My Dogs Reviewed The Farmer's Dog Fresh Dog Food & Here's What They Think
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It's a full house these days with two 100-pound dogs and a toddler, but my German Shepherds will always be my first babies. As they get older (Sasha is seven and Pepper is five-and-a-half), I become even more aware of the kind of food they eat, especially since they're large dogs, and large dogs tend to have shorter lifespans (let's not talk about it). Which is why I like options like The Farmer's Dog : Fresh, human-grade food that's delivered to your doorstep and personalized based on your dogs' needs.
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One of the more glaring differentiations between The Farmer's Dog and kibble options (besides the ingredients) is, of course, the cost. Whether you're on the fence or just want to learn more, here's a totally honest review of The Farmer's Dog from me and my two pups—and a breakdown of whether or not it's worth it.
This article was sponsored by The Farmer's Dog, however, all products were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
The Farmer's Dog Subscription
$Prices Vary
Formulas:7
Delivery:Once a week up to every 2 months (easily skippable and/or pausable)
Shipping:Free
Personalized:Yes
AAFCO-compliant:Yes
Freebies:Your first order comes with a plastic container to store packages of food, as well as an insulated shopping bag
My Dogs' Review of The Farmer's Dog
My dogs are actually not new to The Farmer's Dog. While they do typically get kibble from Costco, every few months I'll switch things up and stock up on The Farmer's Dog because they love it so much. I've been on-and-off subscribing to The Farmer's Dog since 2021 because I try to spoil my two as much as I can. Here's what I love most about the brand.
1. I know the ingredients are good.
Every variety of The Farmer's Dog is packed with protein (beef, chicken, pork, or turkey) and mixed with veggies and grains (although they do have a grain-free option). Real muscle and organ meats make up 50 percent of the formula, so I know my dogs aren't getting filler food (my fear with kibble, no matter how good the marketing is).
2. My dogs are obsessed with it.
They are so happy when it's a The Farmer's Dog night. I've actually had to purchase one of those special dishes that makes dogs slow down when they're eating for my eldest dog because I was concerned she wasn't actually chewing her food.
3. The meals are personalized.
When you first start out, you take a quiz for each dog based on their needs.
This way, The Farmer's Dog understands if your dog(s) have any allergies or sensitivities, whether they need to lose or gain some weight, and the best type of protein to support their overall health based on age, breed, and activity level. The Farmer's Dog recognizes that every dog is different, and just like humans, they respond best when their meal plans take everything into consideration.
4. The first delivery comes with a container and insulated bag
This was a nice touch. The food bags you get aren't resealable, and they do smell like…well, meat! They're very meaty. So it's nice to have a separate container in the fridge that holds the leftovers.
5. You can easily stop or pause the service whenever you want.
I love that you're not locked in, and The Farmer's Dog doesn't use annoying or predatory marketing tactics to keep you paying for the service if you need to pause of cancel completely.
What to Know About The Farmer's Dog
The Farmer's Dog was founded by two dog lovers (Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev) in 2014 after Brett's Rottweiler dealt with severe digestive issues that he found cleared up whenever he cooked her food from scratch versus store-bought kibble. The two worked with vet nutritionists to develop recipes that are made with high-quality ingredients that optimize dogs' health. Each bag is made with actual human-grade food and adhere to human food safety and quality standards (versus "feed grade" which is how kibble is described).
The ingredients are cooked at high temps to eliminate bacteria, but low enough to still preserve nutrients. Then, each bag is packed and flash-frozen. Every batch must pass rigorous testing before it exists the facilities and makes it to your doorstep (and into your doggo's bowl).
Pricing
Fresh dog food is more expensive than dry food—there's no way around it. You're paying for fresh meat and vegetables. The exact price you'll pay for The Farmer's Dog depends on your dog and their needs. Smaller dogs eat less, so your The Farmer's Dog two-week order may be $40-$60 an order, versus a larger dog (like mine), which was about $150. Large bags of dog food that last between two and three weeks typically run from $20 to $100.
Compared to other fresh dog delivery programs, The The Farmer's Dog is one of the most affordable (compared to Ollie, Nom Nom, JustFoodForDogs, and PetPlate).
I'll also note that shipping is included in the fee.
Add-Ons
The Farmer's Dog also offers personalized treats (pork, chicken, beef, and turkey varieties). I haven't tried these, so I can't say whether or not dogs love them, since mine haven't tried!
A new product I noticed is the Instant Fresh, a shelf-stable option that you just add water to. I also haven't tried this option, but I see it being a great choice if you're traveling and don't have a big enough fridge (or fridge at all) to accommodate the packs of food.
Is The Farmer's Dog Right for Your Pup(s)?
The kind of food a dog is served is so personal and depends on the dog. The Farmer's Dog may not be the best fit if your dog needs a prescription-grade food (if you're not sure about this, ask your vet). Every type of breed and size could love The Farmer's Dog food, I think especially if they're on the more picky side, or need help with weight management. Folks with pure-bred and large dogs may also want to consider The Farmer's Dog (or other fresh food options) since pure and large breeds tend to have more health issues and unfortunately don't have as long of lifespans.
The Farmer's Dog is a great option if you want to explore or continue offering your dog fresh food, but don't have the bandwidth to make it yourself (something that my husband and I have absolutely done in the past, and while it saves money, we would spend hours cooking and cooling and storing dog food—not fun).
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