the Wild has a few more options to consider.
Availability
Victor is typically available at pet stores—even bigger chains like Rural King and Tractor Supply. It is also readily available online from tons of different sites. Taste of the Wild is decently readily available but might be a little harder to come by.
So, for this one, we have to give it to Victor.
Overall
It’s a Tie!
Truth be told, we just can’t choose. Each one of these brands is excellent, and their own right contributes to a very healthy diet choice for canines everywhere.
Conclusion
We truly think that your dog would thrive on either brand you chose. Both Victor and Taste of the Wild have strict company standards, creating quality recipes for canine companions at your convenience.
These cables are moderately priced, which is to be expected for premium dog foods such as these. You can purchase them both in-store and online, making availability an important factor.
We think you’ll be happy with any recipe you pick but do your research and choose the best recipe for your dog.
See also: Kirkland Dog Food vs Blue Buffalo: What to Choose?
