TL;DR: The Farmer’s Dog is a subscription fresh-dog-food brand delivering human-grade, gently cooked meals formulated by veterinary nutritionists; owners on owner forums report softer stools, shinier coats, and picky-eater acceptance. The company reached an estimated ~$1.2B annual recurring revenue in 2024 and expanded to Walmart.com in 2025.
the farmers dog review: key facts
The Farmer’s Dog (TFD) is the best-known name in US fresh dog food and a bellwether for the entire category. In this review we cover what the food actually is, how much it costs, what real owners say, and how it compares to other fresh and kibble options.
What Is The Farmer’s Dog?
The Farmer’s Dog is a direct-to-consumer (DTC) fresh dog food company founded in 2014 and based in New York. Meals are made from USDA-grade, human-edible ingredients, gently cooked at low temperatures to retain nutrients, then shipped frozen in pre-portioned foil packs. Each recipe is built to AAFCO standards and formulated by a team that includes board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
Unlike freeze-dried or raw brands, TFD is gently cooked, not raw—an important distinction for owners worried about pathogen risk, especially after the 2025 H5N1 outbreak pushed the FDA-CVM to require avian-influenza risk planning in pet-food safety programs. Source: LinkedIn BSM Partners “10+ Insights 2025”; FDA-CVM 2025 H5N1 guidance.
How does the subscription work?
You complete a profile (breed, weight, age, activity, health goals), and TFD calculates a daily calorie target and ships a box of pre-portioned packs every 1–2 weeks on autoship. Owners can pause, adjust, or cancel anytime. Many Reddit users pair TFD with a cheaper base (kibble or topper) to control cost.
How Much Does The Farmer’s Dog Cost?
Per owner and retail data, a typical plan runs $50–100 per month for a small-to-medium dog, scaling with weight and activity. Large/active dogs can exceed $150/month if fed TFD exclusively. Source: owner forums; LinkedIn indexed.vc, 2024.
| Dog weight | Exclusive feeding (approx/mo) | 50/50 mix (approx/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | $50–65 | $25–35 |
| 30 lb | $80–110 | $40–60 |
| 60 lb | $130–180 | $65–90 |
These are estimates based on community reports and should be confirmed via TFD’s quiz; prices shift with promotions (often the first box is heavily discounted). Source: owner forums, framework seed data (estimate, “approximately”).
Is it worth the price?
Owners who switch from grocery kibble almost always cite a visible difference—but the value question is personal:
– Health payoff: Softer, smaller stools; improved coat; steadier energy. Anecdotal but consistent across owner forums.
– Convenience: Pre-portioned packs remove measuring guesswork.
– Cost: Materially higher than kibble; mitigated by mixing or topper use.
owner forums consensus: TFD is a “healthy upgrade” worth it for dogs with sensitivities, seniors, or picky eaters, and a “nice-to-have” for healthy young dogs on a budget. Source: owner forums, framework seed data.
What Do Reddit Owners Actually Say?
Aggregated owner forums verdicts:
– Picky eaters: Multiple owners say TFD is the only food their dog reliably finishes.
– Sensitive stomachs: Frequent reports of resolved chronic soft stool after switching.
– Coat/skin: Shinier coats and less itching are common wins.
– Cost complaints: The single biggest drawback; many “graduate” to a 50/50 mix.
One widely shared sentiment: owners feel they “finally know what’s in the bowl.” That transparency is a core part of TFD’s brand promise. Source: owner forums, 2023–2025, framework seed data.
The Farmer’s Dog Business Snapshot (2024–2025)
The Farmer’s Dog reached an estimated ~$1.2B ARR in 2024 (≈+50% year-over-year) and has delivered 1B+ meals since launch. In 2025 it expanded onto Walmart.com, a major distribution milestone that brings fresh dog food into mainstream retail. Source: LinkedIn indexed.vc (2024 ARR); owner forums; LinkedIn General Mills/retail coverage.
This scale matters for buyers: a larger, better-capitalized fresh brand is more likely to maintain supply, food-safety rigor, and formula consistency than a tiny startup.
The Farmer’s Dog vs Other Fresh Brands
| Brand | Model | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| The Farmer’s Dog | Gently cooked, DTC + Walmart | ~$1.2B ARR 2024; broadest awareness |
| Ollie | Gently cooked, DTC + Petco | 8.2/10 expert score; baked turkey in Petco 2025 |
| JustFoodForDogs JustFresh | Shelf-stable fresh, retail | $6.99–7.99; 1,500+ stores |
| Blue Buffalo Love Made Fresh | Fresh, PetSmart | ~$3B fresh sub-category push |
TFD leads on brand recognition and retail expansion; Ollie and JFFD compete on channel and format (baked/shelf-stable) respectively.
Is The Farmer’s Dog WSAVA-Compliant?
Fresh brands like TFD are generally not in the “big four” WSAVA-aligned list (Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s, Iams), which prioritizes brands with long-term feeding trials and veterinary presence. However, TFD does formulate to AAFCO profiles with veterinary nutritionist oversight, and many vets approve it for healthy dogs. For dogs with clinical conditions, a prescription line such as Hill’s Science Diet is usually the safer call. Source: owner forums WSAVA consensus; Quora vet-recommendation threads.
Typical Nutrition & Feeding Amounts
The Farmer’s Dog recipes are built to AAFCO standards with a typical macro split of roughly 35–45% protein, 20–35% fat, and under 5% carbohydrate on a dry-matter basis, varying by recipe (beef, chicken, turkey, pork). Each pack is pre-portioned to your dog’s daily calorie target from the sign-up quiz, removing measuring guesswork. Source: Brand formulation; framework seed data (estimates, “approximately”).
Because packs are pre-portioned, feeding is simple: thaw, serve, refrigerate leftovers. Most owners split the daily amount across two meals. Treats should stay under 10% of daily calories to avoid unbalancing the diet. Source: Veterinary feeding guidance; framework seed data.
How to Transition Your Dog to Fresh Food
Fresh food is richer and more digestible, so a gradual switch helps:
1. Days 1–2: 25% TFD + 75% current food.
2. Days 3–4: 50% TFD + 50% current food.
3. Days 5–6: 75% TFD + 25% current food.
4. Day 7+: 100% TFD (or your chosen mix).
Expect smaller, firmer stools within a week—a normal sign of higher digestibility. Loose stool or gas means slow down. Always keep the food refrigerated and discard anything left out over an hour in warm homes. Source: owner forums transition reports; veterinary guidance.
Safety, Recalls & the H5N1 Factor
The Farmer’s Dog gently cooks (not raw) its meals, which reduces pathogen risk versus raw feeding. Still, the 2025 H5N1 outbreak led the FDA-CVM to require avian-influenza risk planning in pet-food safety programs—relevant to any brand using poultry. TFD’s scale and food-safety investment are advantages, but owners should check the FDA recall page for live status before bulk changes. Source: LinkedIn BSM Partners 2025; FDA-CVM 2025 H5N1 guidance.
Where to Buy & How to Save
TFD is primarily DTC via thefarmer.com, now also on Walmart.com (2025). Saving tips:
– First-box promo: New-customer discounts are usually steep.
– 50/50 mix: Combine TFD with a quality kibble or topper to halve cost while keeping fresh benefits.
– Pause, don’t cancel blindly: Adjust portion sizes in the quiz before pausing to avoid wasted boxes.
Which Farmer’s Dog Recipe Should You Pick?
TFD offers several core recipes; pick by protein tolerance and goals:
– Beef: Highest-protein option; great for active dogs, less ideal for beef-sensitive ones.
– Chicken: Familiar, widely tolerated; a safe default.
– Turkey: Leaner; good for weight management or poultry-tolerant dogs avoiding chicken.
– Pork: Novel-ish protein; useful for dogs with common-protein sensitivities.
For dogs with diagnosed conditions (kidney, food allergy), ask your vet—TFD is not a prescription diet; Hill’s Science Diet or Royal Canin veterinary lines may be required.
When to Skip The Farmer’s Dog
Skip or reduce TFD if:
– Budget is tight and the dog is healthy on kibble—a WSAVA kibble like Purina Pro Plan delivers solid nutrition far cheaper.
– No freezer/fridge space—fresh storage is mandatory.
– Your dog needs a therapeutic diet—use a prescription line instead.
For most healthy dogs, though, TFD is a worthwhile fresh upgrade, especially as a 50/50 mix. Source: owner forums owner guidance; framework seed data.
Pros and Cons
Pros
– Human-grade, gently cooked, transparent ingredients.
– Veterinary-nutritionist formulated; AAFCO-aligned.
– Strong owner-reported health wins (stools, coat, appetite).
– Scaled, well-funded operator with Walmart distribution.
Cons
– Premium price ($50–100+/mo).
– Not a WSAVA “big four” brand.
– Requires freezer/fridge space.
– Subscription can be easy to forget to pause.
FAQ
Q: How much is The Farmer’s Dog per month?
A: Typically $50–100 per month for a small-to-medium dog when fed exclusively, scaling with weight and activity. Mixing with kibble or using it as a topper roughly halves the cost.
Q: Is The Farmer’s Dog worth it?
A: Owners on owner forums widely call it a healthy upgrade, especially for sensitive, senior, or picky dogs. The main drawback is price; many use a 50/50 mix to manage cost.
Q: Is The Farmer’s Dog human-grade?
A: Yes. TFD uses USDA-grade, human-edible ingredients that are gently cooked, then shipped frozen in pre-portioned packs.
Q: Is The Farmer’s Dog available in stores?
A: It launched as DTC but expanded to Walmart.com in 2025, broadening retail access beyond the subscription box.
Q: How big is The Farmer’s Dog as a company?
A: The company reached an estimated ~$1.2B annual recurring revenue in 2024 with 1B+ meals delivered, making it the category’s scale leader.
Sources
- LinkedIn indexed.vc (2024): The Farmer’s Dog ~$1.2B ARR, +50% YoY, 1B+ meals delivered.
- owner forums (2023–2025): Owner verdicts on cost, picky eaters, sensitive stomachs, coat.
- LinkedIn BSM Partners (2025): H5N1 guidance tightening fresh/raw pet-food safety.
- FDA-CVM (2025): Avian-influenza risk planning for pet-food safety.
- owner forums WSAVA consensus / pickmydogfood (2015–2026): WSAVA-alignment context.
