You might be comparing brands if you’re a dog owner on the hunt for a better recipe for your pup. Two popular choices are Abound and Blue Buffalo. But which is best for your dog?

For your convenience, we broke down these two dog food companies side-by-side so you can get a good look for yourself. Let’s see who wins and why.

A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Blue Buffalo

We want to be clear: we liked both brands. But Blue Buffalo easily beat out the competitor. Mainly, it’s because of Blue’s sterling reputation and ever-growing list of nutrient-friendly dog foods, treats, and rewards. Blue is becoming even more readily available in department stores all over.

When think of the two brands, Blue takes the cake. But it might not be for everyone. Let’s explore.

About Abound

Abound dog food is a Kroger-owned brand that is sold exclusively at this store. However, you can buy from manufacturers like Amazon online.

Abound History

Abound dog food aims to provide grain and grain-free, natural ingredients to create healthy kibble and snacks. Little is known about the company, and the recipe line is limited. They have no official website, but the brand is available through retailers.

There is a definite lack of transparency with the company. Even Dog Food Advisor lacked key informational tidbits about the company when researching. So, we implore you to use your best judgment when buying.

About Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has an outstanding reputation for its healthy dog food recipe lines. They have built a solid company from the ground up, providing adequate nutrition with multiple consistencies, textures, flavors, and specialized diets. Providing a comprehensive list of recipes, Blue is ever-growing and ready to tackle the dietary needs of canines.

Blue Buffalo History

Blue Buffalo was born as many pet foods are—from a place of passion. Owners had an Airedale Terrier named Blue who got ill. In attempts to heal the body, they developed a more holistic approach to common dog food brands.

Blue Buffalo has many comprehensive recipes to cater to dogs of all sensitivity levels. Through the years, Blue has developed diversity and adapted to the needs of our canine pals.

With the ever-expanding research into pet food, companies change their recipes accordingly. As raw and fresh foods make their way to the top, we feel that Blue will acclimate. However, there’s always a chance that they will continue offering the same nutrition types, sticking with dry kibble and wet canned food instead.

The 3 Most Popular Abound Dog Food Recipes

1. Abound Chicken & Brown Rice

The Abound Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe is the most popular Abound recipe sold at Kroger. It’s made with real meat as the first ingredient, and has a good amount of protein and fat compared to similar recipes.

The food is formulated to help support digestion, heart, vision, coat, and immune health and is made without corn, wheat, soy, and artificial flavors and colors. It also contains veggies, whole grains, and antioxidants, including blueberries, cranberries, sweet potatoes, brown rice, and barley. 

We think it is of pretty good quality, and it’s also affordable. You can purchase it in a 15 or 30-pound bag. However, it won’t be suitable for dogs with a chicken allergy.

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2. Abound Superfood Blend Salmon, Egg, & Pumpkin Recipe

Abound Superfood Blend Salmon, Egg, & Pumpkin recipe is another great Abound food option. The first ingredient is real salmon, so it may be better for dogs with a chicken allergy, but there isn’t a lot of information about the other ingredients in the food based on the listing on the website. So we can’t say for sure if it contains any other protein source besides salmon and whether it will trigger an allergic reaction in dogs with sensitivities. 

We can assume based on the name that it also contains egg and pumpkin. It’s also free from wheat, soy, corn, and artificial flavors and preservatives just like the chicken and brown rice recipe. But it only comes in a 15-pound bag.

However, there is simply not a lot of information available about this food. If you’re considering this food, we recommend going to a Kroger near you to examine the food in person, including the ingredients, protein and fat content, and guaranteed analysis.

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3. Abound Lamb & Brown Rice with Avocado Recipe

Our final Abound recipe is the Lamb & Brown Rice with Avocado recipe. This recipe has lamb as the first ingredient, and it also contains brown rice and avocados. But again, there is little information about the other ingredients, protein and fat content, etc. 

Like the other Abound recipes, it is formulated for coat, vision, digestive, heart, and immune health. It is also made without wheat, corn, soy, and artificial flavors. It also comes in only a 15-pound bag.

This is another food that we recommend checking out the food in person to make sure it is right for your dog and that there are no allergy triggers.

The 3 Most Popular Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recipes

1. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

We loved the standard recipe for Blue Buffalo—Life Protection Formula. It works very well for healthy adult dogs to maintain their physical structure, immunity, and mental clarity. Blue recipes are infused with LifeSource Bits, which are antioxidant-packed soft pieces your dog will crave.

This recipe has a moderate amount of protein, measuring 24.0% in the guaranteed analysis. This is a little low compared to other brands on the market, but it’s crammed with top-notch nutrition. This recipe has added glucosamine, healthy joints, and increasing mobility.

Blue starts with a base of real deboned chicken as the first ingredient, promoting a whole protein source. Using easy-to-digest grains like brown rice, it aids in digestion to make sure things run smoothly.

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2. Blue Buffalo Blue Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Nature’s Evolutionary Diet with Salmon is Blue’s grain-free, high-protein recipe. This specific flavor enhances the natural elements of a dog’s diet while using salmon as the primary protein source to aid in digestion.

This dog food is perfect for a dog with not only grain allergies but also a sensitive stomach and poor skin and coat. Though it’s another line, this dog food contains Blue’s signature LifeSource bits for added antioxidants for immune support.

This particular formula contains 34.0% crude protein, which is a favorable amount in today’s market. But it includes peas, which is a controversial ingredient in grain-free recipes due to their links to cardiovascular problems. You can read more about that here.

But otherwise, this recipe is high in fiber and terrific for your dog’s natural dietary needs.

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3. Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE

We love Blue Buffalo Baby BLUE. It has all the perks of Blue’s Life Protection Formula, but it’s specially formulated for pups. This recipe is designed to give a puppy the precise nutrients their bodies need to grow and thrive.

Blue knows just what pups need to start—touting calcium, DHA, and phosphorus for a healthy body and mind. The first ingredient is real deboned chicken to serve your pup a good whole protein source. Chicken meal and menhaden fish meal are also on the table, amping up nutrition.

This recipe is for everyday health, so it’s grain inclusive. Using easily digestible grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and barley ensure your pup’s gut is safe and the gastro system is running smoothly.

What we love most is that you can smoothly transition your dog from this recipe to the adult version when they are ready. This way, you can avoid dietary changes. However, some puppies develop allergies in their first year of life—and chicken is sometimes the culprit. So, keep an eye out.

Recall History of Abound and Blue Buffalo

Abound Dog Food has had two recalls to date, very close together. One was in November of 2018 and the other the following December. According to the FDA, it was due to exceedingly high levels of vitamin D.

In June of 2019, Blue was grouped in with another 16 brands for the grain-free investigation. Another claim predated that in 2017, claiming high lead in recipes. It was dismissed.

Brand Abound vs Blue Buffalo Comparison

So how did we draw our conclusion? Blue Buffalo came out on top in nearly every category. Below are areas we, as fellow pet parents, find important. After careful consideration, Blue Buffalo takes the cake.

Taste—Blue Buffalo

From our canine judges, it seems Abound and Blue Buffalo are both pretty tasty. But which one is more appealing? Of the two, we must say our pups gravitated more toward Blue Buffalo.

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Nutritional Value—Blue Buffalo

Abound has a pretty impressive nutritional base. They offer roughly the same types of recipe setups as Blue. However, there is one key difference—LifeSource Bits. These soft kibble pieces are loaded with antioxidants for a healthier eating experience.

So, we have to hand it to Blue on this one!

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Price—Abound

Price is a big factor when you select your dog food. Blue Buffalo used to be considered a huge premium dog food brand. However, over the years, it’s become one of the more affordable dog foods—not raising its prices exponentially like some other brands.

However, Abound is usually more affordable than Blue Buffalo. So, we have to give it to them!

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Selection—Blue Buffalo

We think that Abound has some pretty sturdy recipes on the market—don’t get us wrong. However, Blue Buffalo is highly established and widespread. Therefore, it’s only natural that they would have more recipe options than Abound.

So, this one here goes to Blue Buffalo for the win!

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Availability—Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo is available at nearly every pet shop and online retailer site. It is very popular among dog owners. Blue also sells its food on its website.

Abound, on the other hand, is only available at Kroger, and very limited recipes are on Amazon. Abound does not have its own website.

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Overall—Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo definitely gets our vote overall. They have an excellent history, despite any recalls. They have spectacular customer service and company transparency. We love their recipe lines, as they try to serve every dog’s needs.

Blue has something for everyone—everyday nutrition, specialized diets, veterinary prescription diets, and treats galore. We can’t recommend them enough.

Perhaps one day Abound will take charge, creating a brand that is totally accessible and transparent.

Conclusion

So, ultimately, you have to decide what works best for your dog. We don’t think you can go wrong with Blue Buffalo—they have a recipe for virtually any need!

But if you just want top-notch dog food you can trust at Kroger, we think Abound is doing an okay job with ingredients—we just wish we knew more about the company!

• See also: Nutro vs Blue Buffalo Dog Food: Our Comparison