DIY Farmer’s Dog Food – Review & Recipes

The Farmer’s Dog has earned their reputation in the fresh dog food market over the years. They’ve changed how we consider what we feed our canine companions.

It’s easy to see why this brand has taken off. They’re offering something a lot of us have been wanting, and that’s good food for our dogs.

We’re talking about meals made with ingredients you’d recognize straightaway with no unpronounceable components.

The Farmer’s Dog promises human-grade food, cooked in a way that retains its nutrients, and they bring it right to your house.

But the big question is, does it live up to the hype, especially considering the price? Continue reading this guide to find out as we also highlight 4 DIY Farmer’s Dog foods you can try today.

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Review of The Farmer’s Dog

Using ingredients good enough for humans, recipes rooted in research, and a tailored meal plan for each dog, The Farmer’s Dog sets itself apart from traditional kibble.

The Farmer’s Dog food brand is about providing fresh dog food. But what does ‘fresh’ actually mean in this context?

In simple terms, it means the food is cooked using ingredients that people can eat. It has minimal or no preservatives and isn’t processed into kibble or sealed in a can.

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The Good

A key part of what sets The Farmer’s Dog apart is their dedication to using ingredients fit for human consumption.

Many typical dog food brands use scraps and unclear ingredients, but this brand focuses on transparency.

Their recipes use easily recognizable ingredients like turkey, beef, pork, chicken, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and spinach.

This way, as a dog owner, you will be completely clear on what you are putting in your pet’s food bowl every time.

Relying on dog food with high-quality ingredients is a welcome approach for picky eaters or our canine companions with food sensitivities.

The food from The Farmer’s Dog looks so good, you might mistake it for your dinner. The vegetables are still bright and crisp, and the meat looks like real meat.

Because it’s less processed, you can distinguish every ingredient from your dog’s bowl, it’s not some unidentifiable paste. This is the kind of food pet owners feel confident about giving their dogs.

With regular dry dog food, it’s difficult to tell how much meat is in the mix. With fresh food, you can tell that meat is a primary ingredient.

The recipes are developed with the help of board-certified veterinary nutritionists, so you know each meal meets the standards set by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

When you look at the ingredients in The Farmer’s Dog meals, the only things that sound complicated are just different types of vitamins and minerals.

You might see things like fish oil, zinc amino acid chelates, copper amino acid chelates, or vitamin E supplements. These are all added to make sure your dog gets the full range of nutrients they need.

Besides the quality ingredients, The Farmer’s Dog is convenient. Having meals already pre-portioned and delivered to your house is a time-saver. 

No more messy measuring, no more last-minute trips to the pet store because you’re out of food.

All you have to do is defrost the food, put it in a clean bowl, and watch your furry friend eat up their nutritious dinner.

This is a huge positive for pet parents with packed schedules or those who don’t have a ton of extra space to store bulk food.

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4 Things to Consider Before Trying Fresh Dog Food

1. The most important thing is to consider any allergies your dog might have. If they do have allergies, take a look at the recipes online before you buy.

2. Then there’s the cost. Fresh dog food has a lot of benefits, so naturally, it’s going to be more expensive than regular kibble.

3. You’ll also need to make some room in your freezer. Fresh food is great, but storing a couple of weeks’ worth can take up a decent chunk of freezer space.

4. Finally, reading reviews from other customers is a great way to get a feel for how good dog food is before placing an order.

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Making your order

When you sign up on The Farmer’s Dog food website, you’ll need to provide details about your dog. This includes their age, size, weight, how active they are, their breed, and any health issues.

Using this info, they will create high-quality meals with the right amount of calories and nutrients specifically for your canine friend.

You’ll probably also notice that their website is nicely designed, even compared to other brands in the same space.

Arrival of the food

Soon after you order from The Farmer’s Dog, you’ll get a welcome email and a shipping update. You might be surprised at how fast they confirm and ship your order.

Shipping is free, which is great. Inside the box, the food is kept cold with dry ice and eco-friendly foam. They do their job right because the food will still be frozen when it gets to you.

In addition to the food, you’ll get instructions on how to serve and store it, details about the ingredients, and a guide to help transition to the new dog diet.

You’ll even find a nice, high-quality insulated tote bag included with everything else. This tote bag is perfect for taking The Farmer’s Dog food with you when traveling with your pup.

You’ll find a customer support phone number printed on each food package, just in case you have any questions.

The serving instructions are also right there on each package, so you always know the right amount to feed your dog at each meal.

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The Farmer’s Dog’s Outcome

It’s natural to doubt that you’d see any changes in your dog after just two weeks. But get ready, because you might notice some differences, even in that short time.

1. Improved Energy Levels

Dog owners often report a significant boost in their dog’s energy and overall liveliness within just a few weeks of starting The Farmer’s Dog.

Dogs that used to be sluggish will slowly start getting excited about going out for walks, playing, and just being more active than before.

2. Shinier Coats and Healthier Skin

A lot of reviews mention that dogs’ coats become noticeably shinier and softer after weeks of consuming food from this brand.

This is probably because of the fish oil, good quality protein, vitamin E supplement, and essential fatty acids in the food. Even dogs with sensitive or dry skin have shown noticeable improvements.

3. Better Digestion

Another area where The Farmer’s Dog can improve is in digestive health. Because the recipes are free of fillers and artificial additives, dogs tend to have regular bowel movements and fewer stomach issues.

4. Weight management

By offering pre-portioned meals tailored to each dog’s specific calorie needs, The Farmer’s Dog makes it easier for owners to keep their pets at a healthy weight.

This is helpful for dogs that tend to be overweight or those that need to watch what they eat because of health issues.

5. Appetizing

Many dogs seem to love the taste of The Farmer’s Dog food. Your dog might prefer it to what they were eating before.

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Potential Drawbacks of the Farmer’s Dog Food

As with all other brands, The Farmer’s Dog food comes with their own potential drawbacks, the most significant one being the cost.

To be fair, fresh dog food, no matter the brand, is generally more expensive than most standard commercial dog foods.

The Farmer’s Dog is pricier than regular kibble. But we found that to be understandable when you think about what you’re getting.

You’re paying for high-quality human-grade ingredients for your dog and the convenience of having it delivered to your doorstep.

Even though you’ll pay more upfront for The Farmer’s Dog compared to most kibble, the long-term benefits could save you money down the line.

A healthier dog could mean fewer vet visits and therefore, fewer vet bills. Plus, not having to constantly run to the store for dog food will help offset the cost difference.

The Farmer’s Dog can cost over $100 a month for a small dog, and for bigger dogs, you could be looking at $200 or more.

The good news is that you can often find coupons to help reduce the cost of each purchase you make at The Farmer’s Dog.

Another potential drawback is that it takes a bit of planning ahead. While the meals are easy to serve, you do need to remember to thaw them out in advance.

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Making Fresh Dog Meals Just Got Way Easier With ChefPaw

If you’re looking for an easier way to make fresh, healthy meals for your dog, we highly recommend the ChefPaw Dog Food Maker.

This all-in-one machine acts as a blender, mixer, scale, and cooker, letting you prepare up to 6.4 pounds of homemade dog food in about 40 minutes.

It’s super easy to use, takes up very little counter space, and even cleans itself.

Plus, it connects with a handy app that gives you access to over 35 vet-approved recipes and detailed nutrition info for over 1,000 ingredients.

Many pet parents rave about how much better their dogs feel after switching to homemade food using ChefPaw, with some noticing fewer skin issues and better digestion.

One happy user even said their dogs are “over the moon” about mealtime now. If you want to save money and make sure your pup is eating the best, ChefPaw makes it simple and stress-free.

We’ve secured an exclusive $50 discount just for our readers. Enter code FURSNPAWS at checkout to enjoy this exclusive deal!

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DIY Farmers Dog Food

1. Homemade Dog Food Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 lb ground chicken
• 2 cups cooked white rice
• 270g pumpkin puree
• 270g spinach (fresh: 9 cups, frozen: 1 2/3 cups), chopped
• 5 tsp sunflower oil
• 1.5 tsp salmon oil
• Dog-safe nutrient mix

Procedure:

1. Cook the white rice according to package directions and set aside to cool.
2. Heat a pot or skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the sunflower oil and spread it evenly across the bottom of the pan.
3. Place ground chicken in a heated pan. Break the meat into small pieces and cook it thoroughly until it is fully browned and no longer pink.
4. Add the pumpkin puree, cooked rice, and chopped spinach to the pan with the chicken. Stir the ingredients together and continue cooking until the spinach wilts completely.
5. Pour in the salmon oil and stir well to ensure it is evenly mixed throughout the food.
6. Remove the pan from heat. Sprinkle the nutrient mix evenly over the food and stir thoroughly to incorporate it.
7. Let the food cool completely before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within a few days.

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2. Farmers Dog Food Recipe DIY

Ingredients

• 2.5 lb. 90% lean ground beef
• 2 cups sweet potato, shredded or finely diced
• 3 cups carrots, shredded or diced into ¼-inch pieces
• Fresh: 5 ½ cups or frozen: ¾ cup spinach, chopped
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil
• ¼ tsp salmon oil
• Dog-safe nutrient mix

Procedure

1. Heat a pot over medium to medium-high heat. Add the sunflower oil and spread it evenly to coat the bottom of the pan.
2. Place the ground beef into the pan. Break it into small pieces and cook, stirring frequently, until the meat is fully browned and no longer pink.
3. Add the sweet potato and carrots to the pan with the beef. Stir the ingredients together and cook until the sweet potato becomes soft.
4. Stir in the chopped spinach and continue cooking until it wilts and is evenly mixed with the other ingredients.
5. Crack the eggs into the pan, breaking the yolks, and mix them thoroughly into the beef and vegetable mixture. Add the salmon oil and stir. Cook until the eggs are fully set.
6. Remove the pan from heat and sprinkle the nutrient mix over the food. Stir thoroughly to incorporate the mix until it is evenly distributed and no visible powder remains.
7. Let the food cool completely before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days.

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3. DIY Turkey, Pumpkin, & Carrot

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground turkey (85% lean, fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (plain, with no added ingredients)
• 1 cup carrots, boiled or steamed and chopped
• 1 cup spinach, fresh or frozen, chopped

Procedure

1. Heat a skillet or pan over medium heat and add the ground turkey. Cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it is fully browned and no longer pink.
2. While the turkey is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Boil or steam the carrots until tender, then chop them into small pieces. 
3. Once the turkey is done, add chopped carrots and spinach to the pan. Stir well to combine and continue cooking for a few minutes until the vegetables are evenly mixed.
4. Stir in the pumpkin puree, mixing thoroughly to distribute it evenly throughout the turkey and vegetables.
5. Let the mixture cool completely before serving it to your dog. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

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4. DIY Salmon & Sweet Potato Dog Food

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons cooked brown rice
• 1 tablespoon pureed pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons frozen peas, thawed and diced
• ½ baby carrot, diced and cooked
• 1 tablespoon frozen cut green beans, thawed and diced
• 7-10 blueberries, mashed
• 3 cubes cooked sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
• 1 oz cooked wild-caught salmon (with skin, or canned if preferred)
• Water (use the water from cooking the sweet potatoes or carrots for added flavor)

Procedure:

1. Cook the brown rice, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Save the cooking water from the sweet potatoes and carrots.
2. Thaw the peas and green beans, then dice them into small pieces.
3. Mash the blueberries and flake the cooked salmon into small pieces.
4. Combine all ingredients in your dog’s bowl: brown rice, pureed pumpkin, diced peas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, mashed blueberries, salmon, and ground flaxseed.
5. Add a small amount of the saved cooking water to adjust the consistency.
6. Mix everything and serve fresh. Refrigerate leftover ingredients separately and mix fresh portions at each meal.

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Is The Farmer’s Dog Food Worth It?

With so many options out there, finding healthy dog food that your dog actually enjoys can feel like a huge task.

Most of what you’ll find is dry food, but fresh dog food has been gaining a lot of attention lately because of its advantages.

So, is The Farmer’s Dog worth it? In our experience, YES! Even though it’s more expensive, the advantages outweigh the downsides.

Knowing you’re feeding your dog healthy, human-grade food, combined with the convenience and the possibility of better health for your dog, makes it a valuable choice.

If you’re still undecided, we strongly suggest giving their trial offer a try. It’s a great way to see if the service works for you and your dog without a long-term commitment.

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