Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services

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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, 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.

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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 Delivery Services

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, 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 fewer 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, the more 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 are important, as is how easy it is 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 are more expensive than others. We took this in account, as well as the number 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 Delivery Services 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.

[ultra_elite_rating id=9474]

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, and any known health issues.

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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 recipe preference.

Cost

The cost ultimately depends on the the desired size of your dog, which is determined 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 the box and chilled with dry ice. Your first order will contain a bonus, like jerky treats, and a booklet on transitioning your dog’s 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.

[ultra_elite_rating id=9448]

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 the requirements of the Association of American Feed Control Officials for dogs. All of Ollie’s products are free from by-products, fillers, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

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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

The price depends on the size of your dog and the 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 of 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.

[ultra_elite_rating id=9563]

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.

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They created meals made with fresh, whole food, human-grade, non-GMO ingredients in a USDA certified kitchen that meet 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 which locks in nutrients, taste, and texture in the meats, 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 and 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 three 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 pack. 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 are away. They do guarantee your dog will like the food and if not, they will refund your money.

The meal plan you select will arrive 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 dog’s 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 base their 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.

[ultra_elite_rating id=9466]

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.

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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, and 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 delivery 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 are 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), 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.

[ultra_elite_rating id=9483]

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.

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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 with 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 are 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 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 will 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.

[ultra_elite_rating id=9986]

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.

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

[ultra_elite_rating id=10264]

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 meeting 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, 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 that 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 the 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 that 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 making 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 combine meats with fruits and vegetables to make foods and treats for your dog.

Advantages of Fresh Dog Food Service

Fresh dog food delivery services offer numerous health benefits, including longer life, a shiny coat, improved activity, more energy, an improved immune system, and fewer vet visits. These services are personalized and made-to-order, ensuring pre-portioned meals for your dog’s size and needs.

Fresh food contains fewer ingredients and no artificial flavors or dyes, making it a more environmentally friendly option. The convenience and flexibility of choosing meals, delivery days, and canceling meals make last-minute trips to the store unnecessary.

Disadvantages of Fresh Dog Food Service

Cost: Fresh dog food that is made to order, is not cheap. It is a bit more expensive than the kibble you may be 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 for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but any longer will need to take 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 because they may not like the recipe. This is where a fresh food service with several recipes can come in handy.

Fresh Dog Food Cost Comparison

The 7 Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services Summed Up

Final Thoughts

Fresh dog food delivery services offer free shipping and gluten- and grain-free meals, meeting AAFCO standards. Nom Nom is the top choice due to its reasonable pricing, extra items like dog treats, and more recipe varieties. Ollie is a great option for dog treats, offering “Mostly Ollie” as an add-on meal. Pet Plate, Spot and Tango, and Grocery Pup offer topper plans and partial plans. Some companies offer a 100% refund on first orders for unsatisfied dogs. Some services also offer topper plans or half meals for less expensive kibble.

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.