Just Food For Dogs is Great for:
- Pet parents who have more budget
- Those who want gourmet quality food that’s also exceedingly nutritious.
- Those who want the most thorough recipe and nutrition customization.
The Farmer’s Dog is Great for:
- Pet parents on a budget
- Those who want dog food that is 100 percent natural.
- Those who prefer a brand that puts a good amount of focus on sustainability commitments.
Dog owners often disagree as to whether 100 percent natural food or meticulously prepared food is the way to go. Ideally, you’ll be able to gain the opinion of veterinarians at the top of their field to determine the best way to nourish your pet. But on the other hand, veterinarians can be wrong, and your best bet may be to simply give them food made out of ingredients as they were meant to be: fresh and completely untouched by artificial substances—and this is fortunately where majority of the pet food industry is going.
This is the core conflict at play I found when comparing two of the best fresh dog food subscription services Just Food For Dogs and The Farmer’s Dog. In this review I will size them up against each other and see which brand is the best dog food delivery service for which type of dog owner.
Just Food for Dogs Features
Pros
- Employs vets and other animal specialists of a diverse range of expertise.
- One-on-one consultations to customize recipe and nutrition plans, as well as gain other health tips.
- Open kitchens in physical store locations so you can see how the food is made and even order a la carte or pick up your weekly supply.
- Thorough yet humane feeding trials that can last up to a year to ensure product quality.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Variable portions. Some decent, some lacking.
Shelf-Stable Products
Just Food For Dogs offers certified PantryFresh products besides their usual fresh offerings. PantryFresh meals keep fresh even without any artificial preservatives. These products stay shelf-stable for up to two years.
Physical Stores
Just Food For Dogs is perhaps the only brand out there to actually have physical store locations. Here, the public and their pets can watch the food get made in the open kitchens. This is great for owners, as they can see exactly how much care gets put into each meal.
Customization Through Consultation
Instead of the usual customization interface employed by dog food subscription websites, Just Food For Dogs lets customers schedule one-on-one consultations with a member of their veterinary nutritionist team. This lets them gain better insight into the dog’s health and needs. This more personal interaction also allows owners to directly tell their team what specifications they want met in their recipes.
A La Carte Orders
You can also purchase a la carte orders without needing to subscribe to their service. This is perfect if you just want to sample their products, or if you want to give your pets an occasional treat. This is also ideal for pet parents who just want to mix some fresh food in their pets’ everyday meals to make them more palatable.
Partners With Clinics and Pet Stores
To widen their reach, Just Food For Dogs has been partnering with pet stores and veterinary clinics across the USA. From these outlets, customers can purchase a la carte orders or pick up the deliveries from their subscription. Premade products such as treats and PantryFresh food are also available from this growing list of partner outlets.
The Farmer’s Dog Features
Pros
- 100 percent natural ingredients. USDA-approved, certified humane, free of GMOs [1], and stringently screened for maximum nutrition quality.
- Exceptionally economical with plans starting at $2, including free shipping.
- Employs sustainable business practices.
- Offers bulk shipping to reduce the carbon footprint of your fresh pet food deliveries.
Cons
- Food has a relatively short shelf life and doesn’t last long once thawed.
- Limited customization options compared to other fresh dog food brands.
100 Percent Natural Ingredients and Cooking Techniques
The Farmer’s Dog is a dog food brand primarily focused on giving dogs the same healthy food a fairly well-off farmer would. Hence they use the most natural ingredients and preparation methods possible. All of their meats and vegetables, such as green beans, sweet potatoes and organ meats such as chicken liver, are free of growth hormones, preservatives, or any other artificial substances. However, this also means that they leave some animal byproducts in. All recipes are also completely grainless.
Customization Takes Weight and Activity Level Into Account
The main edge of The Farmer’s Dog’s recipe personalization is its considerations for your dog’s weight and activity levels. Other dog food companies do this as well, but with The Farmer’s Dog, you can be sure that your pup will be consuming meals that use only 100 percent natural ingredients.
Friendly to Sensitive Stomachs
Since they make it so that their recipes undergo the least amount of processing possible, The Farmer’s Dog meals are great for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Commonly available dog food is often filled with artificial substances. This makes them poorly suited for older or sick dogs. Such wholesome meals can help dogs deal with issues in their behavior as well.
Observes Strict Sustainability Guidelines
The Farmer’s Dog is committed to maximizing sustainability in every step of their operation. For example, they deliver directly to the consumer, meaning that they don’t have to hire emission-heavy commercial logistics companies. And of course, all their packaging materials are either biodegradable or recyclable. They also offer bulk delivery options to reduce emissions even more.
Highly Affordable
The Farmer’s Dog adjusts your costs according to the dog’s age, weight, activity and other customization options you’ve chosen. Plans can be remarkably affordable, starting at $2 for a medium-sized dog if you choose the absolute cheapest option and your dog has no health conditions to consider. And to top it off, shipping is free, too.
Overview of Each Product
At its core, Just Food For Dogs is centered on giving dogs the best quality food, both in terms of nutrition and taste. And they intend to make this as convenient as possible. Instead of requiring customers to answer a quiz to get a personalized recipe for their dog, only to fine-tune it through a customer service line later on, Just Food For Dogs simply gets you in touch with a veterinary nutritionist so they can assess your pet and determine the best diet for them in a one-on-one session. Aside from their main offering of customized fresh frozen meals, they also have an expansive selection of other products.
Choose Just Food For Dogs if…
You have more disposable income to direct towards your dog’s diet. Just Food For Dogs is one of the best brands for premium quality dog food that’s individually cooked by actual chefs. You’ll also be paying for a professional opinion given in a one-on-one session to get the most nutritious recipes for your dog’s specific physiology.
As its name would suggest, The Farmer’s Dog suggests products that are overall fresh, natural, and essentially what you would expect a farmer to give to their dog. In terms of nutrition, the absolute lack of artificial substances add to the recipes’ wholesomeness, and being grain-free, you can be sure your dog isn’t getting any empty carbs. However, since the ingredients are virtually untampered, that means they can also include things that you may not find agreeable, such as animal byproducts. Taste is comparable to that of other brands.
Choose The Farmer’s Dog if…
You want all-natural dog food that doesn’t use any artificial substances, from farm to packaging. You’ll also be supporting the sustainability efforts undertaken by The Farmer’s Dog if you subscribe to their service.
