Our sweet Labrador mix Reba had the chance to try The Farmer’s Dog fresh dog food meal delivery service that brings homemade dog food right to your door.
This trial came at the perfect time for us…
We were several weeks into gut health issues, making bland boiled beef and rice daily to keep up with our growing pup – at the time Reba was only 4 months old – and help heal her digestive system so she could hopefully get back to eating ‘normal’ dog food.
I don’t know if you’ve ever smelled boiled beef, but it isn’t pleasant. It seemed to be the scent that pervaded our house 24 hours a day.
This was no good.
That’s why we decided to do our first trial and bring you this unbiased The Farmer’s Dog review of their fresh dog food delivery service.
Given the fact they are a company that is changing the way people think about feeding their pups by delivering human-grade food for dogs right to my doorstep, I jumped at the chance!
No more boiled meat? Provide countless health benefits for my Reba who wasn’t feeling well?
Count me in!
For a Limited Time, PupLore readers can Get 50% Off First Trial.
The Farmer’s Dog Story
Farmer’s Dog, headquartered in New York, NY was co-founded by friends Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev.
It all started because, like Reba, Brett’s dog, Jada, was really sick with stomach issues for more than two years.
He had been in and out of vet visits to try to figure out how to help her.
Our pets are our kids, and it breaks our hearts when we can’t find a solution that works.
He was finally recommended to try home-cooking his dog food and found that Jada was becoming a brand new pup.
But taking the time to make meals with fresh ingredients for your dog can be very time-consuming.
That prompted him to look around for companies that provided homemade dog food that he didn’t have to make.
His search for a complete, healthy, and easy meal plan for Jada came up short.
Brett realized they were probably not the only ones needing the healing benefits that fresh-made dog food could provide, but not having the time to provide it.
So he teamed up with his friend Jonathan and The Farmer’s Dog began.
Podolsky and Regev have partnered with board-certified veterinary nutritionists to create recipes that meet and exceed AAFCO standards with human-grade ingredients to provide your pups with a balanced diet.
Farmer’s Dog Food Recipes
When you create an account on the website, you are asked several questions about your dog’s breed, current size, ideal weight, eating style, activity level, and any issues (such as allergies, gas, itchiness, hyperactivity, etc.).
With this information, The Farmer’s Dog veterinary nutritionists create a meal plan unique to your dog.
Your price per week – charged every 2 weeks – is determined by the amount of food your dog needs to be at its most healthy for the life stage he or she is in.
While we’re talking about food, let’s dig in and see what The Farmer’s Dog recipes offer in the way of fresh, grain-free ingredients.
The first thing I notice is that right on the outside of the package of food for the day, there is a label that reads “Reba’s” in big bold letters, with whatever recipe it happens to be below her name.
Then at the bottom of the label, they include the day the meal was cooked with love.
And you can’t beat meals prepared with heart.
Underneath the date is the reminder, in case you forgot, “Real Food – Made Fresh – Keep Frozen”.
For a Limited Time, PupLore readers can Get 50% Off First Trial
Farmers Dog Turkey Recipe
This recipe is better than I eat!
Parsnips that are full of Vitamin C & B6 supporting not only a healthy metabolism but also help to regulate our pup’s nervous system.
I love parsnips for myself and usually never think about getting them.
It includes chickpeas that are a great source of fiber and protein in dog food. This helps keep our pets fuller longer without the supplements and fillers that dry dog food adds.
I was nervous about the turkey recipe because Reba didn’t do well with the other poultry, chicken, but she loved it!
Ingredients
USDA Turkey, parsnips, chickpeas, carrot, broccoli, spinach, fish oil, Vitamins & Minerals [tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, vitamin B12 supplement, taurine, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid]
Nutritional Info
- Crude Protein: 9% min
- Crude Fat: 5% min
- Crude Fiber: 1.5% max
- Moisture: 72% max
Calorie Content
1236 kcal per kg / 280 kcal per 1⁄2 lb (calculated) Reba’s personalized portions: 699 calories per day.
Farmer’s Dog Beef Recipe
Sweet potatoes, what?! Like mother, like dog daughter, we both love sweet potatoes.
I’ve been feeding them to Reba since she was a little bitty puppy shortly after we rescued her at 10 weeks old.
They are so good for digestive health due to their high contents of fiber. Our vet had suggested using sweet potatoes for constipation, and they really worked.
I think Reba can pick out the sweet potatoes in this recipe because she really loved this one.
And with the addition of kale and sunflower seeds, it sounds like a gourmet salad I would eat.
Ingredients
USDA Beef, sweet potato, lentils, carrot, USDA beef liver, water, kale, sunflower seeds, fish oil, Vitamins & Minerals [tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, vitamin B12 supplement, taurine, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid]
Nutritional Info
- Crude Protein: 11% min
- Crude Fat: 8% min
- Crude Fiber: 1.7% max
- Moisture: 66% max
Calorie Content
1587 kcal per kg / 360 kcal per 1⁄2 lb (calculated) Reba’s personalized portions: 699 calories per day
The Farmer’s Dog Pork Recipe
I feel like I’m starting to sound like a broken record.
Maybe it is just that my dog may not be a picky eater, but Reba really did love all of the homemade food from The Farmer’s Dog.
This pork recipe was no different.
Of course, the high-quality ingredients are a huge bonus for me as a pet parent.
You could probably sneak in any other good food with sweet potato and some meat and Reba would gobble it up.
But really, this food is human-grade dog food delivered right to your door!
Ingredients
USDA Pork, sweet potato, potato, green beans, cauliflower, USDA pork liver, fish oil, Vitamins & Minerals [tricalcium phosphate, sea salt, vitamin B12 supplement, taurine, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid]
Nutritional Info
- Crude Protein: 11% min
- Crude Fat: 7% min
- Crude Fiber: 1% max
- Moisture: 72% max
Calorie Content
1362 kcal per kg / 309 kcal per 1⁄2 lb (calculated) Reba’s personalized portions: 699 calories per day.
How Does The Farmer’s Dog Service Work?
To get started with The Farmer’s Dog, you need to head over to their website.
They provide a trial offer for new customers, and PupIore fans get an even better deal by clicking HERE – which will save you 50% off your first trial!
Their website is slick, providing quite a bit of information in a very digestible way. Even for dog owners new to the idea of fresh-ingredient, dog food delivery services.
You have to answer a questionnaire to discover your weekly price. That and the rest of the ordering process is quick and easy.
This reassures you that the Farmer’s Dog cares about your dog almost as much as you do – because no one could come near that!
Each individual meal plan is customized, cooked, and prepackaged based on your answers to the questions. They cover relevant topics such as age, breed, activity level, and the degree to which they are picky eaters.
Plus they ask about any issues your pup may have, like allergies, anxiety, skin & coat, joints, bad breath, and more.
I absolutely love that they ask all of these questions.
I know that my dog will get the best food with the highest-quality ingredients.
The best part is that I don’t have to be the one to make it!
This food will be delivered right to your door and all you’ll have to do is thaw it out, cut it open, and serve.
It really is that simple.
After the questionnaire, you’re given a couple of pricing options.
The first one, ‘vet recommended’, is the full meal plan that would replace your current plan.
This option will guarantee your dog a balanced diet consisting of high-quality ingredients that are backed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
The second option is the ‘Topper Plan’. This includes smaller portions of the meal plan to mix in and supplement your dog’s current food plan.
Then you’re taken to the checkout page. They are very clear that you’re signing up for a subscription dog food service even though this is first order is a trial order.
If you love it, you don’t do anything and the subscription will continue to deliver every 3 weeks to make sure you are never without food.
This means no more last-minute trips to the pet store to get dry dog food that is filled with preservatives and unknown additives that your dog will turn her nose up at anyway.
Plus those extra treats and toys you know you just can’t resist to pick up. The Farmer’s Dog meal schedule may save you just from that alone.
You can even go into your account and change the delivery schedule to whatever suits your needs.
Similar to other fresh dog food meal delivery companies, The Farmer’s Dog comes with a weekly price tag that may amount to more than your monthly dry dog food.
Let’s not forget that a dog on a real food meal plan will have fewer visits to the vet, to the groomer, and the pet store (remember?).
Aside from the cost factor, it has been noted that dogs who eat high-quality real food are known to live longer and have more energy.
What’s In The Box!?!?
Now the fun begins!
The food is delivered in packaging that has the environment in mind – recyclable box, compostable insulation, biodegradable storage container, BPA-free plastic.
I’m grateful they have our environment in mind!
A day’s worth of food is portioned out in individual frozen packages. The label even notes that this particular blend was formulated just for your pup!
And it also includes the exact date that your dog’s food was made, packaged, and frozen.
In addition to the food, you receive a biodegradable container to keep any excess that you are feeding at different times throughout the day.
I love knowing that my dog’s food was made with love and care; it truly makes a difference.
Farmer’s Dog vs Nom Nom
From our experience, these dog food companies are pretty comparable. It really just depends on what you value to put one company in front of the other.
If you haven’t already, make sure to read our Nom Nom Dog Food review…
But since I’m the one making the call, the company that takes the cake in dog food subscription plans is The Farmer’s Dog.
Let’s see how they stack up in various categories…
Price: Both companies come with a hefty price tag, but based on my dog’s unique meal plan, The Farmer’s Dog beats out Nom Nom for price per week by about $15/week.
Recipes: Again, both companies were very neck and neck in this category.
Both The Farmer’s Dog and Nom Nom use high-quality ingredients that even humans could eat.
Nom Nom dog food wins due to having four recipes to choose from, and The Farmer’s Dog only has three.
NomNom’s recipes also have a little more gourmet feel. While The Farmer’s Dog recipes are simple; they even state that simplicity right on their website.
I do appreciate simple, but I also get excited with the idea of gourmet!
Because of that, Nom Nom gets the win in this category for ingredients and recipes.
Packaging: Nom Nom gives you a container of food for 2 feedings a day.
That means no measuring, portioning, or thinking. Also, no tools because there’s a little tab that you just grab with your fingers and pull open.
The Farmer’s Dog gives you a package of food for the day that you need to open with a knife or scissors.
There is no portion line. You are left to guess and the food has a little more puree so it can get a little messy.
They do provide the container for the leftovers.
My favorite part of the packaging is the attention to detail on The Farmer’s Dog labels. Your pup’s name is prominent on top and the date the food was made, right on the bottom.
While The Farmer’s Dog has some really strong points, NomNom wins here simply because of the ease of opening and the ease of getting the food out of the container.
Gut Health: I know, I’m going to (briefly) talk about number 2.
I’m sorry, it is important and ultimately the most important factor for me in determining my number one between the two.
The Farmer’s Dog meal plan was the first subscription meal plan that got us out of making our own food.
It was a miracle to see Reba’s stool be normal after a pretty bad scare. We had weeks that turned into months of gut health and digestive issues.
We tried all kinds of different diets and this was the first one we saw positive progress.
Nom Nom’s recipes allowed the ingredients to shine.
You could see whole peas and cut carrots, where The Farmer’s Dog’s food composition was a little mushier.
NomNom’s food looked like something I would eat; The Farmer’s Dog looked more like slop, but only slightly.
We noticed this played a part in Reba’s stool. It was quite messy with Nom Nom because much of the ingredients were still intact.
I understand it is Reba’s personality not to chew her food, but everything seemed much more like what it should be with The Farmer’s Dog meals.
So, The Farmer’s Dog pulls way ahead here just because that is the entire reason I started trying meal subscription services for my dog.
I wanted Reba to have a much more healthy and normal digestive system, and Farmers Dog provided that for her.
Technically, the companies come to a tie.
I could come up with another category, but I think these keep it simple and allow you to decide what is right for you.
Wrapping It pUp…
Our foray into dog food delivery services was short-lived. The cost, while resolving itself, still feels like a pretty big reach for us.
We currently use a limited ingredient diet dry food for Reba.
I will say that I could tell a huge difference between her being on high-quality homemade foodservice and being on this food she is on now.
This is reason enough to at least give The Farmer’s Dog a try for yourself. The fact that you can get 50% off your first box trial is icing on the cake!
Here’s to your happy, healthy four-legged baby.
