Frequently Asked Questions | The Farmer’s Dog

Our Fresh food

Why should I feed fresh?

Fresh is not wet or raw. Fresh is gently cooked just enough to get rid of dangerous pathogens while maintaining whole food integrity. We believe there’s a big difference between surviving and thriving. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that points to the health benefits of a minimally processed diet and the issues with typical commercial pet food manufacturing processes. And whether your dog is a picky eater grappling with a particular health issue or perfectly healthy and willing to eat just about anything, we’ve seen first-hand with our own dogs and those of our customers the positive impact of feeding fresh.

There really isn’t anything fancy or magical about what we’re trying to do. It’s real, fresh food made convenient. Dog food, just how it should be.

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What does fresh mean to The Farmer’s Dog?

Our meals are prepared in human food facilities, where each recipe is gently cooked at low temperatures according to human-grade standards. They’re then quickly frozen for safe shipping and your storage convenience. Since we package and deliver your meals on a convenient subscription, your food is truly made fresh and never contains preservatives which allow kibble to sit on a shelf for years at a time. Sometimes things just work out to be a win-win.

Do I need to refrigerate the food?

Yes! Since our food is truly made fresh and we don’t use any preservatives, it’s essential that you treat it like real food (because it is!). Keep the food at a safe temperature in a refrigerator or freezer. Your box will also include an easy guide on how to store and feed the food properly (it’s very simple!).

Do I need to cook the food?

No need, our food is pre-portioned and ready-to-serve! You can serve it directly from the fridge or add a touch of hot water if your dog prefers warm food.

How do you know what kind of food my dog needs?

We work closely with vets to figure out the optimal meal plans for different combinations of breed, age, activity level, and ideal weight. That way, we can ask you the right questions to create a plan that’s truly customized to your dogs’ characteristics and needs. After you start, our trusty team is here every step of the way to help monitor your dog’s progress and make adjustments to your plan.

Do I need to consult my vet to use The Farmer’s Dog?

Please do! They will take comfort in the fact that we work alongside board certified veterinary nutritionists, and while many vets fight over different food trends, just about every vet agrees that freshly made, nutritionally-balanced food is great for dogs. Our recipes are formulated to fully replace a standard diet, but many pups with a range of health issues are also doing great on our meals.

Why can’t I just cook dog food at home?

You can - let us help you do it right! Studies have shown 95% of home-prepared diets have one or more significant nutrient deficiencies, which may place a pet at risk of developing serious health problems. The Farmer’s Dog DIY Nutrient Mix and online recipes ensure that you are cooking meals that are formulated by a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist (™) to be complete and balanced. Click here to learn more. Happy cooking!

Do you have food suitable for puppies, adult dogs, and seniors?

Yes! We have recipe options suitable for dogs at different stages of life, from puppies and adult dogs to seniors. Our recipes are formulated to feed with no additional supplementation necessary, and all are developed by our board-certified animal nutritionist and reviewed by a Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionist® to be complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards (tell your vet, they’ll love it!) Just tell us a little about your dog in our dog profile questionnaire, and we’ll recommend a plan that’s just right for their age and needs!

What does The Farmer’s Dog cost?

Every dog is different, and your exact plan and price options will depend on your dog(s) and their food needs, factoring in age, weight, activity, recipe choice, and more. Plans start at about $2/day, and delivery options mostly range from 1 week to 2 months of food and include free shipping. Because we deliver the food right to your door, your dollars are going towards the highest quality ingredients, and not to the mark-ups of a big retail store.

To see your exact pricing options, simply fill out our short questionnaire.

Our Fresh recipes

What types of recipes do you offer?

We offer multiple fresh human-grade recipes (meaning food made from ingredients fit for humans in human-food facilities according to human safety standards). Our recipes feature whole ingredients including real proteins like beef, chicken, turkey, and pork, alongside whole veggies and all the vitamins and minerals dogs need.

Our recipes are complete and balanced for dogs at every stage of life, from puppies to seniors, and require no additional supplementation. Each is formulated by our on-staff Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists® to meet AAFCO standards.

You can learn more about our recipes here.

Do your recipes have grains?

We have many recipes, including grain-free and grain-inclusive options. If you’d like to hear more, please call our customer support team. We’re here to answer any and all questions, 24/7.

Do you have novel proteins?

A novel protein is one from a new source that your dog hasn’t had before. We offer pork and turkey, which are less common in traditional kibble and can be “novel” for many dogs. These are both good options for dogs with certain protein sensitivities.

What makes The Farmer’s Dog recipes different?

The Farmer’s Dog creates a variety of human-grade recipes that are simple in nature using different proteins and vegetables to account for dietary restrictions. Our on-staff Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists® carefully formulate each recipe to be 100% complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards, and we use all human-grade ingredients and processes to do so.

Every recipe has human-grade proteins, mixed with simple whole foods, and balanced with vitamins and minerals. That’s it. We never use feed-grade ingredients. All of our ingredients are human-grade and sourced from reputable, human food purveyors that meet human-grade standards. They are tested for quality and safety, including heavy metal content levels, high levels of which have been reported in many kibbles and freeze and air-dried foods.

Finally, we gently cook our food, which retains nutrients better than the ultra-processing of most kibbles and shelf stable foods. This ensures that the natural nutrients in our high quality ingredients end up in your dog’s bowl. Our minimally processed food was even clinically shown to reduce Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs), harmful compounds associated with oxidative stress and age-related decline, as compared to ultra-processed kibble.

You can find the specific ingredient lists for the meal plan we recommend on the “Your Plan” section of our meal plan questionnaire.

Creating your plan

How do I sign up for a plan?

Click here to tell us about your dog and we’ll determine their perfect plan. It’ll only take a few minutes!

How do you determine my dog’s portions?

We work closely with our vet nutritionists to figure out the optimal calorie needs for different combinations of breed, age, activity level, and ideal weight. Certain dogs can metabolize faster than others, so some plans may need further adjusting.

Packaging and shipping

How do shipments work? Do you ship nationwide?

We currently ship to the 48 contiguous states. With our meal plans, customers receive deliveries of freshly prepared food on a recurring and flexible basis. Plans are customized to fit your dog’s needs and come with clear portioning guidance to make feeding easy. Your dog’s Fresh food arrives in refrigerated and environmentally friendly boxes that keep the food safe. We perfectly time deliveries to make sure you never run out of food and you will have the ability to adjust deliveries at any time online.

How do I know if Fresh food is safe to feed when it arrives?

Only feed packs that arrive frozen or very cold (as if just out of the fridge). Partial defrosting is okay, but the food should still be below 40°F.

What if I’m not home at the time my box arrives?

Your boxes are packed with plenty of insulation and coolant for precisely this reason, and keep your food safe and cold during and after transit. Unpack it as soon as you’re able, and be sure to only feed packs that arrive frozen or very cold (as if just out of the fridge). Partial defrosting is okay, but the food should still be below 40°F.

How flexible are the deliveries?

Very! You can change addresses, rush, delay, or edit the amount of food we send. Once you’re signed up, you can easily make tweaks to your plan to your personal preference online.

How environmentally friendly are your deliveries?

This planet gave us dogs, so taking care of it is a priority. We pack our boxes with the environment in mind. You can recycle the cardboard box the food is delivered in. We have two kinds of insulation—one is biodegradable and dissolves right down the drain under running water, and the other you can recycle curbside along with the box. Please refer to your insulation’s liner for exact disposal instructions.