Breaking Down The Farmer s Dog Food What Every Pet Parent Should Know

Freshpet, Farmers Dog, and Just Food for Dogs

Welcome to our in-depth, expert analysis where we tackle everything you need to know about some of the most popular premium dog food brands: Freshpet, Farmers Dog, and Just Food for Dogs. As pet parents, were all on a mission to provide the best for our furry friends, but with so many options, its tough to choose.

Key Takeaways at a Glance

• Freshness: All three brands prioritize freshness, but methods vary.
• Customization: Farmers Dog leads with tailored meal plans.
• Price: Just Food for Dogs typically offers a wider range of prices.
• Availability: Freshpet is the easiest to find in physical stores.

Whats on the Menu? A Comparison Chart

Freshpet: Convenient and Ready-to-Serve

Freshpet stands out for its convenience and availability. You can grab a bag during your regular grocery store run, making it a practical choice for many pet owners. Their focus on using natural ingredients and no preservatives aligns with a fresh diet ethos, although they offer fewer customization options than the other two brands.

Farmers Dog: Tailored Nutrition in a Pouch

Farmers Dog offers a personalized approach to your dogs dietary needs. Upon signing up, youll fill out a detailed profile for your dog, including age, breed, activity level, and any health issues. This information crafts a meal plan designed specifically for your pup and delivered right to your door. Its a premium service with a higher price tag, but for those who want the utmost in tailored nutrition, its a top pick.

Just Food for Dogs: A Blend of Variety and Quality

Just Food for Dogs strikes a balance between quality and customization. With options ranging from DIY meal kits to ready-to-serve packs, they cater to a variety of needs and budgets. Their use of human-grade, restaurant-quality ingredients ensures high standards, and their meals are developed by veterinarians, adding an extra layer of trust.

Breaking It Down: Insights and Tips

Evaluate Your Dogs Needs: Each dog is unique. Consider age, health issues, and activity level before choosing a diet.

Budget Accordingly: High-quality diets are an investment. Consider what youre able to spend monthly.

Consider Convenience: How much time are you willing to dedicate to preparing your dogs meals? Your lifestyle will influence your choice.

Try Samples: Many companies offer trial sizes or money-back guarantees, so you can see how your dog likes the food.

Consult Your Vet: Always discuss dietary changes with your veterinarian, especially for dogs with health issues.

Final Thoughts: Nutrition Tailored for Tails

Choosing between Freshpet, Farmers Dog, and Just Food for Dogs boils down to a blend of your lifestyle needs, budget, and your dogs specific health requirements. Each brand has carved out its niche, offering distinct benefits. By focusing on what matters most for your pet, you can make a choice that supports their health and happiness for years to come.

Remember, the best food for your dog is the one that meets their nutritional needs and fits into your life seamlessly. Happy feeding!

Behind the Bowl with Veterinary Nutritionist Dr. Emily Stern

Q: Dr. Stern, what should pet owners consider most crucial when selecting a dog food brand?

Dr. Stern: Its essential to look beyond marketing and focus on nutritional adequacy and ingredient quality. A good starting point is to check whether the food meets the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines, which indicate that the food is complete and balanced for a specific life stage. From there, the source and quality of ingredients play a pivotal role. Human-grade ingredients are typically more rigorously handled and processed, which can translate into higher nutritional value and safety for your pet.

Q: How does the method of food preservation affect its nutritional content?

Dr. Stern: Preservation is key to maintaining nutrient integrity. Fresh, refrigerated meals like those offered by Freshpet and Just Food for Dogs often retain nutrients better than some traditional dry kibbles. However, freezing, as utilized by Farmers Dog, can also effectively preserve vitamins and minerals without the need for chemical preservatives. Each method has its benefits, so its about balancing freshness with practicality for your lifestyle.

Q: Can you elaborate on the significance of customized dog food plans?

Dr. Stern: Customized plans, such as those Farmers Dog offers, cater specifically to an individual dogs nutritional needs, which can vary greatly based on factors like age, breed, weight, and health conditions. This tailored approach can significantly improve issues such as allergies, obesity, and chronic diseases by providing precise nutrient levels. For example, a dog with kidney disease may require a diet lower in protein and phosphorus, which can be meticulously managed through a customized diet.

Q: Theres a lot of buzz around human-grade labeling. What does this mean, and why is it important?

Dr. Stern: Human-grade means the finished product is legally suitable and approved for human consumption. This label ensures that the food is made from ingredients that meet higher safety standards for toxins and contaminants. Its particularly important for discerning pet owners who seek the highest quality diet for their dogs, as it implies a higher level of ingredient scrutiny and processing transparency.

Q: For pet owners struggling with the cost of premium dog foods, do you have any advice on how to provide the best nutrition on a budget?

Dr. Stern: Absolutely, while premium foods offer excellent nutrition, they can be costly. One approach is to mix a high-quality kibble with some fresh components like cooked vegetables or lean meats to enhance nutritional value while managing costs. Another tip is to look for discounts or subscription services that offer savings. Finally, investing in proper nutrition can potentially reduce veterinary bills by preventing nutrition-related health issues down the line, making it a worthwhile investment in your dogs health and longevity.

Q: Finally, whats one often overlooked aspect of dog nutrition that you wish more pet owners were aware of?

Dr. Stern: Hydration! Many dog owners overlook the importance of water in their dogs diet. Especially for those feeding dry food, ensuring adequate water intake is crucial for kidney and urinary tract health. Incorporating wet foods or even adding water or broth to dry food can significantly aid in keeping a dog well-hydrated and prevent long-term health complications.

HELP US PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE

I Tasted Fresh Dog Food From PetPlate And The Farmers Dog To see How They Compare In 2024

The best thing about having so many fresh dog food brands on the market today is the number of choices.

The worst thing about having so many fresh dog food brands on the market is the well, number of choices. Few people have the time, money, or resources to sink into comparing six different fresh dog food companies. Today, Im going to simplify your life by giving you a quick-and-easy rundown of how two of the top brands compare.

If youve ever watched a little show called Shark Tank, theres a good chance youve already heard about PetPlate. The sharks didnt offer PetPlate a deal but the company went on to enjoy nationwide recognition and success. Meanwhile, The Farmers Dog one of PetPlates top competitors seems to have no problem keeping pace.

I ordered fresh dog food from both companies so that I could assess their delivery speed and packaging quality, taste test the food (its okay the food is human-grade!), and determine which brand is the better value.

Now that Ive tried recipes from PetPlate and The Farmers Dog, its time to report back on how the two brands stack up in terms of quality, convenience, and cost.

Who should get PetPlate?

PetPlate can be a good choice if youre looking for a company that offers a lot of flavor variety. The textures of the foods are great, however theyre not my favorite-tasting dog food.

Who should get The Farmers Dog?

The Farmers Dog produces superior quality food with superior quality flavor. If food quality is your key concern, then The Farmers Dog wont let you down nor will it disappoint your pups tastebuds.

Quality

Youre probably wondering what I look at when I test fresh dog food.

I typically consider four key characteristics: appearance, smell, taste, and ingredients. Lets find out how PetPlate and The Farmers Dog compare across each of these fronts.

Appearance

Both PetPlate and The Farmers Dog sell great-looking food. But, theres a clear winner.

PetPlate recipes come with substantial chunks of vegetables. Green beans, peas, carrots, and potatoes, not to mention whole grains. Unfortunately, the meat tends to look like its been ground to a pasty pulp. Their pork dish, which has hearty portions of meat, is the lone exception.

On the other hand, the appetizing hunks of meat you get from The Farmers Dog food are one of my favorite things about the brand. Their recipes also come with an abundance of chopped broccoli, carrots, lentils, and grains.

The colors are vibrant, too: bright-green broccoli florets and eye-popping carrots. This is more than regular, boring dog food the dishes actually look like something youd want to eat. More than anything, The Farmers Dog recipes look fresh and their inspiration is homemade dog food.

While both brands fresh food are appealing to the eye, Id say The Farmers Dog takes the lead in this category.

Smell

Neither brand really stood out in terms of smell. For the most part, both PetPlate and The Farmers Dog had appetizing, clean, and fresh aromas. It wasnt too hard to pick up the scent of their individual ingredients. Neither brands recipes had any off-putting or herbal odors, which is sometimes the case with other dog food brands.

Taste

Unfortunately, PetPlates flavors are strong in many cases too strong. I wasnt exactly excited to try them again.

That being said, what PetPlate really has going for it is the texture of its chunky vegetables and grains. This managed to make up for the pungent flavors and allowed for a more pleasant dining experience.

Lets be real, though: the dishes still kind of taste like dog food. I think the strong flavors may be the direct result of their recipes using too much organ meat. Of course, The Farmers Dog includes organ meat in their recipes, too, so I dont think any inherent organ-meat aversion is necessarily responsible for the difference in my reviews.

By contrast, The Farmers Dogs recipes are across-the-board delicious. Theyre always a pleasure to eat. Without a doubt, theyre among the best fresh dog food brands Ive tried. The textures are great, the flavors are clean and fresh, and there are no mysterious ingredients to be found.

If you want to feel confident about the tastiness of the food you feed your furry friend, Id argue that The Farmers Dog is about as good as it gets. They definitely have the upper hand on PetPlate when it comes to flavor complexity.

Where taste is concerned, The Farmers Dog is the obvious winner.

Ingredients

Pet parents have six PetPlate recipes from which to choose. The Farmers Dog only offers four.

Both companies hire board-certified veterinary nutritionists to formulate their fresh dog food. That means their recipes are nutritionally balanced to meet AAFCO standards (always check with your veterinarian to confirm your dogs nutritional needs first). If your dog has food allergies, both brands offer customization.

Furthermore, PetPlate and The Farmers Dog use human-grade ingredients. They cook the food in USDA kitchens, which means their dog food is held to the same safety standards as human food.

Again, talk with your vet about any nutritional concerns, but the main factor I personally like to consider are the recipes protein content as fed. Both PetPlate and The Farmers Dogs recipes are nearly identical at 8% to 11% protein as fed. This is pretty much in line with the average protein content of other fresh dog food brands.

Convenience

Lets see how convenient these companies are for pet owners when it comes to shipping speed, product packaging, and managing and canceling your subscriptions.

Purchasing

PetPlate and The Farmers Dog require dog owners to sign up for a subscription before purchasing their food. This makes them similar to other dog food delivery brands.

Having said that, its super easy to cancel your subscription with these companies if you decide their dog food isnt right for your pet. I simply logged into their website to view my account dashboard and, with a few clicks, I was able to cancel my subscriptions. Voila no further shipments and no further charges.

Shipping

Among these two fresh dog food services, I had a faster experience with The Farmers Dog in terms of shipping.

With PetPlate, I placed my order on a Sunday night and my shipment arrived two Tuesdays later. Thats a full six business days between when I placed my order and when I received the package.

With The Farmers Dog, I also placed my order on a Sunday night. It was ready and on my doorstep by the following Wednesday, which means it only took two full business days to get my shipment. That was pretty fast. Keep in mind that shipping times may vary depending on your location with the United States.

Both brands send well-packed shipments on dry ice to keep the food nice and frozen. PetPlates shipping materials and insulation are 100% recyclable, so once its unpacked you can throw everything in your recycling bin.

The Farmers Dog, on the other hand, uses cellulose insulation that you have to dissolve in water and run down your sink. Personally, I find this to be a bit more of a hassle.

The Farmers Dog definitely takes the cake in terms of speed, while PetPlate still has something to offer when it comes to packing materials.

As always, use my links below to get the best deal I know about from The Farmers Dog and PetPlate. Ill always keep these discount links up to date.

Packaging

PetPlate sends their food in plastic containers with a lid, which are perfect for storage. Although, I guess Im not a huge fan of all the plastic. Another nice touch is that the containers include information about the ingredients and nutrition.

Each container holds 12 ounces or about 340 grams of food. This is a reasonable portion size and easy to thaw one at a time, meaning youre less likely to have leftovers.

The Farmers Dog does a great job with their packaging, too. They vacuum seal their frozen patties in thin blocks for speedier defrosting.

Now, what I dont love about The Farmers Dogs packaging is that theres no easy-peel tabs. Youll need to reach for a pair of scissors every time you open one up.

Each of their frozen patties are right around a pound. This is a little more than PetPlate, but not too much. When its time to serve the food, just take it out of your freezer and put it in your fridge to thaw overnight.

Once defrosted, PetPlate says the food should be consumed within one week, whereas The Farmers Dog says you only have about four days.

Cost

Of course, we have to talk about pricing.

I always compare costs on a dollars-per-pound basis. This keeps the comparisons fair, since most of these fresh dog food companies use a slightly different method to evaluate your dogs nutritional requirements and therefore a variable amount of food. As a result, the dollars-per-week or dollars-per-day basis that they give you is not necessarily an apples-to-apples comparison.

According to my calculations, PetPlate comes in at about $7 per pound. Thats about as cheap as it gets. The only other fresh dog food brand Ive tried thats cheaper is Ollie, which doesnt taste great and has a really unpleasant texture.

The Farmers Dog comes in at about $7 per pound too. Their dog food tastes fantastic, so I think its worth it.

As human-grade [1], freshly-cooked dog food products, PetPlate and the Farmers Dog have a lot of similarities. However, there are some notable differences to keep in mind when youre choosing between the two.I prefer The Farmers Dog, perhaps your pup will too!