About The Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog is an online service that delivers freshly made pet food to your doorstep. Driven by its motto to make food that involves “simple recipes, guided by science, and driven by love”, the brand has rethought pet food by blending human-grade ingredients and allowing customers to personalize food plans based on their dogs’ profiles and preferences.
In short, the brand has turned boring kibble into a fresh fine dining experience for your canine friend. The brand has been featured in notable media outlets including Forbes, Vogue, CBS News, Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company.
Its early advent into the business, coupled with its reputation for transparency, also explains the brand’s massive following on social media, with 143k followers on Instagram and more than 71k followers on Facebook.
Let’s face it, every day is a dog’s day. The Farmer’s Dog just gives it a tasty twist. That’s why The Farmer’s Dog review is here to tell you why you shouldn’t be the only one eating healthy. The Farmer’s Dog makes it easier for you and your furred friend with its real meat dog food delivered to your door-step, and we’ll show you why.
Overview of The Farmer’s Dog
The story of The Farmer’s Dog starts with Jada, a beautiful Rottweiler pup who struggled with severe digestive issues for 2 years. When her dad, Brett Podolsky, consulted a vet, he was advised to give her simple home-cooked food. The effect was instant. Jada was cured overnight, and Brett became a fresh food advocate.
Shortly after Jada’s cure, Brett teamed up with his friend and fellow dog parent Jonathan Regev to start The Farmer’s Dog. Founded in 2014, The Farmer’s Dog was among the first to foray into the fresh dog food market.
From Jada’s experience, they learned that just because a bag of pet food has the words “real”, “healthy”, “natural”, or “organic” doesn’t make it equivalent to real, fresh food. “It doesn’t even come close,” Brett has reiterated in interviews to various publications.
Seven years after Brett and Jonathan launched The Farmer’s Dog, the brand shows no signs of slowing down. As mentioned before in The Farmer’s Dog review, the company is particularly distinct for its transparency. If you see The Farmer’s Dog stamp, you know the food is:
- Made fresh
- Vet-approved
- Human-grade
- Cooked in USDA Kitchens
- Licked clean by your canine child (based on reviews by dog parents)
Brett and Jonathan say they often personally taste-test their pet food recipes as they wouldn’t have it any other way. But, like human food, The Farmer’s Dog has its share of pros and cons. The Farmer’s Dog review will list some of them based on customer reviews, research, and my own experience (and concerns) as a dog parent.
Pros
- Made with unprocessed ingredients (contains no preservatives or fillers)
- Recipes designed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
- Compliance with the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) standards
- Customizable plans based on pet’s needs
- Made in the USA
- Free, flexible shipping and deliveries
- Auto-shipping available
- Eco-friendly packaging
Cons
- Limited protein options, especially for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities
- Bags not resealable
- Perishable and requires refrigeration or deep freeze
- More expensive compared to traditional dog food options, although you’re paying for high quality meals
Why Go With Fresh Dog Food?
First, some grim facts and figures on why it’s important to know what your pooch’s food contains. According to a study by VCA Animal Hospital, 80% of pets older than three years of age have active dental disease. Nearly 60% of the dogs in the United States are either obese or overweight.
The Farmer’s Dog review will now look at what we can do to save our doggos. According to The Farmer’s Dog, it starts with feeding them right.
Numerous studies have found that pet foods often contain ingredients that are not listed on their labels, or missing those they claim to use. Pet food production in the US is carried out at alarmingly low safety and quality standards, which are hidden behind loose labeling and marketing regulations:
- Meals: Powders like ‘Chicken Meal’ can contain meat from diseased livestock
- Label Tricks: Foods can hide behind misleading bags. ‘Made with beef’ can mean just 3% beef.
- Brown Pellets: Kibble is extremely processed regardless of the ingredient claims (or pictures)
In comes The Farmer’s Dog with its line-up of fresh food. The brand does not make a lot of tall claims like most brands. The website explicitly states there isn’t anything fancy or magical about what they are trying to do
All The Farmer’s Dog claims is that they make real, fresh food. “It’s still dog food, just how it should be,” states the brand. If anything, the brand has my respect for its modesty.
Unlike the traditional kibble, if you have doubts about what you’re feeding your canine, you can taste the food yourself, as it is made with ingredients sourced from reputable food suppliers, local farms, and other human food purveyors that meet USDA standards.
The Farmer’s Dog food is made in the USA, free of preservatives or processed ingredients, as the aim is not to be shelf-stable. They want to ensure your dog gets the most natural nutrients available. So, what improvements can you expect to see in your canine friend once you make the switch?
For The Farmer’s Dog review, I went through multiple customer reviews and this is what I found: Customers vouch for their pets’ improved digestion, stronger immune systems, healthier skin and coats, and increased vitality after they switched to fresh food. In other words, your tyke isn’t going to live, she/he is going to thrive.
How Does The Farmer’s Dog Work?
The first step in testing The Farmer’s Dog cooked dog food is to create an online profile on the company’s website. For The Farmer’s Dog review, I created a profile for me and my pooch Sir Harisson Furred, a fox terrier-dachshund mix. The whole process took less than 10 minutes.
As part of The Farmer’s Dog subscription process, you are initially asked to key in basic information such as your name, zip code, and contact details and some facts about your pet, including his/her sex, age, weight, and breed.
In the next step, plug in any information on your pet’s:
- Behavior (cutest, silliest, most loyal, most stubborn)
- Body type (skinny, round, chunky, just right)
- Activity level (not very active–only moves when you come home, very active–likes to play, active–daily dog park trips and long walks)
- Exercise (daily jogs, 2 hrs walk)
- Eating style (very picky, can be picky, good eater, will eat anything)
- Health issues
- Routine diet (dry food, wet food, dehydrated food, fresh food, homemade food)
After filling the questionnaire, I learned that Sir Furred roughly requires 265 calories a day and was given three recipes to choose from including beef, chicken, and turkey.
The Farmer’s Dog provides a two-week taste trial, which will start within a week of customers choosing their plan and placing an order.
The dog food is packed with dry ice to keep the product frozen and food is pre-portioned in bags that contain enough food for a day. The bags are frozen flat so they take minimal space in our jam-packed freezers.
After the trial, your selected plan will be billed and shipped every 8 weeks. The deliveries are planned in such a way that you never run out of food. You can also customize the frequency based on your canine’s needs and preferences, or cancel at any point.
The Farmer’s Dog Food
The Farmer’s Dog meal plans are a combination of four different recipes with beef, chicken, turkey, and pork. The Farmer’s Dog food review will now highlight the ingredients in each of these recipes:
- Beef: Includes USDA beef, sweet potato, lentils, carrot, beef liver, kale, sunflower seeds, fish oil, and TFD nutrient blend (Vitamin mix)
- Chicken: USDA chicken, brussels sprout, chicken liver, bok choy, broccoli, fish oil, and TFD nutrient pack
- Turkey: USDA turkey, chickpeas, carrot, broccoli, parsnip, spinach, fish oil, and TFD nutrient blend
- Pork: USDA pork, sweet potato, potato, green beans, cauliflower, pork liver, fish oil, and TFD nutrient blend
What Does The Farmer’s Dog Cost?
The Farmer’s Dog meal plans start at $2/day. Each dog is different, and full meal pricing will depend on a variety of factors such as age, weight, and activity. The Farmer’s Dog puppy food preparations and quantity are based on your pup’s weight. To determine the exact cost, you can visit TheFarmersDog.com and fill out the company’s questionnaire.
For Sir Furred, the full daily meals were priced at $28.70 per week, with 20% off for the 2-week trial period ($45.90, discounted from $57.40). That’s around $115 a month. If you have more than a mouth to feed or if your pooch is bigger, The Farmer’s Dog is bound to be an expensive option.
The price ranges from $4 to $5 per day for a 25-pound dog and $8 to $9 a day for a 55-pound dog. For example, if you are the parent of a 60lb Golden Retriever, a full daily-meal plan will cost $70.75 a week. That’s a whopping $283 a month!
On the plus side, if your dog doesn’t take to the food, the brand will send additional recipes to try, or you can opt for a refund if you donate the food to a shelter.
The Farmer’s Dog Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
For The Farmer’s Dog review, we poured over multiple customer reviews, all of which had mixed opinions, ranging from skepticism over its push for fresh food, disbelief over its bombshell prices, and exasperation in trying to make their canines transition from dry food to wet food.
On BBB’s website, the brand has an average rating of 2.33/5 stars based on 6 customer reviews. Most pet parents were peeved with the company’s customer service, especially over delays in canceling their subscription.
“I attempted to cancel the next delivery but it was too late. Now I have two months of frozen dog food ($250) that my puppy won’t even look at. I contacted The Farmers dog and was told they would send me Anchovy Oil to put on the food and that she would eat it and if that didn’t work that I could donate it to a rescue and send them the receipt and they would reimburse me,” says one The Farmer’s Dog review.
The Farmer’s Dog Reddit reviews expressed skepticism over the term ‘human-grade’, and what seems to be a routine struggle with the company’s customer care.
“When you try contacting customer care you are diverted to an automatic message to either text a message, send an email, or leave a voicemail with a phone number. I have done all 3 with no response,” said another.
On the positive side, a lot of customers say they face resistance from their pets only during the early days of transition from the food they are used to. But once they cross that initial hurdle, the effect is almost immediate.
The evidence lies in their pets’ poop. “Her poop is so much better now,” posted a customer on Reddit. Customers also praised the brand for its smart packaging and timely delivery, ensuring your pooch is never out of chow.
Is The Farmer’s Dog Worth It?
The Farmer’s Dog price points are on the higher side. But if you are conscious about your dog’s nutrition, prefer to be in the loop of what goes in, particular about how it comes out, and willing to pay extra for it, then The Farmer’s Dog is worth trying.
The initial struggle to get your canine used to fresh food can deter a lot of pet parents. As a parent of a picky eater pet, I would suggest topping off the fresh food with a smattering of kibble during the trial period. If The Farmer’s Dog is too steep for your budget, then top off the routine kibble with some fresh food and continue this in the long-run.
Few customers have questioned the quality of The Farmer’s Dog ingredients. The brand’s adherence to high manufacturing standards makes it reliable. It is also a convenient option for pet parents with hectic schedules. The Farmer’s dog review verdict? Give this a shot!
The Farmer’s Dog Promotions & Discounts
The Farmer’s Dog has offered our community a special 50% discount. Take advantage now to try Farmer’s Dog as this won’t last forever.
How to Sign up for The Farmer’s Dog
For the benefit of my fellow pet parents, the Farmer’s Dog review gives you step-by-step instructions on how to sign up for The Farmer’s Dog.
- Create an online profile for yourself and your dog(s) on The Farmer’s Dog website
- Fill in information about you (name, email, zip code) and your pooch (sex, age, weight, breed, body composition, activity level, and eating information)
- Based on the information keyed in, The Farmer’s Dog will come up with recipe recommendations using an algorithm
- Food for two weeks (trial period) will be delivered at your door-step within a week of the order being placed
- The subscription is automatically renewed at the end of two weeks and your plan will be billed and shipped every 8 weeks
Customers can also change the frequency of shipping based on their dog’s preference, or cancel the service at any point. You can also ask for a change of recipe.
FAQ
Where is The Farmers Dog located?
The brand operates out of its head office in New York, US.
Is The Farmer’s Dog raw food?
All of The Farmer’s Dog recipes involve gently cooking the food at low temperatures according to USDA-facility standards to preserve more of the nutritional value. They’re then quickly frozen (not deep-frozen) for safe shipping and storage convenience.
Since the food is fresh and includes no preservatives, you must store it at a safe temperature in a refrigerator or freezer. The food lasts for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. If you don’t plan to use it for feeding within this timeframe, pack them into freezer-safe bags and store them in the freezer.
Your box will include an easy guide on how to store and feed the food properly.
How long does it take for The Farmer’s Dog to ship?
The Farmer’s Dog currently ships to the 48 contiguous states in the United States free of cost. Customers receive deliveries of freshly prepared food on a recurring and flexible basis. The first delivery arrives within a week of the order being placed, after which every subsequent delivery is timed in a way to ensure your pet does not run out of food.
You’ll be notified via email about each order before billing and shipment. No further information on shipping was available at the time of The Farmer’s Dog review.
How do I cancel The Farmer’s Dog?
Customers can adjust shipping frequency and pause or cancel a subscription at any point by logging into their profiles on The Farmer’s Dog website. The Farmer’s Dog review found no information on how long refund processes take.
How to Contact The Farmer’s Dog
If you still have questions after The Farmer’s Dog review, you can reach out to customer service by sending an email to help@thefarmersdog.com or reaching out by phone: (646)-780-7957.
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