Is The Farmer’s Dog Worth It? 15 Questions Pet Owners Actually Ask (Answered Honestly)

You’ve seen the ads. Maybe a friend swears by it. Now you’re asking yourself: is The Farmer’s Dog worth it? Or is it just a premium subscription you’ll cancel after two months?

We get it. Fresh dog food is a real commitment, and the questions pile up fast.

Below are the 15 questions we hear most from dog owners before they try it, answered as clearly as we can.

The big question

1. Is The Farmer’s Dog worth it?

For a lot of dogs, yes. For every dog? Not necessarily.

The Farmer’s Dog delivers fresh, pre-portioned meals made with real ingredients you can actually read on a label. Owners with dogs who have digestive issues, skin problems, or picky appetites tend to see the most noticeable changes: shinier coat, firmer stools, more consistent energy.

That said, a well-formulated kibble can still give a healthy adult dog everything they need at a fraction of the price. The Farmer’s Dog is a quality upgrade, not a requirement.

If you are already spending on supplements, vet visits related to digestion, or premium kibble, the price gap often shrinks more than you’d expect.

Want to see how it went for a real dog? Read our hands-on experience trying The Farmer's Dog.

Cost and value

2. How much does The Farmer’s Dog cost?

It depends almost entirely on your dog’s size and calorie needs. Based on our February 2026 testing across dozens of breed, weight, and age combinations, here is what adult dogs typically run per day:

Weekly costs range from about $16 to $187 depending on size. Large and giant breed owners often find the mixed feeding plan more practical since it cuts daily costs roughly in half.

Puppies under 6 months cost noticeably more due to higher growth-related calorie needs. A 2-month-old medium puppy can run $14 to $18 per day. Pricing generally comes down to adult levels by 6 to 8 months as weight becomes the dominant pricing factor. For the full week and month breakdown, see our Farmer’s Dog cost article

3. Is there a way to make it more affordable?

Yes. A few options worth knowing:

• The mixed feeding plan replaces only part of the meal, cutting daily costs significantly
• The first box discount is currently 50% off with no promo code needed
• Protein choice has a small effect on price. Turkey, beef, chicken, and pork all produce minor differences at the same weight
• The Pro Athlete activity selection increases pricing. Other activity levels produce minimal differences
• If budget is a real barrier, Ollie and Nom Nom offer similar fresh food at slightly different price points

What’s actually in it

4. What ingredients does The Farmer’s Dog use?

Every recipe starts with a named protein: beef, chicken, turkey, or pork. From there, you get vegetables like sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, spinach, or broccoli depending on the recipe, plus a nutrient mix that rounds out AAFCO requirements.

No fillers. No artificial preservatives. No by-products hiding behind vague ingredient names. The full ingredient list for every recipe is publicly available on their website, which matters a lot for owners managing dogs with known allergies.

5. Is it cooked or raw?

Cooked. The Farmer’s Dog gently cooks their meals at lower temperatures to preserve nutrients without the bacterial risk that comes with raw food.

This puts it in a different category from raw diets entirely. Raw feeding requires more careful handling and is not appropriate for all households, especially those with young children or immunocompromised family members.

6. Is the food actually human-grade?

Yes, and this one is worth understanding properly.

“Human-grade” is a regulated term in the pet food industry. It means both the ingredients and the production facility meet standards for human consumption. Most commercial pet food, including expensive kibble, does not qualify.

The Farmer’s Dog produces their meals in USDA-certified kitchens using ingredients sourced from restaurant suppliers and local farms. That distinction is a meaningful part of what drives the price.

Health and safety

7. Do vets recommend The Farmer’s Dog?

Some do, some don’t, and both positions are reasonable.

Vets who support it tend to recommend it for dogs with chronic digestive issues, food sensitivities, or conditions where ingredient control matters. Vets who are more cautious often point out that balanced kibble is adequate for most healthy dogs and that the research base for fresh food is still growing.

Neither side is wrong. It depends on your dog’s specific health picture, and it is always worth a quick conversation with your vet before switching.

8. Is The Farmer’s Dog safe?

Yes, with normal handling.

Meals arrive frozen and should stay frozen until a few days before use. Because there are no artificial preservatives, thawed portions need to be refrigerated and used within four days. The company has a strong safety record and produces food in USDA-certified facilities.

9. Can puppies eat The Farmer’s Dog?

Yes. They offer puppy-specific plans formulated for growth with higher protein and calorie targets. Just be prepared for the cost: puppy pricing is significantly higher in the early months because calorie needs during growth are much greater than adult dogs of the same size.

For large breed puppies, confirm calcium and phosphorus requirements with your vet before making any switch.

10. Can it help with allergies or sensitive stomachs?

Often, yes. This is one of the most common reasons owners make the switch.

Short, clearly labeled ingredient lists make it much easier to identify and eliminate whatever is triggering a reaction. Dogs who have cycled through multiple kibble brands without improvement sometimes do significantly better once fillers and common allergens are out of the picture.

Results vary and it is not a guarantee. But the ingredient transparency alone makes troubleshooting a lot more manageable.

Practical questions

11. How does the subscription work?

You fill out a profile for your dog covering age, weight, activity level, and health goals. The Farmer’s Dog builds a customized meal plan from there. Meals arrive pre-portioned in individual packs, labeled with your dog’s name and daily serving size already figured out for you.

Deliveries come on a schedule you set. You can adjust frequency, pause, or cancel before the next shipment through your account.

12. How do I transition my dog onto it?

Slowly. Give it 7 to 10 days.

Start by mixing a small amount of the fresh food into your dog’s current food, then gradually increase the ratio over the week. Jumping straight to 100% fresh food often causes loose stools, not because the food is a problem but because any rapid diet change upsets digestion. Most dogs adjust without drama if you take your time.

13. Is it easy to cancel?

Yes. You can pause or cancel directly through your account before the next shipment processes. No phone call required.

Comparisons and downsides

14. How does The Farmer’s Dog compare to Ollie?

Both are solid fresh food brands and the comparison comes up constantly.

The Farmer’s Dog tends to be more streamlined in terms of recipe options and portion customization. Ollie offers a few more recipe varieties and can be competitively priced for medium and large dogs depending on the plan.

Neither is clearly better across the board. It usually comes down to which formulas work for your specific dog and which subscription structure fits your routine.

15. What are the real downsides?

Here is the honest version:

• Cost is the biggest one. Small dogs are manageable, but large and giant breeds can run $70 to $187 per week, which is a serious budget commitment
• Freezer space is a real logistical consideration. A month of meals for a 60-pound dog takes up meaningful room
• Subscription dependency means you need to stay on top of your delivery schedule. There is no backup bag to grab at a store if you run out
• Puppy pricing surprises a lot of people. A medium puppy at 2 months can cost over $14 a day before dropping to adult rates later

None of these are dealbreakers for the right household. But they are worth naming before you commit.

Who it actually makes sense for

The Farmer’s Dog tends to be a good fit if:

• Your dog has a sensitive stomach or diagnosed food allergies
• You have a picky eater who has gone through multiple foods
• You want short, transparent ingredient lists with no guesswork
• You have a small or medium dog where the daily cost stays manageable
• You are already spending on supplements or digestive aids
• It is probably not the right fit if:
• You have a large or giant breed and a tight monthly budget
• Your freezer space is limited
• Your dog is already doing well on a food that works

Final take

The Farmer’s Dog is a genuinely good product. The ingredients are clean, the portions are accurate, and a lot of dogs do noticeably better on it.

Whether it is worth it comes down to your dog’s needs and your household’s budget. For dogs with sensitivities or owners who want real ingredient transparency, it is hard to find a more convenient version of fresh feeding. For healthy dogs on a budget, a quality kibble still gets the job done.

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