Our dog has experienced digestive issues in the past and she is currently on prescription dog food. While the prescription food is helping her, we have considered that it would be better for her to consume fresher food. The only issue with this is finding the time to prepare the food she needs to keep her healthy and get the nutrients she needs on a daily basis. This is where dog food delivery services come in.
This post will look at what a dog food delivery service is, the benefits to using one, how to choose the best dog food delivery service to meet both you and your dog’s needs, how to schedule and manage your delivery, examples of popular dog food delivery services available, and tips on transitioning your dog to a new food.
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Related: Dog Subscription Box For Heavy Chewers – A Comparison
What Is A Dog Food Delivery Service?
A dog food delivery service brings fresh, healthy meals right to your door. These companies make it easy to feed your pup high-quality food without the hassle of shopping or cooking. You simply sign up online, answer some questions about your dog, and start receiving regular deliveries of nutritious meals.
What Are The Benefits Of Dog Food Delivery Services?
Dog food delivery services offer many advantages for pet parents. You can save time and effort by having food shipped right to your door. No more trips to the store or lugging heavy bags.
These services often provide fresh, high-quality ingredients. Many use human-grade meats, vegetables, and grains. This can mean better nutrition for your pup.
Customization is another plus. You can often tailor meals to your dog’s needs. This includes factors like age, weight, and health issues.
Portion control becomes easier too. Many services pre-portion meals. This helps prevent overfeeding and supports weight management.
You’ll have more variety in your dog’s diet. These services typically offer multiple recipes. This can keep mealtime interesting for picky eaters.
Subscribing can help you stick to a feeding schedule. Regular deliveries mean you’re less likely to run out of food.
Some services offer expert guidance. You might get access to nutritionists or vets. They can help you choose the best food for your dog.
For your convenience, you can set up auto-deliveries and adjust as needed. This frees up time for other activities with your pup.
How Do I Choose The Right Dog Food Delivery Service For My Pup?
Choosing a dog food delivery service involves considering your pup’s needs, your budget, and the quality of ingredients. Making an informed choice ensures your dog gets proper nutrition.
Assess Your Dog’s Dietary Needs
Think about your dog’s age, size, and health issues. Puppies need more calories than adult dogs. Large breeds have different needs than small ones.
Does your dog have allergies or sensitivities? Look for services that offer special diets. Some companies make custom meals based on your dog’s profile.
Ask your veterinarian for advice on what nutrients your dog needs. They can help you find the right balance of protein, fat, and carbs.
Compare Subscription Models
Look at how often each service delivers food. Weekly or monthly options are common. Pick one that fits your schedule and storage space, as you will need to store the food in the refrigerator or freezer.
Check if you can pause or change your plan easily. This helps if you travel or your dog’s needs change.
Compare prices and portion sizes. Figure out which gives you the best value for your money.
Understand Ingredient Quality
Read the ingredient lists carefully. Look for whole foods like real meat, vegetables, and fruits. Avoid meals with lots of fillers or by-products.
Check where the ingredients come from. U.S.-sourced foods often have stricter safety rules. Some services use organic or non-GMO items.
See if the food is made fresh or frozen. Fresh foods may have more nutrients, but frozen can last longer. Both can be good choices.
Look for foods that meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards. This means they provide complete nutrition for dogs.
How Do I Set Up My Dog Food Delivery Schedule?
Choosing the right delivery schedule for your dog’s food is important. It keeps your pup’s meals fresh and makes sure you never run out.
Frequency Of Deliveries
Most dog food delivery services let you choose how often you want shipments. Weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly are common options. Think about how much storage space you have and how fast your dog goes through food.
If you have a big dog or multiple dogs, you might need more frequent deliveries. Smaller dogs may do fine with monthly shipments. Some services offer custom schedules too.
Remember, you can usually change your delivery frequency later if needed. Start with what seems right and adjust as you go.
Managing Delivery Instructions
You can often set special instructions for your dog food deliveries. This helps make sure you get your order even when you’re not home.
Common options include:
- Leave at the door.
- Place in a specific spot (like “behind the planter”).
- Require a signature.
Some services let you add notes for the delivery driver. You might ask them to ring the doorbell or not, depending on your preference.
If you live in an apartment, you can usually give instructions for building access. Make sure to keep these details up to date.
Transitioning To A New Food
Switching your dog to a new food takes time and patience. A gradual transition helps prevent upset stomachs and digestive issues.
Follow this 7-day schedule to switch foods:
- Days 1-2: 75% old food, 25% new food.
- Days 3-4: 50% old food, 50% new food.
- Days 5-6: 25% old food, 75% new food.
- Day 7: 100% new food.
Watch your dog’s stools during the transition. Firm stools mean you can move to the next step. Loose stools indicate you should slow down.
Some tips for a smooth transition:
- Mix the foods well at each meal.
- Keep portion sizes consistent.
- Stick to regular feeding times.
- Provide plenty of fresh water.
If your dog refuses the new food or has ongoing digestive issues, consult your veterinarian. They may suggest a slower transition or recommend a different food.
Be patient with the process. A careful transition sets your dog up for success with their new diet. Most dogs adjust within 1-2 weeks.
Popular Dog Food Delivery Services
Here are a few examples of dog food delivery services available for you to get for your pup.
You can choose from options like fresh-cooked meals, raw diets, or even gently cooked kibble.
All dog delivery services mentioned here are compliant with AAFCO guidelines.
Prices are listed in US dollars.
Spot & Tango
- Available as Fresh or Dry (Unkibble) dog food.
- Personalized meal plan based on:
- Weight.
- Breed.
- Activity level.
- No artificial ingredients.
- Prices start at $7 per week.
- Unkibble.
- Fresh ingredients.
- Dried at low temperature.
- Crunchy.
- Beef and Barley.
- Turkey and Sweet Potato.
- Cod and Salmon.
- Chicken and brown Rice.
- Fresh.
- Fresh ingredients.
- Cooked gently.
- Soft texture.
- Pre-portioned.
- Turkey and Red Quinoa.
- Beef and Millet.
- Lamb and Brown Rice.
- Available as a food topper as well.
- Two week trial at 20% off to see if it’s for you.
- Take a quiz to see your dog’s personalized plan.
- Option to add on snacks and supplements.
- Can pause or cancel at any time.
- Unkibble meals start at $1 per day.
- Fresh meals start at $2 per day.
- All plans include free shipping.
- Snacks start at $12 per bag.
- All recipes are corn, soy, and wheat free.
The Farmer’s Dog
- Human grade meat and vegetables.
- Personalized plans.
- Meals are pre-made and pre-portioned.
- Free shipping.
- Eco friendly packaging.
- Two week trial available.
- Made fresh and quickly frozen.
- Cooked enough to get rid of pathogens.
- Plans start at $2 per day.
- Can pause, cancel, or reactivate at any time.
- Delivery options can range from 1 week to 2 months.
- Available in Turkey, Beef, or Chicken.
Ollie
- Human grade ingredients.
- Meat, fruit, vegetables, grains.
- No artificial flavors.
- No by-products.
- No fillers.
- Small dogs:
- Full fresh: $22/week.
- Mixed Bowl: $19/week.
- Half Fresh: $15/week.
- Medium dogs: 20-50 lbs.
- Full fresh: $55/week.
- Mixed bowl: $45/week. (Fresh and baked recipes)
- Half fresh: $38/week. (50% of recommended calories)
- Large dogs: 50+ lbs.
- Full fresh: $69/werk.
- Mixed bowl: $59/week.
- Half fresh: $41/week.
- Cooked at low temperatures in small batches.
- Baked; uses a low stress dry baking process to make a crunchy kibble.
- Fresh Recipes:
- Pork with apples.
- Turkey with blueberries.
- Chicken with carrots.
- Lamb with cranberries.
- Beef with sweet potatoes.
- Baked Recipes:
- Beef with sweet potatoes.
- Chicken with carrots.
PetPlate
- Human grade ingredients.
- Made in small batches and frozen.
- Fresh Cooked Full Plan.
- From $3.79/day.
- Gently cooked.
- Provides 100% of daily calories.
- Fresh Cooked Toppers.
- From $1.43/day.
- Gently cooked.
- Provides 25% of daily calories.
- Fresh Baked Plan.
- From $1.57/day.
- Gently baked.
- Provides 100% of daily calories.
- Fresh Combo Plan.
- From $2.80/day.
- 50/50 cooked and baked.
- Provides 100% of daily calories.
- Fresh Meals.
- Barkin’ Beef.
- Tail Waggin’ Turkey.
- Chompin’ Chicken.
- Lip Lickin’ Lamb.
- Power Packed Pork.
- Lean & Mean Venison.
- Fresh Baked.
- Roost Rulin’ Chicken.
- Trail Blazin’ Beef.
Darwin’s Pet
- Raw food for dogs.
- Minimally processed meals to maintain nutrients.
- No grains, fillers, hormones, or chemical preservatives.
- Defrost and feed.
- 1 meal patty = 8oz cup of dry food.
- They offer a menu consultation by phone or email for info about how much to feed your dog.
- Can lightly sautee food in a pan for 8-12 minutes.
- Food can be purchased as a “one time order” or choose the “subscribe and save” option for a savings.
- Free shipping for orders of 20 or more pounds.
- $10 flat rate shipping for orders under 20 pounds.
- Premium Line:
- Organic vegetables.
- Cage free pasture raised free range meat.
- No grains or fillers.
- Complete and balanced.
- Value Line.
- Conventionally grown vegetables.
- Conventionally raised meat.
- No fillers or grains.
- Complete and balanced.
- Beef.
- Chicken.
- Turkey.
- Chicken and beef blend.
Sundays For Dogs
- Human grade ingredients.
- Air dried food to lock in nutrients.
- No additives.
- No prep needed.
- No artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors.
- Prices can range from $1.81 per day to $9.50 per day, depending on your dog and which meal you choose.
- Offers a “subscribe and save” option for 20% off every repeat order.
- Samples are available before you buy a subscription (each sample box is 2 oz.).
- Beef.
- Chicken.
- Turkey.
Dog food delivery services provide your pup with food that is specifically made to meet their needs based on their age, weight, activity level, and any health issues they may have. Most services offer flexible delivery schedules and let you pause or cancel anytime. While these services can cost more than regular kibble, many pet parents feel the health benefits and convenience are worth it.
Please check out our other posts on Health, Indoor, Outdoor, and Travel accessories for your dog, as well as Reviews of various products and travel destinations.