Open Farm Vs. Farmer’s Dog
As pet parents, we want nothing but the best for our beloved canine companions. One of the most crucial decisions we make revolves around their nutrition. With the pet food market bursting with options, it’s challenging to make an informed choice. This article aims to provide a thorough comparison of two popular choices, Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog, based on several factors including nutritional content, sourcing and quality of ingredients, variety, price, and customer reviews.
Open Farm Dog Food
Open Farm is a family-run business that puts a heavy emphasis on transparency and sustainability. They’re committed to ethical sourcing, using only the highest quality ingredients, and maintaining rigorous standards for animal welfare. Open Farm offers a variety of dog food types, including dry, freeze-dried raw, gently cooked, and wet food.
Farmer’s Dog
Farmer’s Dog takes a different approach by offering fresh, human-grade, pre-portioned meals customized to your pet’s specific needs. They cook all meals in USDA kitchens, flash freeze them, and deliver them right to your door. The focus here is on providing a diet as close to natural, home-cooked food as possible.
Nutritional Content
Open Farm
Open Farm’s dry food recipes are high in protein, sourced from meats raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. They incorporate non-GMO fruits and veggies and are free from artificial preservatives and colors. Open Farm also includes a variety of ancient grains like quinoa, chia seeds, and oats, contributing to a balanced diet.
Farmer’s Dog
Farmer’s Dog meals are designed with the guidance of veterinary nutritionists to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. They use fresh, whole-food ingredients, providing a high-protein, moderate-fat, and low-carb meal. Each recipe includes a single source of protein (beef, turkey, or pork) and a selection of fruits and vegetables.
Sourcing and Quality of Ingredients
Both companies take great pride in their ingredient sourcing. Open Farm partners with third-party organizations like Ocean Wise and Certified Humane, ensuring their ingredients meet strict quality standards. They source meats from family farms with ethical practices and sustainable fishing methods.
Farmer’s Dog uses only USDA certified ingredients, which are essentially fit for human consumption. They opt for minimally processed food to retain maximum nutritional benefits.
Variety
Open Farm has a wide range of recipes catering to different life stages, dietary needs, and preferences, with options for grain-free, gluten-free, and various protein sources.
Farmer’s Dog offers less variety, with only three main recipes. However, each recipe is tailored to your pet’s specific needs based on the profile you create when signing up, including age, breed, activity level, and health concerns.
Price
Farmer’s Dog is generally more expensive due to its custom, fresh, human-grade meals. The price varies depending on your dog’s size, age, and specific dietary needs.
Open Farm, while still premium, is more affordable. The cost will depend on the type of food and recipe you choose.
Customer Reviews
Both Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog enjoy positive feedback from pet parents. Open Farm users appreciate the quality and variety, and many report improvements in their pets’ overall health, coat quality, and energy levels.
On the other hand, Farmer’s Dog customers love the convenience of pre-portioned, fresh meals delivered to their doorstep. Many have noticed improvements in their dogs’ digestion, weight, and enthusiasm for meal times.
Customization and Convenience
Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog sets itself apart with its personalized approach to canine nutrition. When you sign up, you’ll answer a series of questions about your dog — their age, breed, weight, activity level, and any health concerns they may have. Using this information, the Farmer’s Dog creates a customized meal plan tailored specifically to your dog’s dietary needs.
The pre-portioned meals are delivered right to your doorstep, taking the guesswork out of portion control and ensuring your furry friend is getting the right amount of nutrients. This can be particularly useful for dogs on a weight management plan.
Open Farm
Open Farm doesn’t offer the same level of customization as the Farmer’s Dog. However, they do provide a diverse product range that caters to various dietary requirements and preferences. Whether your dog has specific protein preferences, grain sensitivities, or you simply wish to incorporate more variety into their diet, Open Farm likely has a recipe to suit.
Their products are widely available online and in pet stores, making it a convenient option for many pet parents. They also provide a feeding guide on their website and packaging to help you determine the right portion sizes for your pet based on their weight.
Ethical and Sustainable Practices
Both brands commit to ethical and sustainable practices in their ingredient sourcing and packaging.
Open Farm prioritizes ethical animal treatment, working with farms that provide space, shelter, and the ability for animals to engage in their natural behaviors. They also work towards reducing their environmental impact with fully recyclable packaging through a partnership with TerraCycle.
Farmer’s Dog, too, shows a commitment to sustainability. Their meals are packaged in eco-friendly materials and the company works to minimize food waste through their personalized portion sizes and direct-to-consumer model.
Customer Support and Satisfaction
The Farmer’s Dog and Open Farm both take pride in their customer service, offering support through various channels such as email, phone, and social media.
Farmer’s Dog customers often highlight the brand’s excellent customer service, mentioning helpful and timely responses to their queries or concerns. The convenience and positive impact on their dog’s health are frequently cited in customer testimonials.
Open Farm, while not offering a personalized meal plan service, has a high level of customer satisfaction. Users report their dogs’ improved digestion, shinier coats, and higher energy levels. The brand’s commitment to transparency, ethical sourcing, and high-quality ingredients is frequently praised.
Transitioning Between Diets
When switching from one brand to another, both Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog recommend a gradual transition over 7-10 days. This slow introduction can help avoid any potential digestive upset.
Open Farm provides guidelines on their website, suggesting a gradual increase of the new food mixed with your dog’s current diet. Farmer’s Dog also includes transition instructions with their first delivery to help make the switch as smooth as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog Suitable for Puppies?
Both brands cater to the nutritional needs of puppies. Open Farm offers puppy-specific recipes that are rich in protein and contain DHA from marine sources, which is crucial for brain and eye development. Similarly, Farmer’s Dog can create a meal plan tailored to a puppy’s needs, considering factors like their breed, weight, and age.
2. Can Dogs with Allergies Eat Open Farm or Farmer’s Dog Food?
Yes, both brands can be suitable for dogs with allergies. Open Farm provides various recipes with different protein sources, making it easier for pet parents to avoid known allergens. Farmer’s Dog offers limited ingredient diets that exclude common allergens, such as grains and chicken.
3. How is the Food Shipped?
Open Farm ships their dry and freeze-dried foods via common carriers like UPS or FedEx. Farmer’s Dog meals are delivered straight to your door in insulated boxes with ice packs, ensuring the food stays fresh.
4. How Often Should I Feed My Dog with these Foods?
The feeding frequency depends on your dog’s age, weight, and activity level. Both brands provide feeding guides on their websites and product packaging. Puppies typically need multiple small meals throughout the day, while adult dogs can usually be fed twice daily.
5. Are the Packaging Materials Recyclable?
Open Farm has partnered with TerraCycle to create a recycling program for their packaging. Farmer’s Dog uses biodegradable packing peanuts and recyclable meal pouches, promoting a greener footprint.
6. What if My Dog Doesn’t Like the Food?
Farmer’s Dog offers a money-back guarantee on your first order if your pet doesn’t like the food. Similarly, Open Farm encourages dissatisfied customers to reach out to their customer service for assistance, potentially offering refunds or exchanges through the retailer where the product was purchased.
7. How Do I Transition My Dog to Open Farm or Farmer’s Dog Food?
Both brands recommend a slow transition over 7-10 days, gradually increasing the amount of new food while decreasing the old one. This method helps to prevent any digestive upset that a sudden change in diet may cause.
8. Do I Need to Refrigerate the Food?
Farmer’s Dog meals should be stored in the refrigerator and used within days of opening. Open Farm’s dry food can be stored in a cool, dry place, but their wet food and gently cooked meals need to be refrigerated after opening.
9. Can I Mix These Foods with Other Brands?
Yes, it’s generally safe to mix Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog food with other brands. However, ensure that the overall diet still meets your dog’s nutritional needs. It’s always best to consult with your vet before making any significant changes to your dog’s diet.
10. Are Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog Foods Grain-Free?
Open Farm offers both grain-free and ancient grain recipes, catering to a wide range of dietary needs and preferences. Farmer’s Dog doesn’t specifically label their meals as grain-free, but they primarily use meats, vegetables, and healthy fats, with brown rice included in some recipes.
11. Can I Use These Foods for Dogs with Specific Health Conditions?
Yes, but it’s crucial to consult with your vet before switching your dog’s diet, especially if they have a specific health condition. Open Farm’s variety allows you to choose a formula that may be beneficial for your dog’s condition. Farmer’s Dog customizes meal plans that can cater to specific dietary needs.
12. Do Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog Use Artificial Preservatives?
No, both brands prioritize natural, high-quality ingredients and do not use artificial preservatives. Open Farm’s dry foods are naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols (a form of Vitamin E), while Farmer’s Dog meals are fresh and require refrigeration to stay fresh.
13. Where Are These Brands Manufactured?
Open Farm is a Canadian company and its dry food is made in the United States. Farmer’s Dog is based in the U.S., and its food is prepared in human-grade kitchens within the country.
14. Are Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog AAFCO Approved?
Both brands meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This means their foods are considered nutritionally complete and balanced for the life stages indicated on the packaging.
15. Are Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog Raw Diets?
No, neither Open Farm nor Farmer’s Dog primarily offer raw diets. Open Farm’s range includes dry kibble, wet food, and freeze-dried raw recipes. Farmer’s Dog provides cooked, fresh food that’s delivered frozen.
16. How Long Do Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog Foods Last Once Opened?
For dry food from Open Farm, it’s best to use it within 4-6 weeks of opening. Their wet food, once opened, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For Farmer’s Dog, meals should be served within 4 days of opening if kept refrigerated.
17. Can I Change or Cancel My Subscription?
Both Open Farm and Farmer’s Dog allow changes to your subscription, including adjusting delivery dates, meal plans, and even canceling the service. It’s recommended to reach out to their customer service for assistance with these changes.
18. Can Open Farm or Farmer’s Dog Foods Be Used for a Rotation Diet?
Absolutely. Rotation diets can be beneficial for providing a variety of nutrients and preventing food boredom. Open Farm’s diverse range is suitable for rotational feeding. With Farmer’s Dog, you can switch between different recipes in your dog’s meal plan. Always make sure to transition slowly when introducing new foods.
