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We originally fed Eagle Pack's Holistic Select to our dogs but it became hard to get so we switched to Prairie.  I just didn't like how congested my dogs were on Prairie so we switched to Orijen (keep in mind, all these switches were over several years time giving each food for at least one year, usually more like 18 months to two years).  Since Orijen had no grain it was supposed to cut back on how much grass they ate but ended up making them eat more because their stomachs were upset easier.  I had more problems with my particular dogs on Orijen than I was comfortable with.  After 9 months on Orijen we found another carrier in our area of Eagle Pack's Holistic Select and have switched back and are very happy.  My dogs just seem to do best on that particular brand but I know many people swear by Orijen.  It may be a try and see kind of thing for your dog too.

@stephinPA:  The whole gaining weight thing did become an issue on Orijen for my girls as well.  It is tough to find the right balance with so many choices.  I personally feel as long as I'm feeding a high quality holistic food I just have to hunt and peck until I find the right food for my girls.  Orijen definitely fits the bill . . . it just wasn't right for my dogs.  Best of luck!!

I fed my dog California Natural for a long time, but then she had blood work indicating early renal malfunction - so we switched her to a raw diet.  She would NOT for the life of her just eat raw meat, so after a bunch of tries (including tricks!) we fed her Primal.  She has NEVER been healthier - looking, acting, pooping! - than when she was eating Primal two meals a day.  However, she's 100lbs and 5 primal patties a day was too expensive.

We've been feeding her Orijen in the morning and Primal at night (most nights, when I remember) and it cut our feeding budget and she seems to be doing fine - we got her blood checked, and it was normal.  However, as much as Orijen is supposed to be THE best food on the market, it is a very very rich food.  It's harder on Lucy's tummy, definitely, because her #2s after digesting Orijen are much different than after eating her Primal. 

You might not be able to feed both dogs the same thing - this is a very real possibility.  I DO suggest Cali Natural to people who I know have doggie tummy issues. However, I have not purchased/recommended it since Proctor and Gable bought them.  Maybe others can chime in.

That said, I think Primal is the best dog food I have ever bought any pet I've owned.  Lucy gets ready to eat every time I go to the freezer because she thinks I'm getting our Primal - that's how much she loves it.  The moistness is wonderful for  a dog that might need help getting more water (a big dog like Lu) and she looked the healthiest. Too bad my income was not!

I tried feeding this to our Yorkie, but she wasn't having any of it! She would pretty much starve herself instead of eating it. I've recently started feeding her California Natural, which is by the same company (Natura Pet) and she's really liking that right now. She eats the Herring and Sweet Potato formula!

"too much protein" is a myth - in the wild, dogs eat animals and the contents of their stomachs.  It's not the AMOUNT of protein but the quality.  At first I thought too much was bad, too, especially when learning about my dogs elevated creatinine.  However, after reading about how restricting a dog's protein intake does not help that, and that it's the quality, I tried that.  Especially given the total crap food vets try to sell you. 

If some foods were too high protein, raw food wouldn't be as good for them!  But if you feed just raw meats, be sure you 1) give them bones and organs and 2) buy good meat - no saline injected or anything, which can be hard to find depending on where you live or the stores you shop at.  Lucy wouldn't eat raw meat - we gave her a chicken quarter - and even seared the skin - and she was like "WHAT THE HELL MOM!!!"  I also thought it was important to be able to have her switch to kibble in case she had someone else watching her, which was one reason we started splitting her meals.  

I will sing Primal's praises from the tallest roof (but only if they gave it to her for free!).  That said, I have contacted them about the cost and once in a while I get a care package from them with their treats - which she cannot get enough of - and some coupons.  They also have punch cards and some feed shops have their own frequent buyer program. 

Innova was also bought by Proctor and Gamble, FYI. 

Orijen does have a senior formula....but if you found something that works, that's great!  It's hard to do that, especially with older pups!

protein variety is good - or adding a whole raw egg with shell - things like that are good if your dog's tummy can handle it! 

Having given my dog a variety of diets, I personally believe grain free and quality is what matters and I've seen the results in her blood work.  My dog sleeps probably 20 hours out of the day and the rest of the time wishes she were sleeping - she's 100lbs.