Why is farmer s dog food so expensive

How Much Does The Farmers Dog Cost And Is It Worth It?

Petful is reader-supported. As an affiliate of platforms, like Amazon, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. There is no extra cost to you.

If you have a dog, youve hopefully already factored the cost of pet care into your budget.

When it comes to feeding your dog, however, youre not always better off buying the packaged kibble thats on the grocery store shelf. It may not contain the best nutrients, especially if your dog has allergies, digestive issues or special needs.

But can you afford to pay for something like The Farmers Dog, a freshly made dog food with human-grade ingredients? I think you might be surprised.

DONT MISS THIS OFFER!Save 50% on The Farmers Dog right now through this exclusive link.

How Much Does It Cost to Feed Your Dog?

The average person spends up to $550 a year on food for their dog, according to Petfinder.

Food expenses vary, though. Your dogs size and activity levels dictate the amount of food consumed. Of course, the quality of the food also affects the price.

Heres the deal: You get what you pay for. When you go with a highly processed commercial dog food, you could end up paying more down the road in veterinary bills.

Not only can you see the signs of improved health with a more natural dog food, writes Jeffrey Levy, DVM, PCH, but you will also save money in the long run due to fewer and lower veterinary bills.

The healthier your pet is, the less likely s/he will be to have fleas, skin problems, allergies and many other common disease problems.

Other Brands vs. The Farmers Dog Cost

For commercial kibble from a decent mass-market brand, you will spend about $1 per day for a 25-pound dog, and around $2 per day for a 55-pound dog.

On the other hand, an adequate amount of fresh dog food made from real cooked meat and vegetables for the same dog is more expensive.

The Farmers Dog cost is:

• Around $4 to $5 per day for a 25-pound dog
• Around $8 to $9 per day for a 55-pound dog

But, again, this isnt exactly comparing apples to apples. First, a well-rounded meal thats made from whole ingredients is not comparable to many kibbles.

All of our ingredients are human-grade and sourced from restaurant suppliers, local farms or other human food purveyors, according to The Farmers Dog website. We never use feed-grade ingredients, and we dont process our ingredients to be shelf-stable, getting the most natural nutrients available.

In this video, I show you exactly what arrives in the box, and what my canine reviewer thought about The Farmers Dog:

Farmers Dog Review

Farmers Dog has carved a niche in the pet food industry by offering fresh, human-grade meals that cater to the health and well-being of our canine companions. The brand emphasizes transparency, quality, and personalization, a refreshing contrast to many off-the-shelf pet foods.

Pros:

• Fresh Ingredients: Farmers Dog uses fresh, human-grade ingredients which are a noticeable step up from many traditional dog foods that contain fillers, by-products, and artificial preservatives. This is why your pets meals have to be stored in the fridge.
• Customized Meals: The food is tailored for individual dogs based on factors like age, breed, activity level, and health needs. This personal touch can be especially beneficial for dogs with special dietary needs.
• Convenience: Meals are pre-portioned, eliminating the guesswork of how much to feed your dog. Theyre packed with insulation and delivered directly to your door, making the process hassle-free.
• Transparency: Farmers Dog lists all ingredients clearly and provides insights into their sourcing. The brands transparency extends beyond just the ingredients; theyre also forthright about their preparation processes.
• Positive Reviews: Many dog owners have reported positive changes in their dogs health, energy levels, and coat condition after switching to Farmers Dog.

Cons:

• Cost: High-quality ingredients and tailored meals come at a price. Farmers Dog is notably more expensive than many mainstream dog food brands. However, for many pet owners, the benefits justify the higher cost.
• Storage: Because the food is fresh and doesnt contain preservatives, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. This might be inconvenient for those with limited space.
• Limited Variety: While the brand offers a few different recipes, some dogs or owners might desire a wider variety of flavors or ingredients.

Conclusion:Farmers Dog provides a fresh and wholesome alternative to traditional dog food options. The focus on high-quality, human-grade ingredients and personalization stands out in an industry that often prioritizes mass production. While it may be a pricier option, the potential health benefits and convenience might make it worth the investment for many pet owners. However, as with any pet food, its essential to consult with a vet to ensure it meets your dogs specific needs.

If youd like a more in depth review, check out my article here.

What Type of Food Is Best for Your Dog?

Veterinarians knowledge of canine nutrition has come a long way in the past few decades. Thirty years ago, experts believed that dogs were carnivores. They now understand that dogs are omnivores.

Still, many dog food manufacturers use sneaky tricks to lead consumers to believe theyre buying balanced and nutritious products for their pets. Some proteins are not easily digestible. For example, corn, a primary ingredient in many conventional dog foods, is one of the least digestible proteins, according to PetMD. Corn is much less digestible than muscle meats, organ meats and egg whites.

Many raw materials that are unfit for human consumption can be legally added to dog food. To add carbohydrates, some manufacturers use cheap grains, which deliver energy but not many other vitamins and minerals.

Plus, most dog foods that you find on grocery store shelves are formulated to meet the average dogs minimum nutritional requirements. Your dogs health and metabolism might be very different from those of the typical canine.

All of this might make you wonder if youre better off cooking fresh dog food from scratch. Theres a convenience factor involved in feeding your pet, though. Many people would balk at the idea of spending time cooking separate meals for their dogs. Fortunately, there is a happy medium.

Is The Farmers Dog Worth It?

Yes. The Farmers Dog subscription is worth the cost, in our opinion. You get personalized meal plans formulated by veterinary nutritionists to give your dog the fresh food ingredients they really need. The recipes are made from fresh, human grade food in their kitchens before the food is frozen, and delivered in an insulated cardboard box to your door.

Instead of providing a one-size-fits-all solution, The Farmers Dog gives your pet customized nutrition. Their custom meal plans are grain-free and typically include ingredients such as: chicken, beef, turkey, pork, carrots, green beans, broccoli, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, lentils, spinach, etc.

To create your customized meal plan, they have a short questionnaire where you follow theinstructions, fill out the form (dogs name, age, weight,breed, allergies, etc.) and at the end, receive a fewboard-certifiedmeal plans for your pet.

The Farmers Dog cost varies. You might spend $3 a day for a small dog or about $8 for an energetic Lab mix. Every animal is unique, and this high-quality dog foods ingredients and pricing reflect your pets distinctive needs.

I love seeing comments like these from Facebook:

Try out The Farmers Dog. Your dog will feel the difference and youll see it.

The Farmers Dog 50% Off Trial

For a limited time, you can get an amazing 50% off your first order right now. No promo code required. Give The Farmers Dog a try today and get your pup thriving on a healthy, wholesome diet thats just about the closest thing to homemade out there! Learn more here.

Get 50% Off Now!

Written by Dave Baker

Dave Baker, founder and publisher of Petful, is a journalist and editor who has worked at The New York Times and The Nation magazine. He was also part of the 2006 Pulitzer Prizewinning team at The Times-Picayune newspaper of New Orleans. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Petful is now based. A longtime advocate for pet food safety, Dave has been passionately tracking pet food recalls for nearly 15 years, and nearly 40,000 pet parents are subscribed to his recall alerts which often arrive faster than even the recall alerts put out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Howmuch doesFarmers Dogcost?

Kibbletypically costs around $1 per 25lbs per day (ie a 50lbs dog would cost around $2 per day inkibble.Farmers Dogcosts roughly $4 per 25lbs per day.

Where is theFarmers Doglocated?

TheFarmers Dogs headquarters is located at 214 Sullivan Street, New York.

Why is theFarmers Dogso expensive?

TheFarmers Doguses fresh,human-grade ingredientsin their customrecipes. Their food is filler-free,grain-freeandboard-certified. Their preparation process and use of high-gradeingredientsall contribute the price of their premium dog meal subscriptions.

Where to buy the Farmers Dog food?

The Farmers Dog is a subscription based direct to consumer business model. In other words, you pay a subscription fee every couple weeks and the box of frozen-fresh dog food gets delivered to your door.

The Farmers Dog Food Review (Fresh)

DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how

All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.

The Farmers Dog earns The Dog Food Advisors top rating of 5 stars.

In this review

Well take an in-depth look at The Farmers Dog and well rate each of its recipes. And well answer these important questions:

1. What is The Farmers Dog? How does it work?
2. Who makes it?
3. Has The Farmers Dog been recalled?
4. Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?

But first

What Is The Farmers Dog?

The Farmers Dog is a premium subscription service that produces fresh, custom-made food for your particular dog. And then delivers it refrigerated direct to your door.

How Does the Service Work?

First, youll answer a few questions about your dogs age, weight, breed, activity level and allergies. This creates a custom feeding profile.

Next, youll choose a flavor. Set up a delivery schedule. And soon, fresh-made pet food arrives at your home, packed in dry ice.

Which Recipes Get Our Top Ratings?

The Farmers Dog offers 4 recipe options. Heres what makes each one different.

• First 5 ingredients: Beef, sweet potatoes, cooked lentils, carrots, beef liver
• Protein: 39% (dry matter)
• Fat: 29% (dry matter)
• Carbs: 24% (est)
• Fat-to-protein ratio: 73%

Beef Recipe contains the second highest protein level in The Farmers Dog product line. Includes fish oil, a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids for better joint health. A top pick. Highly recommended.

Check Special Price

• First 5 ingredients: Turkey, chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, spinach
• Protein: 33% (dry matter)
• Fat: 19% (dry matter)
• Carbs: 40% (est)
• Fat-to-protein ratio: 56%

Although Turkey Recipe has the lowest amount of meat protein in the brands offering, it also exhibits the most favorable fat-to-protein ratio. Exceptional nutrient balance. Recommended with confidence.

Check Special Price

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, brussels sprouts, chicken liver, bokchoy cabbage, broccoli
• Protein: 46% (dry matter)
• Fat: 34% (dry matter)
• Carbs: 12% (est)
• Fat-to-protein ratio: 74%

Chicken Recipe boasts the highest protein content of any product in the line with zero legumes. Contains an organic zinc compound and 2 other chelated minerals. Nutrients typically found in better recipes. Highly recommended.

Check Special Price

• First 5 ingredients: Pork, sweet potatoes, potato, green beans, cauliflower
• Protein: 36% (dry matter)
• Fat: 28% (dry matter)
• Carbs: 28% (est)
• Fat-to-protein ratio: 78%

This recipe gets 100% of its animal protein from fresh pork and pork liver. The formula is rich in omega-3 fish oil for optimal heart health and silky coat. Another exceptional pick. Highly recommended.

Check Special Price

The Farmers Dog fresh-cooked, human-grade dog food earns the Advisors top rating of 5 stars.

We find The Farmers Dog to be an outstanding, grain-free wet food. Each human-grade recipe uses a generous amount of fresh named meat as its main source of animal protein thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

The Farmers Dog product line includes the 4 fresh-cooked foods listed below.

Recipe and Label Analysis

The Farmers Dog Turkey was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.

The Farmer's Dog Turkey Recipe

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Turkey, chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, spinach, parsnips, tricalcium phosphate, salt, fish oil, choline bitartrate, taurine, vitamin B12 supplement, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%

Red denotes any controversial items

Guaranteed Analysis	8%	5%	NA
Dry Matter Basis	33%	19%	40%
Calorie Weighted Basis	28%	38%	34%

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this recipe is turkey. Turkey is considered the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey.¹

Turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient includes chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, beans and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.

However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The third ingredient lists carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

The fourth ingredient is broccoli. Broccoli is a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. Its notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.

Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.

The fifth ingredient is spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score² of 91.

The sixth ingredient includes parsnip, a root vegetable closely related to carrot and parsley. Parsnips are high in complex carbohydrates and rich in B vitamins, fiber and other essential nutrients.

The seventh ingredient is tricalcium phosphate, a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorus. In addition, this additive is used in canned foods as an emulsifier an agent designed to disperse a foods fats more evenly in water.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With 3 notable exceptions

First, we find fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a welcome addition.

Next, we note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients only, The Farmers Dog appears to be an above-average wet product.

However, ingredient content alone doesnt provide an accurate picture of the products meat content. We also need to take a closer look at the labels Guaranteed Analysis data.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 40%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 39% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 26% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 70%.

Which suggests The Farmers Dog contains above-average protein, above-average fat, and below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet recipe.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the chickpeas, this still looks like the profile of a fresh dog food containing a generous amount of meat.

The Farmer's Dog Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to The Farmer's Dog through April 2024.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of The Farmer's Dog Dog Food

We find The Farmers Dog to be an outstanding, grain-free wet food. Each human-grade recipe uses a generous amount of fresh named meat as its main source of animal protein thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Who Makes The Farmers Dog?

The Farmers Dog is made at USDA-inspected facilities located within the United States.

The company was founded in 2014 by Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev. The following video describes the pairs inspiring story and contrasts The Farmers Dog with ordinary dry dog food.

Who Designed The Farmers Dog?

The Farmers Dog is designed and formulated by a team of veterinary specialists, board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.

What Do Others Say About The Farmer's Dog Dog Food?

Buyer review Our Havanese puppy Chutney is a very picky eater and The Farmers Dog is the only thing he eats without fuss.

Read more buyer reviews at TheFarmersDog.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Farmer's Dog a Healthy Food?

Unlike brands that use computer programs to verify their nutrient content

The Farmers Dog was tested using a method we consider superior to AAFCOs own gold standard system live feeding trials conducted on real dogs of multiple breed sizes and ages over a 6-year period.

So, all 4 recipes are considered nutritious for all ages and breed sizes, including large breed puppies.

Is The Farmer's Dog Raw?

No Its gently cooked at lower temperatures. So, each recipe avoids damage to delicate vitamins and nutrients during high-heat processing.³

What If My Dog Doesn't Like the Food?

The Farmers Dog has amazing customer service. If your dog doesnt like the recipe you ordered, theres no need to return it. The company will send you a different flavor, at no cost to you.

How can I switch to The Farmers Dog without making my dog sick?

In thisvideo

Dr. Gary Richter shares asimple feeding tipthat can helploweryour dogsriskof gettingsickwhen you switch to afresh food, like The Farmers Dog.

Its best toswitchyour dog to a fresh food like The Farmers Doggradually.

Start by mixing 20% fresh with 80% old food. Then,slowlyincrease that amount to a full 100% over the next 8 to 9 days.

Schedule	Old Food	Fresh Food
Days 1 and 2	80%	20%
Days 3 and 4	60%	40%
Days 5 and 6	40%	60%
Days 7 and 8	20%	80%
Day 9	0%	100%

What allows The Farmers Dog to claim it is human grade?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that products claiming to be fit for human consumption must beofficiallyedible.

The word edible is alegalstandard. Human-grade is not.

In order for The Farmers Dog to be deemed edible, every ingredient in its recipemust be human edibleand manufactured, packed and stored in accordance with USDA regulations.

How can I be sure The Farmers Dog is healthy?

Each of The Farmers Dog recipes was designed by a board-certifiedveterinary nutritionist.

And unlike most commercial dog foods that use only computer simulations to determine their compliance with AAFCO nutrient profiles

The Farmers Dog was tested using a method we considersuperiorto AAFCOs own gold standard system conducted on real dogs of multiple breed sizes and ages over a 6-year period.

Is The Farmers Dog recommended for puppies?

Some fresh dog foods are not safe for all ages and breeds.

Thats because

Large breed puppieshave a higherriskof developing acripplingandpermanentform ofhip diseaseif theyre fed a fresh diet that contains too much calcium while theyre still growing.^{4 5}

Fortunately,The Farmers Dog isconsidered safefor ALL adults and puppies, including those of larger breeds.

What keeps The Farmers Dog fresh?

Since The Farmers Dog containsno preservatives, it must be kept refrigerated or frozen.

In most cases, fresh dog food can last formonths, as long as it remains frozen and sealed in its original package.

Once a container is open and defrosted, it should be kept in the fridge andused within 4 days.

Compare The Farmer's Dog Dog Food

How does The Farmer's Dog compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?

A Final Word

The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.