Spot And Tango Dog Food Review

Dog Food Reviews February 14, 2024
Spot And Tango Dog Food Review
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Spot And Tango Dog Food Review

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Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

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 locally sourced.

These meals are ready-to-serve and full of high-quality meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables to ensure a full nutritional diet for your dog.

How We Tested:

  • We purchased three Spot and Tango dog food recipes
  • We spent a few days testing them on several dogs
  • We did not receive these products in exchange for a favorable review, they were purchased with our own money

Spot and Tango Dog Food: Top 3 Recipes Reviewed

Product NameFood TypeProteinkcal/Cup
Beef and Millet RecipeWet11.85%322 Kcal per 8oz pack
Turkey and Red Quinoa RecipeWet13.69%326 Kcal per 8oz pack
Lamb and Brown Rice RecipeWet11.80%305 Kcal per 8oz pack

Brand Score

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

About

Spot and Tango came to be after the 2007 FDA dog food recall. The founder and CEO, Russell Breuer, had been feeding his dog Jack homemade meals after researching canine physiology.

Once he saw how much Jack loved his new food, Russell decided to find a beneficial way to commercialize this knowledge and decided to start a dog food company. What initially started as a weekend side project became a full-time job once Spot and Tango gained traction.

Sourcing and Manufacturing

All of Spot and Tango’s meals are made fresh in USDA-certified kitchens. 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.

These items are cooked at low temperatures to ensure they do not lose their nutritional values.

Spot and Tango state they only use whole ingredients that are recognizable, such as lean proteins, fresh fruits and veggies, and high-quality carbohydrates.

All these ingredients are sourced from local farms.

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.

How Does Spot and Tango Work?

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.

They will ask for your dog’s breed, birthday, weight, activity level, and health issues, and then they will recommend three recipes to choose from.

Spot and Tango’s meal cost will depend on your dog’s size and the plan you pick. You can choose to give your dog all 3 meal choices or less, and you can choose from lamb, beef, and turkey flavors.

When you go through the Spot & Tango 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 Dog Food Review

You will receive a confirmation email once your account is set up and another when your order ships several days later. The meal plan you select will arrive frozen in pre-portioned plastic sacks.

The recyclable box is packed with dry ice and a biodegradable insulated liner to keep the food very cold. You will receive an instruction pamphlet that will explain how to store the food in your freezer and how much to feed your dog daily.

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. If you need to cancel your subscription, you will need to contact customer service Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m EST. I had no problem contacting customer service via email and received a reply within minutes.

Unboxing

I received 7 frozen topper-size packages of food, which included all three recipes and equated to two weeks of meal toppers. The food was very frozen, packed in dry ice and insulation, and came with just an instruction pamphlet.

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review
Spot and Tango un-boxing

Each package of food is two day’s worth of food toppers for my dog. This means I can store them in the freezer and take out one every other day.

The instruction pamphlet did have my dog’s name on it, along with a description of each recipe in his chosen plan as well as a feeding guide.

Analysis/Review of Spot and Tango Dog Food Recipes

1.

Beef and Millet Recipe

Product Info

  • Protein: 11.85% Min
  • Fat: 5.85% Min
  • Fiber: 1.04% Max
  • Moisture: 69.84% Max
Ingredients Beef, Millet, Cranberries, Spinach, Carrots, Peas, Egg, Parsley, Apple Cider Vinegar, Safflower Oil, Vegetable Stock, Spot & Tango’s natural blend of vitamins & minerals

We are starting with the beef recipe for this dog food review. This recipe uses beef ingredients defined as USDA certified ground beef. Out of the 3 recipes Spot and Tango offers, this one is the lowest in fat.

The carbohydrate ingredients in this recipe are millet, cranberries, spinach, carrot, and peas.

Millet is high in phosphorus, B-vitamins, and iron. Phosphorus is essential for healthy bones, and iron maintains energy levels and overall health. Millet, a seed, is considered a form of grain yet this recipe is considered “grain free”.

Spinach contains large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and K. It also contains iron, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and roughage, which stimulate the digestive tract.

The carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

Peas provide carbohydrates, dietary fiber and small amounts of beneficial vitamins. Some examples of these beneficial Vitamins are Vitamin K and Manganese.

This recipe also contains egg as a source of very digestible protein, riboflavin, and selenium.

Parsley is a leafy herb and source of flavonoids, antioxidants, and vitamins. It is often added as a breath freshener or used to soothe the stomach.

Apple cider vinegar maybe added as a natural preservative in fighting bacteria. It has also been known to offer improvements in skin and coat condition, as well as a reduction of itching and scratching.
2.

Turkey and Red Quinoa Recipe

Product Info

  • Protein: 13.69% Min
  • Fat: 5.86% Min
  • Fiber: 1.44% Max
  • Moisture: 68.5% Max
Ingredients Turkey, Red Quinoa, Apple, Spinach, Carrots, Peas, Eggs, Parsley, Apple Cider Vinegar, Safflower Oil, Vegetable Stock, Spot & Tango’s natural blend of vitamins & minerals

This turkey recipe uses protein sourced from USDA certified ground turkey. Turkey is rich in nutrients like protein, riboflavin, and phosphorous.

The recipe also includes a mix carbohydrates such as red quinoa, apple, spinach, carrots and peas.

Red Quinoa is a seed, harvested from a green plant. It is packed with protein, calcium, and other nutrients.

Apples are an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, calcium, and phosphorus as well as assisting with cleaning your dogs teeth.

Spinach contains large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and K. It also contains iron, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and roughage, which stimulate the digestive tract.

The carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

Peas provide carbohydrates, dietary fiber and small amounts of beneficial vitamins. Some examples of these beneficial Vitamins are Vitamin K and Manganese.

This recipe also contains egg as a source of very digestible protein, riboflavin, and selenium.

Parsley is a leafy herb and source of flavonoids, antioxidants, and vitamins. It is often added as a breath freshener or used to soothe the stomach.

Apple cider vinegar may be added as a natural preservative in fighting bacteria. It has also been known to offer improvements in skin and coat condition, as well as a reduction of itching and scratching.
3.

Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe

Product Info

  • Protein: 11.80% Min
  • Fat: 6.64% Min
  • Fiber: 2.64% Max
  • Moisture: 70.10% Max
Ingredients Lamb, Brown Rice, Blueberries, Spinach, Carrots, Peas, Egg, Parsley, Apple Cider Vinegar, Safflower Oil, Vegetable Stock, Spot & Tango’s natural blend of vitamins & minerals

This lamb recipe offers protein sourced from USDA certified ground lamb. Lamb is full of vitamin B12, niacin, essential amino acids, and dietary fats and can be beneficial for dogs with food sensitivities.

The next group of ingredients are brown rice, blueberries, spinach, carrots, and peas.

Brown rice is full of natural fiber, which helps a dog’s digestion. It is also an excellent source of carbohydrates, vitamins D, B and minerals.

Blueberries are a great source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants. Studies show adding blueberries to your dogs diet can reduce the effects of brain aging.

Spinach contains large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and K. It also contains iron, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and roughage, which stimulate the digestive tract.

The carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.

Peas are carbohydrates rich in dietary fiber and small amounts of beneficial vitamins. Some examples of these beneficial Vitamins are Vitamin K and Manganese.

This recipe also contains egg which is a source of very digestible protein, riboflavin, and selenium.

Parsley is a leafy herb and source of flavonoids, antioxidants, and vitamins. It is often added as a breath freshener or used to soothe the stomach in dog foods.

Apple cider vinegar maybe added as a natural preservative in fighting bacteria. It has also been known to offer improvements in skin and coat condition, as well as a reduction of itching and scratching.

Taste Test

Sampson tried all three flavors of Spot and Tango toppers on a rotation and mixed them with his kibble. The instructions state that he is to receive half a package of the topper daily.

I left the packages in the freezer, and when I needed one, I thawed it in a bowl of water fairly quickly. You can also defrost the food by placing it in the microwave on low.

Opening the packages was a bit tricky and did require scissors. Also, the unused portion of the food needed to be scraped out of the package and placed in a container for storage.

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review
Sampson testing Spot and Tango food

Sampson knew right away he was getting a new food to try. The beef flavor really got him excited, while the turkey recipe was a close second. The lamb recipe didn’t provoke his usual whining and pacing before dinner, but he did eat it. He did stop to sniff the lamb before eating, which was very unusual for him.

All in all, my dog ate the three recipes with no complaints.

The Downside of Spot and Tango Dog Food

Spot and Tango subscription costs do appear to be on the pricey side when compared to other subscription dog food companies. While it may not be the most expensive service out there, it is definitely on the higher side.

Spot and Tango Monthly Cost Comparison

DOG FOOD BRANDDOG SIZEMONTHLY COST
Spot and Tango50 to 60 Pounds$ 252.00 to $ 275.00
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
Grocery Pup50 To 65 Pounds$ 260.00 to $ 280.00
The Farmers Dog50 to 65 Pounds$ 250.00 to $ 240.00

Spot and Tango currently only offers 3 recipes, which is less than many of its competitors. Because it is fresh food, it must be refrigerated, and this can be problematic if you need to travel with your dog.

If you happen to reside in Hawaii or Alaska, you will not be able to order Spot and Tango dog food. It is only available in the continental United States for the time being.

One small complaint is that the packaging is not easy to open. It will require scissors and may get messy when removing the food from the packaging.

Is Spot and Tango Good Dog Food?

Spot and Tango are among the many fresh-dog-food delivery services offered today. They offer recipes that contain protein, starch, fruits, vegetables, and a blend of natural minerals and vitamins to keep your dog healthy.

Would I subscribe to Spot and Tango? I honestly can’t say they “wowed” me, and being that they are on the higher side of dog food delivery services, I probably wouldn’t. My dog seemed to like the food, but as a whole, they are just another dog food delivery service doing what many others are doing.

Spot and Tango Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

How Much Does Spot and Tango Cost?

Spot and Tango bases its pricing on your dog’s age, weight, health issues and selected plan. Prices start around $4 per meal and that includes shipping.

What are the Benefits of Feeding My Dog Spot and Tango?

Spot & Tango’s recipes were developed by a leading team of veterinarians and animal nutritionists, to provide a complete and balanced meal for your dog.

The food may help your dog lose weight, improve digestion, reduce allergies, and improve skin & coat, among a number of other health benefits. All of their recipes exclude artificial ingredients and wheat, soy, gluten typically found in commercial kibble.

Is Spot and Tango dog food grain free?

Two of the three recipes Spot and Tango offers are grain free. However, the Lamb recipe does contain rice, while the beef and turkey recipes are considered grain free.

Does Spot and Tango Dog food need to be refrigerated?

Spot and Tango recommends that you place meals in the freezer immediately upon receipt. Meals may be stored in the freezer for up to 6-months. You may defrost in the refrigerator or in warm water prior to serving. Once meals are defrosted and opened, they recommend it be eaten within 4 days.

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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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