By William Stuffer
Why I Took The Farmer’s Dog Quiz
Murphy is our 4-year-old Golden Retriever — loyal, goofy, and generally food-obsessed. But like many dogs, he’s also been known to turn his nose up at kibble. Over time, we started wondering whether there was a better way to feed him — something a bit more nutritious, maybe even fresher.
We’d heard of The Farmer’s Dog, a subscription-based fresh dog food service, made in the US, that customizes meals based on your dog’s profile. The idea of food made with real ingredients — not filler — was appealing. Eventually, we figured it was worth trying out, especially since their quiz takes less than two minutes to complete.
➡️ Start your own quiz and get 60% off your first order here
Taking The Quiz: Quick and Actually Useful
The quiz itself was short and fairly straightforward. We answered questions about Murphy’s breed (Golden Retriever), age (4), current weight, activity level, and general health. Nothing too detailed — just enough to build a basic profile.
There were also questions about his body condition (underweight, ideal, or overweight), plus a few about how picky he is with food and any allergies or sensitivities.
At the end, The Farmer’s Dog calculated Murphy’s daily calorie needs and recommended three recipes: Beef, Turkey, and Chicken & Grain. Each came with an overview of the ingredients and a summary of what to expect in the plan — more on that next.
➡️ You can take the quiz here – it only takes 2 minutes
Murphy’s Custom Plan
Once we finished the quiz, The Farmer’s Dog generated a personalized plan based on Murphy’s profile — a 4-year-old, 65-pound Golden Retriever, which classifies as a large dog. Unsurprisingly, larger dogs require more food, and the pricing reflects that.
Murphy’s full plan came to $8.72/day, which dropped to $4.36/day with the 50% discount on the first box — for a total of $61.04 for two weeks of food, delivered.
If you have a smaller dog, like a French Bulldog, Chihuahua, or Yorkshire Terrier, pricing can be significantly lower. In fact, plans for small breeds start around $2.50/day, which makes the trial even more accessible if you’re curious but unsure.
The best part is: there’s no long-term commitment. You can cancel, pause, or modify your plan anytime through their dashboard.
What’s Actually in the Recipes?
Each recipe, Beef, Turkey, and Chicken & Grain came with a full list of ingredients, and what stood out right away was how simple and recognizable everything was.
No by-products, no artificial preservatives — just real food. For example, the Chicken & Grain recipe includes ingredients like chicken, oats, carrots, and collard greens. The Beef recipe contains beef, sweet potato, lentils, and kale. There’s also a nutrient blend added to every recipe to ensure it’s complete and balanced.
Compared to the usual long, hard-to-interpret kibble labels, it was refreshing to see actual whole foods listed. Each meal is gently cooked at low temperatures, which supposedly helps retain more nutrients without the need for heavy processing.
We’ll get into how it looked and smelled once it arrived — but at this stage, the ingredient quality looked solid.
What Came in the First Box — and How to Store It
A few days after placing the order, Murphy’s first box arrived on our doorstep. Everything was still frozen solid, thanks to the insulated packaging and dry ice. According to The Farmer’s Dog, the food stays safe for up to 12 hours outside — which is helpful if you’re not home when it gets delivered.
Here’s what was inside:
- Pre-portioned packs of Murphy’s selected recipes
- A welcome booklet with feeding and transition tips
- A guide on how to store and serve the meals
- A pack of “Snap Sticks” chicken treats — included for free with the first box (they’re $11 per delivery after that)
The food is shipped every two weeks, which helps avoid overstocking your freezer. Still, depending on your dog’s size, the amount can take up a fair amount of space. In our case (medium-to-large dog), it filled roughly half a standard freezer drawer.
Here’s how storage works:
- Frozen: Packs can stay in the freezer for up to 6 months
- Fridge: Once thawed and opened, each pack stays fresh for about 4 days
- You’ll receive just enough to get through the 2-week period — and you can easily adjust your delivery timing from the online portal if needed
In terms of convenience, the packaging was clean, labeled by recipe, and easy to stack in the freezer or fridge. There’s no scooping or measuring — just thaw, open, and serve.
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What Other Dog Owners Are Saying
Before placing the order, we checked reviews to get a sense of how other dog owners felt about the service — especially those who had been using it for more than just a trial box.
A few things came up consistently:
“My dog used to leave half his food in the bowl. Now he waits by the fridge at mealtime.”
— Kelly R., verified customer (via Trustpilot)
“The improvement in my dog’s digestion and coat after switching was noticeable within a couple of weeks. It’s not cheap, but I feel better knowing what she’s actually eating.”
— Amanda P., verified customer
We also came across feedback from owners of picky eaters, senior dogs, and even dogs with sensitive stomachs — many mentioned visible changes in appetite, energy, and bathroom habits after switching to fresh food.
Of course, not every review is glowing. Some mentioned freezer space as a challenge, or hoped for more recipe variety. But overall, the feedback leaned strongly positive, especially from people who’d tried other premium options before.
➡️ Try it for yourself – your 1st Farmer’s Dog box with 60% off
Pros & Cons: What Stood Out
Every dog is different, so no single food is perfect for everyone. That said, after going through the quiz, the trial box, and reading other reviews, here’s what stood out — both good and less ideal.
✅ Pros
- Clear ingredients: No by-products, fillers, or additives — just real food you can recognize.
- Vet-developed recipes: Each meal is formulated to be nutritionally complete and balanced.
- Custom portions: Meals are pre-portioned based on your dog’s size and needs — no measuring required.
- Convenient delivery: Arrives on a regular schedule, packed safely, and easy to store.
- Flexible subscription: Easy to skip, pause, or cancel directly from your account.
⚠️ Cons
- Takes up freezer space: Depending on your dog’s size, two weeks’ worth of food can fill up part of your freezer.
- Higher cost than kibble: Not budget-tier pricing — though comparable to other fresh food services.
- Limited recipe variety: There are currently five recipes to choose from. Some dogs may want more rotation over time.
Overall, we didn’t run into anything unexpected — but it’s worth considering how much fridge/freezer space you have, and whether the price makes sense for your budget long-term.
➡️ Curious to try it for yourself? Start with 60% off your first box
So, Is It Worth Trying?
After going through the quiz, getting Murphy’s personalized plan, and trying out the meals over the two-week starter box, our overall experience with The Farmer’s Dog was a positive one.
The food was easy to serve, the ingredients were transparent, and Murphy really took to it — he finished every meal without hesitation. It smelled fresh, looked well-moisturized, and didn’t have that overly processed feel you get with a lot of dog food.The subscription felt low-pressure, and the ability to cancel or adjust at any time added peace of mind.
Yes, it’s more expensive than standard kibble, and yes, it does require freezer space. But if you’ve been thinking about trying fresh food — and want a straightforward way to test it out — this 60% off trial makes it pretty easy to see if it’s a fit for your dog.
We’d rate the experience 9/10 overall — not perfect, but solid enough that we’re keeping it in the rotation for now.
➡️ Take the quiz and try The Farmer’s Dog at 60% off — no long-term commitment required
The Farmer’s Dog gallery – other dogs and owners seem to like it
