The Farmer's Dog review: Fresh dog food delivery that's easy to feed and pup-approved
The Farmer's Dog offers fresh dog food delivery that's more affordable than other brands. I tested the subscription service to see how it compares.
admin
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Sophia Carlisle/Business Insider
Over several months, I tested the best fresh dog food delivery services with my pup. Among the brands I fed her, The Farmer's Dog is arguably the most popular — and one of the oldest. It launched in 2014 with convenient home delivery of fresh frozen dog food.
I fed my 50-pound pit mix, Lyla, two different The Farmer's Dog recipes — beef and chicken. During our trial, I evaluated my experience with ordering, delivery, ease of feeding, and, most importantly, the enthusiastic tail wags that accompanied every mealtime.
How it works
Recipes: The Farmer's Dog recipes meet the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional standards for puppies and adult dogs. The company also fulfills all of the Global Nutrition Guidelines set by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). These are the gold standard for pet food and apply to all of Insider Reviews' picks for the best dog foods.
The Farmer's Dog offers five recipes: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and chicken and grain. Each one includes salmon oil, an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows that the best fish oil for dogs can support skin, joint, immune, and cardiovascular health.
| Recipe | Ingredient highlights | Guaranteed analysis |
| Beef | Beef, sweet potato, lentils, carrot, beef liver, kale, sunflower seeds, nutrient blend, salmon oil | Crude protein: 11% min Crude fat: 8% min Crude fiber: 1.5% max Moisture: 72% max |
| Turkey | Turkey, chickpeas, carrot, broccoli, spinach, parsnip, nutrient blend, salmon oil | Crude protein: 8% min Crude fat: 4.5% min Crude fiber: 1.5% max Moisture: 76% max |
| Pork | Pork, sweet potato, green beans, cauliflower, pork liver, nutrient blend, salmon oil | Crude protein: 9% min Crude fat: 7% min Crude fiber: 1.5% max Moisture: 75% max |
| Chicken | Chicken, chicken liver, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, chia seeds, nutrient blend, salmon oil | Crude protein: 11% min Crude fat: 7.5% min Crude fiber: 1.5% max Moisture: 75% max |
| Chicken and Grain | Chicken, chicken broth, oats, chicken liver, collard greens, carrots, nutrient blend, coconut oil, salmon oil | Crude protein: 7% min Crude fat: 4.5% min Crude fiber: 1.5% max Moisture: 74.5% max |
Ordering: You'll need to complete a quick questionnaire about your dog, covering details like their age, weight, breed, and activity level. Once your order is ready to ship, The Farmer's Dog will send you an email with billing details and a shipping confirmation.
Customization: After you enter your dog's information during signup, The Farmer's Dog provides recipe recommendations. You can accept those suggestions or choose your own combination of up to three recipes. However, the food cannot be customized for food intolerances or allergies.
Delivery: Delivery times vary, but food is shipped on a recurring schedule to ensure you never run out. You can also pause or change your delivery schedule whenever you need.
Packaging: Food is packed in a large box insulated with dry ice. Recipes come in vacuum-sealed plastic pouches that are easy to stack in the freezer. A plastic container to store opened bags of food in the refrigerator is also included. Sophia Carlisle/Business Insider
Our review of The Farmer's Dog
After completing the questionnaire on The Farmer's Dog website, I placed my order. It turned out to be one of the most affordable services I tested. Two weeks of food cost $130, making it one of the best value options for fresh dog food.
My recipes shipped a few business days later, and the box arrived promptly. Although I picked it up immediately after delivery, the dry ice had already converted from its active form to gas, so the recipe resting on the top of the stack had thawed. While the food was still cold and safe to feed, I recommend unpacking and storing it as soon as it arrives. Sophia Carlisle/Business Insider
I was pleased to see how well the pouches fit inside my freezer. The Farmer's Dog packages its food in long pouches that can be neatly stacked. If you have a deep, narrow freezer, you won't have to worry about having enough space. With some other fresh dog food delivery services, the tall, square packaging was ill-suited for my narrow freezer.
Aside from how easy it was to store, I was impressed by how convenient the food was to serve. A feeding guide was included in the box, and each pouch was labeled with feeding instructions. With other fresh dog food services, I had to log in to my account to find feeding instructions, but The Farmer's Dog took the hassle out of that. Sophia Carlisle/Business Insider
As for the food itself, Lyla was a fan. She enjoyed both the beef and turkey recipes enough to keep coming back to her bowl for breakfasts and dinners — something that is tough to get her to do with any single brand of food. I could distinctly see each ingredient, and the meals more closely resembled something I would eat as opposed to typical wet dog food.
Cons to consider
A few things have kept The Farmer's Dog from rising to the top in our rankings. First, it's hard to find detailed information about the recipes just by browsing the website. You have to complete the feeding questionnaire and enter your email address before you can access ingredient lists or nutritional information for the recipes. Even after placing my order, I found it tricky to navigate the site to find the recipe details.
Another downside is that the Farmer's Dog only has one grain-inclusive recipe, which it began offering after I tested the food. If you're looking for more grain-inclusive options or recipe variety, I recommend JustFoodForDogs.
While The Farmer's Dog meets all the AAFCO and WSAVA standards Insider Reviews uses to evaluate dog food, the company claims that fresh food is healthier than shelf-stable kibble and wet food. At this time, there aren't enough studies to back that up. That said, the brand announced in March 2025 that it completed a year-long feeding study in collaboration with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The results will be released later in 2025, a press representative says.
If you're thinking about changing your dog's diet, it's important to consult your veterinarian to determine which foods are most appropriate for their individual needs, including any existing health issues.
The bottom line
The Farmer's Dog is an excellent fresh dog food delivery service with recipes that are a breeze to store and serve — and loved by my dog. While I wish they offered more recipe options, The Farmer's Dog may be your best bet if you're looking for an affordable, convenient subscription.
