The Farmer’s Dog Pros And Cons: My Honest Review

Last Updated on January 13, 2026 by Kieran Beckles

Do you want to know the pros and cons of The Farmer’s Dog before committing to their subscription service?

We decided to switch from kibble to a healthy diet for Copper and Skye and began a new search for fresh dog food brands when we moved back to the USA from the UK in 2023.

It led us to place an order with The Farmer’s Dog and try their fresh food. We have placed additional orders in 2024, 2025, and 2026 to keep this pros and cons article up to date.

I started reviewing dog food online in 2018 and have tested a wide range for my Klee Kai dogs. Skye is extremely picky, so I was interested to see her verdict on The Farmer’s Dog.

Some of the pros include great value for money, truly customised meal plans and transparent labelling, and human-grade ingredients used in a variety of recipes. However, the cons include the price compared to regular pet food and the freezer space required to store it.

If you’re a pet owner and you’re thinking about placing your first order with The Farmer’s Dog, you can discover our full pros and cons below, and learn if their fresh food passed the test.

The Farmer’s Dog Pros

Real food

The Farmer’s Dog uses human-grade ingredients in the recipes, which appealed to me. I want peace of mind knowing Copper and Skye are eating a healthy diet. They don’t use artificial additives, by-products, flavors, or preservatives. 

Skye and Copper’s digestive system appeared to thrive on The Farmer’s Dog recipes. I suspect the USDA-approved meat, vegetables and their nutrient blend were gentle on my Klee Kai’s tummies.

Gently cooked

When we first switched Copper and Skye to fresh dog food from traditional pet food, I was struck by the healthier appearance and more appetizing smell. It was clear that my Klee Kai were eating an elevated diet compared to traditional kibble or wet food, which had a strong odor.

The Farmer’s Dog gently cooks their human-grade dog food at low temperatures to preserve the ingredients’ natural nutrients and retain the real-food aroma and flavour in their recipes. This was important to me. Skye has a sensitive stomach, and the Farmer’s Dog meals were gentle on her tummy. 

When dealing with a picky eater like Skye, I believe gently cooked, minimally processed pet food helped capture her attention and encourage her to eat her fresh meals consistently. Crucially, we didn’t experience any tummy upsets during our monthly subscription with them.

Transparent labelling

One of my issues with feeding traditional dog food, such as kibble or wet food, is the confusing labeling many brands use on their packaging. I’d notice mystery ingredients in my Alaskan Klee Kai’s dog food.

When signing up for The Farmer’s Dog, they were transparent about the fresh ingredients in their recipes.

I had peace of mind knowing Copper and Skye were eating fresh dog food containing ingredients I recognised, such as beef, chicken, pork, carrots, and more. I was reminded of this each time I grabbed one of their meal pouches. 

Simple sign-up questionnaire

Pet owners are required to provide details about their dog, such as breed, weight, energy levels, health issues, and more. The Farmer’s Dog can help you work toward a goal, whether you have a dog who needs to gain weight or an overweight dog who loves to eat table scraps.

I’ve used many sign-up questionnaires while reviewing fresh dog food brands over the past years, and The Farmer’s Dog has a simple ordering process that’s easy to use, regardless of technical ability.

I’m confident most pet owners will breeze through the process without confusion or getting lost.

Pre-portioned meals

The Farmer’s Dog stood out for its pre-portioned meals. This is the biggest selling point for me. I’ve reviewed over 20 fresh dog food brands on this website and over the past eight years.

But few actually deliver on their custom, portioned packaging. The Farmer’s Dog met the brief.

Copper needs to lose weight, and Skye needs to gain weight. I was impressed to see The Farmer’s Dog label each dog’s individual meals. 

So I knew Copper and Skye were truly eating meals formulated to meet their specific needs. 

The Farmer’s Dog food pouches have a portion guideline on the packet to display how much fresh food to feed at each mealtime. It made mealtime easy.

Competitively Priced

I believe The Farmer’s Dog offers the best value of all the  fresh food companies I’ve reviewed. 

I had to pay $194.40 every 40 days. I went back to check whether there had been a price increase since the previous reviews. There was a slight rise from $193 to $194.40. 

To break that down further, Copper and Skye’s food costs $4.86 per day ($2.43 per dog).

I did a price comparison with Nom Nom. I discovered that Nom Nom is $75.56 more expensive than The Farmer’s Dog per month – that’s a saving of $906.72 each year.

Compared with Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog was $65.70 cheaper per month, or $788.40 per year.

Alaskan Klee Kai Approved

We’ve covered the technical aspects of The Farmer’s Dog, but perhaps the most important factor when feeding any human-grade dog food is whether your dogs love it!

Skye is a really fussy eater, but we had success feeding The Farmer’s Dog food to my female Alaskan Klee Kai. She showed mealtime excitement, finished most of her food, and had no digestive issues.

However, I would say Skye much preferred the beef, chicken and pork recipes. Skye didn’t like the turkey recipe. I would find most of the turkey recipe left in her bowl (and Copper finishing off Skye’s meals).

Skye’s appetite for The Farmer’s Dog did slightly decrease as the month progressed. But her brother Copper showed no signs of fatigue on their fresh dog food.

Meal container

When I first wrote this pros-and-cons article in 2023, I was critical of The Farmer’s Dog. There was no meal container included in my first box, unlike other brands.

I’m pleased to share that The Farmer’s Dog started including a meal container in 2025. This makes a significant difference if you’re storing defrosted or partially opened meal pouches in your fridge. 

The Farmer’s Dog Cons

Premium price 

Fresh dog food costs more than traditional pet food. Some dog owners may consider the premium price a con, but I believe $194.40 represents great value compared to other fresh dog food brands.

While The Farmer’s Dog is cheaper than Nom Nom, Ollie, Spot and Tango, it still costs more than regular dog food purchased at the pet store.

Only 4 proteins

The Farmer’s Dog offers only four proteins: beef, chicken, pork, and turkey. I’ve reviewed many new dog food brands in the USA and the UK. Four protein options are a decent variety, but it could be better.

I’ve tested other fresh dog food brands on Copper and Skye, alternating between up to 10 recipes! I would like to see The Farmer’s Dog introduce more options to its menu.

When I placed a new order to update this review, I realised The Farmer’s Dog offers grain and grain-free options. It was a thoughtful addition to give pet owners more flexibility.

No custom scooper

While The Farmer’s Dog includes a portion guideline on each meal pouch, I’d like a custom scooper to ensure I’m getting the exact portions for Copper and Skye. 

While I previously noted the lack of a meal container in this article, I’m delighted to share that The Farmer’s Dog now includes a container with your first order. Maybe a custom scooper could be a further addition.

Freezer space required

The Farmer’s Dog is shipped cold with dry ice in eco-friendly packaging. Once you get your first box, you’ll need to store the healthy dog food in the freezer (and some thawed pouches in the fridge).

If you have limited space, it can be a real headache, especially if you have two or more dogs eating The Farmer’s Dog.

It wasn’t a big issue for me. I’ve been reviewing fresh dog food since 2018, and I’m used to finding freezer space for dog food! But this could be a significant adjustment for pet owners who haven’t fed fresh or raw food.

Is The Farmer’s Dog Worth It?

If you’ve decided that you want to feed fresh dog food, I believe The Farmer’s Dog is worth it. They offer the best value service of any fresh dog food brand.

Copper and Skye received individual meal pouches, which made me feel like The Farmer’s Dog paid attention to my answers in the sign-up questionnaire.

They offer the best selection of fresh brands and are the most affordable. 

How We Tested The Farmer’s Dog

We have tested The Farmer’s Dog regularly since placing our first order. We typically feed Copper and Skye their fresh food for a month to see how our Klee Kai fare.

They showed a good appetite for their fresh food, especially in the first couple of weeks. We noticed their stools were slightly larger than their typical raw dog food diet.

My dogs showed good energy, their coat looked healthy, and we had no digestive issues. Skye did show some pickiness towards the end of the month with pork and turkey recipes.

Since first reviewing their service, the price hasn’t really changed. This is impressive, given that brands such as Nom Nom have raised their prices.

30-Day Feeding Results Table

Who The Farmer’s Dog Is Best For (and Who Should Skip It)

I can recognise that fresh dog food isn’t for everyone. Some pet owners may prefer to avoid fresh food or view it as an unnecessary hassle. Alternatively, some dogs may prefer other pet food formats.

✔️ Best for:

• Picky eaters like Skye, who get bored with kibble or wet food
  
• Dogs like Skye, who have sensitive stomachs
  
• Owners who want minimally processed, vet-developed meals
  
• Small or medium dogs (most cost-effective)

✖️ Not ideal for:

• Very large breeds (cost can add up quickly)
  
• Big households with limited freezer space
  
• Dogs that prefer treat-like textures or dry food
  
• Owners who don’t want to get tied into a subscription plan
  

A Day in the Life Feeding The Farmer’s Dog

If you’ve never fed fresh dog food to your pup before, you might find this guide useful.

A day in the life of feeding The Farmer’s Dog starts the night before. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got a pouch defrosted and ready to go in the morning. I had to defrost two pouches, one for Copper and one for Skye.

I feed my Alaskan Klee Kai dogs twice a day. Their breakfast is around 7am, and I grab their individual pouches from the fridge, cut off the top, and follow the portion guidelines as I empty the contents into their bowls.

Copper and Skye usually finish their meals within a couple of minutes. Copper, typically less than 60 seconds. I wash their bowls and place the partially opened meal pouches into the meal container provided by The Farmer’s Dog.

It’s a similar story in the evening when I repeat the same process. I’d usually have two defrosted meal pouches in the freezer, ready to go for both dogs.

How The Farmer’s Dog Compares To Other Brands

The Farmer’s Dog FAQ

Wrapping Up

Like any dog food brand, The Farmer’s Dog has its advantages and disadvantages, and your experience may differ from mine, since every dog is different.

Overall, we had a good experience with The Farmer’s Dog. I’ve updated this article every year since we first placed an order back in 2023. My Klee Kai have enjoyed it every time we test out their fresh dog food.

The Farmer’s Dog offers truly customized meals to meet your pet’s specific needs, and their subscription service is excellent value. However, it costs more than traditional pet food, and I’d like to see more recipe variety.

While we don’t currently feed The Farmer’s Dog (we’ve had great success with We Feed Raw), I’d recommend it if your dog prefers fresh dog food.