The Farmer's Dog Fresh Pet Food: What You Need to Know

Published: 01/12/2021 | Updated 8/27/2021

The Farmer's Dog brand touts itself "as a service that delivers balanced, freshly made pet food with simple recipes, guided by science" — but is it worth the price? In this article, we'll explore the ingredients, cost, and nutrition info to help you make the most informed purchase "pawssible".

According to its website, The Farmer's Dog Pet Food for dogs uses only human-grade ingredients in its vet-developed formula. Unlike many other dog food brands, Farmer's Dog Fresh Pet Food manufactures its food in facilities that meet the USDA standards for human food.

Besides the ingredients list, what makes this company unique is it curates food specific to your dog's needs. You can't just go on the site, select a product, and check out other pet food websites. Instead, the Farmer's Dog website will have you complete a questionnaire about your dog's body type, health, age, and eating habits to select the ideal pet food for your fur-baby.

The Farmer's Dog is premium pet food, so you can expect to pay a premium price. Since this pet food is only available as a subscription, the cost is calculated by week rather than by bag. The price averages out to be $4 a day or $57 biweekly for the basic plan for big dogs. Plans for smaller dogs will cost you $2 a day or $28 plus tax for 2 weeks of food. The Farmer's Dog charges subscribers at the time of shipping, but you can skip deliveries or cancel your subscription at any time, without cancellation fees. 

The website offers free shipping for all orders. Even with free shipping, this brand is a bit more expensive than other high-quality commercial kibbles. Fortunately for those on a budget, the website often has promo codes and special deals for new customers.

Since it's soft, The Farmer's Dog Fresh Pet Food is an excellent choice for older dogs with fragile or few teeth. The brand doesn't have any food specifically for puppies, but many veterinarians recommend it for adolescent and adult dogs.

The cool thing about this brand is it tailors the food and portion-size to each dog's needs, factoring in their weight, health, age, and eating habits. This brand is entirely grain-free, making it a safe bet for breeds prone to grain or gluten intolerances, like Labrador Retrievers, West Highland White Terriers, and Cocker Spaniels.

According to an alert issued by the FDA in 2019, grain-free diets were linked to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy, a form of heart disease, in more than 500 dogs. However, experts note grain-free diets appear to correlate to but do not necessarily cause heart disease. The Farmer's Dog pet food was not among the diets reported to the FDA.

Despite the grain-free formulation, the pork and beef blends have plenty of healthy carbs to meet most canines' nutritional needs. If you're concerned about the effect a grain-free diet may have on your dog's health, chat with a vet now or consult your trusted veterinarian.

Dogs prone to weight gain or need to shed pounds should opt for the chicken flavor, which has fewer carbs than the other flavors.

Farmers Dog Fresh Pet Food for dogs comes in 4 different flavors: turkey, chicken, beef, and pork. Each formula is packed with veggies to heighten the taste and nutritional profile. All of The Farmer's Dog's formulas for dogs are fortified with fish oil and other added vitamins and minerals to meet your pup's needs.

Top ingredients in each formula

• Turkey: Fresh ground turkey, broccoli, spinach, parsnips, carrots, and beans
• Beef: Fresh beef, beef liver, legumes, yams, carrots, kale, and sunflower seeds
• Pork: Pork liver, cauliflower, potato, yams, green beans, and fish oil
• Chicken: Chicken liver, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli

Since these formulas don't contain preservatives, you'll need to refrigerate or freeze the portions that your dog won't eat right away. Some pet parents choose to microwave their pup's food before giving it to them, and since it's fresh, that choice is totally up to you!

The website lists testimonials from both verified customers and veterinarians. The website's reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Many customers claim their dogs developed a shiner coat when using this brand, while others state their dogs are more energetic and have shed excess weight. Some customers note the steep price tag, but say it's worth it since their dog is healthier when eating this brand.  

The company does have some complaints with the Better Business Bureau. These are mostly pet parents complaining that their dog won't eat the food; while this is a personal preference for dogs, it's something to consider when choosing a dog food. Most testimonials on the company's website praise the food for being palatable for picky eaters.