Ollie vs The Farmer’s Dog: Recipes, Cooking, Pricing and Delivery Compared
Two of the best-known fresh dog food subscriptions compared on what each company publishes about its recipes, formulation, pricing, shipping and subscription terms.
Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog are both subscription services that deliver gently cooked, pre-portioned dog food, formulated by veterinary nutritionists to meet AAFCO “complete and balanced” standards, and both ship only within the contiguous United States. The main differences are in the range: Ollie lists five fresh recipes (including lamb) plus baked options, while The Farmer’s Dog lists beef, chicken, turkey and pork recipes in grain-free and grain-inclusive versions, plus a shelf-stable “Instant Fresh” format. Pricing for both is personalized by your dog’s size and needs.
This comparison uses only what each company publishes on its own website as of October 2026. We have not tasted, fed or tested either food. Details and offers change often, so check each site before you subscribe.
Side-by-side comparison
| Ollie | The Farmer’s Dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Fresh (refrigerated/frozen) and Baked (dry, lower-moisture) | Fresh (frozen) and Instant Fresh (low-heat dried, shelf-stable) |
| Fresh recipes listed | Beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork (5) | Beef, chicken, turkey, pork; grain-free and grain-inclusive options |
| Plan types | Fresh, Baked, or Mixed (fresh plus baked); portions can be reduced | Personalized plans for Fresh or Instant Fresh |
| Cooking | Gently cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F; made in the US | Gently cooked at low temperatures in human food facilities, then frozen (Fresh) or dried (Instant Fresh) |
| Formulation | Developed with veterinary nutritionists; says it follows WSAVA guidelines | Formulated by on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists; says it follows WSAVA guidelines |
| AAFCO life stage | All life stages, including growth of large-size dogs (per Ollie) | Fresh recipes for all life stages; Instant Fresh for adults and seniors (per The Farmer’s Dog) |
| Published starting price | “Less than $4 per day” for small dogs fed only Ollie; averages about $8 per day | Plans “start at about $2/day” |
| Delivery frequency | Automatic shipments on your chosen schedule; starter box holds about two weeks of food | Orders mostly range from 1 week to 2 months of food |
| Shipping area | Continental US; no Alaska or Hawaii | 48 contiguous states |
| Subscription | Subscription only; cancel by phone or on the website (not in the app) | Pause, cancel or reactivate anytime in your online account |
| Extras | Photo-based health screenings in its app, reviewed by veterinarians and vet techs | DIY nutrient mix and recipes for home cooking |
Prices above are each company’s own published starting figures as of October 2026, not quotes. Your price depends on your dog’s weight, age, activity level and recipe choice. Both companies were also advertising first-box discounts in October 2026; these change frequently.
Recipes and ingredients
Ollie
Ollie’s fresh line lists five recipes, each pairing a protein with fruit or vegetables: beef with sweet potatoes, chicken with carrots, turkey with blueberries, lamb with cranberries and pork with apples. It also sells two baked recipes, which it describes as a lower-moisture, crunchy alternative to kibble. Ollie says it uses human-grade ingredients and no by-products, artificial preservatives, or corn, wheat and soy fillers. Lamb is the main protein option Ollie lists that The Farmer’s Dog does not.
The Farmer’s Dog
The Farmer’s Dog lists recipes built around beef, chicken, turkey and pork, with whole vegetables and added vitamins and minerals, in both grain-free and grain-inclusive versions. It notes that pork and turkey may be less familiar proteins for dogs coming off common kibbles. Its Instant Fresh line is dried at low heat, stored in the pantry and mixed with water before serving.
If your dog has a confirmed food allergy, ask your vet which proteins to avoid before choosing a recipe. Neither company offers prescription (therapeutic) diets; The Farmer’s Dog says so directly.
How the food is made
Both brands describe their food as human grade, meaning ingredients and the finished product are handled to human-food standards, and both say they cook gently rather than using high-heat extrusion like most kibble. Ollie states that its recipes are cooked to at least 165°F and are not raw. The Farmer’s Dog says its food is cooked at low temperatures in human food facilities and then quickly frozen. Neither is a raw diet.
Nutritionists and standards
Both companies say veterinary nutritionists formulate their recipes to meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition, and both say they follow the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s guidance on selecting pet foods. The Farmer’s Dog says its board-certified veterinary nutritionists are on staff. Ollie says its recipes are designed with veterinary nutritionists and verified by lab analysis and feeding studies.
To compare any brand on these points yourself, our guide to reading a pet food label explains AAFCO statements, and our fresh dog food vs kibble guide lists the WSAVA questions to ask.
Pricing model
Neither company lists a single price. Both ask you to complete an online questionnaire about your dog, then calculate portions and a price. In general, small dogs cost far less per day than large dogs, and feeding fresh food as a partial portion or topper costs less than a full diet. Ollie also offers mixed fresh and baked plans, which typically cost less than all-fresh. Shipping is included with The Farmer’s Dog plans, according to its FAQ.
Delivery, storage and packaging
- Ollie ships in insulated packaging with dry ice. It says unopened fresh packs keep up to six months in the freezer and up to four days in the fridge once thawed; opened baked food should be used within six weeks.
- The Farmer’s Dog ships Fresh food frozen with insulation and dry ice or cold packs. It recommends thawing packs in the fridge (about 12 hours) and only feeding packs that arrive frozen or still very cold. Instant Fresh needs no refrigeration.
Both say to discard food that arrives warm and contact customer support. Plan for freezer space before your first box.
Which one fits your household?
- Want lamb, or a mix of fresh and crunchy food? Ollie lists both.
- Want grain-inclusive and grain-free options, or a shelf-stable format? The Farmer’s Dog lists both.
- Live in Alaska or Hawaii? Neither ships there as of October 2026.
- Dog on a prescription diet or with a medical condition? Talk to your vet first; a subscription fresh food may not be suitable.
Whichever you choose, switch gradually over about a week. Our food transition schedule shows how. You can read each company’s full terms in the Ollie FAQ and The Farmer’s Dog FAQ.
Bottom line
On paper, Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog are similar: gently cooked, human-grade, vet-nutritionist-formulated food delivered by subscription to the contiguous US. Ollie stands out for its lamb recipe and baked and mixed plans; The Farmer’s Dog for grain-free and grain-inclusive choices, a shelf-stable dried format and a lower advertised starting price. Get a quote from both for your dog’s size, check the terms, and ask your vet if your dog has health needs.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Ollie or The Farmer’s Dog?
It depends on your dog. The Farmer’s Dog advertises plans from about $2 per day, and Ollie says small dogs start at under $4 per day, averaging about $8. Both calculate a personal price, so request a quote from each for your dog’s weight.
Are Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog complete and balanced?
Both companies say their recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists to meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition. Check the specific recipe page for its life-stage statement.
Do they deliver to Alaska, Hawaii or Canada?
No. As of October 2026, both ship only within the contiguous United States.
Can I cancel anytime?
Both describe their subscriptions as flexible. The Farmer’s Dog says you can pause or cancel in your online account; Ollie says to cancel by phone or through its website, not the app.
