When it comes to shopping for dog food, dog parents have more choices than ever. In fact, the number of choices can be overwhelming. As online shopping takes a more prominent role in our consumption, dog parents can now choose fresh dog food delivery services that take the guesswork out of what exactly is in their pets’ food. Better yet, the fresh food is delivered right to your doorstep.
These services come with a higher price tag, but if you can swing it, using a fresh dog food delivery service will be both convenient for you and rewarding for your dog. You can receive customized plans, and they all offer their own unique perks and features.
In this guide, we’ll examine our top 10 picks for fresh dog food delivery services, and we’ll review their overall pros and cons to help you narrow one down that’s right for you and your pooch. Let’s get started!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2022
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Nom Nom |
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Best Value | Pet Plate |
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Premium Choice | The Farmer’s Dog |
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Best for Puppies | Spot and Tango |
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Ollie Fresh Dog Food |
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The 10 Best Fresh Dog Food Delivery Services
1. Nom Nom – Best Overall
Food type: | Fresh food, treats |
Recipes: | Beef mash, chicken cuisine, pork potluck, turkey fare |
Unique feature: | 30-day money-back guarantee |
Nom Nom has four different fresh recipes to choose from, so you’ll be sure to find one that your doggie likes. For protein, you can choose pork, chicken, beef, or turkey, and they add plenty of fresh veggies, like carrots, squash, kale, peas, and sweet potatoes. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, they make the food fresh daily in kitchens located in Nashville and the San Francisco Bay area. The food is never outsourced to third parties, and each package is tested for safety and quality. You can even try samples if so inclined before purchasing, and the food comes pre-portioned.
Nom Nom also offers discounts to pet parents with multiple dogs, and the food meets AAFCO’s nutrition standards.
The whole food ingredients are processed in the U.S.A., and Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists ensure all food is complete and balanced with necessary vitamins and minerals to keep your dog healthy.
As a subscriber, you’ll occasionally get surprises with your order, as well as early access to new recipes, supplements, and treats. Obviously, it’s pricey, but with the wholesome ingredients, convenient access to order, free shipping, and discount for multiple dogs, Nom Nom is our pick for the best overall fresh food delivery service.
- Free shipping
- Discounts for multiple dogs
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Pre-portioned packs
- Samples are available
- Expensive
2. Pet Plate – Best Value
Food type: | Fresh food |
Recipes: | Barkin’ beef, chompin’ chicken, Tail-waggin’ turkey, lip-lickin’ lamb, powder-pack pork, lean and mean venison |
Unique feature: | Offer treats and supplements |
As we’ve mentioned, fresh dog food delivery services are not cheap, but Pet Plate is one of the more affordable options, making it our pick for the best overall fresh dog food service for the money. They offer several recipes that are all human-grade, along with organic treats and supplements. Their full meal plans start around $1.40 a day, and they also offer toppers for just over $0.55 a day if you want to mix their food in with your dog’s kibble for an extra treat.
A veterinary nutritionist creates all meals, and the protein amount averages around 10% with low-fat content. The food meets AAFCO’s nutrition levels, and it’s terrific for the picky eater. They have grain-free options and healthy grain recipes available. To get started, you’ll answer questions about your dog, and they’ll customize a plan based on age, breed, and activity level. You’ll get 50% off your first order, along with free shipping.
The only downside is that it may not work for doggies with sensitive stomachs.
- Offer toppers for half the cost
- 50% off first order with free shipping
- Both grain-free and grains available
- A little more affordable
- Treat and supplements also available
- May not work for dogs with sensitive stomachs
3. The Farmer’s Dog – Premium Choice
Food type: | Fresh food |
Recipes: | Beef, pork, turkey |
Unique feature: | Human-grade ingredients |
The Farmer’s Dog Delivery Service has been in operation since 2014 and makes human-grade ingredients specifically tailored to your dog’s needs. All you do is fill out a questionnaire about your dog, and they will recommend certain recipes to fit your dog’s needs, such as activity level, age, breed, sensitivities, and ideal weight. The company doesn’t leave you there; they work closely with you at the start to monitor your dog’s progress in case adjustments are needed.
All ingredients come from locally sourced farms and are prepared in USDA kitchens by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist. It’s made with clean USDA protein, simple produce, and balanced vitamins and minerals that all meet AAFCO’s standards. The food comes in frozen pre-portioned packs; all you do is refrigerate or freeze the food upon arrival. You can pause, cancel, or reactivate your subscription at any time, and they offer a 20% discount on your first order. A downfall we see is, of course, the price, and it seems to be more expensive than other dog food delivery services. You’ll also need plenty of space in your freezer and fridge to store the food.
- Human-grade ingredients
- Recipes prepared by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists
- Locally-sourced ingredients
- Turkey, beef, and pork are main proteins
- Made in USDA kitchens
- Expensive
- Requires freezer and refrigerator space
4. Spot and Tango — Best for Puppies
Food type: | Fresh food and dry food |
Recipes: | Fresh recipes: turkey and red quinoa, beef and millet, lamb and brown rice; Dry recipes: duck and salmon, beef and barley, chicken and brown rice |
Unique feature: | Offers both fresh and dry foods |
Spot and Tango are different in that they offer both fresh and dry food recipes. The “unkibble” is not extruded, meaning the kibble is not produced by high heat and air-popped. Both the fresh and dry recipes contain no fillers or artificial flavors, and it’s all human-grade. Spot and tango’s unkibble food has a higher protein count of 25% to 30%, making it an excellent choice for doggies that need more protein, like the Labrador Retriever or Pitbull. All the recipes are made from 100% whole ingredients and are suitable for all life stages, including puppies. Since puppies need more protein for their growing bodies, this food is the perfect choice for fresh dog food.
Spot and Tango offer a 14-day trial to ensure your pooch will like it. You can sign up for a 2-week trial; however, that does enroll you into a subscription, but you can pause or cancel anytime. They offer free shipping, snacks are available, and they offer 20% off your first order.
A drawback is that this food only ships once a month, and it’s expensive.
- Human-grade ingredients
- Two-week trial
- 100% whole ingredients
- Offers both fresh and dry food
- Once-a-month delivery
- Expensive
5. Ollie Fresh Dog Food
Food type: | Fresh food, treats |
Recipes: | Beef, chicken, turkey, lamb |
Unique feature: | Gently cooked food, recyclable packaging |
Ollie Fresh Dog Food offers four vet-certified recipes: beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb. All the recipes are made with human-grade ingredients and have healthy fruits and vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, spinach, blueberries, and more. This service works the same as most, where you answer questions about your pup, and they set up a meal plan suitable for your pup’s needs. You’ll initially receive two weeks’ worth of food with 10% off. After that, they send your food on a schedule, so you’ll never run out.
The food comes frozen, and you’ll need to thaw it in the fridge up to three days before serving, which can be a drawback if you need the food sooner. However, they do an excellent job of keeping the food on schedule to avoid this possible issue. As a bonus, you’ll receive a free scoop and container, or “pup-tainer” with your first order, along with 10% off. You can also change your delivery schedule if needed. This food is expensive, but many feel the high-quality ingredients are worth the price.
- 4 recipes
- Human-grade ingredients
- Gently cooked
- Free scoop and container
- Vet-certified food
- Takes 3 days to thaw in fridge
- Expensive
6. Tailored Pet
Food type: | Dry food, treats |
Recipes: | Chicken, bison, lamb, salmon |
Unique feature: | Offer dental chews |
Tailored Pet offers dry kibble made with high-quality ingredients. They source the food from trusted suppliers worldwide, and it’s suitable for all breeds and sizes. You can choose from chicken, beef, lamb, or salmon, and all the recipes contain essential nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, and healthy legumes. The packaging is recyclable, carbon-neutrally shipped, resealable, and no refrigeration is needed. With your first order, you’ll enjoy 50% off and a free, biodegradable scooper made of bamboo.
You can specify if you want to avoid certain ingredients, such as grains or other potential food allergies, and the food is customizable to your dog’s age, size, and breed. They offer points to redeem on future orders, and they sell dental treats and other soft treats. They do not offer fresh food, and some ingredients are sourced outside of the U.S. However, this delivery service is more affordable than others.
- Free biodegradable scooper
- High-quality ingredients
- Recyclable packaging
- Customizable
- More affordable
- No fresh food
- Some ingredients sourced outside of the U.S.
7. We Feed Raw
Food type: | Raw |
Recipes: | Beef, chicken, duck, lamb, venison, turkey |
Unique feature: | Raw diet |
We Feed Raw is unique in that their food is, well, raw. All the meat is human-grade and meets AAFCO’s nutrition standards, and there are no fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives. We Feed Raw adds a high-quality vitamin and a premix of minerals to make the food complete and balanced, which is exclusively sourced in the U.S.A. A PhD animal nutritionist formulates all the recipes, and you can add the raw food to kibble if so inclined. The food will last in the refrigerator for four days and in the freezer for six months. It’s suitable for all life stages, and all recipes are produced in a USDA-certified facility.
This food contains 70% moisture, so your dog may not drink as much as they would on dry kibble. Feeding a raw diet may not be suitable for all dogs, and the service is pricey.
- Human-grade meat
- Produced in USDA-certified facility
- Complete and balanced
- Formulated by a PhD nutritionist
- Suitable for all life stages
- May not work for all dogs
- Expensive
8. A Pup Above
Food type: | Fresh food |
Recipes: | Turkey, beef, chicken, pork |
Unique feature: | Sous-vide cooking method |
A Pup Above cooks their food sous-vide style, which is a method of cooking the food slowly and evenly to retain all the wholesome nutrients. The recipes are 100% human-grade and made in USDA-certified facilities. They offer four recipes, and if you can’t decide on one initially, they will send you a sampler pack with all four to determine which one your dog likes the most.
Most fresh dog food delivery services are subscription only, but A Pup Above lets you make one-time purchases if that works best for your needs. All the meat is free from antibiotics and growth hormones, and the protein content is 72% higher than other delivery services. The packs come frozen and thaw overnight in the fridge.
This fresh food delivery service is expensive, but you can choose between a 3-pound bag of three patties or a 7-pound bag of seven patties to suit your budget. They also offer 15% off your first order.
- One-time purchase option
- High protein
- Uses sous-vide cooking method
- 100% human-grade ingredients
- Made in USDA-certified facilities
- Expensive
9. Just Food For Dogs
Food type: | Fresh food, treats, supplements |
Recipes: | Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb |
Unique feature: | DIY option/vet-prescribed options |
Just Food For Dogs offers fresh-frozen meals, pantry-fresh meals, or vet-prescribed meals. The pantry-fresh meals require no refrigeration and have a shelf life of two years. It’s made from human-grade whole ingredients, and you have your choice of chicken, turkey, beef, or lamb. Pantry fresh meals are made from human-grade high-quality meats and produce, much as you’d find in the grocery store.
The vet-prescribed meals can cater to doggies with medical issues to fit your dog’s specific medical needs; however, you have to pay a one-time formulation fee to begin this process. The prescription meals require you to submit your dog’s medical records for customization, and they have multiple veterinarians on staff to ensure you get recipes suitable for your pooch.
Another unique option is selecting their recommendations or the DIY option, which you prepare yourself from their homemade kits. All food meets AAFCO’s standards and contains no preservatives. They do charge a $10 standard shipping fee, but if you sign up for a subscription and autoship, shipping is free with 5% off your order. They are also more affordable than other delivery services.
A drawback is shipments might not arrive on time, and customer service could be better.
- Choose from fresh, frozen, DIY kits, or prescription meals
- 100% human-grade ingredients
- Meets AAFCO’s standards
- Shipments may arrive late
- Potentially poor customer service
- $10 shipping fee
10. Hungry Bar
Food type: | Dry food, supplements, protein mix-ins |
Recipes: | Turkey, salmon, chicken, lamb |
Unique feature: | Customized plans |
Hungry Bark uses all-natural superfoods for the utmost nutrition tailored to your dog’s needs. All food is slow-cooked, made fresh, and vet-approved. They have an in-house clinical pet nutritionist available to answer any questions you may have at any time. They notify you before shipments in case you need to pause, cancel, or adjust the meals, and all food contains probiotics, vitamins, and minerals that are made in the U.S.A.
You’ll get 50% off your first order, and they send a free gift of one of their protein mixes. They do not offer wet food, only dry kibble, but they do have supplements available, as well.
- All-natural superfoods
- Vet-approved recipes
- Clinical pet nutritionist available
- Supplements and protein mix-ins
- 50% off first order with free gift
- No wet food
Buyer’s Guide
Opting to use a fresh dog food delivery service is one of the best and healthiest things you can do for your beloved doggie; however, it does come with a higher price tag than buying commercial dog food. One size does not fit all when it comes to choosing a delivery service, so let’s break down what to look for while shopping around.
Wet vs. Dry Food
Most of the fresh dog food delivery services we’ve mentioned offer fresh food, but others offer your choice of wet, dry, or offer dry kibble exclusively. If you prefer to feed only dry kibble, make sure that option is available with the one you’re seeking. While dry kibble is more affordable, it’s not as healthy as wet food because of added fillers. However, if you go with a fresh dog food delivery service, the dry kibble will be slightly more nutritious than a commercial brand.
Wet food from a fresh dog food delivery service contains no fillers or artificial preservatives, and it’s made with human-grade ingredients. If you can opt for wet food, you’ll be making the healthier choice for your doggie.
Customized Options
Most of these services offer customizable plans, and that’s a huge benefit, especially if you have a senior dog or one with medical issues. Most services have Board-certified Veterinary Nutritionists to ensure you get the healthiest meal plan for your dog.
Budget
Budget plays a huge part in which service to go with. While it’s not cheap, the convenience and health benefits, in most cases, outweigh the price. Some are more affordable than others, and many offer discounts when you subscribe. Only you know your budget, so try and pick one that makes the most sense for you.
Look at it this way: when you feed your dog healthy, fresh food, your dog will be, well, healthier! In turn, you’ll have fewer trips to your vet. Fresh food is better for your dog’s teeth, too. Commercial food tends to wreak havoc on a dog’s teeth, and by feeding fresh food, your dog will have fewer needs for dental cleanings, which are costly.
Conclusion
For the best overall fresh dog delivery service, we chose Nom Nom for its human-grade ingredients, discounts for multiple dogs, free shipping, and samples. For the best value, we chose Pet Plate for its human-grade ingredients, grain or grain-free options, and organic treats and supplements.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our reviews of the top ten fresh dog delivery services. We have the highest hopes that our reviews will help you make the best decision for your doggie and your budget.
Featured Image Credit: dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock