JustFoodForDogs Review 2023: Fresh Food for Healthy Pets

JustFoodForDogs’ mission is to ensure our pets have a healthy and happy life by allowing them access to real food and quality nutrition (no more kibble for Max!). The founders work with a team of veterinarians, nutritionists, and certified wholefood formulators to create quality dog food.

Of course, fresh food that meets the AAFCO guidelines for your dog’s nutritional needs is not exactly cheap – so is it worth the price? I consulted our own experts, researched the company’s claims, and compared reviews from users to understand just how JFFD works.

I learned the brand is true to its mission and that the research and studies have a solid scientific base. JustFoodForDogs is, without doubt, a reliable brand fully committed to helping pooches of all ages achieve their full potential.

Pros

• Wide variety of food types and custom meals

• Team includes veterinarians and experts in dog nutrition

• Recipes are fully researched, tried, and tested

• Food meets AAFCO standards

• Users have access to veterinary support and certified nutrition consultants

• Special discount: Save 40% off your first order and 5% off recurring autoship orders!

Cons

• Price is a bit steep

• A la carte orders can’t be customized

• Packaging contains a lot of plastic (recyclable)

JustFoodForDogs Is Best For

• Health-conscious pet owners

• Dogs who require a special diet

• Busy pet owners who want to put their orders on autopilot 

JustFoodForDogs May Not Be Great For

• Pet owners on a tight budget 

• Particularly picky dogs

JustFoodForDogs Meals

Plans and Recipes

JustFoodForDogs (JFFD) is not a subscription-based service, so there aren’t specific plans to choose from.

This does give you complete freedom over the type of food you choose and the quantity. You can also jump on a call with a nutrition consultant who will help you place an order based on your dog’s preferences and health.

All the foods prepared by JFFD are formulated and handmade by veterinarians, food safety experts, and nutrition consultants in open-to-the-public kitchens. So you can even go and see the food being prepared and have a face-to-face chat with the staff!

Overall, the menu includes five types of meals:

• Fresh Frozen: Thaw-and-serve meals made with human-edible ingredients, free of preservatives. These need to be stored in the freezer.

• PantryFresh: Shelf-stable meals made with wholefood ingredients and zero preservatives.

• Vet Support: Prescription-required thaw-and-serve meals designed for dogs with special needs.

• DIY Homemade Kits: Vet-formulated nutrient blends that can be combined with meat and other ingredients to cook your dog’s food at home.

• Custom Diets: Meals especially designed for your dog, based on its medical needs. If your dog suffers from severe allergies, has an illness, or has to lose weight, this is the best option. 

JFFD’s menu also includes treats, supplements, and a couple of options for cat food (not much variety here though). 

In most cases, pet owners with healthy pets will order from the Fresh Frozen, PantryFresh, and DIY Homemade Kits categories, with some add-ons from the treats and supplements sections.

Ingredients

All the meals on JustFoodForDogs’ menu are made with chopped whole foods – this means you can actually see the veggies, meat, and other ingredients when you open the package.

I also like that each recipe uses only ingredients approved by the USDA for human consumption. This doesn’t mean you’ll share the food with your dog, of course! It just means the food was prepared with the same care as if it were destined for human consumption. 

Plus, none of the meals contain preservatives or growth hormones. JFFD runs year-long trials that follow AAFCO guidelines to make sure the food promotes a healthy immune system and is beneficial for our dogs’ overall health.

You’ll notice mostly the same formula with each recipe: one protein source and one source of fiber. For this review, I analyzed one of the more popular meals on the menu – the Chicken & White Rice (available in both Fresh Frozen and PantryFresh).

This is a gluten-free recipe, made with fresh chicken (thighs, liver, and gizzards), enriched long-grain rice, veggies, and fruit. It also contains premium Icelandic fish oil and JFFD’s Nutrient Blend (which you can find on the DIY Homemade Kits menu).

Chicken is a great source of protein for both puppies and adult dogs, while the combination of rice and veggies provides them with the necessary vitamins. Fish oil is a healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids, which support a dog’s joints, skin, and immune system. 

Nutrition

All the foods cooked by the JustFoodForDogs team have been designed to provide both puppies and adult dogs with the vitamins and minerals they need. In this case, the Chicken & White Rice recipe is rich in calcium and phosphorus.

It also contains 8% crude protein (minimum), 3% crude fat, and 1% crude fiber (maximum). Lastly, it has 43 calories per ounce so it’ll help keep Max’s weight under control!

Unboxing

If you order from Fresh Frozen, your box will be lined with a frozen gel pack to keep the meals cold, and most of the packaging can be recycled or reused. Just make sure to read and follow the instructions.

You have the option to order a whole box of the same meal (small, medium, or large) or you can order individual items if you want to mix and match the recipes. Once you open the box, it’s best to store any Fresh Frozen foods in the freezer.

Of course, you should leave one or two packages in the refrigerator to thaw overnight if you need to feed your dog the following day. Once you open a package, if you don’t use it all at once, it’s best to keep the food in an air-tight container in the fridge. 

If your box contains PantryFresh items (available individually or cases of 12), you can store them in a dark cupboard – somewhere away from sunlight or heat. These foods come in a Tetra Pak and can be stored unopened for two years.

Shipping & Delivery

JustFoodForDogs delivers to all 50 states, but the company also has open-to-the-public kitchens in eight locations across the US where you can buy the food locally.

JFFD also has more than 200 pantries in veterinary clinics, and in some Petco and Pet Food Express stores.

If you place a one-off order from the company’s site or from Amazon, there’s a $10 flat-rate shipping fee. Keep in mind that it may take up to seven business days for your order to arrive, so plan ahead!

Even though there isn’t a subscription program, JustFoodForDogs does offer a repeated delivery method called Autoship, where delivery is free and you can set your own frequency. It also means you’ll never run out of your pooch’s favorite meals.

Autoship allows you to skip a delivery whenever you want, but also note that these deliveries are only available Monday through Friday (no weekends). 

Ordering from JustFoodForDogs

Since there’s no subscription plan, when you order from JustFoodForDogs, it’ll feel like a regular online purchase. To order, you’ll have to create an account (it only took me two minutes) and then choose your items.

How to Sign Up

On the website, click My Account, in the upper-right corner of the window. From the menu that opens, select the New Customer? Start Here option.

You’re required to fill in a short form with your name and phone number, and then you can access your account. Here, you’ll have access to your order history, Autoship management, and pup profile.

If you’re struggling to work out what type of food is best for your pooch, JFFD has a great Feeding Calculator that is free to use (you don’t even have to be a registered customer). Plus, if you have an account, you can store each dog’s profile for later use.

I enjoyed using the calculator because you can never know for sure just how much food your dog needs to stay healthy. The company helps you find the ideal food type and quantity based on your pooch’s age, breed, allergies, and more.

Managing Your Subscription

You can manage your orders, pet profiles, and Autoship deliveries directly from your account whenever you log in.

Customer Service

JustFoodForDogs is happy to chat with customers at any point – be it on the phone or in person at one of its retail kitchens or pantries across the country.

If you’re not local to any of the JFFD locations, you can always call or leave a message using the contact form on the website. Keep in mind that the phone lines can get pretty crowded at times.

I also like that JustFoodForDogs has a Clean Bowl Guarantee, which means you can get your money back if you’re not happy with your first order, regardless of your reason. 

JustFoodForDogs Recalls

The only recall in the history of JFFD was in 2018 when the company recalled three products (Fresh Frozen Turducken, Beef & Russet Potato, and Fish & Sweet Potato) because of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

After further investigation, JFFD representatives found that the reason for this contamination was the human-edible green bean supply (which was delivered contaminated). 

Prices

JustFoodForDogs operates as a typical online store where you go to buy as much or as little as you need. The prices differ from one item to another based on ingredients, preparation method, packaging, and more.

If you want to give it a try, I recommend starting with one of the most popular meals on its list – Chicken & White Rice. You can either order it Fresh Frozen or PantryFresh.

A small box of FreshFrozen Chicken & White Rice will set you back $62.65 (for seven meals), while the PantryFresh version costs $6.45 per meal or $64.95 for a case of 12. You’ll also have to pay a shipping fee of $10.

If your pooch likes the food and you want to continue buying it, I recommend switching to Autoship. This will save you the shipping fee and the hassle of re-submitting your order on time.

The Bottom Line: Is JustFoodForDogs Worth It?

Yes! JustFoodForDogs clearly cares about the wellbeing of our four-legged friends and works hard to create delicious recipes that will keep them healthy for years to come.

The company uses scientific research and specialists to create high-quality food with human-grade ingredients.

FAQ

1. What is the healthiest food to feed your dog?

Dogs react well to a combination of high-quality protein, fiber, and carbs from healthy sources such as vegetables or grains. That’s why all JustFoodForDogs recipes use this formula. In fact, the most popular recipe combines fresh chicken with enriched white rice, vegetables, and apples.

2. Is JustFoodForDogs raw?

JFFD only uses lightly cooked ingredients in all its recipes, as recommended by the FDA and AVMA. This is as an extra measure to avoid contamination with harmful bacteria such as Salmonella spp and E. coli.

3. Is there dog food that helps with allergies?

JustFoodForDogs can help you create a custom-made recipe that’s perfectly tailored to your dog’s needs. For this, you have to get in contact with one of the company’s nutrition specialists to discuss the medical condition of your pooch.