Every doting dog owner has one main goal for their furbaby: a long, healthy, and happy life. I spend every free moment with Squash, my 85-pound Bernedoodle, so I want (read: need) her to live as long as possible!
We’ve got the happy part down, but the longevity is still in question. So, I became obsessed with researching the right kind of food for Squash: fresh, air-dried, or kibble?
With tons of great dog food subscriptions like The Pets Table out there (plus what seems like a million different kibbles), it’s easy enough to get my hands on all 3—but which did we like best? Let’s take a look at how they stack up:
Round #1: Nutrition
Fresh: Most fresh food is packed with human-grade ingredients like whole meats, veggies, and grains. Fresh food is gently cooked, which helps preserve the nutritional value of the ingredients, and it’s delivered frozen to ensure quality. On top of that, my favorite recipes from The Pets Table have zero artificial flavors, colors, or fillers!
Air-Dried: Air-dried is what it sounds like: whole ingredients that are ground and gently air-dried to lock in nutrients and make it shelf-stable. The Air-Dried options from The Pets Table have natural ingredients without fillers, so I’m assured that he’s still eating an ultra-nutritious meal.
Kibble: Kibble seems to be the least nutritious of the bunch. It’s often high in starchy carbs and full of low-quality by-products, preservatives, and fillers. Plus, kibble is normally processed at such high temperatures that some of the naturally-existing nutrients may be destroyed.
Winner: Fresh
Round #2: Convenience
Fresh: The Pets Table freezes their fresh food and ships it right to my door—how convenient is that? Delivery aside, all I have to do is store it in the freezer or fridge, and empty the pre-portioned pack right into Squash’s bowl. The only slight inconvenience here is remembering to move the pack from the freezer to the fridge so it can thaw.
Air-Dried: Air-dried food is a storage-friendly option that comes in a sealed bag, so I can simply tear open and pour. No fridge time and no mess! Like the fresh food, The Pets Table delivers right to my doorstep, and it’s always delivered before we run out. It’s one less thing to remember to put on my grocery list.
Kibble: Sure, kibble is the most widely available dog food option, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it convenient. Why, you ask? If you’ve ever tried lugging a 50-pound bag of kibble from your car to the garage, you’ll know what I’m talking about!
Winner: Air-Dried
Round #3: Price
Fresh: High-quality, human-grade food comes at a price! Starting at $2.89/meal*, fresh food is the most expensive option. For a more affordable option, The Pets Table has a Half of Fresh plan, starting at $1.90/meal, to mix in with your current food. You get what you pay for, and when it comes to Squash, I want only the best for her health.
Air-Dried: The Pets Table’s Air-Dried food starts at $1.59/meal, which is 40% more affordable than most fresh/frozen options out there! For me, it’s the perfect alternative between pricier fresh food and low-quality kibble. The Pets Table has a Mixed Fresh and Air-Dried Plan starting at $2.57/meal.* Oh, and did I mention that you can try it risk-free with a 2-week trial box, AND your first box is 50% off?
*Pricing based on a typical 30lb dog being fed 2 times per day
Kibble: Kibble is the cheapest option here–sometimes costing as low as $10 per 3.5-pound bag. I’ll just say this: fast food is cheap, but you shouldn’t eat it for every meal!
Winner: Air-Dried and Kibble
Round #4: Taste
Fresh: The Pets Table’s fresh food is pretty much irresistible to Squash–she’s gobbling it down in two seconds flat. With options like Chicken Casserole with Green Beans, Beef Stew with Carrots, and Turkey Casserole with Broccoli, why am I kinda drooling?
Air-Dried: Squash is super picky, so I wasn’t sure if she’d like the Air-Dried food. Turns out she loves it just as much! Her favorite is the Beef & Berries option, and she comes running when she hears me rip open the bag.
Kibble: If you’ve ever struggled with getting your dog to eat, it might be your kibble. If your dog is anywhere close to being as picky as Squash is, they’re not going near the stuff. No matter the brand, I’ve never found a kibble that Squash will eat.
Winner: Fresh and Air-Dried
The Verdict? Keep the Fresh & Air-Dried Food at Your Pets’ Table!
I can’t stress this enough: if you want the absolute best for your pup, The Pets Table’s Fresh and Air-Dried plans check every box. I went for the Mixed plan to enjoy the convenience of Air-Dried and the nutritional value of Fresh, and I’m noticing a shinier coat, clearer eyes, solid poops, you name it–Squash is a changed dog.
The Pets Table makes it incredibly easy to get started. Just take a quick survey about your dog (it’s so cute, TBH), and they’ll create a customized plan to make sure they get the daily calories and nutrients they need to thrive. Then, they send you a 2-week trial box with a money-back guarantee, and the rest is history.
Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a hike that’s been on Squash’s mind for days. She insists we go right now…enjoy your new food, friends!
