Nom Nom vs. The Farmer’s Dog vs. Ollie: What are the Best Dog Food Subscription Services?

The time has come to start investing more in dog food for your playful pup. Quality, human grade dog food is the healthiest choice for your furry friend. Why? Sometimes, inexpensive, store-bought kibble is riddled with additives and preservatives. Fresh food from dog food subscription services helps your furry friend live a long, happy life.

Dog food subscription service companies like The Farmer’s Dog, Nom Nom and Ollie are known for their high-quality products. Of course, doing research is the way to go to pick the right dog food subscription service for you. We’ll make your life a little easier and give you the pros and cons of these three dog food description services.

10 Qualities of the Best Dog Food Subscription Services

Dog food subscription services are typically more expensive than your basic store bought kibble. It’s smart to invest in dog food subscription services because in the long run, your dog will be healthier and happier. But what are the qualities that make the best dog food subscription service stand out? Let’s take a look.

1. High-Quality Ingredients

The most common theme with dog food subscription services is their use of high-quality ingredients. They also use human-grade ingredients, as well as being free from chicken meal fillers, artificial colors, preservatives and additives. Lastly, all of their ingredients are usually sourced from local farmers or reputable suppliers.

2. Personalization

One of the best things about using a dog food subscription service is personalized meal plans. Based on your dog’s breed, age, size, weight, activity level and health needs, they’ll personalize a meal plan just for them. Furthermore, if your dog suffers from allergies or specific dietary requirements, the meal plan adheres to those dietary restrictions.

3. Nutritional Balance

With the help and review of veterinary nutritionists, dog food subscription services typically have a high nutritional standard for their meals. They’re complete and balanced — meeting the standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

4. Transparency

Many dog food subscription services are transparent about where their ingredients are sourced. They’re honest about labeling and very clear about the nutritional benefits of their meals.

5. Convenience

Dog food subscription services are convenient. They scheduled the deliveries, either once per week or once per month, so you don’t have to worry about running out of food (of course, you do need to follow the meal plan to avoid running out). Meals also come pre portioned, so you don’t have to worry about how much food to give your dog.

6. Freshness

Dog food subscription services tout that their meals are fresh and never frozen during transport. When the food is delivered, it is done so in a way where it maintains quality and nutritional value.

7. Customer Support and Expertise

Dog food subscription companies tend to be smaller businesses that strive for reliable customer service. Representatives provide advice or answer questions you have.

8. Sustainability

Most often, dog food subscription services strive for sustainability. They provide eco-friendly packaging that is recyclable, compostable or biodegradable.

9. Variety and Flavor Options

The best dog food subscription services have a diverse product range, offering a variety of flavors, proteins and textures so that your dog loves its meals. They also include options for a variety of dietary needs.

10. User-Friendly Experience

Lastly, the best dog food subscription services have an easy sign-up process on their website that isn’t lengthy or a hassle. They also have customer reviews so that you can decide based on other pet owners’ experiences whether these dog food subscription services are going to make your dog happy and healthy.

Background on The Farmer’s Dog

Established in 2014 by Brett Podolsky and Jonathan Regev, The Farmer’s Dog was founded because Brett’s dog, Jada, suffered from severe digestive issues. He desperately wanted to help her but no dog food brand was helping, so he decided to start his own.

Brett and Jonathan started The Farmer’s Dog with the intention of making fresh, high-quality dog food. Their subscription service is available all over the country with a nationwide delivery system.

What are some key values of The Farmer’s Dog?

• Bass their meals on pet nutrition research that has been compiled over decades.
• Collaborates with the best pet nutritionists in the country.
• Seeks assistance with veterinarians on an ongoing basis.
• Makes human grade food that is complete and nutritionally balanced.

The Farmer’s Dog Pros and Cons

Pros

• High-Quality Ingredients: The Farmer’s Dog uses fresh, human-grade meat and vegetables. It is also free from by-products and preservatives, and uses no chicken meals, which can be sourced from diseased animals.
• Customized Meal Plans: The Farmer’s Dog tailors meals based on your dog’s age, breed, size and specific dietary needs. It also provides pre-portioned meals.
• Fantastic Health Benefits: All recipes are approved by vet nutritionists. They are also balanced and complete, with dogs experiencing better digestion, shinier coats and healthier skin. And yes, smaller, less messy poops due to better nutrient absorption.
• Convenience: The Farmer’s Dog has regularly scheduled deliveries to your doorstep. Over 100,000,000 meals have been delivered.
• Transparency: The Farmer’s Dog lists all ingredients and nutritional information and provides information on the foods’ sources.
• Eco-Friendliness: The Farmer’s Dog uses recyclable and eco-friendly materials for packaging. They are also committed to being sustainable.

Cons

• Cost: The Farmer’s Dog is more expensive than traditional dog food brands and requires a subscription.
• Storage Requirements: All meals require refrigeration, which means if you have limited fridge and freezer space, it will be a problem.

Background on Ollie

Ollie started off as a dog food company with one goal: to make sure that dogs ate nutritious food that was healthy and fresh. But Ollie wants to do more than just provide healthy and nutritious food — in fact they just released a dog-friendly ice cream that is quite popular among the pet community. This is just one example of how Ollie cares about dogs’ health and happiness.

What are some key values of Ollie?

• Seeks the guidance of the best pet health nutritionists out there.
• Ingredients are human-grade and made in kitchens.
• Recipes are packed with quality foods — proteins, vegetables, grains and fruits.
• Strives to ensure that all dogs have visible results in their health inside and out.

Ollie Pros and Cons

Pros

• High-Quality Ingredients: Ollie uses fresh, human-grade proteins and vegetables (from their facilities in Minnesota). It’s also free from artificial fillers, by-products and preservatives.
• Personalized Meal Plans: Ollie personalizes all meals based on your dog’s age, breed, size and specific dietary needs. Every meal is pre-portioned to ensure your pup gets the proper serving sizes.
• Health Benefits: All of Ollie’s recipes are designed and approved by vet nutritionists so they’re nutritious and balanced. Dogs experience better digestion, as well as shinier coats and healthier skin.
• Convenience: Ollie has regularly scheduled deliveries right to your doorstep, which is convenient if you have a busy life. Also, your dog’s meals are easy to store in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Sustainability: Ollie is eco-friendly and sustainable, which is why they use recyclable materials for packaging and is committed to sustainability.

Cons

• Cost: Ollie is more expensive than traditional dog food brands and even other subscription services.
• Storage Requirements: All meals should be refrigerated, which may be inconvenient if you don’t have much fridge or freezer space.
• Delivery Issues: If there are delivery delays (which may or may not be Ollie’s fault), it can lead to problems if you run out of food.

Background on Nom Nom

Nom Nom was founded in 2014 in a San Francisco apartment kitchen. The people that founded Nom Nom had a dog that they wanted to make sure grew up happy and healthy. The company has delivered over 3 million boxes to customers throughout the country. They have kitchens in California and Nashville.

Nom Nom collaborates with veterinary nutritionists so that their food is fresh, nutritious and healthy for all dogs. Besides kitchens, they have research labs to ensure all ingredients and formulas created are the healthiest for dogs. Besides the subscription services they offer, Nom Nom is also available in select pet stores.

Nom Nom Pros and Cons

Pros

• High-Quality Ingredients: Nom Nom uses fresh, human grade ingredients. There are no additives or artificial preservatives added, as well. All of this ensures that your dog gets a nutritional balance with their meals.
• Personalization: Each of Nom Nom’s meal plans is personalized to fit your dog’s age, breed, size, weight and health needs. There are also specific dietary options.
• Convenience: Nom Nom delivers automatically on a timely basis so you’ll never run out of food.
• Transparency and Sustainability: Nom Nom also provides detailed information about where the ingredients are sourced and uses sustainable packaging.

Cons

• Cost: Nom Nom is more expensive than traditional store bought kibble or canned food.
• Availability: There may be a lack of availability throughout the country and only in certain regions of the United States, which can limit accessibility for some dog owners.
• Storage Requirements: Nom Nom meals require refrigeration, so if you have limited storage space in your fridge or freezer, that may be a problem.

Wrapping Up!

And there you have it, that’s how Nom Nom, The Farmer’s Dog, and Ollie compare to one another. All three dog food subscription services offer nutritious and fresh dog food for their customers.

Because they both provide fresh and nutritious food, it’s hard to say which dog food company is better. When it comes to costs, The Farmer’s Dog starts at $2 a day for small dogs, Ollie starts at $4 a day for small dogs, and Nom Nom starts at $2.40 per day.

The bottom line is that after comparing each company, the ultimate decision and which to pick is all yours. You know your dog better than anyone and you’ll be the one paying for the dog food. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your dog is happy and healthy.

When your dog is being transported, healthy food and plenty of water is extremely important. The dog-loving transporters on CitizenShipper have experience with feeding and storing fresh food while on the road. If you need to transport a dog, look no further than our #1-rated dog transportation marketplace.

Disclaimer: CitizenShipper is a partner of The Farmer’s Dog and may earn commissions by referring customers.