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5.8

Overall Score

Author: Kalicia Bateman

LAST UPDATED: February 1st, 2022

Blue Buffalo, also styled BLUE, is a pet food company founded in 2002 by William Bishop. It is named for Bishop’s Airedale, Blue, and is the best-selling natural specialty pet food in the country. While the company makes food for dogs and cats, this review will focus on its dog food options.

While many dog food companies use fillers or artificial preservatives, Blue Buffalo products exclude the following from its recipes:

  • Artificial flavors or preservatives
  • Corn
  • Poultry by-products
  • Soy
  • Wheat

At bluebuffalo.com, you can browse through over 230 dog food options by filtering for the following:

  • Life stage — puppy food, adult dog food, and formulas specifically for senior or mature dogs
  • Breed size — toy and small, standard, large
  • Dry or wet dog food
  • Special formulas for allergies and special diets
  • Type of packaging (for wet food) — canned, trays, pouches, tubs

All products are manufactured in the United States, except the BLUE Chomp ‘n Chew treats, which are made in Ireland. Blue Buffalo products can be purchased at retailers nationwide, as well as online retailers like Amazon, PetFlow, Chewy, and PetFood.com.

Keep reading for pros and cons, plus dog food reviews from consumers who used Blue Buffalo products.

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The Good

  • Variety of Food Options
  • Natural Ingredients
  • Satisfaction Guarantee
  • LifeSource Bits

Variety of Food Options

Blue Buffalo dog food offers several different product lines with different recipes and features, including the following:

  • BLUE Basics — limited ingredient diet for sensitive tummies, food allergies. Grain-free option available. The Blue Buffalo Basics line excludes corn, dairy, eggs, and wheat.
  • BLUE Freedom — A grain-free product line with over 20 products, including dry food and canned dog food
  • BLUE Life Protection Formula — wet and dry dog food, and treats with all-natural meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit. Formulated for different life stages, and different options for toy breed, small breed, and large breed dogs.
  • BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet — formulated for health issues
  • BLUE Wilderness — grain-free, meat lovers, higher protein content. Specially formulated for life stage and breed size. Comes in dry kibble, canned, trays, pouches, treats, jerky, and bones.

Natural Ingredients

While BLUE isn’t a meal-delivery service, and doesn’t cost as much as one, it does offer food with healthy nutritional value, including ingredients like fresh fruits and vegetables, grain-free dog food options, and the following animal protein flavors:

  • Beef
  • Bison
  • Chicken
  • Duck
  • Fish
  • Lamb
  • Quail
  • Rabbit
  • Turkey
  • Venison
  • Trout
  • Salmon
  • Pork
  • Halibut
  • Alligator
  • Catfish

Satisfaction Guarantee

Every BLUE product comes with a satisfaction guarantee. If you (or your pup) aren’t 100 percent happy, you can return the product, with a receipt for a full refund.

LifeSource Bits

Blue Buffalo dry food contains exclusive LifeSource Bits. These contain veterinarian and animal nutritionist-developed blends of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are specially formulated for your pet’s life stage (puppy, adult dogs, and mature dogs) and help his or her immune system and oxidative balance.

The following specialized supplemental morsels are cold-formed to retain nutritional value, especially of fat-soluble vitamins:

  • Alfalfa
  • Barley Grass
  • Beta Carotene
  • Biotin B7
  • Blueberries
  • Cranberries
  • Flaxseed
  • Folic Acid B9
  • Kelp
  • L-Carnitine
  • L-Lysine
  • Niacin B3
  • Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids
  • Pantothenic Acid B5
  • Parsley
  • Taurine
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Yucca Schidigera Extract
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The Bad

  • No Samples

No Samples

Unfortunately, you can’t order samples to see if your dog will like it.

However, consumers and picky eaters alike benefit from the 100 percent satisfaction guarantee offered by BLUE. If you or your dog aren’t satisfied, the unused portion can be returned with your receipt for a refund.

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The Bottom Line

Blue Buffalo offers a variety of natural high-quality dog food with a focus on balanced nutrition. With over 200 products, Blue Buffalo has specialized formulas for your pet, depending on its size and stage of life, as well as dietary restrictions and other nutritional needs and wants.

Check out our Blue Buffalo reviews below to see if it is a good choice for your dog’s diet.

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Star Rating

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4.5

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116 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

63%

4 grade

26%

3 grade

7%

2 grade

2%

1 grade

3%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

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Quality

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Service

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Trustworthiness

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Greg West Valley City, UT

I have bought Blue Buffalo for our four little dogs for 10 years. It was recommended by an employee of a pet store. Our dogs are still healthy and doing very well. It is a bit pricier than some of the more common brands but it is worth it for the health of our little dogs.

6 years ago

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Wendy Liu Bethesda, MD

Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food. Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a grain-free, dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its main source of animal protein. Everything is noticeably fresh and my pomeranian loves it!

6 years ago

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Nyla C. Tallahassee, FL

Blue Buffalo offers great quality food for my dog. However, they are a little pricey. But I indulge in their treats whenever I feel like spoiling my doggy because he deserves it!

4 years ago

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Abby Stubbs Brigham City, UT

We used the wilderness blend for our puppy and she loved it. She would eat anything so we decided to give her a healthy choice on food. Her growth was on track and she had a shiny coat as a puppy.

6 years ago

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russbayles West Valley City, UT

Have used Blue Buffalo since my two dogs were puppies. They love the chicken and rice flavor and love that they have puppy to grown bags and ones that are small bites for smaller breeds.

6 years ago

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Skye Jensen Hyrum, UT

My old dog that died on my birthday from diabetes used to love to eat Blue Buffalo so i think it is pretty good. Also she didn’t get diabetes from Blue Buffalo i think it was just because she was a miniature schnauzer.

7 years ago

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Tracy Hill Draper, UT

I love buying this brand of dog food for my dog. I love being able to recognize the ingredients they use and knowing that my dog will be healthy and happy because he eats this dog food.

7 years ago

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Dorrie2001 , GA

My dog loves this and won’t eat anything else. Super safe for my dog. Thank you for making sure my fur babies are eating good!

6 years ago

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Nan Shinkle Salt Lake City, UT

Blue Buffalo is the brand my dog loves best. It' nutritious and has quality products in it. It has a decent price point and is readily available in stores.

4 years ago

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Destini Ferguson Tallahassee, FL

This brand of dog food is a little more expensive than others. However, my dog love the dry and wet food mixed. I have defiantly noticed a boost in his energy.

5 years ago

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Mason Allen Provo, UT

Blue Buffalo makes great treats for dog training. The bags are pretty small for how expensive they are, however. There's plenty of other serviceable brands that are cheaper.

5 years ago

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Nicholas Genes Los Angeles, CA

The food was better quality than others. I had issues with my dogs diet and had to switch but can’t blame blue buffalo for that. This was my first choice moving forward

6 years ago

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Nell Damascus, MD

My veterinarian did not think it was a good product because of the high pea protein being related to heart disease in dogs

5 years ago

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Hunter Brister Norcross, GA

Blue Buffalo has very high quality dog food, but it is kind of expensive. I have used blue Buffalo for a couple of years.

6 years ago

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Stan Hollingshead Lehi, UT

My dog is not picky by any means, but she absolutely goes bonkers for Blue Buffalo training treats. I wish they were a little bit more inexpensive!

6 years ago

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Angelina Hamilton Jackson, MS

My dog seems to like it. She has a sensitive stomach and this food seems to do well. It’s been two weeks and so far so good!

6 years ago

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Sarah Marfo Tallahassee, FL

My puppy goes crazy when I open any pack from Blue Buffalo. She responded well to it and enjoyed it. Defiantly will be buying more.

6 years ago

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Nathan D. Warrendale, PA

Blue Buffalo makes a high-quality and affordable product for pet foods - typically they are healthier than the big companies

6 years ago

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Amy Boren American Fork, UT

I have been buying cans of soft dog food and this is one of his favorites. Its a little expensive, but has a good consistency.

7 years ago

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Teresa LeBaron Lake Villa, IL

Our puppy loved this dog good. Unfortunately got too expensive for us so we discontinued using. But great quality and product!

7 years ago

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Mikayla Ralston Gaithersburg, MD

Great quality and great ingredients. It may be on the higher end for dog food prices. The product is worth it.

6 years ago

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Ashley Wadiak Eagle Mountain, UT

Superior dog food at a great price . Love the natural ingredients and has done wonders for their coat

6 years ago

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Bryndie Managua, MN

Blue Buffalo has awesome food for dogs. Pretty nutrient dense but the dogs still enjoy it so it’s a win win

6 years ago

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Naya Tallahassee, FL

My puppy loves this brand. Of course she occasionally gets tired of the same flavors, but definitely a good brand.

6 years ago

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Brittney Veillon Gonzales, LA

Great dietary supplements in this keeps my dogs going and happy and healthy for the last 6 years.

6 years ago

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myles Ragas Houston, TX

Great nutritional value for my dog but the price is pretty high compared to others.

6 years ago

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Randi Nelson Managua, MN

Blue buffalo has such pure ingredients which makes me feel better giving it to my animals.

6 years ago

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Donna Long Beach, MS

Very good product. A little pricebut overall very health.my animal seem to enjoy it.

6 years ago

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Anna Lower Saint George, UT

Good quality food with all the nutrients that’s dog needs without all the bad stuff

7 years ago

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Sam Logan, UT

Very good, my dog seemed to like it, also another plus is that there is no horrid smell.

7 years ago