The Farmer's Dog Review: What You Pay After the Trial Ends

Almost every Farmer's Dog review is written during the discount. That is the problem, because the introductory offer is reported to cover 14 days and then the real price arrives.

So this one starts at day 15.

The First Year, Honestly

The half price period covers 3.8% of the first year.

New customers are reported to get 50% off a first box that lasts about 14 days, with the second charge at the full plan price.

Run that against a year and the discounted period is 3.8% of it. That is a perfectly normal way to sell a subscription and we are not suggesting otherwise. It does mean that the number you should budget against is the second bill, not the first.

What It Actually Costs

From about $843 a year for a tiny dog to $9,771 for a giant breed.

Published survey ranges put the cost per day between $2.31 and $26.77 for adult plans, depending mainly on weight, with free shipping included.

Annualised, that is roughly $843 to $1,504 for a dog under 10 lb and $5,741 to $9,771 for a dog over 100 lb. Those are our own multiplications of the daily figures, and the source is explicit that its ranges are survey estimates rather than official quotes, so treat them as a planning guide and get your own quote.

Billing follows shipments rather than calendar months, with boxes about every two weeks for large dogs and up to every eight weeks for small ones, so an individual charge can look much larger than the monthly average.

The Pricing Is Not Linear

A 75 lb dog costs 45.6% less per pound than an 11 lb dog, and three times more in total.

Here is some arithmetic nobody publishes. Two example plans quoted are $2.80 a day for an 11 lb Yorkshire Terrier and $10.39 a day for a 75 lb Labrador mix.

Per pound of dog, that is $0.2545 a day for the small one and $0.1385 for the large one, so the big dog is 45.6% cheaper per pound. In absolute terms the big dog still costs $3,792 a year against $1,022.

The practical reading is that small dog owners pay a premium per pound but a manageable total, while large dog owners get better value per pound and a bill that can rival a car payment. If you have a big dog, the per pound efficiency is cold comfort.

Against Kibble and Other Fresh Brands

Roughly in line with other fresh subscriptions, and far above kibble.

For a 40 lb dog, published typical ranges put the cost per day of budget kibble at $2 to $3 and premium kibble at $3 to $5, against $7.98 to $8.67 here.

That makes this 166% to 334% more than budget kibble by our arithmetic. Against other fresh dog food subscriptions at $7 to $12 it sits in the middle, so the premium you are paying is for fresh dog food as a category rather than for this brand specifically.

We should be clear about what we are not saying. We are not telling you that fresh dog food is or is not better for a dog, because that is a question for a vet and the evidence is not ours to summarise.

What Is In It

Named meat first on every recipe, with protein from 33.9% to 44.6% dry matter.

On composition this fresh dog food does well, and it is the strongest part of the proposition.

An independent analysis puts all four recipes with a named meat as the first ingredient, with dry matter protein from 33.9% on Turkey to 44.6% on Chicken, and fat from 19.6% to 28.1%. That is a spread of 10.7 points of protein across the range, so the recipes are not interchangeable.

One caveat from the same source. The Turkey recipe lists chickpeas second, and chickpeas carry roughly 22% protein themselves, so the protein figure is not all from meat. We will also note that the analysis gave two different dry matter carbohydrate figures for Turkey, 36.4% in its text and 40% in its table, which we are reporting rather than resolving.

The Label Position

Stated as complete and balanced for all life stages.

The recipes are described as complete and balanced and formulated for all life stages, including large breed puppies.

That last part matters because calcium levels in some fresh diets are a known concern for growing large breed dogs, and the independent source we read considers this brand suitable for them. We are reporting that assessment rather than making it, and it is exactly the kind of question to put to your vet rather than to a website.

The Freezer Problem

No preservatives means refrigeration, and four days once defrosted.

This is the practical reason people cancel and it rarely appears in reviews.

The food contains no preservatives, so it must stay refrigerated or frozen, and once defrosted it has to be used within four days. For a large dog on a two week delivery cycle, that is a meaningful amount of freezer space committed permanently.

One reported annoyance is that the plastic pouches are messy and awkward to open after thawing. That is one customer's account rather than a universal finding, but it is the sort of thing that grinds on you twice a day.

• Measure your freezer space before the first order

• Work out the full price, not the trial price

• Ask your vet before switching, especially for puppies

• Check the delivery cycle against your travel plans

Who It Suits

Small to medium dogs, spare freezer space and a budget that genuinely absorbs it.

The honest framing is that this is a convenience and composition product sold at a significant premium, and because the cost per day scales with weight, so does the premium.

For a 15 lb dog at roughly $2,000 a year it is an expensive but normal pet expense. For a 100 lb dog approaching $9,771 a year it becomes a major line in a household budget, and that deserves a deliberate decision rather than a signup during a half price offer.

Final Verdict

Seven out of ten. On composition and convenience this Farmer's Dog review lands positive, with a named meat first on all four recipes, dry matter protein from 33.9% to 44.6%, formulation stated for all life stages and portions measured for your dog. The marks come off for cost and logistics. The half price offer covers about 14 days, which is 3.8% of a year, after which a 40 lb dog runs $7.98 to $8.67 a day, or 166% to 334% above budget kibble, and everything must live in a fridge or freezer and be used within four days of defrosting. Decide on the second bill, not the first, and talk to your vet before switching.

FAQs

How much does The Farmer's Dog cost per month?

Published survey ranges put it at roughly $70 to $800 a month depending on the dog, with a 40 lb dog around $240 to $260. Get your own quote, as these are estimates.

How long does the 50% discount last?

It is reported to apply to a first box covering about 14 days, with the second charge at the full plan price.

Is it better than kibble?

We cannot answer that and would not try. It costs 166% to 334% more than budget kibble for a 40 lb dog. Whether fresh food suits your dog is a question for your vet.

Does it need refrigeration?

Yes. It contains no preservatives, so it must stay refrigerated or frozen and be used within four days of defrosting.

Which recipe has the most protein?

On the analysis we read, Chicken at 44.6% dry matter protein, against 33.9% for Turkey, a spread of 10.7 points.

Is it suitable for puppies?

The recipes are stated as formulated for all life stages including large breed puppies. Calcium levels in fresh diets are a known consideration for growing large breeds, so discuss it with your vet.