The best fresh dog food features gently cooked, whole-food ingredients, often conveniently delivered to your door, and represents a wonderful option for pet owners wanting nutritious meals for their dogs. While fresh food offers convenience, experts at FOODS.EDU.VN emphasize that it is not always superior to traditional kibble or canned options. However, selecting the right brand can significantly enhance your dog’s diet. To delve deeper into the benefits and options, explore the resources available at FOODS.EDU.VN for exceptional insights into pet nutrition and culinary trends.
1. Our Top Choices for Superior Fresh Dog Food
Our primary recommendations include:
- Best Overall: JustFoodForDogs Fresh Frozen Dog Food
- Best Runner-Up: Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food
1.1. Best Overall: JustFoodForDogs Fresh Frozen Dog Food
JustFoodForDogs distinguishes itself with six gently cooked recipes, assorted variety packs, seasonal specials, and limited-time offerings, all grounded in robust research.
Pros:
- Diverse recipe selections
- Three grain-inclusive alternatives
- Supported by research and feeding trials
- Complies with WSAVA and AAFCO standards
- Available at major retailers such as Chewy, Amazon, and Petco
- Customized dietary plans available
Cons:
- Limited selection of all-life-stages recipes
- Inability to combine multiple recipes in one box
- Necessity to measure portions
- Texture of certain recipes resembles canned food
JustFoodForDogs excels by adhering to the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, ensuring both safety and nutritional excellence. The company’s dedication to nutritional research and digestibility testing sets it apart.
With a variety of protein options at competitive prices, JustFoodForDogs leads in fresh dog food delivery. It meets WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, recommending a full-time veterinary nutritionist or doctorate-level animal nutritionist. These guidelines boost pet food safety and nutritional value, says Dr. Emily Luisana, veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals. Furthermore, JustFoodForDogs does feeding trials to confirm its food’s nutrition and digestibility, rare in the fresh pet food sector.
JustFoodForDogs provides six Fresh Frozen recipes, half with grains. Chicken and fish recipes suit all life stages, from pups to adults, while turkey, beef, venison, and lamb are for adult dogs. You can also find recipes for sensitive stomachs and joint health, seasonal specials, and prescription diets from in-house veterinary nutritionists. Food comes in 18-ounce pouches in small (7.8 pounds), medium (23.5 pounds), or large (31.5 pounds) boxes. Thaw each package overnight in the fridge and use within five days of opening. You’ll need to portion out servings, which is a minor issue.
My dog enjoyed both JustFoodForDogs Fresh Frozen recipes. I tested Beef & Russet Potato and Lamb & Brown Rice. Though picky, my dog loved both. However, the food’s consistency resembled canned food. Dr. Korinn Saker, clinical nutrition professor at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, explains that fresh dog food is made with whole ingredients, gently cooked, and then frozen to retain freshness. The food’s texture, whether ground or whole, doesn’t change its quality, but might not suit those wanting to see individual ingredients in their dog’s bowl.
To start with JustFoodForDogs, use their feeding calculator for recipe and portion advice based on your dog’s age, weight, allergies, and more. You can order from JustFoodForDogs or retailers like Chewy, Petco, and Amazon, all offering auto-shipping discounts.
1.2. Best Runner-Up: Nom Nom Fresh Dog Food
Nom Nom offers pre-portioned, ready-to-serve fresh meals, complemented by an attractive two-week trial.
Pros:
- Recipes for all life stages
- Convenient, pre-portioned meals
- Complies with WSAVA and AAFCO guidelines
- Easy to navigate website and simple signup process
- Available at Chewy and Petsmart
Cons:
- Limited to four recipes
- Only one grain-inclusive alternative
- Selection limited to two recipes
- Food can be dry
- Excessive packaging waste
Nom Nom stands out due to its user-friendly website and easy registration. Aside from WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, the brand conducts research to ensure the food’s effectiveness.
For medium-sized dogs, Nom Nom subscriptions cost about the same daily as JustFoodForDogs. Nom Nom’s prices are higher for small dogs than JustFoodForDogs. Nom Nom didn’t win due to its limited protein options: chicken, beef, turkey, and pork, with only turkey being grain-inclusive. You can pick up to two recipes for your dog. However, the recipes suit all life stages, even puppies.
I gave my dog pork, chicken, and turkey recipes. She favored pork and turkey over chicken, eating them quickly. I found the food can be dry, especially when not eaten immediately. While dryness isn’t a nutritional issue, food left out can be. Dr. Teresa Morishita, poultry medicine and food safety professor at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, says fresh dog food risks spoiling if left out for hours, so toss it if your dog doesn’t finish. See my full Nom Nom dog food review for more.
Nom Nom’s two-week trial is great for trying one of the best fresh dog foods, or you can order a sampler pack. Chewy and Petsmart also sell individual packages, but lack preportioned servings.
2. Additional Brands We Evaluated
Other brands evaluated but ranked lower:
The Farmer’s Dog meets AAFCO and WSAVA standards but offers fewer recipes than our top two options.
PetPlate, Ollie, and Open Farm were satisfactory; however, none employs a full-time veterinary nutritionist or a PhD-level nutrition expert, essential for selecting the best dog foods.
2.1. The Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog is a reputable fresh dog food company providing customized portions of four grain-free recipes.
Pros:
- Recipes for all life stages
- Complies with WSAVA and AAFCO guidelines
- Easy to serve
- Choice of up to 3 recipes
Cons:
- Limited grain-inclusive recipe
- Difficult website navigation
Founded in 2014, The Farmer’s Dog is among the first fresh dog food subscription services, distinguished by its customized portions. You only need to thaw and serve the exact food amount your dog requires. At signup, select up to five all-life-stages recipes (chicken and grain, beef, turkey, chicken, pork). The Farmer’s Dog recently added a grain-inclusive option, to be tested in spring 2025.
The Farmer’s Dog meets all WSAVA guidelines, but some claims on its website suggest fresh food beats shelf-stable kibble and wet food, lacking sufficient evidence.
You must complete the signup questionnaire and give your email to learn about The Farmer’s Dog recipes. My full The Farmer’s Dog review offers more details. This seems unnecessary, as other brands provide accessible recipe information.
2.2. PetPlate
PetPlate stands out as the only fresh dog food service that lets you order all six recipes in your subscription.
Pros:
- Broad recipe selection
- Any recipe combination is available
- Four grain-inclusive recipes
- Simple to serve
- Food formulated for all life stages
Cons:
- Portions must be measured
- Strong food odor
- More expensive than other brands
- Does not meet all WSAVA guidelines
PetPlate allows any recipe combination in your dog’s meal plan, unlike JustFoodForDogs and Nom Nom. Saker says variety isn’t crucial if the same nutritional value is provided each meal. Some, however, like to try different recipes. You can order smaller portions to supplement kibble instead of a full meal plan.
PetPlate does not meet all WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines like JustFoodForDogs and Nom Nom. Its food is made in co-manufacturer-owned facilities. The company lacks a full-time animal nutrition expert, but recipes are by Dr. Renee Streeter, a veterinary nutritionist and PetPlate consultant.
I like accessing a detailed feeding guide via your PetPlate account for each recipe you choose. The guide covers portioning, storing, and heating, which is useful because our dog prefers warm food. My dog tried Lip Lickin’ Lamb and Tail Waggin’ Turkey, enjoying both, but I added broth to keep her interested in the last half of the trial.
PetPlate arrives in 20-ounce containers. Portion measuring was easy, but preportioned packages would be better. If you’re odor-sensitive, this isn’t the best service, as the food smells strong, but my dog didn’t mind.
2.3. Ollie
Ollie provides a variety of recipes, offering the flexibility to combine any four in a plan, though it is among the costliest fresh dog foods.
Pros:
- Large recipe variety
- Up to 4 recipes can be selected
- Three grain-inclusive recipes
- Storage container and serving scoop included
- Food formulated for all life stages
Cons:
- Does not meet all WSAVA guidelines
- More expensive than other services
Ollie sells its fresh dog food exclusively through subscription, offering recipe variety, an easy-to-follow feeding guide, a storage container, and a scooper. With a subscription, select up to four of five all-life-stages recipes, including three grain-inclusive options.
Ollie is similar to PetPlate in customization and variety but more expensive. To save money, subscribe to smaller portions to supplement kibble. Like PetPlate, Ollie consults with two board-certified veterinary nutritionists instead of employing a full-time nutrition expert, not meeting WSAVA guidelines.
Ollie recently added health screening services that may seem like a nice bonus, but veterinarians advise against these virtual screenings. Your vet should evaluate your pet’s weight or stool consistency concerns.
2.4. Open Farm
Open Farm distinguishes itself with transparent and ethical ingredient sourcing.
Pros:
- Ethically sourced ingredients
- Subscription is not required
Cons:
- Limited to two grain-inclusive options
- Does not meet all WSAVA guidelines
- Cannot add multiple recipes to a box
- Portions must be measured
- Most expensive fresh dog food
Open Farm is a Certified B corp that is an ethical and sustainable alternative to traditional pet food. Depending on the recipe, certifications from Certified Humane, Global Animal Partnership, and Ocean Wise may be present, and you can view each food’s ingredients’ sources on its product page. Open Farm also uses the TerraCycle program, though you must save and ship used packaging for recycling to benefit.
Open Farm’s Gently Cooked fresh food includes seven recipes: one for puppies, four for adult dogs, and two grain-inclusive recipes for all life stages. The recipes are sold by the box (8 lbs. or 16 lbs.) on the Open Farm website and at US pet stores. Though meal plans and subscriptions aren’t offered, auto-ship gets you a 5% discount.
Open Farm consults with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist like PetPlate and Ollie, but doesn’t employ a full-time nutrition expert.
3. Essential Factors in Selecting Fresh Dog Food
When selecting optimal food for your dog, veterinarians highlight these considerations:
3.1. AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement
Always check for the AAFCO statement on pet food labels, confirming the food is complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage. This means it meets the minimum recommended nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Foods are labeled for maintenance (adult dogs over 1 year), growth (dogs under a year, pregnant, and lactating dogs), or all life stages (any age).
A food’s label should also include a guaranteed analysis, listing the minimum percentages of protein and fat. AAFCO’s protein minimums are 22.5% for puppies and 18% for adults, and fat minimums are 8.5% for puppies and 5.5% for adults. Brands may also list vitamin and omega-3 fatty acid percentages, but it’s not required.
3.2. WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
The WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods guide you to pet food from a manufacturer that meets high-quality control standards. Vets recommend purchasing food from companies meeting these guidelines, which include food formulation and manufacturing best practices. WSAVA also cautions against marketing terms like “holistic,” “natural,” and “free of fillers,” which are not based on regulated standards and don’t ensure higher quality.
3.3. Recipe Variety
Seek brands offering a range of protein options and grain-inclusive recipes. Ideally, look for at least four different protein options, as some dogs are sensitive to chicken and beef.
Though grain-free dog food has been heavily marketed, the question of whether a grain-free diet increases the risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious heart disease, remains. Many veterinarians recommend a grain-inclusive diet until more is known about the DCM-grain-free food relationship. Always ask your vet if any food you’re considering is best for your dog.
3.4. Healthy Extras
Experts say fresh food isn’t better than dry and canned food simply because it’s cooked whole. Many fresh dog foods add fish oil and probiotics, which offer health benefits. The best fish oil for dogs includes omega-3 fatty acids, supporting heart and joint health, while the best probiotics for dogs aid in digestion.
3.5. Ease of Ordering and Feeding Instructions
Fresh dog food delivery signup should be straightforward. At a minimum, brands should ask about your pet’s age, weight, activity level, sex, spaying/neutering status, and food sensitivities. Saker suggests avoiding brands skipping these questions, useful for determining the proper nutrition profile. Whether meals are preportioned, the company should give detailed feeding instructions, ideally on the packaging.
3.6. Cost
The finest fresh dog food is considerably more expensive than other pet foods. Initial orders often have big discounts, so read the fine print to know the cost of future shipments.
3.7. Customer Service
Reaching customer service for order questions or concerns should be easy. Services with phone, chat, and email support are most convenient.
3.8. Shipping and Delivery Notifications
Shipping and delivery notifications help you track your pet’s food. As fresh food spoils if thawed, delivery notifications are key.
3.9. Packaging
Vacuum-sealed containers suit fresh dog food best. All tested brands package food in vacuum-sealed containers. Also, consider how the food is kept frozen during shipping. Foods packed in dry ice stayed completely frozen, while ice packs sometimes allowed thawing before unpacking. Don’t feed thawed or room-temperature food to your dog. Contact customer service instead.
3.10. Sustainability
I looked at each brand’s sustainability efforts amid growing climate change concerns. Some recyclable packaging, usually insulation, was present. However, most brands package food in non-recyclable plastic, which isn’t ideal. Also, find brands committed to climate neutrality and lowering carbon emissions.
4. In-Depth Examination: How We Selected Our Leading Fresh Dog Food
Before choosing fresh dog food brands for testing, I ensured each company’s recipes met AAFCO standards and most or all of WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines recommended by vets.
I focused on testing six brands for at least one week each. This is a short trial period, but two years ago, other Insider Reviews reporters tested JustFoodForDogs, PetPlate, Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog, and Nom Nom, with positive experiences.
The pet food experts I interviewed described fresh food manufacturing and provided insights on selecting nutritious recipes. My sources are Dr. Emily Luisana, a veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals; Dr. Teresa Morishita, a professor of poultry medicine and food safety at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine; and Dr. Korinn Saker, a board-certified veterinarian and associate professor of clinical nutrition at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
5. Common Questions About Fresh Dog Food
5.1. What Constitutes the Best Quality Fresh Dog Food?
The finest fresh dog food lacks a universal definition. Experts advise ensuring any food meets AAFCO and WSAVA standards, which evaluate animal nutritional needs and set quality control best practices.
Still, vet approval is vital. They know what suits your dog and can ensure a brand’s recommendations meet your dog’s caloric and nutritional needs. “It’s important to remember that many nutritional considerations exist beyond labels like ‘fresh’ or ‘kibble,’ such as nutrient content and food safety,” says Luisana.
Morishita notes that the best fresh dog food must be safely handled and nutritionally sound. Food safety is paramount during production, so select brands with high-quality assurance, following FDA regulations for pet food. Morishita adds that consumers must also safely handle pet food, keeping it in the fridge or freezer until feeding, cleaning all surfaces the food touches, and not leaving it out to spoil. She suggests treating your pet’s fresh food like your own, as pets aren’t immune to spoiled food, even if fresh.
5.2. Do Veterinarians Typically Advocate for Homemade Dog Food?
Luisana states, “Homemade foods may be recommended for pets with unique medical needs where few or no commercial options exist,” also noting personal preference. She advises against homemade food without vet approval. “The key thing about homemade diets is that they’re hard to get right and easy to get wrong,” she says. If making your dog’s food, do so under guidance from your vet and a veterinary nutritionist.
The premier fresh dog food is a compromise for those wanting something besides kibble or canned food. The companies listed formulate foods with animal nutrition experts, ensuring complete and balanced nutrition.
5.3. Are Dog Food Subscriptions a Worthwhile Investment?
This depends. The best dog food delivery services ease shopping for and preparing your dog’s food. Fresh food might entice picky eaters to clean their bowls. However, these services are costly and require forethought, like thawing packages in the fridge overnight. Choosing the best food for your dog depends on the nutrient profile and your dog’s needs, not whether it’s fresh or shelf-stable.
5.4. Is It Advisable to Include Raw Food in My Dog’s Diet?
Some tout the supposed advantages of raw dog food diets, but they can be hazardous. Raw food may increase your dog’s risk of bacterial infections and nutritional deficiency. Morishita says raw food contains bacteria typically killed during cooking, threatening your pet and causing cross-contamination. Cooked fresh or processed foods are safer.
For more insights on fresh dog food and optimal pet nutrition, visit FOODS.EDU.VN, where a wealth of expert advice and culinary explorations await. Discover recipes, nutritional tips, and much more to enrich your knowledge and choices.
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FAQ: What Is The Best Fresh Dog Food?
- What exactly is fresh dog food?
Fresh dog food consists of whole, unprocessed ingredients like meats, vegetables, and grains, cooked gently to retain nutrients and flavor. It typically avoids artificial preservatives and additives, providing a more natural diet option for dogs. - How does fresh dog food compare to kibble?
Fresh dog food differs from kibble in its composition and processing. Kibble is highly processed and often contains fillers and artificial additives, whereas fresh food uses whole ingredients and gentle cooking methods, preserving more natural nutrients. - What are the key benefits of feeding my dog fresh food?
Key benefits include improved digestion, increased energy levels, healthier skin and coat, and potentially better weight management. The high-quality ingredients in fresh dog food can also support a stronger immune system. - How do I choose the best fresh dog food brand?
Consider factors like ingredient quality, nutritional balance, adherence to AAFCO standards, customer reviews, and whether the brand employs veterinary nutritionists. Look for brands that are transparent about their sourcing and manufacturing processes. - Can fresh dog food help with specific health issues?
Yes, fresh dog food can be tailored to address health issues like allergies, digestive problems, or weight management. Some brands offer specialized recipes formulated for specific conditions. - What ingredients should I avoid in fresh dog food?
Avoid artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, as well as excessive fillers like corn and soy. Be cautious of ingredients that your dog may be allergic to, such as certain proteins or grains. - How do I transition my dog to a fresh food diet?
Gradually introduce fresh food by mixing it with your dog’s current food over a period of 7-10 days. Start with a small amount of fresh food and gradually increase the proportion to avoid digestive upset. - What Is The Best Fresh Dog Food for small breeds?
For small breeds, choose fresh food that is specifically formulated to meet their higher metabolic needs and smaller mouth sizes. Look for recipes with small, easy-to-chew pieces. - How should I store fresh dog food?
Fresh dog food should be stored in the refrigerator and used within a few days of opening. Some brands offer frozen options that can be stored longer and thawed as needed. - Is fresh dog food more expensive than other options?
Yes, fresh dog food is generally more expensive than kibble due to the higher quality ingredients and preparation methods. However, many owners find the health benefits justify the cost.
