Petplate is great for dog owners who:
- Want better customizability.
- Know a lot of other dog owners and would like to take advantage of a referral program.
- Have multiple dogs and want to easily tweak their custom meal plans.
The Farmer’s Dog is great for dog owners who:
- Want more affordable 100 percent natural dog food.
- Want free bulk shipping.
- Would prefer a brand that is more devoted to their sustainability commitments.
Competition for the best fresh dog food title is grueling, especially given the number of them that cropped up since 2020. I have seen pet food deliveries double since 2018 which reflects this sudden surge of subscription-based dog food brands. Although they each try to fill different niches, it’s inevitable that some may clash because they both cater to the same need. I found that that’s the case between PetPlate and The Farmer’s Dog in the all-natural fresh dog food niche.
Which of these two fresh dog food brands is the better one in their class? Let’s take a look at my PetPlate vs Farmer’s Dog comparison review and find out if either could be the best dog food delivery service for you.
PetPlate Features
Pros
- Comprehensive recipe personalization. Website has plenty of options, and you can talk to their team to customize even further.
- Customizable multi-recipe subscription plans.
- Free fresh dog food delivery throughout the mainland US. You can pause, skip, or cancel deliveries anytime.
- Customer service is responsive and effective.
- Wide selection, including treats like supplement cookies.
Cons
- They do not disclose information about their suppliers.
- No option to order a la carte.
Best Customization System
PetPlate is the best subscription service for customizability. The only other brand that comes close is Just Food For Dogs, but PetPlate beats that by not requiring pet parents to schedule a meeting with their vets first. Everything from specializing in things such as tear marks and bone health to excluding any number of ingredients is accounted for. And if there’s anything that you want that you don’t see in the customization questionnaire, you can call up customer service at any time to see if they can arrange that for you.
All-Natural and Comprehensive Recipe Composition
PetPlate carefully crafts their recipes to optimize physical growth and general health while keeping with client specifications, as well as keeping their ingredients 100 percent natural. This is a remarkable feat considering all of their constraints.
Food is Kettle-Cooked
By slowly cooking a small batch at a time, PetPlate’s food retains all of its precious nutrients. This is because the gentler the cooking process, the less the nutrients in the food break down. And that includes the flavors as well. Even after days in the freezer, PetPlate still tastes great once heated up and served.
Competitively Priced
PetPlate’s daily cost averages at $5, which allows it to compete with other brands that often have customers pay $8 or more for an average-sized dog. If that’s too steep, you can also subscribe to a topper plan, which generally costs only half as much as a regular plan.
Referral Bonuses
PetPlate also has a referral program. For each new subscriber that signs up to them through you, you’ll end up receiving $60. To sweeten the deal, your referrals also get a much higher discount than regular first-time subscribers.
The Farmer’s Dog Features
Pros
- Only uses ingredients that are 100 percent natural, USDA-approved, certified humane, and free of GMOs.
- Plans can cost as low as $2, including free shipping.
- Is committed to sustainability, from sourcing to delivery.
- Offers bulk shipping to reduce emissions from dog food delivery services.
Cons
- Shelf life of products is relatively shorter because of the freshness and lack of preservatives.
- Customization is limited.
Zero Artificial Substances Used
As you may have guessed from the name, The Farmer’s Dog delivers recipes similar to what a farm dog would receive. Hence, all ingredients used were raised or grown without growth hormones, and prepared without preservatives, or any other artificial substances. Their commitment to tampering with their ingredients as little as possible does mean that they leave some animal byproducts in, though.
Recipe Customization Accounts For Weight and Activity
Like a few other fresh dog food services, the Farmer’s Dog’s recipe personalization accounts for your dog’s weight and activity levels. The thing that sets The Farmer’s Dog apart, however, is their guarantee that they use only 100 percent natural ingredients.
Helps With Digestion
Their unprocessed recipes are great for dogs whose stomachs find it hard to digest conventional dog food [1]. These products are usually full of artificial ingredients, and are thus often not compatible with sick or elderly dogs. The wholesomeness of their recipes can also help dogs with behavior or mental problems.
Sustainable Methods
This brand is also devoted to sustainable production. For starters, all of their packaging materials are recyclable, if not biodegradable. They also deliver directly to the consumer. This eliminates the need to hire commercial logistics companies, which tend to be heavy on emissions. To drive down emissions even further, they offer the option to take out bulk orders too.
Excellent Pricing
The Farmer’s Dog plans can be astoundingly inexpensive, starting at as low as $2. Of course, that is if you choose the absolute cheapest option, and your dog is healthy and of average size. That, or you have a small dog. Their recipe customization also adjusts your costs according to the dog’s age, weight, activity and other chosen options. Most dog owners report paying anywhere from $4 to $6, but shipping is free.
Overview of Each Product
Each PetPlate dish is slowly kettle-cooked in small batches, which preserves the original texture and taste of the ingredients. Texture ranges from soupy to blocky, depending on the recipe. There tends to be less solid vegetable matter in the meals compared to that of other fresh dog food companies. Food comes in tubs that can conveniently double as disposable doggy bowls.
Choose PetPlate if…
You can afford to spend a little bit more to get better quality. Both Petplate and The Farmer’s Dog have the edge of being 100 percent natural, but Petplate has the edge in terms of taste quality and customization. Petplate also offers supplements and treats that are compatible with your custom meal plans.
Each meal has a generous amount of nutritious veggies whose taste dogs commonly find agreeable. The proteins are ground up coarsely for even cooking and light seasoning while preserving texture. This also makes heating easier. However, since the ingredients are virtually untampered, that means they can also include things that you may not find agreeable, such as animal byproducts.
Choose The Farmer’s Dog if…
You want a brand that is centered around simple, all-natural, and affordable fresh dog food with free shipping while being more affordable than Petplate. Daily costs with The Farmer’s Dog scales much less steeply than with Petplate. You’ll also be supporting the sustainability efforts undertaken by The Farmer’s Dog if you subscribe to their service. Investing in sustainability and donating to pet welfare organizations is something Petplate doesn’t do as much as The Farmer’s Dog.
