Ollie vs. The Farmer’s Dog 2024: Best for Your Pet?

Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog both have a great reputation for their fresh human-grade dog food. To find out which is the top choice, my colleague and his dog, Baxter, thoroughly tested out both companies. But which is best for your pet?

I’ve also examined each company’s menu offerings, studied their ingredient lists, pored through their reviews, and even researched veterinary journals to make sure your pooch gets the best of canine cuisine.

The Farmer’s Dog took first place, but this was a very close match between 2 worthy competitors. Ollie offers partial portions, which is good if you want to start small, while The Farmer’s Dog is a bit cheaper if budget’s a big factor for you. Keep reading to find out all the details from my research and my colleague’s personal experience.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Ingredient Quality

Winner: It’s a tie

The Farmer’s Dog and Ollie both use only human-grade USDA-certified food. Both services have veterinary nutritionists on staff who design healthy meals certified by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog both offer slow-cooked meals at a relatively low temperature to kill pathogens and preserve nutrients. The Farmer’s Dog meals are flash-frozen to preserve the freshness as well as the nutrition of the ingredients.

Ollie also has a line of gently baked nuggets that are great for dogs that are accustomed to dry foods.

Ollie’s meals contain at least 35% to 44% protein by dry weight. Ollie also includes healthy vegetables like kale, carrots, cranberries, and pumpkin to ensure your pup gets all the nutrition it needs to thrive. Ollie ensures all ingredients are of premium quality by rigorously certifying all farm partners. Additionally, there are no artificial fillers, flavorings, or preservatives in its products.

There’s no corn, wheat, or soy in any Ollie meals. Most of the recipes are grain-free, but its chicken recipe contains rice for dog parents concerned about the possible link between grain-free diets and heart issues. All Ollie meals are slow-cooked in small batches.

The Farmer’s Dog offers gently steamed, grain-free food containing antioxidant-heavy vegetables like broccoli, carrots, green beans, and spinach, along with a TFD Nutrient Blend with ingredients like heart-healthy omega fatty acids and taurine to offset any potential issues with grain-free diets.

The ingredients in The Farmer's Dog meals come from local farms and reputable food suppliers who adhere to USDA standards for human food. This ensures high-quality, safe, and nutritious ingredients are used in each meal, reflecting the company's commitment to pet health.

Meals and Customization

Winner: Ollie

I handed this one to Ollie because it offers a selection of treats and supplements, as well as a choice between slow-cooked and baked food. But the round was very nearly a tie, as both competitors have good range of protein options for their main meals.

The slow-cooked meals from Farmer’s Dog are available in:

• Beef

• Turkey

• Chicken

• Lamb

The slow-cooked meals from Ollie are available in:

• Beef with Sweet Potatoes

• Turkey with Blueberries

• Chicken with Carrots

• Lamb with Cranberries

• Pork with Apples

Ollie’s baked meals come in these flavors:

• Beef and Sweet Potato

• Chicken and Carrot

You can also get the following treats and supplements at Ollie:

• Jerky Strips

• Dental Chews

• Crunchy Treats 

• Training Treats

• Sweet Potato Slices

• Hip & Joint Chews

• Probiotic Chews

• Calming Chews

• Skin & Coat Chews

• Immunity Chews

Both services start your subscription with a questionnaire about your dog's weight, breed, build, age, and activity level. Tailoring your dog’s food requirements to their unique characteristics can lead to better weight management and overall health compared to one-size-fits-all commercial dog foods.

The Farmer’s Dog asks for information on many canine health issues. Shifting to a diet of high-quality, human-grade fresh food can help many of the listed conditions anyway, but TFD still only offers 4 different recipes and doesn’t have an allergen filter like Ollie does. 

Ordering and Delivery

Winner: It’s a tie

This one was too close to call. Ollie offers partial plans, but The Farmer’s Dog has 24/7 customer support, so I ruled this round a draw.

Both Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog make ordering simple once you complete their questionnaires. Each provides you with a recommended plan. And if you have more than 1 canine companion, both services will happily, if not cheaply, provide you with multiple plans.

Ollie also offers partial plans for dog parents who want to top up the food bowl with fresh Ollie food that meets 25% or 50% of their dog’s caloric needs.

Both services deliver anywhere in the continental United States. They both provide email tracking information when your order is shipped, so you can keep an eye on your delivery. You can also check the tracking information on their websites.

Ollie’s support hours are 9 am to 7 pm Eastern time Monday to Friday and 10 am to 7 pm on weekends. If there are any problems with your order (for example, if it was delayed and the food wasn’t cold when you received it), you can contact Ollie by phone or email.

You can reach The Farmer’s Dog support team by phone or email, or through its Facebook or Instagram pages. Its support team is available 24/7. To change your order or reschedule a delivery, simply go to your account page before the cutoff date (4-5 days before your next order ships) and make the changes.

The Farmer’s Dog sends meals every 3-8 weeks, depending on the size of your dog. You can change your order and reduce portions if you want to use your Farmer’s Dog meals as a supplement, but you have to do it manually, so it’s a bit less convenient than Ollie.

Ollie sends meals every 2-8 weeks, depending on the size of your dog. You can easily change, pause, cancel, or reactivate your subscription through your Customer Account page. Ollie can cancel deliveries or ship to a new address if you and your dog are spending time at a different address.

Both Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog typically send 1 or 2 extra days’ worth of food in case of a delayed pack. Both let you pause deliveries if you get overstocked, but The Farmer’s Dog also allows rush orders if you run short.

Unboxing

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog wins this round with its personalized packages and the recyclability of its packaging. When you’ve served the food, simply wash the plastic food wrappers, and recycle them along with #4 plastics. 

Both services recommend putting meals in the freezer upon opening and defrosting overnight before serving. Ollie recommends using frozen meals within 6 months, while The Farmer’s Dog recommends storing them for a maximum of 4 months.

Both provide feeding instructions, including advice on transitioning to a fresh food diet. You can serve these meals straight out of the refrigerator or, if your dog prefers warmer food, bring them up to room temperature by mixing in a tiny bit of hot water.

Ollie’s first order includes a dishwasher and microwave-safe storage container. If your dog only takes part of a pack at 1 meal, you can put the rest aside in your refrigerator for tomorrow. Ollie even includes a scoop with its meals to make things easy.

Its containers and accessories are biodegradable and BPA-free, while the box and liner are curbside recyclable. Seal the pack, and the remaining food will be fine for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Unfortunately, its peel-back packs, which keep the food safe, aren’t recyclable and must be thrown in the trash.

The Farmer’s Dog sends each meal with your dog’s name on it. Like Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog provides a reusable biodegradable feeding tray and offers instructions on how much to feed your dog and on transitioning from your old dog food.

If you’re feeding a partial pack, you’ll need another bag or container to store the remainder in your refrigerator. Like Ollie, The Farmer’s Dog recommends you use your refrigerated remaining food within 4 days.

The Farmer’s Dog uses eco-friendly cornstarch insulation. When you’re done, you simply put the insulation under running water. It dissolves into a harmless cornstarch slurry and goes down your drain. You have to recycle your Ollie insulation on the curb.

Meal Prep

Winner: It’s a tie

This round is a tie as both Ollie and The Farmer's Dog deliver high-quality, easy-to-prepare meals. However, they offer slightly different experiences in terms of preparation and storage.

Ollie provides clear guidelines and tools that make portioning straightforward, even when using the food as a topper. This contrasts with The Farmer's Dog, where the absence of portion markings on the bags makes the process less precise. My colleague noted that this could be improved with distinct packaging marks.

The ingredients in both brands are fresh and visually appealing, making these meals look and taste superior to typical dry dog food. Ollie's meals are vibrant with identifiable vegetables, while The Farmer’s Dog meals boast a fresh, colorful appearance that stands out. Both foods were eagerly accepted by Baxter.

Ollie’s practical packaging solutions, like the puptainer and resealable bags, help keep things organized and maintain freshness. The Farmer's Dog requires more freezer space, especially if you serve it as a full fresh plan. If you’re serving as a topper, my colleague suggests cutting the frozen pack for ease of storage.

Overall, the choice between Ollie and The Farmer's Dog might depend on your specific needs for convenience in portioning and storage versus the utmost simplicity in meal preparation. Both brands provide a healthy and appealing option for pet owners seeking quality and ease.

Pricing

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog takes the lead in this round. I focused on my colleague’s cost breakdown to compare the services. When it comes to daily feeding costs, The Farmer's Dog offers a slightly more budget-friendly option at $3.21 per day when used as a supplement for Baxter, a 62 lb Goldendoodle, totaling approximately $44.93 per order, with an additional $11.99 for treats.

In contrast, Ollie's overall weekly cost can exceed $60, breaking down to just over $4 per meal when feeding Baxter twice daily. This makes Ollie a pricier choice, though it also includes options for extra purchases like sweet potato slices and jerky strips for $9 and $10, respectively, and dietary supplements at $22 per jar.

The cost of meal plans from both Ollie and The Farmer's Dog varies significantly depending on the breed, weight, and specific feeding plan of the dog. For example, a small 6-pound Chihuahua can be fed with Ollie’s meal plan for $20.67 per week, whereas a large 180-pound Newfoundland would require a much more substantial budget of $118.83 per week for a full diet. 

Comparatively, The Farmer’s Dog offers slightly lower pricing for similar weight categories: $19.38 per week for the Chihuahua and $116.06 per week for the Newfoundland. This highlights how both companies tailor their meal plans to the specific caloric needs of different breeds and sizes.

Both brands provide premium foods, but the daily and per-meal costs suggest that The Farmer's Dog may be more cost-effective for budget-conscious pet owners. You can also opt for a more budget-friendly topper plan from The Farmer’s Dog to reduce costs further.

Ollie offers a money-back guarantee on your initial 2-week package if your dog doesn’t like the food. You’ll most likely receive biweekly shipments of food. Small dogs may get a box every 4 to 8 weeks since they consume less food. You can also get a refund on your first order from The Farmer’s Dog if you donate the remaining food to a local animal shelter. 

Ollie vs. The Farmer’s Dog — Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: The Farmer’s Dog

Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog are both top-quality, fresh dog food services that can improve your dog's health. A subscription is one of the most convenient ways to feed your dog healthy, fresh food without the hassle and mess of cooking meals yourself. Both services simplify feeding fresh food, making it as effortless as serving mainstream wet dog food.

I've evaluated and contrasted most of the top pet food delivery services for pet lovers and their families. This was the closest comparison so far, as these 2 brands have a very similar (high-quality) offering.

The Farmer’s Dog can work out slightly cheaper than Ollie. But when you’re dealing with very small dogs, the difference in price is trivial. The other main difference is that Ollie also offers dry food, so if your pup prefers eating dry or a mix of wet and dry, then Ollie may be better.

My colleague was impressed with both companies and Baxter enjoyed his meals too. And since both let you cancel easily and offer big discounts on your first order, you could let your pup try out both – so they can decide for themselves which one they prefer!

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Ollie or The Farmer’s Dog?

The Farmer’s Dog comes in at a lower price point, though both brands are priced appropriately for custom fresh food services. The difference in pricing can be significant with larger dogs, but when dealing with smaller dogs, it’s only a few pennies a day.

What if I only want to feed my dog a partially fresh diet?

Ollie offers partial plans that’ll meet 25% or 50% of your dog’s caloric needs and provide a huge nutritional boost over mass-market foods. Plus, The Farmer’s Dog offers a topper plan if a full fresh plan is out of your budget.

Who is better, The Farmer’s Dog or Ollie?

The Farmer’s Dog came top in my comparison, but both Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog use human-grade ingredients in their recipes that are prepared in USDA-approved kitchens and designed by veterinary professionals. Your dog may favor the food from one service or another, but either service will send meals that make your dog healthier and happier.