Are you worried that your dog isn’t eating a nutritious diet?
It could be time to try freshly cooked dog food to keep your pet happy and healthy.
Our dogs need to have a complete and balanced diet to ensure they are getting the necessary vitamins and minerals to maintain their wellbeing. They’re no different to humans.
While dog owners have been feeding their canine companions dry and wet dog food for decades, there is an increasing desire to ensure our dogs are getting high quality, fresh pet food.
This can be difficult given that most of us don’t have time to go to the pet store to pick up fresh meals for our pups on a weekly basis, while home cooked recipes can often lead to the exclusion of vital minerals and vitamins.
Of course, cooking your dog’s food requires a lot of time, something which is challenging to find when you’ve already got your own meals to prepare after a day at work or caring for family members.
This is why there has been an influx of dog food delivery companies who prepare meals on a weekly basis and ship their fresh pet food to your doorstep.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best options available at the moment.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
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Current Top Rated Dog Food Delivery Companies
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spot & Tango |
|
• Experienced • 12 ingredients • Eco-friendly | Buy Now | |
| Open Farm |
|
• Sustainable • Traceability • Non-GMO | Buy Now | |
| Ollie |
|
• Scooper • Flexibility • Resealable trays | Buy Now | |
| Nom Nom |
|
• Rip-and-serve meals • Four recipes • Top ingredients | Buy Now | |
| A Pup Above |
|
• Sous-vide • High protein • Four recipes | Buy Now | |
| The Farmer's Dog |
|
• USDA meat • Three recipes • Rip-and-Serve | Buy Now | |
| JustFoodForDogs |
|
• 15 recipes • Input of 14 vets • Public kitchens | Buy Now | |
| Pet Plate |
|
• Personalized • Recyclable packaging • Money-back | Buy Now |
How We Choose The Best Dog Food
• Ingredients – Your dog needs a complete and balanced diet, so it is vital that the right ingredients are included in the recipes. Naturally, meat is a great source of fat and protein for your dog, but owners should ensure that animal-based diets aren’t excessively high in fat. Dogs, unlike cats, are not strict carnivores by nature. This explains why a lot of dogs love to eat fruit and vegetables. Grains can result in allergies so dog owners should proceed with caution before feeding rice or quinoa to your canine companions.
• Recipe Variety – Just like humans, dogs benefit from a varied and balanced diet. While some dogs are content to eat the same meals all the time, others may do better when the recipe is changed every month or so. It is only natural that some dogs may grow tired of the same recipe after a couple of months, so it’s important to have a number of recipes available to select.
• Effectiveness – Some dogs may need to shed a few pounds, while others are slightly underweight and need a formulated meal to help gain some weight. We have tried a variety of these recipes on our own dogs to test the claims of the manufacturers and test the effectiveness of the recipes.
Packaging And Preparation – You don’t want your meals to be spoiled if it arrives when you’re not at home and the delivery is left outside your front door for a number of hours. We looked for companies who take preventive steps to ensure your meal packages are well insulated with plastic foam and dry ice, ensuring that the dog food remains chilled. The ease of preparing your dog’s meal is vital when trying to balance a hectic family and work life with keeping your pet’s appetite satisfied. The benefit of having freshly prepared dog food delivered direct to your front door is that it saves times.
Ordering Experience – Navigating a clear and concise website will help to make the ordering experience seamless. We value the ability to personalise your dog’s meals, select the recipe that best suits their needs and requirements. Some require a brief questionnaire to get a better understanding of your dog, including age, weight and preferences to make sure that all their dietary needs are fulfilled.
Price – Given that these services comprise of high-grade meals delivered direct to your front door, the price can be challenging. As pet owners, we all want our dogs to get the best possible diet. If you’re willing to invest in your dog’s nutrition by purchasing quality high-grade meals, you can relax knowing that you’re doing your best to protect their long-term health.
Delivery Schedule – We considered the various schedules that dog food delivery companies offer. This could be vital if you’re planning a vacation or your dog is scheduled for a short-term stay at the vet. There is also the matter of the size of your freezer. For some pet owners with plenty of storage, there may be no problem accommodating a month’s order of dog food. Others may have room for two weeks’ worth of homemade cooked meals for your canine.
Best Dog Food – Our Pick
Editor's note: Be sure to check the latest information shown on the official website of any product you're considering purchasing, as details may change from time to time and therefore may differ from what's shown on this page.
So, with the introduction out of the way, let’s now check out our pick of some of the best dog food delivery companies who are providing balanced, complete and fresh meals for dogs in the USA.
1) Spot & Tango
Website: www.spotandtango.com
Spot & Tango Unkibble (Photo: Spot & Tango)
Spot & Tango offer pet parents fresh, all-natural dog food delivered to your doorstep.
They’re looking to reimagine dog food, especially if you’re used to feeding your four-legged friend the traditional types of dog food found at the supermarket.
Spot & Tango use limited-ingredient recipes so you know exactly what’s going into their dog food and you won’t have to worry about additives or artificial ingredients.
Their meals are complete and balanced, formulated by veterinary nutritionists to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.
The Pros
• 3 recipes (turkey, beef and lamb)
• Limited-ingredient recipes
• Vet formulated
• GMO and hormone free
• 100% Happy pup guarantee
• 8 years of experience
• Sustainable
The Cons
• A little pricey
• Can only order from their website
• Only 3 recipes
What Customers Are Saying
Spot & Tango have a review section on their website full of five-star testimonials but we couldn’t find any reviews elsewhere.
One customer was delighted to see her “horrible eater” completely change her eating habits thanks to Spot & Tango.
A Spot & Tango subscriber rates this dog food delivery service as their favourite having tried numerous others.
Finally, a rescue dog owner explained how Spot & Tango helped her pooch to gain much-needed weight, getting excited about mealtime with a “shiny” coat.
Our Verdict
We recruited a special taste tester called Roenick to try out Spot & Tango. He’s a nine-year-old Pitbull Boxer mix who has been a picky eater in the past.
His owner Lauren was initially skeptical about whether Roenick would like these meals given his fussy tendencies in the past. However, he loved the meals.
When Lauren opened the box, Roenick was sniffing the food and ready to try it. After a couple of days and getting him use to the food, his breath wasn’t as bad compared to other dog food he has eaten, his bowel movements were healthier-looking, and he drank a lot more water than usual (which is good, because usually it takes encouragement to keep him hydrated).
Lauren was impressed by the packaging, especially since the food was still frozen. The box wasn’t damaged or wet. She also appreciated the guidelines provided in the box – how to dispose of the box, the step-by-step instructions, and portion sizes were very helpful.
If you’re a new Spot & Tango customer you can avail of our exclusive 50% discount off your first order when you click here.
2) Open Farm
Website: openfarmpet.com
Cocker Spaniel puppy eats their dog food (Adobe Stock)
Open Farm are perhaps the most versatile dog food company in this feature.
They offer dry food, wet food, fresh food and freeze-dried raw.
Their website explains that Open Farm design their recipes to ensure your four-legged friend gets exactly what they need and nothing more.
Open Farm create their dog food using ethically sourced ingredients, providing full transparency from farm to bowl.
The Pros
• Dry, wet, fresh and freeze-dried raw options
• 100% human grade
• Non-GMO fruits and veggies
• Fully transparent
The Cons
• You can only order from their website
• Premium price
What Customers Are Saying
We were unable to find reviews of Open Farm on an independent website such as Trustpilot so we had to rely upon the customer testimonials under their products.
Linda found a solution for her fussy eater.
My JRT is a very fussy eater. She gets tired of eating the same thing day after day. Being able to switch from one freeze dried formula to another without gastric upset and knowing I’m feeding her a balanced healthy diet where I can look up the source of every ingredient has given me peace of mine. She is thriving.
Patsy explained that Open Farm was her dog’s preferred choice.
I tried Farmers Dog, Stella & Chewy’s Raw food and he turned his nose up at both. He absolutely loves Open Farm cooked recipe and their dry food. He gets dry in the morning and cooked recipe at night. His poops are 100% better. Great Products!
Our Verdict
Open Farm have a lot of versatility when it comes to the different dog food options available to pet owners.
If you want dry food, wet food, fresh food or freeze-dried raw food, Open Farm have you covered.
Having started in 2014, Open Farm have developed some core values around transparency, premium nutrition and ethical sourcing.
Our Alaskan Klee Kai taste tester Sesame was a big fan of Open Farm’s Gently Cooked meals. Her owner Carmen explained:
I ordered the Grass-Fed Beef Gently Cooked Recipe and this is the first time I’ve ever seen Sesame whine and begged so hard for food. It was absolutely delicious as she cleared her bowl spotless.
It comes in a 16 oz package and I can use it for multiple meals. Shipping was fairly quick and they came frozen, so I just plop the extra in the freezer and a package to defrost. It looks so good that it can almost be mistaken for human food.
3) Ollie
Website: www.myollie.com
Ollie provide fresh and healthy dog meals (Photo: Ollie)
Ollie use quality ingredients in their recipes to ensure your canine companion is getting nutritionally balanced and complete dog food at mealtime.
They only use 100% real food without by-products or funky fillers so you can have peace of mind your four-legged friend is only eating high-quality protein.
Ollie will customize your pup’s meals based upon their age, breed, activity level, allergies and weight goals, while their recipes have been formulated by vets.
New customers will receive a starter box including their food packs, feeding guide, food storage container and a customised scooper to make portioning your dog’s food easy.
The Pros
• 4 recipes (beef, chicken, turkey and lamb)
• Tailored
• Vet formulated
• No additives or nasties
• Custom scooper for portion control
• Home delivery
The Cons
• Premium price
• Dog owners can only order from their website
What Customers Are Saying
Ollie gets an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5 based upon over 560 reviews on independent review website Trustpilot.
Melinda described making the switch to Ollie’s food as the best decision that she has made for her Labradoodle.
Our Labradoodle, Bella, started itching and her skin developed an odor. These two issues are the reason we decided to seek a healthier diet for her. She’s been enjoying Ollie for 3-months and her new diet seems to have diminished the itching and the odor has disappeared, even our cat, Mia loves it. The portions come in sealed pouches and are easy to stack in the freezer. The delivery is always on time and comes in a heavy box with dry ice and a bio-degradable packaging material.
Heather revealed the positive impact of Ollie’s meals on her Husky.
Our Husky was overweight but still took all day to nibble at her dry food. She now can’t wait for each meal but looks healthy and is trimming down! We couldn’t be happier with Ollie!
Our Verdict
Alaskan Klee Kai are notoriously fussy eaters so Ollie sent some of their fresh meals to an eight-year old AKK called Mercer to see if their balanced and complete meals passed the taste test.
To the delight of Mercer’s owner, her Klee Kai quickly became obsessed with his Ollie meals after previously being picky with his previous store-bought pet food.
Although Mercer’s mom warned us that there was a good chance Mercer wouldn’t touch Ollie’s food given his pickiness, she ended up signing up to their subscription service given her Klee Kai’s new-found obsession with Ollie’s meals.
Our readers can get 50% off their first order from Ollie when using the coupon code “HELLOBARK” at checkout. To avail of this offer, click this link and use the “HELLOBARK” discount code.
4) Nom Nom
Website: www.nomnomnow.com
Nom Nom packaging (Photo: Nom Nom)
Nom Nom have a simple philosophy: better food, better health.
This Nashville-based company are striving to provide meals that reach what they call the “care grade” so you can have confidence your pup is eating a balanced and complete diet.
Nom Nom use restaurant-grade ingredients that are cooked in their kitchens, ensuring no frozen products are used in their recipes. Just fresh ingredients!
Based upon the details provided by pet owners in their on-boarding questionnaire, Nom Nom will tailor their vet-formulated meals to meet your dog’s needs.
They store their meals in pre-portioned packaging so it’s as easy as rip-and-serve at mealtime.
The Pros
• Human-grade ingredients
• 4 recipes (beef, chicken, pork and turkey)
• Variety pack option
• Pre-portioned packaging
• Delivered to your door
• Environmentally friendly packaging
The Cons
• Costs more than regular dog food
• You can only order on their website
What Customers Are Saying
Nom Nom get 4.3 stars out of 5 based upon over 1,160 reviews on Trustpilot.
Jeff explained that his dog Marty is thriving on Nom Nom dog food.
Our dog Marty is 7 years old and has pancreatitis and lots of stomach issues. He’s been on Nom Nom for a month now, and is doing better already. He used to skip breakfast about 80% of the time while his stomach would gurgle well into the afternoon. Now, he doesn’t miss breakfast and I haven’t heard the stomach noises for probably two weeks. He sees me go to the fridge for his Nom Nom and he lights up and waits for me to warm it up and put it in his bowl.
Kristin saw an immediate change in her dog Peanut.
We are so happy that we changed our dog’s food to NomNom. Not only does he love it, but we saw an immediate change in his health……He is healthier, happier, trimer and more energetic! We are so pleased with the service. His food arrives on time each month. The individually packaged meals make portion control and feeding time so easy! Our little Peanut LOVES his Nom Nom!!!
Our Verdict
When I lived in the USA, my two Klee Kai Copper and Skye went through a phase where they stopped eating their breeder-recommended kibble.
A chance meeting with a Samoyed dog owner at a local dog park led me to try Nom Nom. I’ve been feeding fresh dog food meals to my Klee Kai ever since!
My mini huskies loved their Nom Nom meals and I could clearly see that the meals were comprised of real food in vet-formulated recipes.
I loved the convenience of their rip-and-serve food pouches at mealtime, while I appreciate their eco-friendly approach to their business.
You can get 50 per cent off your first order with Nom Nom by clicking here.
5) A Pup Above
Website: www.apupabove.com
A Pup Above (Photo: A Pup Above)
A Pup Above are committed to creating healthier dog food for our precious pooches.
Their nutritious meals are sous-vide cooked in a USDA facility using the same safety and quality standards as human food.
They use a unique cooking method that delivers the nutrition of raw food without the potential associated risks. It also delivers a mega flavor boost to please those picky eaters!
They use 100% recyclable packaging with their Terracycle partnership, donating 1% of all sales back to regenerative farming via their partnership with the White Buffalo Land Trust.
The Pros
• Sous-vide method, human-grade dog food
• 4 recipes (beef, chicken, pork and turkey)
• Recyclable packaging
• Transparent manufacturing process
• 72% more protein than other brands
• Can be purchased in-store
The Cons
• More expensive than store-bought dog food
• No customization (but does include feeding guideline)
What Customers Are Saying
A Pup Above have a review section on their website under each of their recipes so you can get a sense of how other dogs are getting on with their meals.
Jenny explained that she mixes A Pup Above’s Chicka Chicka Bow Wow with some high-quality kibble.
We don’t replace entirely the good kibble she eats with this great food, but we use a good dollop to mix into it, and she scarfs it right up! She loves it.
Tracy shed light on just how much her Dutch Shepherd enjoys A Pup Above’s Porky Luau recipe.
The new packaging is leak proof! My pups love it as always, especially my new girl, a Dutch Shepherd. Absolutely no break in period. Just fed it and no change in her bowels. Now, getting her to wait the mandatory 10 seconds to eat … that was a bit difficult!
Our Verdict
We recruited an Alaskan Klee Kai called Tyr to give A Pup Above a trial run. His mom Ashley revealed that these sous-vide meals proved a hit with her mini husky.
A picky eater like a lot of Klee Kai, Tyr enjoyed grazing on A Pup Above along with his other pack members.
Ashley warmed the food in the microwave to bring out all the tasty flavours before serving to Tyr, proving super easy to feed to her Klee Kai.
While she found the packets a little awkward to open, Ashley liked the vacuum seal which kept the meals nice and fresh.
Ashley was so impressed with A Pup Above that she’s decided to sign up permanently to their subscription plan.
6) The Farmer’s Dog
Website: www.thefarmersdog.com
Dog eyes cooked meal (Photo: The Farmer’s Dog)
The Farmer’s Dog are looking to rethink dog food to benefit both your pup and their pet parents.
The company aim to deliver balanced, freshly-made pet food to your canine thanks to their simple recipes, guided by science, and driven by love.
The Farmer’s Dog use high-grade meat and fresh vegetables in simple recipes which are made for dogs.
They only use USDA-approved kitchens to cook their meals, maintaining whole food and nutritional integrity.
The Pros
• Real food
• 3 recipes (turkey, beef and chicken)
• USDA kitchens
• Vet developed
• Tested on humans
• Delivered within days
The Cons
• Premium price
• You can only order direct from their website
What Customers Are Saying
We couldn’t find The Farmer’s Dog on Trustpilot, but they do have a review section on their website. They only display five-star reviews so it’s hard to get an objective sense of how the company is performing.
Nicole is one of the dog owners featured on their review carousel.
My dog was beginning a downward slope. We decided to make a change to her food. We chose The Farmer’s Dog. The difference is astounding. She eats with gusto, her energy levels are back up, her teeth and coat are even better quality… she’s a whole different dog. I honestly feel that The Farmer’s Dog saved her.
Eileen is another pet parent featured on The Farmer’s Dog website.
Dani is the perfect lap dog, but her gas was so bad I could barely hold her. Not to mention her loose stools and bouts of diarrhea. We tried all kinds of dog food… nothing really worked until The Farmer’s Dog. What a difference. I can’t thank you guys enough! I’m sure Dani would love to thank you too.
Our Verdict
The Farmer’s Dog is a solid option for those considering subscribing to a dog food delivery service.
We like The Farmer Dog’s easy-to-serve packets to make feeding your dog as easy as possible.
However, if we’re being really picky, we’d like to have seen a couple more recipes to give dog owners more choice.
7) JustFoodForDogs
Website: www.justfoodfordogs.com
Just Food For Dogs (Photo: Just Food For Dogs)
JustFoodForDogs are one of the most experienced names within the dog food delivery market having started in 2010. They’ve got 10 kitchens across the USA, eight of which are open to the public.
Their balanced and complete recipes have been created with help from a team of 14 veterinarians, creating fresh, whole-food prescription food with an unrivalled range of recipes. Their veterinarians have expertise across clinical nutrition, toxicology, dermatology and whole food formulation.
They offer 15 fresh whole-food recipes, ranging from chicken, beef, turkey, fish, venison and lamb. You can consult with their vet-trained consultants to build your dog’s nutrition plan.
JustFoodForDogs is the only fresh pet food on the market that has undergone extensive clinical research, the results of which have been published in a scientific journal. It’s also the first food of its kind to be sold at scale in brick and mortar retail, available for purchase in stores across the country.
The Pros
• 15 recipes
• Restaurant-quality meat
• Locally sourced
• No additives or preservatives
• Open-to-public kitchens
The Cons
• Premium price
What Customers Are Saying
JustFoodForDogs get an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 based upon nearly 200 reviews on Yelp.
Stephanie wrote that she feels happy her dog gets to eat healthy food.
My husband and I eat very well and when our puppy came into our family, we weren’t going to have him eating kibble. Enter JustFoodForDogs. We initially found them at Unleashed, but we also use the WeHo kitchen. The customer service has always been really kind and our pup loves the food–and we love that we can actually tell what he’s eating. Our vet has also been very happy with his health, weight gain, etc.
Jeff left a moving review of JustFoodForDogs after the transformation of his senior dog.
My 17 year old dog was dying- yes dying. We actually took him to the vet to figure out how and when to put him down… We were feeding him the best food we could find – freeze dried, grain free, chicken free. We stumbled upon JustFoodForDogs. He immediately (within a week!) began to improve. I’m blown away. He would hardly eat before – we had to hand feed him every day. Now he waits in the kitchen every morning and eats his entire portion within a minute. He has new energy, doesn’t scratch anymore and is putting on weight again. He’s still 17 and we know we won’t get much more time but because of this food we’re getting more time with him. And that is worth the extra money this food costs. I’m very satisfied.
Our Verdict
If you’ve got a picky eater like my Alaskan Klee Kai dogs, JustFoodForDogs could be a good fit for you.
They’ve got an incredible range of fresh dog meals available to pet parents across the USA so there should be something that satisfies the taste buds of even the pickiest eaters.
We appreciate that JustFoodForDogs are transparent about their cooking process with their open-to-the-public kitchens.
Their range of recipes have been created with help from 14 veterinarians to provide dog owners with ultimate peace of mind.
Our readers can get 20% off their first JustFoodForDogs order by clicking here.
8) Pet Plate
Website: petplate.com
PetPlate offer home cooked meals fresh to your door (Photo: Pet Plate)
Pet Plate make real food cooked fresh for your dog. Their meals are cooked in a human-grade kitchen.
Their meals use natural ingredients and are cooked in USDA facility, allowing them to create healthy and tasty grub for dogs, according to their website.
Pet Plate’s website says that every batch of dog food created by Pet Plate is tested for safety and flash frozen to lock in freshness.
Pet Plate’s website claims that their vet-designed, balanced recipes will translate to fewer trips to the vet.
The Pros
• 4 recipes (chicken, beef, turkey and lamb)
• Personalized
• Fresh and portioned
• Delivered on time
• Recyclable packaging
• 100% money-back guarantee
The Cons
• Costs more than regular dog food (starts at $1.14 a day)
• You can only order from their website
What Customers Are Saying
Pet Plate have also got a review section with 256 reviews, mostly getting five stars for their food.
A French Bulldog owner was delighted with her subscription plan:
I have a white French bulldog and he dog loves the food. His tear stains are clearing up and he his digestive symptoms are gone. When he had an issue with one of the flavors, the customer service team quickly handled it.
Another pet owner was delighted with the impact of Pet Plate’s meals:
Quick and easy ordering, easy to use containers, clear directions, came as expected, my dog LOVES his food, and his stools are immediately firm and regular. First time ever!!!
Our Verdict
We haven’t been able to try Pet Plate despite reaching out to their team.
However, we do have some friends who feed Pet Plate to their pups and have good things to say.
Pet Plate have recently overhauled their website for a smoother consumer experience.
We like their personalized approach, while they’ve got eco-friendly packaging.
Anything Else To Consider?
As we mentioned above, while we love dogs, we are not professional vets and the contents of this article shouldn’t be taken as veterinary advice. It’s a good idea to speak to your vet before you make the switch to a new type of dog food or a different dog food brand.
If you make the switch too quickly, you can risk upsetting your dog’s stomach. It’s a good idea to speak to your vet to learn how to make the transition.
Our Final Thoughts
Copper and Skye the Alaskan Klee Kai tucking into some Nom Nom (Photo: @lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best dog food delivery companies in the USA at the moment.
If you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly way to feed your dog high quality pet food that is complete, balanced, fresh and vet-approved, Open Farm could be a good option for you.
They’ve got a sustainable approach to their business and pet owners can trace each ingredient in their dog’s recipe from the farm to the bowl. This should provide ultimate peace of mind.
Spot & Tango are another company who want to leave a green paw print on the world with a sustainable ethos at the core of the dog food company.
JustFoodForDogs have utilised the knowledge of 14 vets to create their diverese range of fresh dog food meals for our canine companions. Even the fussiest eaters should find a tasty option amongst their offering of 15 different recipes.
Ollie are another example of a dog food delivery company that are adopted a fresh approach to canine nutrition. They offer a good variety of recipes to satisfy even picky pups.
If you’d like to try sous-vide dog food, we recommend checking out A Pup Above to learn more.
Nom Nom are one of the popular providers of homemade dog meals. They offer a variety of different recipes to pet owners looking to make the switch to fresh dog food.
However, if you’re looking to ditch store-bought kibble or smelly wet food in favour of fresh dog meals, you won’t go wrong by trying any of the eight companies in this article considering their meals are balanced and complete.
