Ollie vs. The Farmer’s Dog vs. Just Food for Dogs: Which Fresh Dog Food Is Best for Your Pet? 🥩🍽️🐕

Fresh dog food is becoming the go-to option for pet parents who want the best nutrition for their dogs. Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, and Just Food For Dogs are three top contenders in the market, each offering premium, whole-food meals for dogs. But how do you know which one is the right choice for your pup?

Key Takeaways: Quick Answers to Your Questions

1. Which offers the most customized meal plans? The Farmer’s Dog is highly personalized based on your dog’s profile.
2. Which brand uses the highest quality ingredients? Just Food For Dogs prioritizes USDA-certified, human-grade ingredients.
3. Which is the easiest to store and serve? Ollie’s pre-portioned, frozen meals offer convenience.
4. Which is best for dogs with special dietary needs? Just Food For Dogs, thanks to their veterinary-formulated recipes.
5. Which offers the most variety in flavors and ingredients? Just Food For Dogs provides a broader range of protein sources and recipes.
6. Which is the most affordable? The Farmer’s Dog offers flexible pricing based on your dog’s needs.
7. Which offers fresh food delivered to your door? All three brands—Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, and Just Food For Dogs—offer convenient delivery options.
8. Which is best for picky eaters? Ollie’s moist, flavorful meals are designed to appeal to fussy dogs.
9. Which provides the best customer support? Ollie stands out for its attentive customer service and easy-to-use subscription model.
10. Which is the best for large breeds or multiple dogs? The Farmer’s Dog offers more flexibility in portion sizes, making it budget-friendly for larger dogs.

1. Which Brand Offers the Most Customized Meal Plans? 🍗🍠

When it comes to customization, The Farmer’s Dog takes the lead with its highly personalized approach. After you complete an in-depth questionnaire about your dog’s age, breed, weight, activity level, and health concerns, they tailor a meal plan that is specifically designed to meet your dog’s unique nutritional needs. You can adjust portion sizes, frequency of delivery, and even modify ingredients to suit your dog’s taste or dietary restrictions.

Ollie also provides customization based on your dog’s profile, but it is slightly less detailed than The Farmer’s Dog. That said, Ollie does offer tailored portion sizes and a variety of recipes designed for dogs of different sizes and activity levels. Just Food For Dogs, while offering high-quality recipes, doesn’t provide the same level of individual customization unless you opt for their prescription diets, which are formulated for specific health issues.

💡 Pro Tip: If your dog has specific dietary restrictions or changing needs, The Farmer’s Dog offers the highest level of customization to ensure your pup’s nutrition evolves over time.

2. Which Brand Uses the Highest Quality Ingredients? 🥩🥕

Just Food For Dogs sets the gold standard for ingredient quality. They use USDA-certified, human-grade ingredients in all of their meals, including fresh proteins like wild-caught cod, venison, and free-range turkey. Their meals are designed by veterinarians and cooked in open-to-the-public kitchens, ensuring total transparency about what goes into your dog’s food.

Ollie also uses human-grade ingredients, with options like grass-fed beef and cage-free chicken, but they emphasize a balance between convenience and quality, making their meals nutrient-dense but easy to store and serve. The Farmer’s Dog follows a similar model, using fresh, whole-food ingredients that are minimally processed and cooked at low temperatures to retain nutrients. All three brands avoid fillers, artificial preservatives, and by-products, but Just Food For Dogs shines with its high-level ingredient sourcing and transparency.

💡 Pro Tip: For dogs with food sensitivities or allergies, Just Food For Dogs offers the highest ingredient quality, ensuring that each meal is free from unnecessary additives and fillers.

3. Which Is Easiest to Store and Serve? 🧊🍽️

When it comes to convenience, Ollie wins with its easy-to-store, pre-portioned meals that are delivered frozen. Simply thaw a meal in the fridge overnight and it’s ready to serve. The packaging is pre-measured for your dog’s size, eliminating the need for complicated measuring or guesswork.

The Farmer’s Dog also offers frozen meals, but they are slightly less convenient as the packaging can be bulkier. However, the meals arrive in eco-friendly packaging that is easy to store in your freezer. Just Food For Dogs offers both fresh and frozen meals as well as shelf-stable options for those who prefer pantry items that don’t require refrigeration. Their meals come in larger containers, which may require more planning if freezer space is limited.

💡 Pro Tip: For busy pet parents, Ollie’s pre-portioned, frozen meals are the easiest to manage—simply thaw and serve with no hassle.

4. Which Is Best for Dogs with Special Dietary Needs? 🩺🐾

Just Food For Dogs is the clear winner for dogs with special dietary needs, offering veterinary-formulated, prescription diets that address specific health concerns such as kidney disease, liver support, or weight management. These meals are crafted by veterinary nutritionists to meet the unique needs of dogs with chronic conditions, ensuring they receive balanced nutrition while managing their health.

The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie also offer healthy, balanced meals, but they don’t provide the same level of targeted dietary solutions. Ollie offers grain-free options and limited-ingredient recipes for dogs with allergies or sensitivities, while The Farmer’s Dog’s customization can help adjust portion sizes and ingredients based on your dog’s needs, but they don’t have specific medical formulas like Just Food For Dogs.

💡 Pro Tip: For dogs with complex medical issues, Just Food For Dogs’ prescription diets are your best bet, offering meals tailored to specific health challenges.

5. Which Offers the Most Variety in Flavors and Ingredients? 🍖🥓

Just Food For Dogs provides the broadest range of flavors and protein sources, with recipes that include venison, fish, beef, chicken, lamb, and even turkey and macaroni. This variety is perfect for dogs who enjoy a change in their meals or who may need to rotate proteins to avoid food sensitivities.

Ollie offers a good selection of beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey, but fewer unique protein options compared to Just Food For Dogs. The Farmer’s Dog provides beef, chicken, pork, and turkey options, which cover the basics but may not offer the same range for dogs who need or enjoy more exotic proteins.

💡

Pro Tip: If your dog loves variety, Just Food For Dogs offers the widest range of unique flavors and protein sources to keep mealtime exciting.

6. Which Is the Most Affordable? 💰📊

For cost-conscious dog owners, The Farmer’s Dog offers the most flexible pricing, allowing you to adjust portion sizes, delivery frequency, and meal plans to better fit your budget. They calculate your cost based on your dog’s weight, activity level, and nutritional needs, making it easier to manage expenses for large breeds or households with multiple dogs.

Ollie is slightly more expensive, especially when you factor in their human-grade, ethically sourced ingredients and customizable meal plans. Just Food For Dogs is at the higher end of the price spectrum, particularly for their prescription and veterinary-formulated diets, but the cost may be justified for dogs with specific health needs.

💡 Pro Tip: If you need to balance quality with budget, The Farmer’s Dog provides more flexible pricing options without sacrificing ingredient quality.

7. Which Offers Fresh Food Delivered to Your Door? 🚚📦

All three brands—Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, and Just Food For Dogs—offer convenient delivery right to your door, ensuring that your dog’s meals arrive fresh and ready to store. Each brand operates on a subscription model that allows you to set delivery intervals based on your needs, and all meals arrive frozen or refrigerated to maintain freshness.

The Farmer’s Dog uses eco-friendly, recyclable packaging, while Ollie focuses on pre-portioned convenience. Just Food For Dogs gives you the added option of purchasing their meals at their in-store kitchens or select retailers, providing a backup if you run out between deliveries.

💡 Pro Tip: For seamless delivery and meal prep, Ollie’s pre-portioned meals save time and eliminate guesswork.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Fresh Food for Your Dog 🐕❤️

Whether you’re looking for personalized nutrition, veterinary-formulated meals, or convenient delivery, Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, and Just Food For Dogs each offer standout features. Just Food For Dogs is ideal for dogs with health issues, The Farmer’s Dog excels in customization and affordability, and Ollie is perfect for pet parents seeking convenience and high-quality ingredients. Whichever you choose, your dog will benefit from fresh, wholesome meals tailored to their needs.

Comment 1: My dog is overweight, and I’m concerned about portion control. Which brand provides the best support for weight management?

For weight management, Just Food For Dogs excels due to their prescription diets specifically designed for weight loss and overall health. Their Metabolic Support recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists to support dogs with weight issues, ensuring that your dog gets all the necessary nutrients while consuming fewer calories. This diet helps your dog achieve a healthy weight without feeling deprived of the essential vitamins and minerals they need for optimal health. The meals are pre-portioned and crafted to provide the right balance of lean protein and fiber, which can help keep your dog feeling fuller for longer.

Ollie also supports weight management through their customized meal plans. When you fill out Ollie’s onboarding questionnaire, you can specify that your dog needs help losing weight. Ollie will then calculate the ideal portion sizes and meal composition based on your dog’s age, activity level, and target weight. This allows you to control calorie intake without sacrificing the quality of ingredients or nutrition.

The Farmer’s Dog also offers portion-controlled meals, but their system focuses on general health rather than specific weight-loss formulas. You can adjust portion sizes for weight loss, but the brand doesn’t have specialized weight-loss meals like Just Food For Dogs.

💡 Pro Tip: For serious weight management, Just Food For Dogs’ prescription weight-loss recipes provide the most comprehensive support, while Ollie allows you to control portions effectively.

Comment 2: How does the packaging and environmental impact compare between these brands?

When it comes to sustainability, The Farmer’s Dog is leading the pack with their eco-friendly packaging. They use recyclable materials for their shipping boxes, insulation, and meal containers. Their focus on minimizing waste extends to their packaging design, which is efficient and compact, helping to reduce the brand’s overall environmental footprint. This is a great choice for eco-conscious pet owners who want to reduce plastic use and support a company that prioritizes sustainability.

Ollie also uses recyclable packaging, though not all components are as environmentally friendly as The Farmer’s Dog’s. The meal trays are designed to be convenient and easy to store, and while most packaging materials are recyclable, some components may require more specialized recycling facilities. Ollie’s efforts to limit packaging waste include pre-portioned containers that reduce food waste, but they don’t emphasize eco-friendliness as heavily as The Farmer’s Dog.

Just Food For Dogs prioritizes quality in their packaging, but their fresh and frozen meals often come in bulkier containers, which may not be as easy to recycle. However, their shelf-stable options come in more compact, recyclable packaging, making them a good choice for those looking to cut down on plastic use. They also encourage customers to visit their in-store kitchens, reducing the need for excessive shipping materials.

💡 Pro Tip: For the most environmentally friendly option, The Farmer’s Dog offers the best in sustainable packaging, while Ollie combines convenience with recyclable materials.

Comment 3: My dog is a picky eater and prefers soft food. Which brand has the best texture for picky eaters?

If your dog is a picky eater who prefers softer textures, Ollie is an excellent choice. Their meals are gently cooked and have a moist, soft texture, making them highly appealing for dogs who dislike dry or chunky food. The smooth, consistent texture of Ollie’s meals, combined with their focus on using flavorful, fresh ingredients like pumpkin and sweet potatoes, makes their food highly palatable for even the most finicky eaters.

The Farmer’s Dog also offers soft, fresh meals that are lightly cooked and served in a format similar to Ollie’s, but they tend to have a slightly more chunky texture with visible pieces of meat and vegetables. While this appeals to many dogs, some picky eaters who prefer a smoother consistency may not enjoy the chunkier bits as much.

Just Food For Dogs, known for their whole-food approach, offers visibly hearty meals that often include larger pieces of meat and vegetables. This may not be as ideal for picky eaters who prefer a uniform texture. However, they also provide shelf-stable and frozen meals, which are softer and easier to serve, though they may still retain more texture than Ollie’s recipes.

💡 Pro Tip: For picky eaters who prefer soft food, Ollie’s smooth texture and flavorful ingredients will likely win your dog over.

Comment 4: I’m on a budget. Which brand offers the best value for the price?

If you’re working with a budget but still want high-quality, fresh food for your dog, The Farmer’s Dog is the best option for value. They offer more flexible pricing and the ability to adjust portion sizes, delivery frequency, and meal composition to suit your financial needs. Their pricing is based on your dog’s size and requirements, allowing for more control over cost while still providing nutrient-dense, fresh food. This makes it especially economical for those with large breeds or multiple dogs.

Ollie is slightly more expensive due to their emphasis on ethically sourced, human-grade ingredients, but they also offer flexibility in meal planning. You can opt for partial meal plans, where Ollie’s meals supplement your dog’s existing diet, helping to reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

Just Food For Dogs, while offering superior ingredient quality and veterinary-formulated recipes, is generally the most expensive option. Their prescription diets and high-quality USDA-certified ingredients come at a premium, though for dogs with medical needs, the price is often justified by the health benefits. However, their DIY meal kits are a budget-friendly alternative if you’re willing to prepare the food yourself at home.

💡 Pro Tip: For budget-conscious pet parents, The Farmer’s Dog provides the best balance of quality and affordability, with options to tweak meal plans based on your financial needs.

Comment 5: Which brand offers the best nutritional transparency?

When it comes to nutritional transparency, Just Food For Dogs leads the pack. They offer complete transparency about every ingredient that goes into their meals, and all their recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists. Their kitchens are open to the public, allowing customers to see exactly how the food is made. Each meal comes with a detailed breakdown of ingredients, nutrient content, and feeding guidelines, making it easy to understand what your dog is eating and why.

Ollie also provides clear information about the nutritional content of their meals, offering detailed ingredient lists and breakdowns of macronutrients. They focus on sourcing human-grade ingredients and maintaining high standards for the nutritional value of their food, which is reflected in the transparency of their product descriptions.

The Farmer’s Dog offers basic nutritional transparency, with clear ingredient lists and information about their cooking process. However, they don’t go into as much detail about the formulation or sourcing of ingredients compared to Just Food For Dogs.

💡 Pro Tip: For dog owners who want to know every detail about what their dog is eating, Just Food For Dogs provides the highest level of transparency, from sourcing to formulation.

Comment 6: My dog has chronic health conditions. Which brand would be best for addressing specific medical needs?

For dogs with chronic health conditions, Just Food For Dogs stands out as the top choice. Their meals are formulated by veterinary nutritionists and tailored to meet the needs of dogs with specific health concerns. They offer a range of prescription diets designed to manage conditions like kidney disease, liver dysfunction, skin allergies, pancreatitis, and weight management. These meals are crafted to provide the precise balance of nutrients needed to support your dog’s medical condition while ensuring they receive high-quality, fresh food. Additionally, Just Food For Dogs allows for one-on-one consultations with their veterinarians, offering even more personalized meal plans if your dog has complex dietary needs.

Ollie also provides good options for dogs with sensitivities or mild medical issues. While they don’t offer specific prescription diets like Just Food For Dogs, their customizable meal plans allow you to adjust for allergies, sensitivities, or digestive issues. Their grain-free options and limited-ingredient meals can help dogs with more manageable health concerns, but they don’t provide the same level of medically-formulated support as Just Food For Dogs.

The Farmer’s Dog focuses on general wellness and uses high-quality ingredients that promote overall health, but they lack the targeted formulas needed for dogs with chronic health issues. While their meals are fresh and nutritionally balanced, they’re not designed to address specific medical needs beyond basic dietary preferences.

💡 Pro Tip: If your dog has a chronic health condition, Just Food For Dogs offers the most comprehensive support with their prescription diets, designed specifically to manage and improve medical conditions.

Comment 7: How do the subscription services and flexibility compare between these brands?

All three brands—Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, and Just Food For Dogs—offer convenient subscription services, but they differ in flexibility and ease of use.

Ollie provides an extremely user-friendly subscription model, allowing you to pause, modify, or cancel your deliveries at any time with no hassle. You can adjust portion sizes, switch recipes, and change delivery frequency directly through their website or app. This makes Ollie ideal for pet parents who may need to frequently adjust their dog’s meal plan due to changes in weight, activity level, or appetite. They also offer partial subscription options, so you can supplement Ollie meals alongside other foods if needed.

The Farmer’s Dog offers similar flexibility, allowing you to adjust meal plans, delivery frequency, and portion sizes based on your dog’s needs. However, their system requires more direct management of portions, and while their website is intuitive, it may not be quite as seamless as Ollie’s in terms of switching meals or customizing orders. They do, however, have an easy-to-use pause or skip option if you need to take a break from the service.

Just Food For Dogs offers both subscription delivery and the option to purchase meals in-store, which is a unique benefit if you want to avoid relying solely on home delivery. Their subscription model is flexible, but it’s slightly less customizable than Ollie’s, especially if you’re using their prescription meals. However, they offer the advantage of being able to pick up meals from their local kitchens or partner locations, adding another layer of convenience for those who may need last-minute options.

💡 Pro Tip: For the most flexible subscription service, Ollie offers easy modifications and partial plans, making it perfect for adjusting to your dog’s evolving needs.

Comment 8: Which brand is best for senior dogs or dogs with lower activity levels?

When it comes to senior dogs or dogs with lower activity levels, Just Food For Dogs is the top choice due to their senior-specific recipes and veterinary-formulated meals that address age-related health issues such as joint support, reduced metabolism, and weight management. Their meals are crafted to provide the right balance of nutrients to support aging dogs, including lean proteins and ingredients that promote healthy joints and maintain muscle mass without overloading on calories. Their Joint & Skin Support recipe is ideal for senior dogs who need extra care in these areas.

Ollie also caters to senior dogs by offering customizable meal plans that allow you to reduce portion sizes and select recipes with lower fat content. Their meals can be adjusted to meet your senior dog’s specific needs, whether that’s maintaining a healthy weight or supporting digestion. Their meals are designed to be easy to chew and digest, making them ideal for older dogs who may have dental issues or sensitive stomachs.

The Farmer’s Dog provides fresh, nutritionally balanced meals that are suitable for senior dogs, but they don’t offer specific age-related formulas. However, you can adjust the portion sizes and select leaner proteins like turkey or pork to better suit a senior dog’s reduced activity level. Their meals can be a good fit for senior dogs, but they lack the specialized focus that Just Food For Dogs provides.

💡 Pro Tip: For senior dogs, Just Food For Dogs’ veterinary-formulated senior meals offer the most targeted support, particularly for joint health and metabolism management.

Comment 9: Which brand offers the best customer service and support?

Ollie stands out for its responsive, customer-centric service. Their customer support team is highly accessible through phone, email, and live chat, and they are known for prompt and helpful responses. Whether you need assistance with modifying a subscription, adjusting meal plans, or resolving an issue with an order, Ollie’s support team is attentive and dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction. Their website is intuitive and makes managing subscriptions seamless, and they frequently check in with customers to see how their dog is enjoying the meals.

The Farmer’s Dog also offers solid customer service, with a focus on providing clear, actionable advice about meal plans and delivery schedules. They provide comprehensive guides and FAQs on their website to help new customers understand the service, but their response times may not be as fast as Ollie’s, particularly during peak times. However, they’re helpful in addressing concerns and offering flexible options if something doesn’t go as planned with a delivery.

Just Food For Dogs has strong customer support, particularly for customers using their prescription diets. Their team of veterinary experts is available for consultations, and they can help tailor meal plans for dogs with specific health conditions. While they offer both online support and in-store assistance, their subscription service may not be as user-friendly as Ollie’s, particularly for those looking to make frequent changes to their meal plan.

💡 Pro Tip: For the best customer support, Ollie offers fast, helpful responses and an easy-to-navigate platform for managing your dog’s meals.