Home Reviews The Farmer’s Dog Review (Fresh)
By
Mike Sagman
Mike Sagman
Founder
Dr Mike Sagman is the creator of the Dog Food Advisor. He founded the website in 2008, after his unquestioning trust in commercial dog food led to the tragic death of his dog Penny.
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&
Julia Ogden
Julia Ogden
Content Director
Julia is the content director at the Dog Food Advisor and responsible for the overall strategy of the website.
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Updated: August 23, 2024
Verified by Laura Ward
Laura Ward
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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Highly Recommended
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Rating:
The Farmer’s Dog earns the Dog Food Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
In this review…
We’ll take an in-depth look at The Farmer’s Dog… and we’ll rate each of its recipes. And we’ll answer these important questions:
- What is The Farmer’s Dog? How does it work?
- Has The Farmer’s Dog been recalled?
- Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings and why?
But first…
What Is The Farmer’s Dog?
The Farmer’s Dog is a premium subscription service that produces fresh, custom-made food for your particular dog. And then delivers it… refrigerated… direct to your door.
How Does the Service Work?
First, you’ll answer a few questions about your dog’s age, weight, breed, activity level and allergies. This creates a custom feeding profile.
Next, you’ll choose a “flavor”. Set up a delivery schedule. And soon, fresh-made pet food arrives at your home, packed in dry ice.
Which Recipes Get Our Top Ratings?
The Farmer’s Dog offers four recipe options. Here’s what makes each one different.
Beef Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, sweet potatoes, cooked lentils, carrots, beef liver
- Protein: 39% (dry matter)
- Fat: 29% (dry matter)
- Carbs: 24% (est)
- Fat-to-protein ratio: 73%
Beef Recipe contains the second highest protein level in The Farmer’s Dog product line. Includes fish oil, a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids for better joint health. A top pick. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Turkey Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, spinach
- Protein: 33% (dry matter)
- Fat: 19% (dry matter)
- Carbs: 40% (est)
- Fat-to-protein ratio: 56%
Although Turkey Recipe has the lowest amount of meat protein in the brand’s offering, it also exhibits the most favorable fat-to-protein ratio. Exceptional nutrient balance. Recommended with confidence.
Rating:
Chicken Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, brussels sprouts, chicken liver, bok‐choy cabbage, broccoli
- Protein: 46% (dry matter)
- Fat: 34% (dry matter)
- Carbs: 12% (est)
- Fat-to-protein ratio: 74%
Chicken Recipe boasts the highest protein content of any product in the line… with zero legumes. Contains an organic zinc compound and 2 other chelated minerals. Nutrients typically found in better recipes. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Pork Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Pork, sweet potatoes, potato, green beans, cauliflower
- Protein: 36% (dry matter)
- Fat: 28% (dry matter)
- Carbs: 28% (est)
- Fat-to-protein ratio: 78%
This recipe gets 100% of its animal protein from fresh pork and pork liver. The formula is rich in omega-3 fish oil for optimal heart health and silky coat. Another exceptional pick. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Our Verdict
Rating:
The Farmer’s Dog fresh-cooked, human-grade dog food earns the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
We find The Farmer’s Dog to be an outstanding, grain-free wet food. Each human-grade recipe uses a generous amount of fresh named meat as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Pros
- Human-grade ingredients
- Fresh named meats
- Complete and balanced recipes
Cons
- Must be kept refrigerated or frozen
- Once defrosted must be used in 4 days
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Farmer’s Dog product line includes the 4 fresh-cooked foods listed below.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Pork Recipe | 5 | A |
| Beef Recipe | 5 | A |
| Turkey Recipe | 4.5 | A |
| Chicken Recipe | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
The Farmer’s Dog Turkey was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
The Farmer's Dog Turkey Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
33.3%
Protein
18.8%
Fat
39.9%
CarbsCarbohydrates
Turkey, chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, spinach, parsnips, tricalcium phosphate, salt, fish oil, choline bitartrate, taurine, vitamin B12 supplement, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, copper amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 19% | 40% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 28% | 38% | 34% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this recipe is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1
Turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient includes chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Like peas, beans and lentils, the chickpea is a nutritious member of the fiber-rich legume (or pulse) family of vegetables.
However, chickpeas contain about 22% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The third ingredient lists carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fourth ingredient is broccoli. Broccoli is a healthy green vegetable and a member of the kale family. It’s notably rich in vitamin C and fiber and numerous other nutrients.
Like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is believed to provide anti-cancer benefits.
The fifth ingredient is spinach. Due to its exceptional vitamin and mineral content, spinach exhibits a remarkably high nutrient Completeness Score2 of 91.
The sixth ingredient includes parsnip, a root vegetable closely related to carrot and parsley. Parsnips are high in complex carbohydrates and rich in B vitamins, fiber and other essential nutrients.
The seventh ingredient is tricalcium phosphate, a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorus. In addition, this additive is used in canned foods as an emulsifier — an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With 3 notable exceptions…
First, we find fish oil. Fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a welcome addition.
Next, we note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients only, The Farmer’s Dog appears to be an above-average wet product.
However, ingredient content alone doesn’t provide an accurate picture of the product’s meat content. We also need to take a closer look at the label’s Guaranteed Analysis data.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 19% and estimated carbohydrates of about 40%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 39% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 26% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 70%.
Which suggests The Farmer’s Dog contains above-average protein, above-average fat, and below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet recipe.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the chickpeas, this still looks like the profile of a fresh dog food containing a generous amount of meat.
The Farmer's Dog Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to The Farmer's Dog through August 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of The Farmer's Dog Dog Food
We find The Farmer’s Dog to be an outstanding, grain-free wet food. Each human-grade recipe uses a generous amount of fresh named meat as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Highly Recommended
What Do Others Say About The Farmer's Dog Dog Food?
Buyer review… “Our Havanese puppy ‘Chutney’ is a very picky eater and The Farmer’s Dog is the only thing he eats without fuss.”
Frequently Asked Questions
The Farmer’s Dog range of recipes delivers more than adequate protein, without too much fat. The ingredients included are not controversial and the meat level is good too.
Unlike brands that use computer programs to verify their nutrient content…
The Farmer’s Dog was tested using a method we consider superior to AAFCO’s own gold standard system… live feeding trials conducted on real dogs of multiple breed sizes and ages… over a 6-year period.
So, all 4 recipes are considered nutritious for all ages and breed sizes, including large breed puppies.
No… It’s gently cooked at lower temperatures. So, each recipe avoids damage to delicate vitamins and nutrients during high-heat processing.3
The Farmer’s Dog has amazing customer service. If your dog doesn’t like the recipe you ordered, there’s no need to return it. The company will send you a different flavor, at no cost to you.
In thisvideo…
Dr. Gary Richter shares asimple feeding tipthat can helploweryour dog’sriskof gettingsickwhen you switch to afresh food, like The Farmer’s Dog.
It’s best toswitchyour dog to a fresh food like The Farmer’s Doggradually.
Start by mixing 20% “fresh” with 80% “old” food. Then,slowlyincrease that amount to a full 100% over the next 8 to 9 days.
| Schedule | Old Food | Fresh Food |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 and 2 | 80% | 20% |
| Days 3 and 4 | 60% | 40% |
| Days 5 and 6 | 40% | 60% |
| Days 7 and 8 | 20% | 80% |
| Day 9 | 0% | 100% |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that products claiming to be “fit for human consumption” must beofficially“edible”.
The word “edible” is alegalstandard. “Human-grade” is not.
In order for The Farmer’s Dog to be deemed edible, every ingredient in its recipemust be human edibleand manufactured, packed and stored in accordance with USDA regulations.
Each of The Farmer’s Dog recipes was designed by a board-certifiedveterinary nutritionist.
And unlike most commercial dog foods that use only computer simulations to determine their compliance with AAFCO nutrient profiles…
The Farmer’s Dog was tested using a method we considersuperiorto AAFCO’s own gold standard system conducted on real dogs of multiple breed sizes and ages… over a 6-year period.
Some fresh dog foods are not safe for all ages and breeds.
That’s because…
Large breed puppieshave a higherriskof developing acripplingandpermanentform ofhip diseaseif they’re fed a fresh diet that contains too much calcium… while they’re still growing.4 5
Fortunately,The Farmer’s Dog isconsidered safefor ALL adults and puppies, including those of larger breeds.
Since The Farmer’s Dog containsno preservatives, it must be kept refrigerated or frozen.
In most cases, fresh dog food can last formonths, as long as it remains frozen and sealed in its original package.
Once a container is open and defrosted, it should be kept in the fridge andused within 4 days.
Compare The Farmer's Dog Dog Food
How does The Farmer's Dog compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
- Best Dog Foods
- Best Fresh Dog Food
- Best Puppy Foods
- Best Wet Puppy Food
- Best Small Breed Puppy Foods
- Best Large Breed Puppy Foods
- Best Dry Dog Food
- Best Wet Dog Foods
- Best Dog Foods for Allergies
- Best Dog Food for Small Dogs
- Best Large Breed Dog Food
- Best Grain-Free Dog Foods
- Best Dog Food with Grain
- Best Organic Dog Foods
- Best Senior Dog Food
- Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss
- Best Dog Food for Sensitive Stomachs
- Best Dog Food for Specific Breeds
- Best Natural Dog Food
- Best Dog Food for Picky Eaters
Sources
1: Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition
2: Completeness Score is a measure of a food’s relative nutrient content and is computed by NutritionData.com from the USDA’s National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
3: Tran QD and others, Effects of extrusion processing on nutrients in dry pet food, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 88:1487–1493 (2008)
4: Lauten SD, Nutritional Risks to Large Breed Dogs: From Weaning to the Geriatric Years, Vet Clin Small Anim 36 (2006) 1345–1359.
5: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
