7 Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services

Dog Food Nutrition April 5, 2023
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7 Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services

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fresh dog food

Fresh dog food service doesn’t come cheap, but it is very convenient and is very trendy at the moment. There are now several companies that deliver fresh, prepared dog food right to your door. For many dog owners that is as close to a homemade meal as they can afford, time wise.

Choosing a fresh dog food service can be complicated since there are so many companies to choose from.

To get an idea of how fresh dog food services compare, we ordered and reviewed and tested several popular brands in this article. We will walk you through their sign up, pricing, meal options, shipping, and the number of recipes they offer.

Get 50% OFF Your First Order of Nom Nom Now

How We Tested

  • We purchased service from the 7 fresh dog food services mentioned in this article
  • We spent several weeks testing each dog food service and their recipes
  • We did not receive these products in exchange for a favorable review, they were purchased with our own money

How We Chose The Best Fresh Dog Food

Nutritionally Complete – Dog food sold in the U.S. is regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Dog food manufacturers are required to properly label their products, and adhere to AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles or follow AAFCO procedures. This is no different for fresh dog food manufacturers.

Ordering Process – Setting up an online profile for your dog should not be rocket science. However it should allow for customization based on health issues, weight, breed and/or age. Being able to customize your dogs meal plan and select the recipes based on a short question and answer form means less headaches in the long run.

Variety of Recipes – Some dogs are picky eaters or can not eat certain recipes. Having the choice to change recipes or serving size is a bonus. The more recipes available and size choices for partial meals or smaller dogs makes a fresh dog food service make it on our list.

Packaging – This is a big deal when your pup is staring at you with those hungry eyes. The box the fresh dog food arrives in, and how cold it is is important, as well as how easy it it to unpack. Also, having to fumble and pull on a food package is not only frustrating but it can be very messy when trying to serve.

Price – Most fresh dog food delivery services are pricey and some more than others. We took this in account as well as the amount of meals each provides for the cost. The bigger the dog, the bigger the bill.

Flexibility of Delivery – Being able to decide when you want your dog food delivered or how much of it, is part of the convenience of the service. Companies that allow you to pause, cancel or change delivery service is something we definitely considered.

Best Fresh Dog Food Brands Reviewed

What is the best dog food subscription service for you? Read on to learn everything about these various delivery services, and if they really make your life easier and your dog healthier, without breaking the bank.

Nom Nom Dog Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • Very easy to order
  • Smells and looks like real food
  • Pre-portioned servings
  • Veterinary nutritionist ensures meals are nutritionally balanced
Cons
  • It is on the pricey side
  • Must be refrigerated
  • Packets can be difficult to open
Pros
  • Very easy to order
  • Smells and looks like real food
  • Pre-portioned servings
  • Veterinary nutritionist ensures meals are nutritionally balanced
Cons
  • It is on the pricey side
  • Must be refrigerated
  • Packets can be difficult to open
Ingredients
Pricing
Customization
Quality
Customer Reviews
Recall History
Recipe variety

Overview

Location: Facilities in San Francisco, California and Nashville, Tennessee

Available Recipes:

  • Chicken Chow Wow
  • Heartland Beef Mash
  • Tasty Turkey Fare
  • Porkalicious Potluck

Nom Nom’s meals are made with restaurant-quality ingredients, no artificial preservatives or fillers and portions are optimized to provide your dog with the ideal balance for his age, weight, activity level, breed, as well as any known health issues.

Read Our Full Brand Review

The recipes were developed by the company’s Chief Nutrition Officer, board-certified veterinary nutritionist. The unprocessed meals are made in small batches and with whole foods, to retain more nutrients and exceeds AAFCO standards for dog food formulation for all life stages.

Nom Nom asks you to create a profile for your dog and provide their current weight, target weight, birthday and your recipe preference.

Cost

The cost ultimately depends on the the desired size of your dog which is determine in the profile. Basically for every pound of pup you enter, the price will go up.

Here is an estimate based on weight:

  • 15 pounds – $32- $39 weekly or $4 -$5 a day
  • 55 pounds – $47-$66 weekly or $6 -$9 a day
  • 95 pounds – $63 -$92 weekly or $9-$13 a day

Delivery Options

The weekly deliveries come with a shipment of 14 meal packs (two meals per day), bi-weekly deliveries come with 28 meals, and monthly deliveries come with 56 meals.

Managing your account is easy and you are able to pause/skip up to their next 4 deliveries in their account.

When your Nom Nom delivery arrives you will find all meal packages neatly organized with rubber bands inside of the box and chilled with dry ice. Your first order will contain a bonus like jerky treats and a booklet on transitioning your dogs food.

If you need to cancel your subscription you will need to contact customer service via email or by phone. You are also able to request extra meals for travel or even have meals delivered to a different address. Nom Nom does offer a sample box, which allows potential customers to receive four meals for only $15.

Summary

Your Nom Nom subscription will be determined ultimately by the size of your dog, which is all calculated when you create your dog’s profile.

Nom Nom provides meal choices which include beef, turkey, chicken, and pork recipes. They also offer a variety pack to allow your dog to choose his favorite.

 

Ollie Dog Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • Meals are customized based on your dogs profile
  • Four different meal flavors available
  • Free shipping and delivered right to your door
  • Recipes overseen by a vet and are human grade ingredients
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
  • Food comes frozen solid
  • Profile only accounts for allergies not health issues
Pros
  • Meals are customized based on your dogs profile
  • Four different meal flavors available
  • Free shipping and delivered right to your door
  • Recipes overseen by a vet and are human grade ingredients
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
  • Food comes frozen solid
  • Profile only accounts for allergies not health issues
Ingredients
Pricing
Customization
Quality
Customer Reviews
Recall History
Recipe variety

Overview

Location: New York (HQ), Facility in Pennsylvania

Available Recipes:

  • Healthy Turkey Feast
  • Hearty Beef Eats
  • Chicken Goodness
  • Tasty Lamb Fare

Ollie pet food is designed with the help of a veterinary nutritionist to ensure that each recipe is complete and balanced in keeping with Association of American Feed Control Officials requirements for dogs. All of Ollie’s products are free from by-products, fillers, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

Read Our Full Brand Review

The sign up process begins with a series of questions about everything from your dogs breed, if he has been spayed or neutered, his activity level, allergies and even the type of food he is currently eating.

Cost

Price depends on the size of your dog and meals selected. It is calculated by how much food they need based on the exact number of calories they need to consume daily, which dictates your subscription cost but shipping is free.

Based on a fairly active and healthy 4 year old dog, your cost would be approximately:

  • 15 pounds – $28 – $32 weekly or $4 – $5 a day
  • 55 pounds – $59 – $66 weekly or $9 – $10 a day
  • 95 pounds – $96 – $106 weekly or $14 – $15 a day

Delivery Options

Ollie has only two main delivery plans. The “All Ollie” meal plan means you receive 14 trays delivered every two weeks and the second plan, “Mostly Ollie” is meant to supplement your dog’s meals with 28 smaller packs of food delivered every four weeks. If at any time you need to pause, skip, or cancel your orders, you can log into your account and do so. You can also update your dog’s profile at any time in the event there is changes in weight, activity level or even to try different meal flavors.

Ollie pet food is shipped in a white cardboard box with plenty of recyclable padding and dry ice to keep the food very cold. Each package is vacuum sealed for freshness and frozen. Ollie recipes come in plastic packets that are fairly easy to open by peeling back the top of the packet and dropping the food into your dogs dish.

Summary

Ollie’s website calculates a meal plan specifically for your dog and provides their meal recommendation, in addition to other recommendations for your dog.

Ollie offers four dog food recipes, chicken, beef, lamb and turkey and they plan to expand their offerings to include cat food products in the future.

A Pup Above Dog Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • Meals are pre-portioned and in patties
  • Flexible subscription options
  • Price low side compared to other fresh dog foods
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to dry dog foods
  • Packaging is not easy to open
  • Profile does not ask about health issues or body type
Pros
  • Meals are pre-portioned and in patties
  • Flexible subscription options
  • Price low side compared to other fresh dog foods
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to dry dog foods
  • Packaging is not easy to open
  • Profile does not ask about health issues or body type
Ingredients
Pricing
Customization
Quality
Customer Reviews
Recall History
Recipe Variety

Overview

Location: Austin, Texas

Available Recipes:

  • A Pup Above Texas Beef Stew Recipe
  • A Pup Above Turkey Pawella Recipe
  • A Pup Above Porky’s Luau Recipe
  • A Pup Above Chicken Chow Wow

Ruth Stedman and her husband started this company after they got a new puppy, and wanted to feed her an unprocessed diet. However, the only unprocessed food available was raw dog food that their dog refused to eat. Not wanting to give her canned or kibble dog food, they created A Pup Above dog food.

Read Our Full Brand Review

They created meals made with fresh, whole food, human-grade, non-GMO ingredients in a USDA certified kitchen and meets AAFCO standards. One thing that makes this fresh dog food delivery service different from all the others, is the way the food is prepared. A Pup Above meals are cooked sous-vide method that locks in nutrients, taste, and texture of its meats and whole vegetables and fruits.

Cost

A Pup Above offers a sampler pack, which includes three 3-pound bags, each of which will be of their three flavors, Turkey Pawella, Bitchin’ Beef Stew, Chicken Chow Wow and Porky’s Luau that will cost you $89.97. You can save up to 30% of the cost if you subscribe to their delivery service. They also offer half subscription plans, which saves money and is based on your dogs size.

Here is an estimate of what you may pay based on your dogs size:

  • 15 pounds – $11 – $22 weekly or $1.50 – $3 a day
  • 55 pounds – $30 – $60 weekly or $4 – $8.50 a day
  • 95 pounds – $38 – $76 weekly or $6 – $11 a day

Delivery Options

A Pup Above is different from other services mentioned because they offer their food a la carte, meaning you can try it before signing up for a subscription. What is also different is how few questions they ask about your dog before choosing a suggested meal plan. Basically you choose your dogs weight and size and you are in the food selection menu.

The cost of A Pup Above’s meals will depend on your dog’s size and how much food they need. You can choose to give your dog the 3 flavor choices or choose from chicken, turkey, beef and pork flavors. They also offer a sampler pack with all three flavors that is a one time charge or partial meal packs. If you sign up for a subscription plan the A Pup Above will send your next order out in two weeks. You can always pause or skip an order if you will be away. They do guarantee your dog will like the food and if not will refund your money.

The meal plan you select will arrive in frozen in pre-portioned plastic sacks that hold 3 smaller patty packs. You will receive an instruction booklet that will explain how much food to mix in with your dogs current food as well as how much your dog needs per meal.

Summary

A Pup Above is different from their competitors because they do offer plans a la carte without the commitment of a subscription. They do base plans on ask for your dog’s size, and how much food they need before recommended the right plan.

A Pup Above currently offers only three different recipes that include protein sources of chicken, beef, turkey and pork. They also provide customers the convenience of a partial pack, for owners who want to mix fresh food with their current dog food.

The Farmer’s Dog Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • Meals are pre-portioned
  • Food is tested on humans
  • You can mix and match all recipes
  • Flexible subscription options
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
  • Only 3 flavors to choose from
  • Packaging is not easy to open
Pros
  • Meals are pre-portioned
  • Food is tested on humans
  • You can mix and match all recipes
  • Flexible subscription options
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
  • Only 3 flavors to choose from
  • Packaging is not easy to open
Ingredients
Pricing
Customization
Quality
Customer Reviews
Recall History
Recipe variety

Overview

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Available Recipes:

  • The Farmer’s Dog Beef Recipe
  • The Farmer’s Dog Turkey Recipe
  • The Farmer’s Dog Pork Recipe

The Farmer’s Dog launched in 2015 when the co-founder was determined to solve his dog Jada’s stomach issues. This led to a vet recommended home cooked diet which led to starting the Farmers Dog.

Read Our Full Brand Review

All of The Farmer’s Dog meals are made fresh in USDA certified kitchens and comply with AAFCO standards. Meals are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to include proteins like turkey, beef, and pork, vegetables like carrots, kale, cauliflower, and other starches and grains. These items are cooked at low temperatures to ensure they do not lose their nutritional values.

The system they developed is unique in that it optimizes the amount of food sent depending on the cost to ship and your dog’s needs. This way the cost to deliver is far less than what they would be paying a retailer, meaning they can invest those savings back into their product.

Cost

The Farmers Dog meal plans start at $18 per week and are customized based on each dog’s age, breed, size, activity level, and health needs. Before delivery, the food is divided into individual servings based on each dog’s caloric needs, since the recommended portions on many commercial pet food packages are often too big.

Here is an estimate of what you may pay based on your dogs size:

  • 15 pounds – $28 – $32 weekly or $4 – $4.60 a day
  • 55 pounds – $60 – $65 weekly or $8.50 – $9.25 a day
  • 95 pounds – $89 – $109 weekly or $12.70 – $15.50 a day

Delivery Options

In just a few steps, you can get started with a 14-day meal plan that has been specifically designed for your dog by answering a few basic questions. The Farmers Dog website will ask for your dog’s age, breed, size, activity level, and health issues ( if any) and then they will recommend the right plan. You can choose to give your dog 3 flavor choices or less and you are able to choose between chicken, beef and turkey flavors.

The meal plan you select will arrive in frozen in pre-portioned plastic sacks. The box is packed with dry ice and in a biodegradable insulated liner to keep the food very cold. You will receive an instruction booklet that will explain how much food to put in your freezer and how much to store in the refrigerator.

The Farmer’s Dog will send your next order out when you have between 2 and 9 days left on your current food. You can always pause or skip an order if you will be away. They guarantee your dog will like the food and offer to send a different recipe or refund your money otherwise.

Summary

You can become a Farmers Dog subscriber in just a few short steps. After providing your dog’s age, breed, size, activity level, and health issues ( if any) and then they will recommend the 14 day meal plan designed for your dog.

The Farmers Dog currently offers three different recipes that include protein sources of beef, chicken, and turkey. The Farmer’s Dog will send your next order out when you have between 2 and 9 days left on your current food.

Pet Plate Dog Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • Meals are pre-portioned and in recyclable containers
  • Four different meal recipes available
  • You can mix and match all 4 recipes
  • Flexible subscription options
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
  • Containers take up a lot of space in the freezer/fridge
  • Profile does not ask about health issues
Pros
  • Meals are pre-portioned and in recyclable containers
  • Four different meal recipes available
  • You can mix and match all 4 recipes
  • Flexible subscription options
Cons
  • Price on the high side as compared to other fresh dog foods
  • Containers take up a lot of space in the freezer/fridge
  • Profile does not ask about health issues
Ingredients
Pricing
Customization
Quality
Customer Reviews
Recall History
Recipe variety

Overview

Location: New York (HQ), NY United States 1412 Broadway

Available Recipes:

  • Barkin’ Beef
  • Tail Waggin Turkey
  • Chompin Chicken
  • Lip Licken’ Lamb

PetPlate Dog Food delivers high-quality, human-grade pet food selected through a subscription plan that takes into account your dog’s weight and age. Their meals currently feature four different flavors and are made from natural ingredients.

Read Our Full Brand Review

Each meal comes full of healthy foods like broccoli, squash, carrots, peas, and a blend of vitamins and minerals while being formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. PetPlate is also grain and gluten-free to aid in allergy relief.

You can get started with a 14-day meal plan, specifically designed for your dog in 3 easy steps.

Cost

The cost of Pet Plate will depend on your dog’s size just like the other fresh dog food services. All plans are tailor-made and customized for your dogs specific needs. Therefore, there is no standard price for the subscription model, as it depends on a few factors, like your dogs age, size, weight, etc.

Here is an estimate of what you may pay based on your dogs size:

  • 15 pounds – $18 – $33 weekly or $3 – $6 a day
  • 55 pounds – $40 – $56 weekly or $7 – $9 a day
  • 95 pounds – $63 – $91 weekly or $13 – $19 a day

Delivery Options

You can choose from different meal plan subscriptions like weekly, monthly, or yearly, which is also factored in to pricing. You will receive automatic shipments of your dog’s pre-portioned containers according the shipment schedule associated with their meal plan. You can always pause or skip an order if you will be away. Pet Plate also guarantees customers that if your dog’s bowl is not licked clean, you will receive 100% of your money back on your first order.

The meal plan you select will arrive in frozen in pre-portioned plastic and labelled containers. The box is packed with dry ice and in an insulated liner to keep the food very cold. You can store the containers in your freezer (for 18 months), and keep food to serve your dog in the refrigerator to defrost for up to one week.

Pet Plate uses recyclable containers with a resealable lid. The containers are also microwave friendly, in case your dog is picky about eating cold food.

Summary

When you become a Pet Plate customer you first answer a few questions to customize your plan. They will ask for your dog’s age, weight and eating preferences and then they recommend the right plan.

Pet Plate currently offers four different recipes that include protein sources of beef, chicken, turkey and lamb. They also provide customers the convenience of a “topper plan”, for owners who want to combine fresh meals with their current dog food.

Spot and Tango Dog Food
Brand
spot and tango logo
Overall Score
Pros
  • Meals are cooked in small batches
  • Locally sourced ingredients
  • No artificial additives, preservatives, or fillers
  • Money back guarantee
Cons
  • Only 3 recipes to choose from
  • Price on the high side of delivery dog food
  • Not all recipes are grain free
Pros
  • Meals are cooked in small batches
  • Locally sourced ingredients
  • No artificial additives, preservatives, or fillers
  • Money back guarantee
Cons
  • Only 3 recipes to choose from
  • Price on the high side of delivery dog food
  • Not all recipes are grain free
Ingredients
Pricing
Customization
Quality
Customer Reviews
Recall History
Recipe Variety

Overview

Location: New York, NY

Available Recipes:

  • Beef & Millet Recipe
  • Turkey & Red Quinoa Recipe
  • Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe

Spot and Tango dog food creates customized meals for your dog and ships frozen packages, on a subscription basis, right to your door. All the meals are made from the finest human-grade ingredients that are farm fresh as well as sourced from local farms. These items are cooked at low temperatures to ensure they do not lose their nutritional values.

Read Our Full Brand Review

All of Spot and Tango’s meals are made fresh in USDA certified kitchens and meets AAFCO standards. Meals are perfected by animal nutritionists, and approved by veterinarians. to include proteins like turkey, beef, and pork, vegetables like carrots, kale, cauliflower, and other starches and grains.

They add no artificial flavors, cheap fillers, additives or preservatives to their food. Each meal is cooked to order in small batches, just days before it is delivered.

Cost

The cost of Spot and Tango’s meal plan  will depend on your dog’s breed, birthday, weight, activity level, and health issues, if any. Spot and Tango will give you a choice of plans with trial and topper plans available. You can choose to give your dog all 3 meal choices or less and can choose from lamb, beef and turkey flavors.

Here is an estimate of what you may pay based on your dogs size:

  • 15 pounds – $30 – $34 weekly or $4 – $4.75 a day
  • 55 pounds – $63 – $69 weekly or $9 – $9.85 a day
  • 95 pounds – $90 – $120 weekly or $13 – $17 a day

Delivery Options

In just a few steps, you can get started with a 14-day meal plan that has been specifically designed for your dog by answering a few basic questions. This is based on your dog’s breed, birthday, weight, activity level, and health issues and then they will recommend three recipes to choose from.

Once you get to the ordering process, you have the option of choosing a four week subscription or choosing the two week trial. You can also choose to buy the full meal plan, or a “topper plan”.

Spot and Tango will send your order automatically every two weeks. You can always pause or skip an order if you need to right from the website. They do guarantee your dog will like the food or they will refund your money.

Meals will come frozen in dry ice and in packaging for two weeks worth of food.

Summary

Spot and Tango dog food creates customized meals for your dog and ships frozen packages, on a subscription basis, like others mentioned in this article. All of their meals are made from human-grade ingredients that are farm fresh as well as sourced from local farms in the New York area.

Spot and Tango’s meal plans will depend on your dog’s breed, birthday, weight, activity level, and health issues, if any. They offer you a choice of plans with trial and topper options and a money back guarantee. You can choose to give your dog all 3 meal choices or less, and can choose from lamb, beef and turkey flavors.

Freshpet Dog Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • Several recipe and product lines to choose from
  • No subscription needed
  • Some product lines can be found in local stores
  • Includes grain and grain free meal options
Cons
  • Some products lines are pricey
  • Roll packaging is not easy to open
  • High filler content
  • Can be hard to find in stores
Pros
  • Several recipe and product lines to choose from
  • No subscription needed
  • Some product lines can be found in local stores
  • Includes grain and grain free meal options
Cons
  • Some products lines are pricey
  • Roll packaging is not easy to open
  • High filler content
  • Can be hard to find in stores
Ingredients
Pricing
Customization
Quality
Customer Reviews
Recall History
Recipe Variety

Overview

Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Available Recipes:

  • Freshpet Select
  • Vital
  • Natures Fresh
  • Deli Fresh
  • Homestyle Creations

Freshpet is the first in the fresh dog food category to be distributed across North America and is available in over 20,000 stores in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands as well. Buying in store is the easiest way to get your hands on Fresh Pet foods but if it is not available in your area, there are other options.

Read Our Full Brand Review

Fresh Pet also has a website with several options for ordering your dog’s food and having it delivered to your doorstep.

Freshpet believes in the integrity of their food by vowing to never use meat meals, powders, preservatives, or additives and meets AAFCO standards. Unlike traditional shelf-stable pet foods, Freshpet ingredients are cooked only once at lower temperatures.

In addition, the food does not contain any processed meat meals or by-products, and is made in small batches to preserve the natural goodness of the ingredients.

Cost

The cost of Freshpet will depend on many things like your dog’s size but also the product type and recipe. Therefore, there is no average price for your dog by weight alone.

Here is an estimate of what you may pay based on your dogs size and recipe choice:

  • 15 pounds – $10 – $18 weekly or $1.40 – $2.60 a day
  • 55 pounds – $22 – $75 weekly or $3 – $10.70 a day
  • 95 pounds – $45 – $98 weekly or $6.50 – $14 a day

Delivery Options

Freshpet has a website with several options for ordering your dog’s food and having it delivered to your doorstep. You can choose to order from their suggested online retailers like Amazon Fresh and Prime or select the “find near me” button. What makes them different is their products are also available in retail stores. You can enter your zip code on the website and a list of local retailers will pop up showing where you can buy Freshpet dog food.

If you choose to use the website, there is a handy tool called product selector. This questionnaire will take you through a series of questions about your dog, asking for name, breed, sex, weight, age and dietary needs. You can then choose the types of meat your dog prefers and what ingredients you prefer he doesn’t eat, like grains or soy. After answering a few more questions about shopping preferences, you will be given suggestions on what Fresh Pet recipes will work best for your dog.

Summary

What makes them different is Freshpet offers a selection of refrigerated dog foods at your local retailer. You can choose to use the website, and the handy tool called “product selector” to assist you in recipe choices. This questionnaire will take you through a series of questions about your dog, asking for name, breed, sex, weight, age and dietary needs.

Freshpet believes in the integrity of their food by vowing to never use meat meals, powders, preservatives, or additives. Unlike traditional shelf-stable pet foods, Freshpet ingredients are cooked only once at lower temperatures and combines meats with fruits and vegetables to make foods and treats for your dog.

Advantages of Fresh Dog Food Service

Fresh dog food delivery services are more expensive than grabbing a bag of dry kibble but, there are so many reasons to try it. Pet parents who have made the switch to fresh food claim better health and well-being as well as:

  • Longer life
  • Shiny coat
  • Improved activity level
  • More energy
  • Improved immune system
  • Fewer vet visits

Besides the health benefits, giving your dog fresh food is personalized and made to order. This means serving sizes are already pre-portioned meals for your dogs size and needs.

Fresh food also means less ingredients and no artificial flavors or dyes. If your dog means that much to you then feeding them human grade food makes sense.

Also the convenience and flexibility of choosing meals, delivery days and pausing and/or cancelling meals, makes last minute runs to the store for dog food a thing of the past.

Some fresh food delivery services allow you to stock up for vacation or have food delivered to another location.

Disadvantages of Fresh Dog Food Service

Cost- Fresh dog food that is made to order, is not cheap. It is a bit more pricey than the kibble you maybe giving your dog now, but again, much healthier. We will look more closely at the costs below.

Refrigerator Storage– Fresh dog food must be refrigerated or frozen, meaning it will be taking up space in your fridge. Most fresh dog food services state the food can be stored up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but any longer will need to be taking up space in your freezer. This can also make travelling with fresh food difficult.

Transition your dog to new foods- When going from kibble to fresh food, it can be a slow process. It may take up to two weeks to transition to fresh dog food by mixing it with kibble while reducing the amount of kibble. Some dogs may take longer because of texture, sensitivity or may not like the recipe. This is where a fresh food service with several recipes can come in handy.

Fresh Dog Food Cost Comparison

DOG FOOD BRANDDOG SIZEMONTHLY COST
Nom Nom50 To 80 Pounds$ 224.00 to $ 280.00
Ollie45 To 75 Pounds$ 210.00 to $ 260.00
Pet Plate50 To 65 Pounds$ 180.00 to $ 224.00
A Pup Above50 To 65 Pounds$ 260.00 to $ 280.00
The Farmers Dog50 To 65 Pounds$ 205.00 to $ 240.00
Spot & Tango50 to 60 Pounds$ 252.00 to $ 275.00
FreshPet55 To 65 Pounds$ 88.00 to $ 390.00

The 7 Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services Summed Up

MetricNom NomOlliePetPlateThe Farmer’s DogA Pup AboveSpot & TangoFreshPet
Price per Pound$3$3$2$4$1.50$4$2
Recall History (Yes/No)NoNoNoNoNoNoNo
LocationCaliforniaNew YorkNew YorkNew YorkTexasNew YorkPennsylvania
Shipping time1 week2 weeks2 weeks2 weeks2 weeks2 weeks5 + days
# of Delivery Plans3221242
Eco-Friendly Packaging (Yes/No)YesYesYesYesNoYesYes
Discount Available (Yes/No)50% Off First Box50% Off First Box10% Off First Box50% Off First Box20%-30% off your first order20% off your first orderNo
Online Support (Yes/No)YesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Refund policy (Yes/No and # of days/weeks)Yes, 30 daysYes or ExchangeYes, 30 daysYes or ExchangeYes, 2 weeksYes, 2 weeksNo
# Of Recipes44433320+
Avg. Protein Content9.1%11%7.3%10.3%14.6%12.4%10%
Avg. fat content5.4%7.7%4.2%6.6%5.9%6.1%6%
Avg. Fiber content1%2%0.9%1.4%0.7%1.7%1%
Avg. Moisture content73.5%71%74%70%70.3%69.5%74.6%
Our Overall Score94%93%87%89%90%84%83%

All of the above mentioned fresh dog food delivery services are great and each one has their pros and cons. Each offers free shipping when purchased directly through them, and most offer gluten/grain free meals and meet AAFCO standards.

If we had to pick one fresh dog service, it would be Nom Nom. Pricing is reasonable and they offer extra items like dog treats. They also offer more recipe varieties and allow you to mix them up.

Ollie is also great for dog treats and they have the option of “Mostly Ollie” as an add on meal to your dogs current food. Pet Plate and Spot and Tango both offer a topper plans while Grocery Pup offers partial plans.

If you are on the fence about fresh dog food or have a picky eater, several companies mentioned in this article offer a 100% refund on your first order, if your dog is not satisfied.

Due to the price of these fresh dog food services you maybe hesitant, but you do not have to go with 100% of the meal from these services. Some offer topper plans or half meals to add to your pups current, and less expensive, kibble.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is fresh food better for dogs?

Proteins and natural antioxidants found in fresh dog food helps fight ailments and illness. Fresh dog food made with high quality ingredients helps build strong immunity and increased vitality. Senior dogs have even shown an improved range of motion and increased playfulness after switching to a fresh dog food meal plan.

Is fresh dog food better than dry?

Yes, because dry dog food is cooked at such high temperatures, the natural nutrients in any individual ingredients are destroyed and cannot provide these regenerative properties. Dry dog food contains fillers and preservatives that can affect your dog’s health over time, whereas a fresh dog food diet produces increased energy and improved long term health.

Where can I buy fresh dog food?

Fresh dog food is available online and in some local retail stores. This article offers several fresh dog food companies that deliver right to your doorstep and some that also have products in stores. You can also find fresh dog food brands on Amazon, Chewy and other online retailers.

How long does dry dog food stay fresh once opened?

Once opened, dry dog food should be consumed within 6 weeks because once air and moisture gets in, it starts to degrade. Some experts recommend using opened dry dog food within just a couple of weeks.

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Amy Towry is a Certified NAVC Pet Nutritionist and pet lover. She is the proud owner of two rescue cats and a rescue dog and her love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care, nutrition, and product reviews.
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