FDA CVM · AAFCO · USDA · Board-Certified Vet Nutritionists · PetRecalls · Canine Journal · Vety · Verified United States
Cost Per Month, Ingredients, Is It Worth It, How to Cancel & What Vets Say
How much The Farmer’s Dog costs by dog size, what human-grade really means under AAFCO rules, whether vets recommend it, all four recipes explained, how to cancel or pause your subscription, and who it is — and is not — the right fit for.
🩺 Always Tell Your Vet Before Switching Your Dog’s Food
The Farmer’s Dog is a nutritionally complete food formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to meet AAFCO standards for all life stages. However, any significant dietary change should be discussed with your own veterinarian first, particularly if your dog has a diagnosed health condition, food allergy, kidney disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, or is on a prescription diet. Transition gradually over 7–10 days to reduce the risk of digestive upset.
📋 Key Facts — The Farmer’s Dog Food
Fresh dog food has moved from a niche idea to a mainstream category — and The Farmer’s Dog is the most recognized name in that space. Founded in 2014 after co-founder Brett Podolsky’s own dog recovered from chronic digestive issues on a home-cooked fresh diet, the company delivers pre-portioned, human-grade meals directly to millions of U.S. households. Its core proposition — gently cooked whole-food recipes, formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, made in USDA-inspected human food facilities, and personalized to each dog’s profile — addresses real complaints many owners have about conventional kibble. But the premium price, subscription model, and refrigeration requirement mean it is not the right fit for every household. Here are the facts every owner needs before deciding.
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How much does The Farmer’s Dog cost per month? Approximately $78–$645/month depending on dog size · Plans start at about $2/day for very small dogs per company FAQ · Medium dog (30–50 lbs): ~$4–$8/day or $120–$240/month · Very large breeds (80+ lbs): $300–$600+/month · First box 50% off with free shipping · Pricing only shown after completing the dog profile questionnaireThe Farmer’s Dog pricing is genuinely individualized — there is no flat price because every plan is calculated based on your dog’s specific caloric requirements. Size is the primary driver. Independent testing by Petful and Vety, which ran the sign-up questionnaire hundreds of times with different profiles, found daily pricing ranges from approximately $2.31 for very small adult dogs to $26.77 per day for large and giant breeds at full meal plan portions. Puppies under six months typically cost more than adults because their growth-related caloric requirements are higher — pricing generally moves toward adult levels after 6–8 months. Partial meal plans, where The Farmer’s Dog serves as a topper rather than complete diet, cost proportionally less and are a meaningful option for budget-conscious owners. Shipping is included across the contiguous United States.
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Do vets recommend The Farmer’s Dog? Many vets recommend it, particularly for dogs needing weight management or digestive support · Every recipe is formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists (DACVN) and meets AAFCO complete and balanced standards · The fresh, lightly processed format avoids ultra-processing concerns some vets have about kibble · Always consult your own vet, especially for dogs with specific medical conditionsVeterinary endorsement is meaningfully stronger for The Farmer’s Dog than for most commercial pet food brands because the recipes are actually formulated and reviewed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists — DACVN-credentialed professionals who complete post-doctoral specialty training in animal nutrition. This is a higher nutritional credential than most commercial dog food manufacturers employ. The AAFCO complete and balanced designation means recipes have been independently verified to meet minimum nutritional requirements for the life stage specified. Many general practice veterinarians report recommending it for dogs with weight problems (the pre-portioned format eliminates guesswork), dogs with intermittent digestive issues, and senior dogs with reduced appetites that need palatability improvement.
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What is the #1 healthiest dog food? No universal answer exists — the healthiest food depends on your dog’s age, breed, health status, and conditions · Within the fresh/human-grade category, The Farmer’s Dog consistently earns top rankings: 4.8/5 from Hepper, Dogster, and Deliveryrank · Key markers of high quality: AAFCO complete and balanced statement; board-certified vet nutritionist involvement; named whole-food protein first; no feed-grade by-products; transparent ingredient sourcingThe concept of a universally healthiest dog food is a marketing frame rather than a nutritionally meaningful claim, because the right food is always specific to the individual dog. Within the independent review ecosystem, The Farmer’s Dog consistently earns the highest marks in the fresh-food subscription category. The specific attributes that earn these rankings: human-grade ingredient sourcing across the full supply chain, USDA-inspected production, board-certified nutritionist formulation, AAFCO complete and balanced status for all life stages, gentle cooking that avoids the high-heat extrusion that destroys heat-sensitive nutrients in kibble, and pre-portioned packaging that prevents the chronic overfeeding that leads to obesity in many dogs on kibble.
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Is The Farmer’s Dog a healthy food for dogs? Yes, for most healthy dogs it is among the healthiest commercially available options · Ingredients sourced from USDA human food supply chains · Gently cooked at low temperatures to retain nutrients · No artificial preservatives; no feed-grade by-products; no growth hormones · AAFCO complete and balanced for all life stages · Owners commonly report improved digestion, healthier coats, more stable energy, and reduced stool volume within 8–12 weeksThe health case rests on several science-grounded pillars. Most fundamental is ingredient quality: the company sources from human food supply chains rather than the feed-grade supply chain that dominates conventional pet food. Feed-grade ingredients can legally include materials not suitable for human consumption — a distinction the FDA’s Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act draws clearly. The cooking method also matters: standard kibble is produced through high-temperature extrusion that destroys heat-sensitive vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids, which must then be synthetically re-added. The Farmer’s Dog gently cooks at lower temperatures to retain naturally occurring nutrients, then flash-freezes immediately to prevent bacterial growth without chemical preservatives. The result is a food with higher bioavailability of nutrients and approximately 70% moisture content, compared to kibble’s 10%.
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Where can you buy The Farmer’s Dog? Exclusively at thefarmersdog.com by subscription — not sold in any retail store including Petco, PetSmart, or Walmart · Delivered directly to your home in refrigerated insulated packaging · Delivery options: 1 week to 2 months of food per shipment · Ships to all 48 contiguous U.S. states · Free shipping always includedThe direct-to-consumer model is central to the food safety approach, not just a business choice. Because the food is genuinely fresh with no preservatives, it cannot sit on a retail shelf for months. The cold chain from production to your freezer is maintained through insulated packaging and scheduled delivery. Once received, store in your refrigerator (use within 4 days of thawing) or keep frozen until the day before use. The subscription model enables the personalization that drives the value: each shipment is portioned specifically for your dog’s caloric needs, labeled with your dog’s name, and calibrated to last until your next delivery. The company sends reminder emails before billing cutoffs and allows easy schedule adjustments through the online account dashboard.
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What does “human-grade” actually mean — is it just marketing? Since 2023, human-grade is a legally defined and independently verifiable claim under AAFCO guidelines — no longer just marketing · Requirements: all ingredients must meet USDA human-food edibility standards; all facilities must hold dual FDA registration as both human food AND animal feed facilities; full supply chain documentation must be maintained · The Farmer’s Dog was among the first pet food companies to meet the full AAFCO human-grade documentation standard · Feed-grade pet food can legally contain materials not fit for human consumption; human-grade cannotFor most of the pet food industry’s history, “human-grade” was indeed marketing language with no legal definition. That changed when AAFCO formalized guidelines requiring manufacturers to demonstrate — not just assert — that their ingredients and facilities meet human food standards. Under current rules, a valid human-grade claim requires every ingredient to meet USDA edible product standards; every facility to hold dual FDA registration; and documented written procedures for compliance at every stage from ingredient sourcing through distribution. The Farmer’s Dog’s investment in USDA-inspected human food facilities — rather than the less regulated feed manufacturing facilities most competitors use — is what separates their claim from lower-cost competitors who use the same language without the same standard.
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Has The Farmer’s Dog ever had a recall? No official FDA recalls on record as of current research · PetRecalls.com confirms no recalls found · Check fda.gov/animal-veterinary for the most current status · USDA-inspected human food production facilities operate under the same food safety inspection standards as human food manufacturers · No voluntary recalls have been publicly announcedA clean recall history is significant in the pet food industry, where recalls from bacterial contamination, elevated mineral levels, or foreign material are not uncommon. The Farmer’s Dog’s production in USDA-inspected human food facilities — which face substantially more rigorous ongoing inspection than feed-grade facilities, including mandatory HACCP food safety plans and stricter pathogen testing requirements — reduces several of the risk factors that drive pet food recalls. This does not guarantee a recall can never occur, but it represents a meaningfully lower-risk production environment than the feed-grade manufacturing sector where most commercial kibble is produced. The most current and authoritative source for any pet food recall status is the FDA’s official Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts database at fda.gov, which is updated in real time.
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Is The Farmer’s Dog worth the cost? For many owners yes — particularly for small-to-medium dogs where the daily cost premium is most manageable · Commonly reported improvements: improved digestion; healthier coat; more stable weight; increased energy; reduced stool volume (better absorption) · For large and giant breeds, monthly cost can become difficult to justify · Practical middle path: use as daily topper at 25–50% of diet alongside quality kibble for meaningful fresh-food benefit at significantly lower monthly costWhether The Farmer’s Dog is worth it depends almost entirely on two variables: your dog’s size and your budget. For a 15-pound dog, it might cost $60–$80/month compared to $25–$40/month for premium kibble — a manageable difference. For a 90-pound dog, the same comparison might be $350–$500/month versus $80–$120/month — a difference that requires deliberate financial commitment. Dogs eating The Farmer’s Dog typically produce significantly smaller, firmer stools (a practical indicator of superior nutrient absorption), show coat improvements within two to three months, and maintain weight more easily when portioning is followed correctly. The most financially practical approach for owners who want fresh-food benefit without full cost: use The Farmer’s Dog for 25–50% of daily food, the remaining portion being high-quality dry food. The company explicitly supports this mixed feeding approach.
📊 The Farmer’s Dog — Key Numbers at a Glance
💰 Cost Range Per Day
$2.31 – $26.77 / Day
Actual cost depends on weight, age, activity level, and recipe. Small dogs fall near the low end; giant breeds approach the high end. Plans start at about $2/day per the company FAQ. First box is 50% off. Free shipping always included across the contiguous U.S.
🧪 Production Standard
USDA Human Food Facilities
All recipes made in USDA-inspected human food facilities — the same regulatory standard applied to food for human consumption. Higher standard than feed-grade facilities used by most kibble manufacturers. Facilities hold dual FDA registration for both human food and animal feed production.
📋 Nutritional Standard
AAFCO Complete & Balanced — All Life Stages
Every recipe meets AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile standards for complete and balanced nutrition, including puppies, adults, and seniors. Formulated by on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists (DACVN) and reviewed for safety and nutritional adequacy before production.
🚫 Recall History
No FDA Recalls on Record
As of current research, The Farmer’s Dog has no official FDA recalls. Check fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/recalls-withdrawals for the most current status on any pet food brand. Sign up for FDA email recall alerts to receive automatic notifications.
📜 20 Things to Know About The Farmer’s Dog
📌 How This List Is Organized
Items 1–5: What the food is and how it’s made. Items 6–9: The four recipes (proteins and vegetables). Items 10–13: Ordering, delivery, and storage. Items 14–17: Who it’s best for and who should consider alternatives. Items 18–20: Subscription management: pausing, changing, and canceling.
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🌱 What The Farmer’s Dog Is — The Core ModelWhat it is: A direct-to-consumer subscription service delivering pre-portioned, fresh, human-grade dog food on a customized schedule. Co-founded in 2014 by Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev after Brett’s dog recovered from chronic digestive issues on fresh food · Not: A retail store brand, a raw food, a freeze-dried food, or a prescription diet · Core differentiator: Every order is personalized — portioned for your dog’s caloric requirements, labeled with your dog’s name, calibrated to your delivery frequency so you never run out or over-buy🏠 Founded 2014 · New York, NY📦 Subscription-only; not sold in any retail store🐕 Pre-portioned and labeled with your dog’s name🌐 thefarmersdog.com
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🧪 How the Food Is Made — Gently Cooked, Flash-FrozenCooking method: Gently cooked at low temperatures in small batches inside USDA-inspected human food facilities; gentle cooking retains more heat-sensitive nutrients than the high-temperature extrusion used in kibble · Preservation: Flash-frozen immediately after cooking; no artificial preservatives, no chemical stabilizers · No: Feed-grade ingredients; growth hormones; artificial preservatives; by-products; fillers; synthetic flavor sprays🔥 Low-temperature cooking — preserves natural nutrients❄️ Flash-frozen immediately — no preservatives needed✅ USDA-inspected human food facilities🚫 No growth hormones; no feed-grade by-products; no fillers
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🩺 Who Formulates the RecipesFormulated by: On-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists with DACVN credentials — a specialty requiring a veterinary degree plus additional residency and board examination in clinical animal nutrition · Standard: Every recipe meets AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for complete and balanced nutrition at all life stages · No supplementation needed: Recipes are complete and balanced; no vitamins or supplements need to be added by the owner🩺 DACVN board-certified vet nutritionists formulate every recipe📋 AAFCO complete and balanced — all life stages🧪 Tested for heavy metals and safety markers per company📖 Exceeds minimum AAFCO nutritional requirements
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📦 How Ordering and Delivery WorksStep 1: Complete the dog profile questionnaire at thefarmersdog.com — breed, age, weight, body condition, activity level, health goals · Step 2: Receive a personalized meal plan with exact portion sizes and delivery frequency · Step 3: Choose recipe(s) and schedule (1 week to 2 months per shipment) · Step 4: Food arrives in an insulated box with pre-portioned flat packs, ready to serve from the refrigerator · Included: Free shipping; personalized feeding guide; your dog’s name on packaging; 50% off first box📝 Profile questionnaire → personalized plan → delivery📦 Insulated box; pre-portioned flat packs; serve from fridge🚚 Free shipping; 1 week to 2 months frequency🏷️ Dog’s name on every pack · 50% off first box
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🧊 How to Store The Farmer’s Dog ProperlyRefrigerator: Use thawed food within 4 days · Freezer: Stays fresh for months; move individual packs to fridge the night before feeding · Serving: Serve cold from fridge; a splash of warm water can be added if your dog prefers warmer food · Important: No preservatives — treat like fresh meat; do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours · No microwave reheating above room temperature❄️ Freezer: months · Fridge: use within 4 days of thawing🌙 Move to fridge the night before use from freezer⚠️ No preservatives — max 2 hours at room temperature💧 Splash of warm water if dog prefers warmer food
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🦃 Turkey Recipe — Ingredients & ProfileIngredients: Turkey, broccoli, parsnips, green beans, spinach, dicalcium phosphate, fish oil, zinc, iron, thiamine, vitamins E, D3, B12, iodine · Grain status: Grain-free · Profile: Lean protein; moderate fat; good digestibility for sensitive stomachs · Novel protein: Turkey is uncommon in traditional kibble — useful for dogs with suspected chicken or beef sensitivity · Best for: Chicken-sensitive dogs; digestive-sensitive dogs; dogs needing lean protein🦃 Turkey + broccoli, parsnips, green beans, spinach🌿 Grain-free; novel protein for chicken-sensitive dogs💪 Lean; good digestibility for sensitive stomachs💡 Useful starting point for elimination diet trials (vet-supervised)
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🐔 Chicken Recipe — Ingredients & ProfileIngredients: Chicken, brown rice, carrots, green beans, spinach, fish oil, dicalcium phosphate, zinc, iron, thiamine, vitamins E, D3, B12, iodine · Grain status: Grain-inclusive (brown rice) · Profile: High palatability; familiar protein that most dogs accept readily · Note: Not appropriate for dogs diagnosed with chicken protein allergy · Best for: First-time fresh food switchers; dogs with no known protein sensitivities; picky eaters who respond well to familiar poultry🐔 Chicken + brown rice, carrots, green beans, spinach🌾 Grain-inclusive; highest palatability of all four recipes👍 Most commonly accepted by first-time switchers⚠️ Not for dogs with confirmed chicken protein allergy
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🐄 Beef Recipe — Ingredients & ProfileIngredients: Beef, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, dicalcium phosphate, fish oil, zinc, iron, thiamine, vitamins E, D3, B12, iodine · Grain status: Grain-free · Profile: Higher fat content than turkey or chicken; rich flavor highly palatable to most dogs; sweet potato provides digestive-supporting soluble fiber · Caution: Higher fat — use with care for dogs with pancreatitis history or triglyceride management needs; check with your vet · Best for: Active dogs; underweight dogs needing calorie-dense support; picky eaters who favor red meat🐄 Beef + sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots🍠 Grain-free; sweet potato adds soluble fiber💪 Higher fat — great for active or underweight dogs⚠️ Caution: higher fat content; not ideal for pancreatitis-prone dogs
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🐖 Pork Recipe — Ingredients & ProfileIngredients: Pork, butternut squash, green beans, chickpeas, lentils, fish oil, dicalcium phosphate, zinc, iron, thiamine, vitamins E, D3, B12, iodine · Grain status: Grain-free · Novel protein: Pork is uncommon in traditional kibble — a genuinely novel protein for most dogs · Profile: Butternut squash and legumes provide prebiotic fiber; pork is highly digestible; good lean-to-fat ratio · Best for: Dogs with beef and chicken sensitivities; dogs benefiting from prebiotic digestive support; novel protein rotation🐖 Pork + butternut squash, green beans, chickpeas, lentils🌿 Grain-free; genuinely novel protein for most dogs🥪 Squash + legumes: prebiotic fiber for digestive health💡 Ideal choice for chicken-and-beef-sensitive dogs
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📅 Managing Your Subscription — Changing Delivery FrequencyHow to adjust: Log in at thefarmersdog.com → Account → Subscription to modify delivery frequency, skip a delivery, or change recipe · Lead time: Changes must be made before the billing cutoff date listed in your account dashboard; the company sends reminder emails before each billing date · Frequency options: Deliveries can be spaced from 1 week to 2 months · Partial plan: Reduce delivered volume to use as a daily topper (25–50% of diet) to significantly lower monthly cost💻 Log in → Account → Subscription → modify⏰ Adjust before billing cutoff; company emails reminders🔁 Frequency options: 1 week to 2 months per delivery📉 Partial plan: use as topper to lower monthly cost
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⏸️ How to Pause or Skip a DeliverySkip: Log in and skip a single upcoming shipment from the subscription management page before the billing cutoff — no charge for skipping in time · Pause: Account dashboard allows temporary pausing without fully canceling · Billing reminder: The company sends email reminders before each billing cycle so you have time to skip, pause, or adjust before being charged · Customer service: 24/7 phone at (646) 780-7957 or email [email protected]⏸️ Skip or pause from account dashboard before billing cutoff📧 Company sends billing reminder emails before each charge📞 24/7 Customer Service: (646) 780-7957✉️ Email: [email protected]
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❌ How to Cancel The Farmer’s Dog — All MethodsOnline (fastest): Log in at thefarmersdog.com → Account Settings → Subscription → Cancel; follow prompts; you will receive a confirmation email · Direct link: thefarmersdog.com/app/profile/cancel · By phone 24/7: (646) 780-7957 · By email: Send request from your registered email to [email protected] · Critical: Cancel before billing cutoff shown in your account to avoid being charged for the next order💻 Online: thefarmersdog.com/app/profile/cancel📞 Phone 24/7: (646) 780-7957✉️ Email: [email protected] (from registered email)⏰ Cancel before billing cutoff to avoid next charge
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💰 Money-Back Guarantee & First Box TrialFirst box: 50% off with free shipping · Guarantee: Money-back guarantee on the first box for owners not satisfied; contact (646) 780-7957 or [email protected] to claim · Risk profile: The 50% discount plus money-back guarantee makes the financial risk of trying the service very low · Important: Guarantee applies to the first box only; always cancel before billing cutoff if you decide not to continue💸 First box: 50% off + free shipping + money-back guarantee✅ Guarantee on first box only — low financial risk to try⚠️ Standard subscription terms apply after first box📞 Claim guarantee: (646) 780-7957 or [email protected]
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🐕 Who The Farmer’s Dog Is Best ForIdeal candidates: Dogs with chronic digestive upset that improves on less-processed food · Dogs with excess weight who benefit from pre-portioned calorie control · Senior dogs with reduced appetite needing improved palatability · Puppies (AAFCO all life stages approved) · Dogs with dull coats or poor stool quality on current kibble · Small-to-medium breeds where monthly cost premium is most manageable · Owners who want fresh food without the time and nutritional uncertainty of home cooking🔥 Best for: digestive issues; weight management; picky seniors🐕 All life stages including puppies — AAFCO approved📏 Ideal size: small-to-medium dogs (cost most manageable)🩺 Novel proteins (turkey, pork) useful for sensitivity management
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⚠️ Who Should Consider AlternativesMay not be ideal for: Dogs on prescription diets (kidney disease, urinary stones, liver conditions) — these require vet-managed nutritional profiles · Dogs with pancreatitis history (check fat content; turkey recipe is leanest) · Very large or giant breeds where monthly cost becomes prohibitive · Owners without consistent freezer/refrigerator capacity · Dogs with specific allergies requiring ingredients not in The Farmer’s Dog’s four recipe options · Always consult your vet for medical dietary management⚠️ Not a substitute for veterinary prescription diets💰 Large/giant breeds: monthly cost may become prohibitive❄️ Requires consistent refrigerator and freezer storage🩺 Medical conditions: consult your vet before switching
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📊 The Farmer’s Dog vs Premium Kibble — ComparisonDaily cost (medium 30–50 lb dog): Budget kibble $0.50–$1 · Premium kibble (Orijen, Acana): $1.50–$3 · The Farmer’s Dog: $5.50–$8.50 · Moisture content: Kibble ~10% · The Farmer’s Dog ~70% (better hydration) · Processing: Kibble: high-temp extrusion destroys nutrients → synthetic re-addition · Fresh: low-temp cooking preserves natural nutrients · Convenience: Kibble wins on shelf storage; fresh wins on palatability and digestibility🧪 Kibble: ~10% moisture · Farmer’s Dog: ~70% — better hydration🔥 Kibble: high-heat extrusion destroys nutrients; synthetic re-addition📊 Cost: ~3–4x premium kibble per day for medium dogs🏠 Kibble: easier shelf storage · Fresh: better palatability
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🔀 How to Transition Your Dog to The Farmer’s DogWhy gradual matters: Any significant dietary change can cause temporary digestive upset (soft stools, gas) when introduced abruptly — this is normal gut microbiome adjustment, not a sign the food is wrong · Schedule: Days 1–3: 75% old + 25% Farmer’s Dog · Days 4–6: 50/50 · Days 7–9: 25% old + 75% Farmer’s Dog · Day 10+: 100% · Sensitive stomachs: Extend each phase to 5–7 days; call vet if loose stools persist beyond 14 days🔁 Days 1–3: 25% new · Days 4–6: 50/50 · Days 7–9: 75% new📅 Full switch at Day 10+ for most dogs🩺 Sensitive stomachs: extend each phase to 5–7 days🩺 Loose stools beyond 14 days: call your vet
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📞 Full Customer Service Contact InformationPhone (24/7): (646) 780-7957 · Email: [email protected] · FAQ: thefarmersdog.com/faq · Mailing address: The Farmer’s Dog, Inc., 201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 · Account management: thefarmersdog.com/login · BBB profile: Business generally responds to and resolves customer complaints; 24/7 phone is the most direct route for urgent account issues📞 Phone 24/7: (646) 780-7957✉️ Email: [email protected]💻 Account login: thefarmersdog.com/login🏢 201 Varick St, New York, NY 10014
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💳 Billing, Delivery Issues & Common ComplaintsMost common BBB complaints: Unexpected charges when customers miss the billing cutoff; delivery issues with third-party carriers · Avoid unexpected charges: Mark the billing cutoff date on a calendar; set a personal reminder 3 days before; billing reminder emails can go to spam — check your spam folder · Delivery problem: Contact (646) 780-7957 within 24 hours of a delivery issue; company has historically replaced affected shipments · Carrier note: Third-party carriers; delivery instructions not always guaranteed to be followed⏰ Set personal reminder before billing cutoff — check spam folder⚠️ Billing reminders can land in spam — verify cutoff in your account📞 Delivery problem: call (646) 780-7957 within 24 hours🚚 Carrier: third-party; instructions not always guaranteed
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🔁 Fresh Food Alternatives to The Farmer’s DogOther fresh subscriptions: Nom Nom (similar format; sometimes different pricing) · Ollie (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb; subscription delivery) · Pet Plate (U.S.-based; AAFCO-approved; slightly lower price tier) · Retail fresh food: Freshpet (refrigerated fresh food at Petco, PetSmart, Walmart, grocery stores; no subscription required) · Freeze-dried raw: Stella & Chewy’s; Primal Pet Foods (rehydrate before feeding) · Budget approach: Premium kibble (Orijen, Acana, Fromm) + The Farmer’s Dog as daily topper — most cost-effective path to fresh-food benefit🍄 Subscription alternatives: Nom Nom; Ollie; Pet Plate🛒 Retail fresh: Freshpet — no subscription; grocery + pet stores🧊 Freeze-dried: Stella & Chewy’s; Primal Pet Foods💰 Budget path: premium kibble + Farmer’s Dog as daily topper
🔍 Your Most-Asked Questions — Complete Answers
How much is The Farmer’s Dog per month by dog size?
PRICING · BY DOG SIZE
Because The Farmer’s Dog prices are fully personalized and not published before you complete the questionnaire, independent reviewers at Petful and Vety ran the sign-up process hundreds of times across different dog profiles to create reliable reference ranges. Based on that research, here are approximate monthly costs for full meal plans. Extra-small dogs (under 10 lbs): Approximately $70–$100/month. Small dogs (10–25 lbs): Approximately $85–$130/month. Medium dogs (25–50 lbs): Approximately $120–$250/month. Large dogs (50–80 lbs): Approximately $200–$380/month. Giant breeds (80+ lbs): Approximately $300–$645/month. Puppies under 6 months typically cost more than same-weight adults because their growth-related caloric requirements are significantly higher. The 50% first-box discount applies to the full first shipment regardless of size. If full meal plan pricing is outside your budget, The Farmer’s Dog supports partial plans where their food replaces 25–50% of your dog’s daily diet alongside your existing food — reducing monthly cost by roughly 50–75% while still delivering meaningful fresh-food benefits.
🐾 Under 10 lbs: ~$70–$100/mo
🐕 10–25 lbs: ~$85–$130/mo
🐕 25–50 lbs: ~$120–$250/mo
🦮 50–80 lbs: ~$200–$380/mo
🦊 80+ lbs: ~$300–$645/mo
💰 Partial plan: 50–75% lower than full plan
What exactly is in The Farmer’s Dog food — are the ingredients really better than kibble?
INGREDIENTS · QUALITY COMPARISON
Every Farmer’s Dog recipe contains a short, readable list of whole-food ingredients: a named protein (beef, chicken, turkey, or pork), specific vegetables (varying by recipe from broccoli, sweet potato, green beans, spinach, carrots, butternut squash, parsnips, peas, chickpeas, and lentils), and targeted vitamins and minerals (fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids, dicalcium phosphate for calcium and phosphorus, zinc, iron, thiamine, vitamins E, D3, and B12, and iodine). That is the complete list for most recipes — no rendered meat meals, no artificial preservatives, no synthetic flavor sprays, no corn syrup. Standard dry kibble ingredient lists typically include rendered meat meals (concentrated dried protein from rendered animal parts), corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives such as BHA or BHT, and synthetic vitamin-mineral premixes added back because natural nutrients were destroyed during high-heat extrusion. The FDA’s framework under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act classifies pet food as animal feed, which permits ingredients that could not legally be used in human food. The human-grade standard — verifiable under AAFCO’s 2023 guidelines — means The Farmer’s Dog ingredients must meet USDA human-food edibility standards throughout the entire supply chain. For owners who want to know exactly what is in their dog’s food, the short ingredient lists represent a fundamentally different category from conventional kibble.
✅ Short ingredient list: named protein, real vegetables, targeted nutrients only
🚫 No meat meals; no rendered by-products; no artificial preservatives
🧪 Human-grade verified under AAFCO 2023 documentation standard
🍪 Kibble: rendered meals + preservatives + synthetic nutrients re-sprayed after extrusion
How do I cancel The Farmer’s Dog — step-by-step guide
CANCELLATION · HOW-TO GUIDE
Canceling The Farmer’s Dog is straightforward when you know exactly where to go. The most common complaint on the BBB is not that cancellation is refused but that customers missed the billing cutoff date and were charged before canceling. Here is the complete process. Method 1 — Online (fastest): Go to thefarmersdog.com/login and sign in. Navigate to Account Settings, then Subscription. Select Cancel Subscription and follow on-screen prompts. You should receive a confirmation email within minutes. Method 2 — Direct link: Use thefarmersdog.com/app/profile/cancel directly after logging in — this goes straight to the cancellation page. Method 3 — By phone 24/7: Call (646) 780-7957. Have your account email ready. Request cancellation and ask for a confirmation email. Method 4 — By email: Send your cancellation request from your registered email address to [email protected]. Email is slower than phone and not ideal if a billing cutoff is approaching. Timing tip: Every subscription has a billing cutoff date shown in your account dashboard. If you miss the cutoff and are charged for the next shipment, contact customer service immediately — they have historically worked with customers in this situation, particularly first-time occurrences.
💻 Online: thefarmersdog.com/app/profile/cancel → confirm via email
📞 Phone 24/7: (646) 780-7957 — fastest for urgent cancellation
✉️ Email: [email protected] (use your registered email)
⏰ Cancel BEFORE billing cutoff — check date in your account dashboard
Is The Farmer’s Dog good for dogs with allergies or digestive problems?
HEALTH CONDITIONS · ALLERGY & DIGESTION
The Farmer’s Dog can be particularly beneficial for dogs with certain types of digestive sensitivity — but it is not a treatment for diagnosed medical conditions. Food allergies: True food allergies in dogs are an immune response to a specific protein — typically chicken, beef, dairy, or wheat. The Farmer’s Dog’s turkey and pork recipes are genuinely novel proteins for most dogs (uncommon in standard kibble), making them useful starting points for elimination diet trials under veterinary supervision. The short, clean ingredient lists also make it significantly easier to identify which ingredient is causing a reaction compared to kibble with 20+ ingredients. A formal food allergy diagnosis requires a veterinary-supervised elimination diet — typically 8–12 weeks on a single novel protein — followed by deliberate challenge. Digestive sensitivity: Many dogs with chronic loose stools or poor stool quality on kibble improve on The Farmer’s Dog. The higher moisture content (approximately 70% vs kibble’s 10%) supports better digestive function. The shorter ingredient list reduces potential irritation. Gentle cooking produces food that is generally easier for a sensitive GI tract to process. Weight management: The pre-portioned format is one of the most practical tools for weight management — overfeeding kibble is extremely common because owners pour by volume rather than weighing. IBD and other GI diseases: These require veterinary diagnosis and often prescription dietary management. The Farmer’s Dog is not a prescription diet; always work with your veterinarian if your dog has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, EPI, or other GI disorders.
🥩 Turkey + pork: novel proteins useful for allergy elimination trials
📋 Short ingredient lists: easier to identify triggers vs 20+ ingredient kibble
💧 ~70% moisture: supports digestive health; much higher than 10% kibble
🩺 IBD, EPI, diagnosed GI disease: requires prescription management — consult your vet
What do actual owners and vets say after trying The Farmer’s Dog?
OWNER EXPERIENCE · VET OPINION
Owner-reported experiences are consistently positive in terms of what the food does for dogs, with main complaints centered on price and subscription management rather than product quality. The most frequently reported positive changes within 8–12 weeks of switching: significantly reduced stool volume (a reliable indicator that more nutrients are being absorbed); firmer stool consistency; shinier, healthier-feeling coat; improved energy level and engagement; and better weight maintenance when portioning is followed correctly. One Canine Journal reviewer with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel reported improved coat quality, successful weight loss to ideal body condition, and enthusiastic eating at every meal. A dachshund owner who has used the food since 2019 describes it as a meaningful contributor to their dog’s long-term health over several years. Veterinary opinion is broadly positive, with the strongest endorsements from veterinarians who practice integrative or nutritional medicine and those who see a significant portion of their caseload involving weight-related health problems. General practice veterinarians tend toward cautious endorsement — they appreciate the nutritional quality and AAFCO compliance but correctly note that each individual dog’s health status should always guide dietary decisions. The main legitimate criticism from vets is not about the food’s quality but about the cost barrier: a diet you can sustainably afford long-term is nutritionally superior to intermittently switching between fresh food and lower-quality kibble due to budget pressure. For dogs where budget is a real constraint, the partial-plan approach — using The Farmer’s Dog for 25–50% of daily food — is a practical way to access the fresh-food benefit at sustainable cost.
💩 Smaller, firmer stools: indicator of improved nutrient absorption
✨ Coat improvement: commonly reported within 8–12 weeks
🩺 Vets: broadly positive; caution for dogs with specific medical conditions
💰 Main vet concern: cost barrier — consistent good kibble beats intermittent fresh food
📍 Find a Vet, Pet Store & Dog Food Help Near You
The Farmer’s Dog is ordered exclusively online at thefarmersdog.com — it is not available in any retail store. Use the buttons below to find a veterinarian for dietary guidance, locate stores carrying fresh food alternatives like Freshpet, or find emergency animal care.
✅ 5-Step Action Plan — Trying The Farmer’s Dog the Right Way
- Step 1 — Tell your vet before switching. Any complete dietary change should be discussed with your vet, particularly for dogs with diagnosed health conditions, senior dogs with organ disease, dogs on prescription diets, or any dog whose health profile makes nutritional management important. Bring the recipe ingredient list to your next vet appointment and ask whether the protein and calorie levels are appropriate for your specific dog.
- Step 2 — Start with the first-box trial offer. The 50% first-box discount combined with the money-back guarantee makes trying The Farmer’s Dog financially low-risk. Complete the questionnaire at thefarmersdog.com, choose the recipe that your vet and your dog’s profile suggest is most appropriate, and mark the billing cutoff date on your calendar before the food arrives.
- Step 3 — Transition gradually over 7–10 days. Start at 25% Farmer’s Dog and 75% current food for 3 days, then 50/50 for 3 days, then 75% Farmer’s Dog for 3 days, then 100%. Dogs with sensitive stomachs should extend each phase to 5–7 days. Some loose stools for the first 2–4 days of transition are normal gut microbiome adjustment; persistent loose stools beyond 14 days should prompt a veterinary call. Follow the pre-portioned serving guide included with your shipment — do not free-feed or estimate portions.
- Step 4 — Evaluate realistically at 8–12 weeks. Meaningful benefits from a dietary change typically take 8–12 weeks to become apparent in coat quality, stool consistency, energy levels, and weight. Track your dog’s weight monthly. If your dog is losing or gaining weight outside the target range, log into your account and adjust portions, or call customer service at (646) 780-7957. Ask your vet to assess body condition at the next wellness visit.
- Step 5 — Consider the partial-plan approach if cost is a barrier. Consistency in nutrition over time matters more than perfection at any single meal. A diet you can sustainably afford long-term is nutritionally superior to intermittently using premium food separated by periods of lower-quality food. If full-plan pricing is not sustainable, reduce to 25–50% of your dog’s daily calories from The Farmer’s Dog with the remainder from high-quality dry food (Orijen, Acana, Fromm). This partial approach is explicitly supported by the company and recognized by veterinary nutritionists as a practical way to meaningfully improve diet quality at sustainable cost.
📞 Key Contacts & Resources:
🌐 Order: thefarmersdog.com
📞 Customer Service 24/7: (646) 780-7957
✉️ Email: [email protected]
💻 Cancel: thefarmersdog.com/app/profile/cancel
📋 FAQ: thefarmersdog.com/faq
🏢 201 Varick St, New York, NY 10014
🧪 AAFCO Standards: aafco.org
🚨 FDA Pet Food Recalls: fda.gov/animal-veterinary
🩺 Find a Vet (AVMA): avma.org/find-a-vet
🛒 Retail Fresh Alt: freshpet.com
🍄 Other Subscriptions: nomnomnow.com · myollie.com
🧊 Freeze-Dried: stellaandchewys.com
☠️ ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435
This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary or nutritional medical advice. The Farmer’s Dog is a commercial fresh dog food product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dogs with diagnosed medical conditions including kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, or any other condition being managed by a veterinarian should have all dietary changes reviewed by their attending veterinarian before implementation. Pricing information, promotional offers, subscription terms, recipe formulations, and product availability are subject to change by The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. without notice; always verify current details directly at thefarmersdog.com. This guide has no affiliation with The Farmer’s Dog, Inc.
I’d like to try Farmer’s Dog food but I also have raw food left over for a while. Is it possible to order for 3 weeks other than 4 weeks for a month’s order? If so, how would this be done? I would supplement with my raw until all the raw food has been eaten.
🐾 Can You Order a 3-Week Supply from The Farmer’s Dog Instead of the Standard 4-Week Plan?
This is one of the smartest logistical questions a transitioning pet parent can ask — and the answer is a nuanced, flexible yes, though it requires knowing exactly how to navigate The Farmer’s Dog subscription dashboard. The service is built around what they call a “smart delivery” model, meaning boxes ship based on your dog’s calculated consumption rate, not a rigid calendar. Delivery frequency options span from as short as one week all the way to roughly two months of food at a time, with free shipping on every order. That wide range is intentional — it accommodates households juggling raw food leftovers, freezer capacity constraints, or simply wanting to slow down the cadence before committing fully.
The most direct route to a 3-week supply is to log into your account portal and manually adjust your delivery frequency before your next order processes. Inside your account, you’ll find a delivery schedule slider or dropdown that lets you choose how many weeks of food arrive per shipment. Setting it to 3 weeks is a recognized interval within their flexible system. If the exact “3-week” option isn’t immediately visible as a preset, there is a second method that achieves the same result: reduce your dog’s daily calorie portion within the account — essentially telling the algorithm your dog is eating slightly less each day — which causes the system to stretch a 4-week supply into a longer window, effectively mimicking a 3-week reload cycle. You can also simply delay the next scheduled delivery date by one week through the account portal, giving you extra runway to work through raw food before the Farmer’s Dog supply arrives.
If you’re uncertain which method works best for your dog’s specific plan, their customer support team operates 24/7 and can manually adjust your next order window without you having to figure out the backend yourself. This is genuinely one of the more user-friendly subscription services in the fresh pet food space when it comes to customization.
🧬 What Science Actually Says About Feeding Raw and Gently Cooked Food Simultaneously
Your instinct to transition gradually by supplementing with raw while introducing The Farmer’s Dog is not just logistically convenient — it’s biologically sound. Both raw meat-based diets and mildly cooked fresh diets operate on a fundamentally different metabolic playing field than extruded kibble, which means your dog’s digestive system is already primed for a smoother handoff between the two than it would be from, say, switching from kibble to fresh food cold turkey.
A 2024 study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that dogs fed raw meat-based diets showed measurably higher levels of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), fecal IgA, and IgG compared to kibble-fed dogs. IAP is a critical enzyme in intestinal microbial homeostasis and barrier function, and an increase in IAP activity positively correlates with markers of intestinal health. What this means practically is that your dog’s gut lining is likely in a robust, well-defended state from the raw diet — an excellent foundation for absorbing a new food type without significant disruption.
A PMC-published review examining the transition from extruded kibble to mildly cooked diets found that mildly cooked diets have been associated with higher levels of certain Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria, and lower levels of certain Actinobacteria and Firmicutes compared to an extruded kibble diet. Interestingly, this microbial profile overlaps significantly with what’s observed in raw-fed dogs, which is why the digestive shift between raw and gently cooked tends to be far less jarring than switching from highly processed food. The microbial communities are operating in similar territory.
One important nuance: feeding raw and cooked food at the same meal versus at separate meals is a topic that generates debate. The concern historically has been around differing digestion rates — raw food, particularly meat with bone content, was thought to digest more slowly than cooked food, potentially causing fermentation overlap in the gut. However, current gastroenterological research on dogs suggests their highly acidic stomach environment (pH 1–2) handles both simultaneously without the disruption once feared. The more relevant consideration is managing total caloric load when feeding both, since neither raw nor Farmer’s Dog portions are designed to be additive — they’re each built as complete meals.
🥩 How to Proportion the Two Foods Without Overfeeding During the Overlap Period
The most critical practical piece here is arithmetic: when you’re feeding two complete diets simultaneously, you must treat them as fractions of one total daily meal, not two separate meals stacked on top of each other. The Farmer’s Dog pre-portions its packs to represent 100% of your dog’s calculated daily caloric requirement. If your raw food was similarly portioned as a complete diet, feeding both in full would deliver roughly double the needed calories — a fast path to weight gain, loose stools, and digestive stress.
The practical approach is to decide on a ratio split and hold it consistently throughout the overlap. A 50/50 approach by caloric weight (not volume, since raw and cooked food have different moisture contents and caloric densities) is the most straightforward. Feed half the Farmer’s Dog daily pack alongside half your normal raw portion. As your raw supply diminishes over the weeks, incrementally shift the ratio — 60/40 in favor of Farmer’s Dog, then 75/25, then 100% — rather than abruptly switching the day your raw stock runs out. This mirrors the 7-to-10-day transition protocol that veterinary nutritionists consistently recommend across all diet-switching scenarios, and it gives the gut microbiome time to recalibrate its enzymatic and bacterial populations in step with what it’s receiving.
Keep a close eye on stool firmness as your primary real-time feedback mechanism. When transitioning to raw feeding, gradual introduction and careful hygiene are essential to avoid digestive upset or bacterial infections. The same principle applies in reverse — a dog coming off raw onto cooked food benefits from the same patience. Loose, soft, or dramatically reduced stools during the crossover period are normal for a few days; persistent issues beyond a week warrant a slower ratio shift or a conversation with your vet.
💡 The Smart Financial Angle: Using the “Topper Plan” as a Bridge Strategy
There’s a financially clever dimension to your situation that most people overlook entirely. Since you already have raw food covering a significant portion of daily nutrition, you may not need to order a full Farmer’s Dog meal plan at all during this transition window. The Farmer’s Dog offers a topper plan, which costs up to 60% less than a full meal plan, allowing pet owners to supplement their dog’s diet with fresh food while keeping costs lower. Ordering the topper plan while your raw food is still in rotation means you’re introducing the brand, the flavors, the ingredients, and critically — your dog’s palate — without the full financial commitment of a complete subscription during a period when you don’t yet need it.
Once the raw supply is exhausted and you’re ready to go full Farmer’s Dog, you can upgrade your plan directly within the account. First-time customers also typically receive 50% off their initial order, and that discount applies to whatever plan size you select — so timing your “first full order” strategically after the raw food is depleted means you’re capturing that introductory pricing at the moment your dependence on the service actually begins. That’s a meaningfully different financial outcome than ordering a full 4-week supply on day one while a freezer full of raw food sits untouched.