From Chihuahuas to Great Danes, Pharaoh Hounds to Bernese Mountain Dogs, the incredible variety of breeds out there each have their own needs. And yet for the longest time, there were relatively few dog food options in grocery stores.
But fortunately, there are now companies that specialize in making healthy and wholesome foods that are tailored for your own dog’s needs. Three of the best are Nom Nom, Ollie, and The Farmer’s Dog. I enlisted the help of my own star pup, Paisley, to determine the winner by category and best overall!
1. The Taste Group…Nom Nom
All three companies deliver veterinary nutritionist-developed recipes with high-quality ingredients but Nom Nom was Paisley’s clear favorite. She devoured her meal and seemed to wag her tail the hardest when I was serving her a Nom Nom meal over the others. It was actually so adorable how excited she would get at mealtime on Nom Nom days and she seemed a bit disappointed when Ollie was on the menu.
Visually, Nom Nom stands out to me with real, nutrient-rich ingredients you can actually see and recognize, while Ollie’s less than appetizing-looking mush doesn’t inspire as much confidence in me.
2. The Customization Group…The Farmer’s Dog
Every dog is different — and their food options should reflect that. Nom Nom, Ollie, and Farmer’s Dog are in a class of their own because they take all your dog’s details into account when developing meals, paying close attention to known and potential allergies. All three brands offer four different recipes; Farmer’s Dog and Nom Nom feature Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Turkey, while Ollie features Beef, Chicken, Turkey, and Lamb.
Nom Nom offers a comprehensive questionnaire based on age, weight, breed, and health issues. It also offers the unique ability to auto-rotate recipes so your dog never gets bored at mealtime.
The Farmer’s Dog offers the most detailed questionnaire (including questions on spay/neuter status, pickiness, and current preferred type of food).
If your dog likes kibble, Ollie also offers two options for Baked dog food and you can choose fresh, baked, or a mix of both with your delivery. But Paisley was never a fan of dried food, so we prefer the personalization that the Farmer’s Dog offers.
3. The Convenience Group…Nom Nom
All three companies have exciting meal options — but how easy is it to portion, serve, and store those meals?
All three provide the exact amount of food your dog needs every two weeks. The Farmer’s Dog meals come in packs which can represent one, two, or four meals. It’s easy to squeeze the food out of the bags.
Ollie’s packaging is easy to open. The brand provides a container and spoon to store and portion meals.
Nom Nom takes all the guesswork out of feeding with convenient single packs portioned to your dog’s daily needs. No guessing or scooping required.
4. The Nutritional Support Group…Nom Nom
I’m passionate about giving Paisley what I want for myself: wholesome real foods, where I can see the quality and be assured that care has been taken to make them healthy and balanced. For all three companies, their recipes are carefully developed by veterinary nutritionists to provide the right balance of protein, fat, fiber, and vitamins and minerals.
With minimal processing and chunks of real food, you can see the proteins and veggies that Nom Nom meals deliver. As an optional extra, you can add a probiotic to your shipment to help digestion and absorption of all those nutrients.
5. The Standards Group…it’s a Tie
I want to feel good about which brands I choose for both myself AND Paisley. Trust is a big thing for me and I'm selective in how I spend my hard-earned money! That's why I seek out companies that use wholesome real foods that are made with the best care and ingredients.
Nom Nom's proteins and vegetables are sourced from approved U.S. suppliers, and recipes meet AAFCO guidelines.
Farmer’s Dog promises top-grade ingredients, sourced from reputable suppliers that meet USDA standards. They also follow all AAFCO guidelines.
Ultimate Winner...Nom Nom
If you’re looking for nutritious and healthy meals for your dog, you can’t really go wrong with any of these gently cooked dog food brands. But for Paisley and me, we found the most success with Nom Nom.
With just a few orders, I noticed a well-formed poops and actual mealtime excitement for Paisley. Nom Nom even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with your first order.
For these reasons, plus the customization, Nom Nom is my (and Paisley’s) favorite!
