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The Farmer’s Dog may have topped all fresh food options in terms of popularity and marketing. When you Google fresh dog food, it’s one of the first to come up with lots of blogs titled ‘The Farmer’s Dog reviews’, and there’s likely good reason for that.
Aloy, my Australian Shepherd, was only too happy to taste-test this food for two weeks! As a notoriously fussy eater, but one who’s shown signs of preferring fresh food to kibble, I was extremely interested to know what she’d think of this option.
We tried out their beef recipe for a week to see how she liked it.
The Farmer’s Dog Food Pros and Cons
As with anything, The Farmer’s Dog has its pros and cons. Here’s what you need to know.
The Farmer’s Dog Pros
- Healthy, Certified Food: According to their website, their recipes are, “all developed by our board-certified animal nutritionist and reviewed by a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® to be complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards.” In other words, it’s gone through professionals to ensure it is actually healthy for your dog.
- Food for Different Stages: The Farmer’s Dog is able to formulate and provide food for puppies, adults, and seniors. Puppy energy and senior lack-of are different from a typical adult dog, so it’s good they bear this in mind.
- Convenient Shipping: Pick your box, sit back, and relax. Since The Farmer’s Dog operates on a subscription model, you don’t have to worry about remembering to buy dog food. It ships automatically right to your door.
- Various Recipes: The Farmer’s Dog offers dog food options like beef, chicken, and turkey so you can choose the ones that are best for your dog.
- Eco-Friendly Packaging: The eco-friendly packaging is easily recyclable, which is a big win for those of us who are environmentally conscious, something Aloy and I are trying to be good at!
The Farmer’s Dog Cons
- Expensive: Like a lot of fresh dog food, The Farmer’s Dog cost is more expensive than regular kibble. Aloy’s food was $6.47 a day, and at 30lb, she’s pretty small. I also labeled her as ‘active’ rather than ‘very active’, so an active dog would also likely require more. It is, however, not as expensive as raw food or other fresh dog food brands.
- No Baked Option: Some fresh dog food brands, like Spot & Tango, offer a baked option that’s more like kibble, but The Farmer’s Dog offers fresh food only.
Quick Verdict: Is The Farmer’s Dog Worth it?
So, with these pros and cons in mind, is The Farmer’s Dog worth it?
There are a few things that make me want to say it’s worth it. The ability to mix up recipes, the convenient shipping, and the fact that you know your dog is getting the absolute best is a really nice feeling. The dog food is completely customized to your pup when you tell the company about their age, breed, and activity level.
However, the price is definitely higher than other kibble. In comparison to other fresh dog food, it is more budget-friendly. Prices can start from $2 a day, whereas Ollie dog food cost starts at just under $4 a day. For my small(ish!) dog, we’re looking at $6.47 per day.
I would say if you have the money then yes, the convenience, peace of mind, and tasty food is absolutely worth it. If you’re on a budget, it might be stretching things a little far.
Who Is The Farmer’s Dog Food for?
The Farmer’s Dog is for people who want to—and have the ability to—go above and beyond for their pup. If you’re the sort of person who:
- Wants to feed their dog certified fresh and healthy meals
- Needs the convenience of having meals delivered to your door
- Has a dog who has struggled with kibble because they’re a very picky eater
Then The Farmer’s Dog is a great option. But it might not be for you if:
- You’re on a budget—it’s much more expensive than kibble
- Your dog is a grazer, as this food can’t be left out all day
- You don’t have ample fridge and freezer storage
What Actually Is The Farmer’s Dog Food?
The Farmer’s Dog is a company that specializes in fresh dog food. They make meals that are designed to be healthy and nutritious for dogs, using real, whole ingredients instead of the processed stuff you often find in traditional dog food. They have this all certified by a nutritionist to prove it.
Even my cats thought the food smelled great!
What makes them extra special is that they customize the meals based on your dog’s specific needs. You provide details about your dog’s age, weight, breed, and any health concerns, and they create a personalized meal plan.
The food is then delivered right to your door, so it’s super convenient.
Plus, since the ingredients are real and the food is freshly prepared, many dog owners in reviews have claimed to notice improvements in their pets’ health, energy levels, and overall happiness.
On top of all that, The Farmer’s Dog is environmentally conscious. They use eco-friendly packaging that’s easy to recycle, and they’re always looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. By choosing them, you’re not only doing something good for your dog but also for the planet.
The Farmer’s Dog Reviews: What Aloy and I Really Thought
Trying fresh new food is always dicey with Aloy, because it’s expensive, companies don’t seem to offer samples, and Aloy is all about novelty. What I mean to say is, she loves certain foods and treats for a day, and then gets quickly bored of them, so we’ve never made the switch to fresh.
I thought the same would happen with The Farmer’s Dog, but it was a little different this time. When she gulped down the first meal, I was wary of her looking at me when I served her the next one and walking away, but she ate that too! This continued for around three or four days before she got a little reluctant, but she never walked away from it entirely.
While I’m sure that reluctant might seem like a red flag, if you know Aloy, you know this is better than she usually does with kibble. I leave her dry dog food breakfast out for an entire day sometimes before she finally decides she’s hungry enough to eat it.
One thing I did think was a little problematic, however, was the shipping. I had an estimated delivery date with a three-day window and by the time the first day of that rolled around, it hadn’t even left the facility yet. It did make it in time—but barely.
I wasn’t in a huge hurry as she was still on her usual food, but when looking at reviews, I did see lateness was a general concern.
What happens if it’s another subscription that’s late, a second or third? Do we need to rush out and buy pet food to tide her over for a couple of days? As most of us dog parents know, switching a dog’s food back and forth can be dangerous, and with her sensitive stomach, this probably isn’t doable for Aloy.
(I don’t fancy any more of those vet bills!)
When it did come though, it was packaged nicely, and there were no mistakes in the order—I got exactly what they said I would.
Yes, she did trail off the meal eventually, but it’s important to note I only ordered beef to start, mostly because she has some sensitivities (like a chicken allergy) and this was a safe bet. If I continue the subscription, I’ll switch it up and order some turkey too, and I think the alternating will keep her interested.
(It’s what we have to do with treats too—this house has five dog treat bags open at any one time, and we rotate between them.)
The Farmer’s Dog Food: Breakdown
My first box came with the following:
The Fresh Food Meals
The fresh food meals included were just beef, as we’ve been trying out a few different foods and I didn’t want to mess with Aloy’s stomach too much. Fellow dog parents will know how careful you need to be when transitioning food in terms of being kind on their insides!
They were packaged very tightly, which made it a little difficult to get the food out—but I suppose that’s what you have to do to keep food as fresh as it can be. The packets were very conveniently portioned out, however, so even though it was a struggle to get the food out, it probably saved time in the long run.
The first box came with seven days of food, which is good, because it’s a nice test-run for your dog without it being a huge waste if your pup isn’t a fan.
Extra Goodies
As well as the fresh food, they also supplied a nice little takeaway container! As someone who often travels to their in-laws a state away to stay overnight with the pup, this was a nice touch, as you can store the food in there then pop it in the fridge when you get to your destination.
I assume this is just a first-box thing rather than an every-box thing as there’s no need to keep replacing the container, but I’m a big fan of it.
It also came with a cute green tote bag which I’m sure we’ll get some use out of!
Final Thoughts: To Buy The Farmer’s Dog Food or Not?
There are some undeniable drawbacks to The Farmer’s Dog, mainly the price. If you have multiple dogs, large and/or high-energy breeds, or are just on a budget, the price of The Farmer’s Dog may be unsustainable for you (but it is less expensive than a raw diet).
It’s also not good for pets who need to be on prescription diets, as they don’t offer that option.
However, if you have the money to afford The Farmer’s Dog, it’s a healthy food that works great for pets with no special gastrointestinal needs. The food is healthy as can be, includes personalized meal plans, and definitely tasty—take that from a certified fussy dog owner who certainly wouldn’t eat it if she didn’t like it!
Alternatives to The Farmer’s Dog
The main alternative to The Farmer’s Dog is Ollie Food, another fresh food option.
Aloy has personally tried both. Her enthusiasm for Ollie Food stuck around longer because they had a baked recipe that could be mixed in, but Ollie Food did also make a mistake with her order and throw in a chicken meal (which I was clear she is allergic to), so always be sure to check the packaging.
Ollie Food wins on budget, but The Farmer’s Dog wins on reliability. As for taste? It’ll all come down to your pup.