The Farmer’s Dog vs Just Food For Dogs: which one should you choose?
There are many reasons why dog owners across the country are wanting to change their dog's diet to a fresh one. The more you look into what's in regular kibble and shop-bought dog food, the more shocking it becomes about what you're actually feeding your beloved pet.
Surely it would be better if you could actually see the ingredients. Well, with fresh dog food, you can! You know that your dog is receiving a perfectly balanced meal, full of all the nutrients they need – plus it's yummy!
We've compared two of the most popular fresh pet food services, so you know exactly what you're getting. Which one comes out on top between Just Food for Dogs vs. The Farmer's Dog?
What to think about before going fresh
Before changing your pup's diet from regular wet or dry dog food to a fresh, nutritious one, there are many factors to consider.
While you’re cooking, suddenly, your dog looks at you. You want to give them a little treat but wonder if they can eat the food you are holding in your hand.
With our vet-approved magnet, you’ll know the answer at a glance! Plus, you can quickly scan our QR code to access the full article with all the explanations.
Before making the change, check with your vet to be sure.
Both Just Food for Dogs and The Farmer's Dog offer nutritionally balanced meals expertly created by a veterinary nutritionist that your dog will love. They're then quickly frozen and delivered straight to your door for your pup to enjoy.
Of course, human-grade food that's delivered to your doorstep is going to cost more than your average tin of dog food in the store. It's important you think whether the added expense is worth it for your four-legged companion before changing their diet.
What's more, you need to have enough freezer space to be able to store the pet food before you need it.
However, many dog owners have seen the benefits of fresh food in their pups. They have more energy, healthier fur, and skin, more regular bathroom breaks, and they're just happier! For many, it's well worth the added expense and the storage requirements.
The Farmer's Dog vs Just Food For Dogs – the key comparisons
To decide which dog food delivery service is best for you and your dog, it's essential to compare the key features of these two companies in detail.
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| |
| Meal options | Beef, turkey, pork, and chicken | Shepherd's Pie Special, Turkey and Whole Wheat Macaroni Fish and Sweet Potato, Lamb and Brown Rice (Gluten-free) |
| Made by vets? | Yes | Yes |
| Customizability and variety | Yes, based on breed, sex, weight, age, whether they're spayed or not, body shape, and activity level. | Yes, based on sex, breed, age, weight, activity level, and any specific health goals you have. |
| Price | Between $2 -$12 per day | Between $3 and $15 a day |
| Free shipping? | Yes | Yes, for orders over $99 |
| Sustainability | All the packaging is either biodegradable or recyclable and free from poisonous toxins. | All of their packaging and insulation are recyclable. and they offer reusable shopping bags for anything you might buy in their open kitchens. |
| Welcome offers | 50% off your first box | 35% off your first order with autoship |
| Can you cancel at any time? | Yes | Yes |
| Refund policy | Yes, but only if you agreed to donate the unwanted portion of the first box to a shelter. | Yes |
Meal options
The Farmer's Dog
The ingredients used and the meal options available are a really important factor when thinking about what you feed your dog – especially if they're a particularly fussy eater or have allergies.
The Farmer's Dog offers 4 different meals, each with a different main protein. These include beef, turkey, pork, and chicken.
These meals are then packed full of veggies, healthy starch, minerals and vitamins, and extra proteins. There are absolutely no artificial flavorings or preservatives.
Each dish has been created to match your canine friend's needs as well as be appealing to them. It will also keep them full!
Depending on what The Farmer's Dog recommends and which ingredients you think your dog would like best, you can order all four or just one type of meal.
Example Recipes
Beef recipe: USDA Beef, Sweet Potatoes, Lentils, Carrot, USDA Beef Liver, Kale, Sunflower Seeds, Fish Oil
Turkey recipe: USDA Turkey, Chickpeas, Carrot, Broccoli, Parsnip, Spinach, Fish Oil
Chicken recipe: USDA Chicken, Brussels Sprout, USDA Chicken Liver, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Fish Oil
Pork recipe: USDA Pork, Sweet Potatoes, Potato, Green Beans, Cauliflower, USDA Pork Liver, Fish Oil
Just Food for Dogs
Similar to The Farmer's Dog, Just Food for Dogs offers nutritious meals that are packed full of fresh products and that contain no extra nasties.
The really amazing thing about Just Food for Dogs is that they have 15 meal options to choose from! Ideal for even the pickiest of pups! They have a great selection of ingredients that are sure to make mealtimes fun.
At different points throughout the year, this dog food brand also offers ‘specials.' They can be seasonal or holiday favorites that your dog can enjoy while still using human-grade ingredients that are good for your furry friend.
Example recipes
Shepherd's Pie Special: Ground Beef and Lamb, Russet, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Green Peas, Cranberries
Turkey and Whole Wheat Macaroni: Carolina Turkey, Turkey Liver, Whole Wheat Macaroni, Broccoli, Zucchini, Carrots, Cranberries
Fish and Sweet Potato: Alaskan Pacific Wild-caught Cod, Sweet Potatoes, Russet Potatoes, Green Beans, Broccoli
Lamb and Brown Rice (Gluten-free): Ground Lamb, Long-grain Brown Rice, Spinach, Cauliflower, Carrots, Blueberries
Customizability and Variety
Many potential buyers expect to get a custom meal plan for their doggo when they sign up for any delivery service. If you're paying a premium price, you want to make sure you're getting premium dog food specifically suited to your pup.
The Farmer's Dog
The first thing you have to do when ordering from The Farmer's Dog is set up your pup's (or multiple pups') profile. They'll ask you questions about your dog's breed, weight, activity levels, sex, age, body shape, and whether they're spayed or not.
The Farmer's Dog will then recommend which of their four meals would be best for your pup.
While filling out your pup profile, you can also let them know of any health conditions that your dog has that you think they ought to be aware of.
These could include diarrhea, constipation, lack of energy, bad breath, or low mood. They can then offer the best fresh pet food for your dog, which should help tackle these health conditions.
In addition to what your dog should eat, The Farmer's Dog will also tell you exactly how much of each meal they need. This is based on their pup profile and whether they need to lose or gain a few pounds.
Extra meals and topper plans
For many dog owners, the thought of changing over your pup's food can be a little daunting. Will they like it? What if you order a bunch of meals and they don't? What's the best way to change them over so they don't get any stomach troubles?
A really good solution is The Farmer's Dog's topper plan. With this meal plan, you can add small amounts of The Farmer's Dog into your dog's food so they can slowly get used to the change in texture and taste. After all, there's a big difference between hard kibble and soft meat and veggies!
The topper plan is aimed at larger dogs. If you have a tiny pup, you'll find your topper options are very restricted or non-existent altogether.
Just Food for Dogs
Like other fresh dog food delivery services, Just Food for Dogs needs to know a few crucial details about your pooch, so they recommend the best fresh food for them.
In the feeding calculator (as they call it), you'll be asked about your dog's sex, breed, age, weight, activity level, and any specific health goals you have (such as boosting energy level, improving digestion, or reducing itchy skin). They'll then recommend the best nutritious, whole food for your dog.
Something really nice about the Just Food for Dogs website is the full transparency they have (which some other dog food brands don't). They put a lot of extra information in the recipe sections so you can really understand which meals would be best for your dogs.
For example, the website says that the Fish and Sweet Potato meal is gluten and grain-free. It's ideally suited to both puppies and adult dogs, as well as over-weight pups that love to gobble down too much food! It's low in calories and high in protein which can help with weight loss as it keeps your dog full up for longer!
The website also gives you an exact breakdown of all the benefits of a meal, such as the crude protein percentage and omega 6 levels.
Extra meals and treats
This company also offers some great treats for your dog. As is the case with the fresh food, all the treats are free from preservatives, additives, and growth hormones. Some examples are Pumpkin Treats, Chicken Apple Bark Treats, and Salmon Bark Treats.
They also offer supplements to help with anxiety, joint problems, and allergy care. Something that many dog owners will like is that they also have a special veterinary support section. These are recipes developed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to help with specific health problems (such as renal support, critical care, and metabolic support).
The Farmer's Dog vs Just Food For Dogs: price difference
Human-grade food that's specifically developed to give your dog a balanced diet is naturally going to cost more than regular kibble. How much your dog's food costs depends on their size and the recommended amount of food they eat.
The Farmer's Dog
On average, The Farmer's Dog costs between $2 -$12 per day.
Just Food for Dogs
Just Food for Dogs can cost between $3 and $15 a day, depending on whether you buy veterinary-specific meals or not.
Portions/storage
The Farmer's Dog
The Farmer's Dog dog food arrives in squeezable pouches, making serving at mealtime easy. The meals come with clear instructions on portion size, and each is named (which comes in handy in multiple-pup households).
A slight negative amongst some dog owners is that all The Farmer's Dog pouches are the same size. That means that smaller dogs will have multiple meals from one pouch, and the rest will have to be stored in the fridge. Freshly made dog food does smell better than regular store food, but some pup parents aren't a fan of it mixing in their fridge.
Just Food for Dogs
These meals arrive in stackable packs that are really useful for freezing. They also come with clear instructions on exactly how much to give your pup.
The amount your dog needs to eat will determine how big the packs are and if you're mixing in some of the food with regular kibble you'll need to store opened packs in the fridge.
Sustainability
The Farmer's Dog
This food delivery service is one of the best when it comes to eco-friendly packaging. Because this dog food is fresh, it's quickly frozen after cooking to preserve all the nutrients and good bits.
The meals need to be kept cold while in transit, and The Farmer's Dog does this using cornstarch. Cornstarch insulation can be composted or dissolved in running water.
Although a negative for some doggie owners, this brand uses large bags of food rather than pre-portioning each meal because it uses less plastic.
All the packaging is recyclable or biodegradable, and they also offer a biodegradable storage container (which, to be honest, can get a little messy).
Just Food for Dogs
This company also acknowledges that doing its part for the environment is essential. All of their packaging and insulation are recyclable. They offer reusable shopping bags for anything you might buy in their open kitchens.
It's also worth mentioning that Just Food for Dogs has several open kitchens in and around California. When they say transparency, they really mean it. You can go to any of the open kitchens to see your pup's food being made. They also do educational talks about healthy dog food and the best nutrition.
Shipping
It's important you stay on top of your frozen dog food orders. You don't want your dogs to go hungry or have too much to store at one time.
The Farmer's Dog
Shipment is free to mainland America.
Different dogs need different amounts of food. Small dogs will get their order every 8 weeks and larger dogs every 3. Depending on what suits you, you can customize your shipment to make it more or less often.
You can reschedule orders, pause them, or change an address – which is great if you're traveling. You just need to make sure you do any amendments before the order is processed.
Just Food for Dogs
A real positive of this brand is that you can make a one-time purchase or sign up for an auto-subscription. You don't have to subscribe, which is great for those unsure of making the change. Shipping is free on orders over $99.
Vets behind the food
Both companies work with vets and nutritionists to perfectly create healthy food for your dog. Just Food for Dogs, however, is particularly impressive.
They've undergone a lot of clinical research, and their food is proven to improve immunity. Much of their leading research has also been published in scientific journals.
Conclusion – Just Food for Dogs vs Farmer's Dog, which one is better?
Both brands are great and offer really tasty, healthy food that will make your dog very happy.
If you have a picky eater, you'll probably find that Just Food for Dogs is better as there's more selection. Likewise, they're a great option if your dog needs to be on a distinct diet (you can even pay a one-off price of $250 for food that's made specifically for them).
However, it is a slightly more expensive choice, and they don't do free shipping for cheaper orders.
Would you subscribe to either of these companies? Which would you prefer to go with?
I’m Charlotte, a content and copywriter from the North of England and currently living in Berlin. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, so writing about dogs is a total pleasure! I love all kinds of dogs and their cheeky personalities, but I’d have to say Weimaraners are my favourite!
