The Farmer's Dog Review

Overview

If you’ve ever questioned what exactly is contained within the dry food you feed your dog everyday, know that you’re not alone. More and more pet owners are beginning to become more concerned about what they feed their furry friend, and if they are making the right choices at the pet store. 

Kibble has been around for decades, and is the most popular choice when it comes to what to feed your canine. It is popular because it is cheap, convenient, and is highly processed to ensure it is full of all nutrient requirements but for as little cost as possible. Unfortunately, this means that dry food is often packed full of chemicals, additives, and by-products and there is very little real meat or vegetables that go into making it. 

All of the additives can wreak havoc on a dog’s system, and it can cause a dip in energy levels, their skin and coat condition, as well as health problems such as allergies or digestive troubles. It was these types of problems that prompted the founder of The Farmer’s Dog to take a hard look at what he was feeding his dog, and then create a product that he felt proud to feed to his pooch.

Just like we wouldn’t feed ourselves processed, fast-food every day, our pets meals deserve to be held to the same standards, and the human-grade ingredients found in every package of The Farmer’s Dog food ensures that they are getting real food, real nutrients, and real benefits.

The Farmer’s Dog Brand Information

The Farmer’s Dog started out of a need for one man to solve his dog’s health issues. Brett Podolsky noticed that his dog Jada suffered for a multitude of digestive issues, and he was on the hunt for a food that would help alleviate her discomfort. From Vet recommended brands to generic store options, everything he selected only seemed to make matters worse. 

Out of ideas, Brett took his dog to a holistic vet who suggested that he try cooking food himself and feeding that to Jada. Armed with that advice, he went home and began making her meals, and virtually overnight her stomach issues ceased. He then put her back on regular food, and immediately the same problems resumed, forcing him to switch her back to homemade food permanently. 

What Brett noticed, however, was that there were not a lot of options out there for this specialized diet, and if he wanted to feed Jada a better meal then he was stuck making it himself. This led him to think about other pet owners who were likely in a similar situation, and from here The Farmer’s Dog was born. 

After teaming up with his friend, and fellow co-founder, Jonathan Regev, the two raised a significant amount of venture capital – more than any other similar brand has been able to do. From here they were able to build an incredibly successful business that continues to dominate in the world of pet meal delivery services.

As a whole, The Farmer’s Dog has remained completely committed to providing high-quality and additive free dog food and reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Many pet owners have taken to the internet to share stories about how switching to The Farmer’s Dog cleared up health issues and improved their dog’s well-being overall. 

Unlike regular, home-cooked meals, The Farmer’s Dog food meets all nutritional requirements and is perfectly portioned so you are no longer left worrying about if you are feeding the correct amount. Simply open a package, empty the stated amount into their bowl, and watch your pet gobble up every last bit.

The Farmer’s Dog Recipes & Ingredients

The Farmer’s Dog currently offers four different protein options, including pork, beef, chicken, and turkey, all of which you are able to mix and match in order to create some diversity in your dog’s meals. All ingredients are listed clearly, and the package also states exactly what day the food was cooked on.

When looking at the ingredient list, you always want to focus on the first few items since everything is listed in order of quantity. The items that make up the majority of the food will be first, and the last bit of the list will include small amounts of nutritional supplements.

As you can see with The Farmer’s Dog, the first ingredients are exactly what they should be – the protein that you have selected. This is then followed by real vegetables, all of which are selected for optimal health benefits. 

Most of the food packages contain anywhere from 66% – 72% moisture, which is important for dogs to ensure that they are getting enough water throughout the day. This is one aspect of dry food that can be very harmful, as even a bowl of water left out may not be properly hydrating them.

All of the food is grain free, and formulated so that it is appropriate for dogs of any age. It also is personalized based on the questionnaire you fill out before ordering, and each package will arrive with your dog’s name on it.

Ordering & Delivery With The Farmer’s Dog

The ordering process is very straightforward, and the website guides you through it in a very intuitive manner. Before you order, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your pet that covers things such as their age, breed, weight, and activity level. This allows the system to pair you with the perfect meal plan, both in terms of protein as well as portion size. 

Once you have selected the protein you prefer, you can then alter your meal plan based on how much of your dog’s diet you want to be The Farmer’s Dog. If you plan on using it only as a supplementary product, you can opt to have fewer meals delivered every couple of weeks. However, if you are planning on switching your dog completely, you can select that option and they will put you on a recurring subscription plan.

The subscription plan ensures that your dog never misses a meal, and food will be delivered to you right on time. If you happen to be going away, or something comes up, you can easily skip a delivery or pause your subscription right from the website. Another bonus to The Farmer’s Dog is that you can select your delivery frequency, meaning that if you want 8 weeks of food at once, that is well within your options. Many services only send a maximum of 2 weeks at a time, which may not work for everyone’s schedule.

Once the food arrives, you will find it contained within refrigerated boxes that ensure it stays cool and fresh during transport. Depending on how much you ordered, you will either keep it in the fridge or freezer, and then simply thaw it out before serving. The food does not need to be reheated and can simply be served as is.

When you are ready to feed your pup, open up one of the packages and deposit the stated amount into their bowl. The packages are not resealable, however, so many recommend pouring the entire pack into a sealable container and then dividing it up from there. This will keep it safely stored in the fridge and reduce any spillage between meals.

All of the remaining packaging, including the insulation, is biodegradable and/or recyclable, so you don’t have to worry about creating any unnecessary waste in the process.

The Farmer’s Dog Pricing

Costs for premium dog food are always going to be higher than the generic dry food that you can get on sale at the grocery store. This is to be expected, as you are now buying food that is made from real meat, real vegetables, and doesn’t have fillers or preservatives to keep it shelf stable for years. Not everyone is going to want to make this switch, and those on a very tight budget likely will not be able to afford it every week. With that said, out of all of the dog meal services, The Farmer’s Dog is by far the least expensive one on the market.

While it is impossible to give an exact price for how much this will cost you, they do say that meal prices begin at $3 per day and then go upwards based on breed, weight, and activity level. For comparison, those who own a small, older, inactive dog are going to be paying significantly less than someone who owns a large breed, young dog who is very active.

When comparing the price to kibble, the cost ends up being anywhere from $3 – $8 more per day, again depending on the size and how active they are. But, if you are someone who has a dog with health issues, or are spending quite a bit on a prescription diet, then this can actually end up saving you money per day. Not only that, but in the long-term this can lead to significantly better health for the dog, which ultimately will cut costs when it comes to vet bills and health problems. 

Since you are paying as a per week basis, plans will ultimately start at about $16 per week for a dog 5lbs or under, and go up to around $90 per week for a dog that is around the 80lb mark. If you are hesitant about switching because of cost, The Farmer’s Dog does offer a full refund on your first order if you aren’t completely satisfied with the food. That helps a lot, because owners who are concerned about dropping a lot of money on something their pet potentially hates will be comforted by their generous return policy.

How Does The Farmer’s Dog Compare?

Many of the pet meal delivery services offer similar products, making it difficult to decide which one you should go with. For many their first step into this type of food will likely be determined by the overall cost, making The Farmer’s Dog the perfect choice. Out of all of the top companies, The Farmer’s Dog remains the cheapest option, while still ensuring that they meet rigorous quality standards. 

Another area that people may want to take into consideration is the convenience of it all, and The Farmer’s Dog both excels and falls a bit short in this area. On one hand, they have the most flexible delivery schedule and options, making it a much better choice for someone who isn’t always home or able to pick up a delivery. While other companies only ship every two weeks, The Farmer’s Dog can be adjusted to ship however many weeks you want – something no one else is offering.

Where they fall short, though, is in the fact that their packaging isn’t the easiest of all the brands. The packages are not resealable, the contents can stick to the sides, and the container they do provide is neither airtight nor sturdy. This is something that can easily be fixed, so long as you open the package and transfer it into a tupperware container right away. From there you will be able to scoop and serve, sealing it back up when you are finished.

The sign-up quiz that you take with The Farmer’s Dog is by far the most intricate, and they cover almost everything there is to know about your dog. All of the other companies do also have a quiz, but it is less extensive and you don’t have the option to input health concerns or dietary restrictions. This doesn’t mean that The Farmer’s Dog will necessarily have the right food for dogs on a very strict and specific diet, but it does mean that they are more likely to understand and accommodate your pet’s needs. It also means that The Farmer’s Dog is able to perfectly pinpoint what, and how much, you should be feeding your pooch every meal.

Bottom Line

The Farmer’s Dog may not be for every pet owner, and it certainly won’t be a good choice for anyone that is looking to spend as little as possible on their dog’s food. However, if you are looking to upgrade to something healthier and more nutritious, while still saving some money, it is hard to go wrong with this company. 

Anyone with a larger sized dog will benefit the most from The Farmer’s Dog, as the lower cost means huge savings every month. For small dogs, the savings aren’t as noticeable, but that doesn’t mean you won’t still benefit from choosing this brand. 

The Farmer’s Dog ensures that all of their food is human-grade quality, and they only use high quality meats and vegetables in the process. There are no preservatives or fillers, and every recipe is completely grain-free. On top of that, The Farmer’s Dog is one of the only companies that ships within days of making the meal, meaning that it is not deep frozen and sitting for long periods of time. They clearly label on their packaging the date it was made, so you know your money is being well spent on quality food.

As people become more aware of what pet’s need in order to thrive, companies like The Farmer’s Dog will see an increase in sales. Gone are the days when whatever is cheapest would suffice, and we’ve now entered into an era where we understand that what we feed our dog has a significant impact on their health. If you are someone that wants to ensure your dog is happy, healthy, and functioning at their best, then it’s time to give The Farmer’s Dog a try.