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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Fresh dog food incorporates gently cooked ingredients like lean proteins, veggies, and whole grains. It needs to be stored in the fridge or freezer, and it’s typically highly palatable—which means it’s a prime choice for picky eaters. Fans offer anecdotal evidence of improved coat health, energy levels, and digestion.
Because of the huge proliferation of fresh dog foods on the market in recent years, it can be tricky to know where to start. The best fresh dog food for your pet will depend on both their taste preferences and health requirements. And the best fit for you will take into account the food’s shelf life, shipping cadence, and ease of serving.
To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of 12 fresh dog foods that cater to a range of palates, lifestyles, health needs, and budgets. If you’d like to try fresh dog food, these are good places to start.
Our picks
Best Fresh Dog Food Subscription: Ollie
Ollie
Ollie offers convenient, highly-customizable meal plans for dogs, along with excellent customer service.
A lot of fresh dog foods are available through subscriptions, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Ollie is a reputable subscription service that stands out for its personalized approach and convenience.
During sign-up, you’ll provide details like your dog’s weight, age, breed, activity level, body composition, and any allergies. This information is used to create a customized meal plan for your dog. Ollie’s system even adjusts the portion sizes to help your dog reach their weight-loss goals if required.
Fresh food recipes include beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and pork. Our canine tester went to town on this dry-ish pâté—and her human appreciated that each package provided a day’s worth of food.
Key Nutrients (Beef with Sweet Potatoes):
- Protein: 32.1%
- Fat: 25%
- Carbohydrate: 35.7%
- Crude Fiber: 7.1%
Ingredients: Beef, Carrots, Beef Kidneys, Potatoes, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Beef Livers, Chickpeas, Spinach, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salmon Oil, Salt, Taurine, Zinc Gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulphate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Potassium Iodide
Best Fresh Dog Food for Puppies: Spot & Tango
Spot & Tango
A slim packaging profile makes Spot & Tango easy to store in the freezer, and you can easily see whole foods such as peas and quinoa. It’s AAFCO compliant for the growth stage, including large-breed puppies.
Each fresh recipe from Spot & Tango is formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition across all life stages, including large-breed puppies. Compared with adult dogs, puppies typically benefit from foods that are higher in protein and fat. Spot & Tango fresh recipes offer well above the recommended minimum of 22% protein on a dry matter basis and 8% fat minimum.
These recipes also include fish oil, which provides the omega-3 fatty acids critical for your puppy’s growth and development. Spot & Tango’s fresh recipes are grain-inclusive and come in three flavors: turkey & red quinoa, beef & millet, and lamb & brown rice.
This food is only available through a subscription. Upon signing up, Spot & Tango will take key information about your pup to recommend a personalized portion size. These recommendations can be adjusted as your puppy grows.
Key Nutrients (Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe):
- 1,274 kcal/kg
- Protein: 39.46%
- Fat: 22.2%
- Carbohydrate: 29.5%
- Crude Fiber: 8.83%
Ingredients: Lamb, Brown Rice, Eggs, Spinach, Carrots, Peas, Blueberries, Vegetable Stock, Safflower Oil, S&T Nutrient Blend (Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Sea Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Fish Oil, Kelp, Magnesium Oxide, Selenium Yeast, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Apples, Beets, Broccoli, Cherries, Cranberries, Oranges, Pumpkin, Shiitake Mushrooms, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols, Potassium Iodide), Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley
Best for Picky Eaters: A Pup Above Bone Broth Food
A Pup Above
A Pup Above cooks their dog food sous vide and then ships it frozen so it’s as fresh as possible.
Feeding a picky dog can be stressful. But we’ve found that most dogs really like fresh food. If you’re making the switch to appease a finicky eater, A Pup Above is one to consider. The brand’s recipes are simmered in a savory bone broth, which offers a boost of meaty flavor that our Rover pups loved. One pet parent observed that the texture stayed moist in the fridge—thanks in large part to a layer of liquid from the broth.
A Pup Above is available as a one-time purchase or a subscription. Packages arrive frozen and thaw in your fridge. The brand offers both grain-free recipes (beef and pork) and grain-inclusive recipes (chicken and turkey).
Key Nutrients (Chicka Chicka Bow Wow Recipe):
- 1,384 kcal/kg
- Protein: 41.6%
- Fat: 16.9%
- Carbohydrate: 35.7%
- Crude Fiber: 5.8%
- Calcium: X%
Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Sweet Potatoes, Chicken Bone Broth, Rice, Apples, Spinach, Kale, Turmeric, Thyme, Parsley, Minerals [Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite], Vitamins [Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement]
Best Budget Fresh Dog Food: The Pets Table
Fresh dog food doesn’t come cheap. For those on a stricter budget, The Pets Table is a good choice. This fresh food is more affordable than some of its competitors. Plus, the brand offers a ½ fresh plan for pet parents who just want to supplement with fresh.
Our tester noted this pâté’s texture was on the runnier side, so you’ll want to store leftovers in the plastic container included in your first order. And no worries about wasting money if your dog turns their nose up—PetPlate offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you decide it’s not for you after your 2-week trial box.
Key Nutrients (Chicken Casserole with Green Beans Recipe):
- 1457 kcal/kg; 496 kcal/12 oz pack
- Protein: 54.6%
- Fat: 38.6%
- Carbohydrate: 2.3%
- Crude Fiber: 4.6%
Ingredients: Chicken, Chickpeas, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Spinach, Salmon Oil, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Vitamins & Minerals [Vitamin E Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Tricalcium Phosphate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium Yeast, Potassium Iodide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate], Yeast Culture
Most Convenient to Serve: Nom Nom
A common complaint with fresh food is that it’s slightly more onerous to serve. If ease of serving is a priority, Nom Nom offers pre-measured packages that serve as a single meal, which means zero measuring and fewer dirty dishes. This convenience was a huge win with our Nom Nom tester, who was pleased that meals required little effort beyond opening the package.
Nom Nom offers four fresh recipes: Beef Mash, Pork Potluck, Chicken Cuisine, and Turkey Fare. It’s available through a subscription, and you can also find it at Chewy and PetSmart.
Key Nutrients (Pork Potluck Recipe):
- 177 kcal/cup; 1246 kcal/kg
- Protein: 28%
- Fat: 20%
- Carbohydrate: 44%
- Crude Fiber: 8%
Ingredients: Ground Pork, Russet Potatoes, Green Beans, Squash, Kale, Cremini Mushrooms, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Natural Flavor, Vinegar, Citric Acid, Fish Oil, Taurine, Choline Bitartrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Manganese Gluconate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Cholecalciferol (source of Vitamin D3), Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement
Best for Large Breeds: Evermore Fresh Food
Evermore
Made with organic ingredients and grass-fed meat, Evermore offers joint support and promotes a healthy weight.
Because they have slower metabolisms, large-breed dogs need fewer calories per pound of body weight than smaller breeds. Evermore’s fresh chicken and turkey recipes deliver fewer calories than the other poultry options on this list, so they’re a healthy choice if you’re trying to prevent obesity. Large dogs also face a higher risk of bone and joint issues, which Evermore addresses with antioxidants and fish oil (an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids).
Evermore recipes are high in protein, a boon for active breeds like German Shepherds and Boxers. The brand also offers free nutritional consultations, ensuring your large dog gets the right food in the right amounts. Finally, the non-protein ingredients are fairly uniform between recipes. So if you like to offer your dog variety, their stomach shouldn’t suffer for it.
Key Nutrients (Chicken Recipe):
- 1,085 kcal/kg
- Protein: 44%
- Fat: 20%
- Carbohydrate: 20%
- Crude Fiber: 4%
- Calcium: .9%
Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Hearts, Eggs, Organic Sweet Potatoes, Organic Carrots, Chicken Livers, Organic Kale, Organic Apples, Organic Dandelion Greens, Organic Blueberries, Organic Parsley, Organic Oats, Organic Barley, Fish Oil, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Safflower Oil, Eggshell Powder, Organic Dried Kelp, Zinc Gluconate
Best for Small Breeds: Freshpet Vital Small Breed Chicken Recipe
Small-breed dogs can be prone to dental issues, which makes the soft texture of Freshpet’s Vital Small Breed recipe extra appealing. Developed with the nutritional needs of smaller breeds in mind, this food features bite-sized pieces that won’t overwhelm tiny jaws. Ingredients like sweet potatoes, cranberries, and carrots supply antioxidants. It also has Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coats.
Key Nutrients:
- 261 kcal/cup
- Protein: 43.2%
- Fat: 32.4%
- Carbohydrate: 20.1%
- Crude Fiber: 4%
Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Pea Protein, Eggs, Cranberries, Natural Flavors, Pea Fiber, Vinegar, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Spinach, Potassium Chloride, Inulin, Fish Oil, Beta-Carotene, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate), Celery Powder, Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid)
Best Fresh Dog Food for Seniors: Freshpet Vital Benefits Joint Health & Mobility Fresh Food
Fresh food is hydrating and easy to chew—two benefits that make it a good choice for many senior dogs.
Developed by veterinary nutritionists, this Freshpet formula is soft on aging gums and teeth. It also offers a generous 40% protein on a dry matter basis, which helps maintain your senior dog’s muscle mass. There’s glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint function and help maintain mobility. This Freshpet formula also contains prebiotics for digestive health and omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coats.
This food comes in a convenient resealable bag and must be refrigerated. If you won’t get to it right away, you can freeze Freshpet, too—but the brand notes this may alter the consistency upon thawing.
Key Nutrients:
- 290 kcal/cup
- Protein: 40%
- Fat: 35.7%
- Carbohydrate: 20%
- Crude Fiber: 4.3%
- Calcium: 1.7%
Ingredients: Chicken (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Salmon, Chicken Liver, Eggs (Source of Glucosamine), Ground Oats, Cranberries, Green Beans, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Spinach, Vinegar, Salt, Fish Oil, Rosemary, Celery Powder
Best for Allergies: PetPlate
PetPlate
With a range of proteins, PetPlate’s fresh dog food makes it easier to accomodate allergies. Food arrives in recyclable yogurt-container type of bowls with resealable lids.
Food allergies in dogs are relatively rare. But when they do happen, protein sources are often the culprit. Fortunately, PetPlate offers a variety of proteins to choose from, including venison and lamb. PetPlate recipes are developed by veterinary nutritionist Renee Streeter, DVM, DACVN, and they meet AAFCO standards for growth and adult maintenance. The brand offers both grain-free and grain-inclusive formulas. Plus, they have a pared-down list of ingredients, which benefits dogs with sensitivities.
Key Nutrients (Venison Entree):
- 35 kcal/oz
- Protein: 28.6%
- Fat: 13.6%
- Carbohydrate: 56.4%
- Crude Fiber: 1.4%
- Calcium: X%
Ingredients: Venison, potatoes, apples, green beans, sweet potatoes, pasta, carrots, venison liver, red bell peppers, vinegar, ground flaxseed, safflower oil, potato starch, dicalcium phosphate, salmon oil, salt, natural flavor, minerals (ferrous fumarate, zinc oxide, copper gluconate, manganese gluconate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide, magnesium oxide), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin B2], pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], folic acid [vitamin B9], cyanocobalamin [vitamin B12], vitamin D3 supplement), mixed tocopherols (a preservative), calcium carbonate, malt extract, potassium chloride, choline bitartrate, taurine, L-threonine
Best for Special Dietary Needs: JustFoodForDogs
Sometimes health considerations prompt the switch to fresh food. JustFoodForDogs offers several prescription diets, including renal (kidney), hepatic (liver), and metabolic support. The fresh food brand also carries formulas for sensitive stomachs and joint & skin support. And for dogs with appetite issues, there’s a critical care formula that delivers extra calories and nutrients. They even offer fish- and plant-based recipes.
Most recipes are available in two versions: fresh frozen and shelf-stable “pantry fresh.” With limited ingredients and a single protein source, these recipes work well for dogs with allergies or sensitivities.
JustFoodForDogs is available as a one-time purchase or through a subscription. You can also find it at Chewy or Petco.
Key Nutrients (Joint & Skin Support):
- 1,143 kcal/kg
- Protein: 40.9%
- Fat: 11.4%
- Carbohydrate: 38.6%
- Crude Fiber: 9.1%
Ingredients: Pork Loin & Tenderloin, Quinoa, Kale, Carrots, Fuji Apples, Fish Oil, Type II Collagen, JustFoodForDogs Nutrient Blend [Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Chicken Cartilage (source of collagen), Salt, Taurine, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Ferrous Fumarate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Cholecalciferol (source of Vitamin D3), Riboflavin, Potassium Iodide]
Best Grain-Free Fresh Dog Food: Raised Right
Raised Right
For dogs with a grain allergy, Raised Right offers four grain-free fresh foods.
While grain allergies are rare in dogs, they can be a real headache for affected pups and their guardians. All Raised Right formulas are grain-free. They also have a single animal protein and under 10 ingredients, which makes them a solid choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Our human tester appreciated the simplicity of the ingredients and human-grade standards, and our canine tester enjoyed the taste and coarse pâté texture. Recipes are shipped frozen and must be thawed in the fridge for 12-24 hours before serving. Raised Right is available as a subscription, or you can find it at some local pet supply stores.
Key Nutrients (Turkey Adult Dog Recipe):
- 328 kcal/cup
- Protein: 62% on dry matter basis
- Fat: 24% dry matter
- Carbohydrate: 4.1% dry matter
- Crude Fiber: 4% dry matter
- Calcium: .73% dry matter
Ingredients: Turkey Thigh, Turkey Heart, Turkey Liver, Carrots, Blueberries, Organic Spearmint, Cod Liver Oil, Egg Shell Powder, Flaxseed Oil, Organic Dried Kelp
Most Transparent Ingredient Sourcing: Open Farm
Open Farm
You can trace the source of every ingredient in your dog’s food on the Open Farms website.
If you’d like to know where the ingredients in your dog’s food come from, Open Farm is a standout choice. The company makes it easy for consumers to trace the source of every ingredient in their foods. On their website, just enter the lot code found on your package. For example, in Open Farm’s Fresh Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, the chicken comes from family farms in California, carrots hail from Michigan, and Kale is sourced from Ecuador.
Key Nutrients (Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe):
- 1,200 kcal/kg
- Protein: 33.3%
- Fat: 16.7%
- Carbohydrate: 38.3%
- Crude Fiber: 3.3%
- Calcium: 1.7%
Ingredients: Chicken, Barley, Carrots, Brown Rice, Kale, Flaxseed, Tricalcium Phosphate, Salmon Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Salt, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid), Coconut Oil, Chia Seeds, Dried Chicory Root, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite), Potassium Chloride, Dried Kelp, Turmeric, Cinnamon
Dog vs Human Reviews
A lot of fresh dog foods are “human-grade,” meaning that the ingredients have been manufactured and packed in accordance with federal safety standards for human food. We gave some the ultimate test: dogs and their humans trying each option out. Check out our video to see the reactions.
How To Transition to Fresh Dog Food
Any time you change your dog’s diet, it’s a good idea to go slowly. Transition them to the new food a little at a time, starting with 25% and working your way up to 100% over the course of a week. Be sure to talk to your vet, who can help guide you on any special needs your pet might have on a new diet.
A couple of other important considerations:
- Fresh dog food usually needs refrigeration—make sure you have adequate space to hold a week’s worth of food in your fridge or freezer.
- Consider whether you intend to feed your dog an entirely fresh-food diet or just supplement their traditional food, which will determine what plan you sign up for and how frequently you need food delivered.
How We Chose
The fresh foods featured here were selected based on our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized foods with appealing textures, balanced nutrient levels, and quality protein sources. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.