More and more pet owners are opting to feed their pups fresh dog food—whether it’s refrigerated or frozen—over traditional kibble. But finding the best option for your dog isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. After chatting with veterinarians and dog owners, we chose The Farmer’s Dog as the best fresh dog food overall. But there are plenty of other nutritious and wholesome options worth considering, including Ollie and JustFoodForDogs. And all of the brands we recommend adhere to guidelines established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and we also considered veterinary nutrition expertise when evaluating the brands.

The Farmer’s Dog is one of the premier names in fresh dog food, and for good reason; most of the veterinarians I spoke with recommend it, and several Forbes Vetted staffers feed it to their pups and give it glowing reviews. The brand works with on-staff, board-certified nutritionists to create pre-portioned meals for your dog based on their breed, age, activity level, ideal weight and food sensitivities. Like most options on this list, The Farmer’s Dog provides recipe recommendations based on a quick survey you’ll fill out about your pet.

“We slowly transitioned our mixed-breed puppy to The Farmer’s Dog and now she finishes the bowl every day, where her food used to just sit untouched,” says deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala, whose dog had suddenly lost interest in her food. Julie Finken, associate product manager at Forbes Vetted, also shares that she finds the brand’s customer service to be top-notch—noting how easy it is to update her order just by replying to texts, for instance, without needing to log into her account.

The brand’s four recipes—beef, chicken, turkey and pork—feature a mix of proteins, vegetables and ingredients like chickpeas, lentils and salmon oil. They’re prepared in a human-food facility, meaning the recipes are subject to the same standards as human food, and gently cooked at a temperature high enough to kill potential pathogens but low enough to preserve nutritional integrity. Meals ship frozen and should be stored in the freezer until you’re ready to thaw them. While each pack is labeled with your pup’s name, making it convenient for situations like boarding or doggie daycare, note that the packaging must be cut open and the bags are not resealable.

Similar to the other delivery services on our list, meal plan pricing depends on your dog’s size and caloric needs. Generally, though, The Farmer’s Dog is competitively priced and on the lower end compared with other leading fresh-food brands. You can also choose to add chicken, pork or turkey treats to your delivery.

Related: Read my full, tested review of The Farmer’s Dog.

With six recipe options to choose from, each with a different protein as its base, PetPlate’s fresh food meal plans are an especially good choice for pups with food allergies. The service—which came recommended by several experts I spoke with—makes it easy to vary your dog’s diet with chicken, turkey, venison, lamb, beef and pork formulas. When I adopted my dog, an American bully named Gizmo, over two years ago, he had a few missing patches of fur due to a potential food allergy. I got him started on PetPlate’s venison recipe right away, and his skin and coat issues cleared up quickly; he’s had a full, glossy coat ever since, and no digestive issues of concern.

While some recipes, like venison and lamb, are slightly more expensive than the other options, you can mix and match as many as you’d like in every delivery, at no extra charge. (For instance, venison is $1 more per 28-ounce container, which serves as a full day’s meal for my 75-pound dog; lamb is 50 cents more and beef and pork are 25 cents more.) PetPlate also offers baked food, as well as the option to add its selection of treats and supplements to your order.

I appreciate how easy the lidded containers make it to store leftovers without worrying about getting dog food all over my fridge; they’re also convenient to travel with. Each recipe has a different-colored lid, so you can quickly tell which is which when you’re moving them out of the freezer to thaw. I particularly appreciate the texture of PetPlate’s food. It’s not a puréed, uniform mush; you can clearly see chunks of meat and other ingredients like green beans, carrots or grains of rice in every container.

Note that while the brand does not employ an in-house veterinary nutritionist, it worked with veterinary nutritionist Dr. Renee Streeter as a consultant to develop its recipes. And because its food is made in a facility owned by co-manufacturers, it doesn’t meet all WSAVA global nutrition guidelines, though PetPlate is AAFCO-compliant.

To determine the best fresh dog food for a variety of needs and budgets, we took the following steps:

Author Emmy Favilla relied on her personal experience as a dog owner of a decade-plus and a tester of several fresh dog foods. Favilla spent hours carefully sifting through scores of customer reviews and ratings as well as the fresh dog food brands’ FAQ pages. To provide a well-rounded perspective, we also incorporated feedback from several Forbes staff members who have experience feeding their dogs meals from the brands on this list, considering factors including:

• Recipe selection
• Average cost per day
• Delivery options
• Personalization offerings

To ground our selections in science, Favilla interviewed three experienced veterinarians (including one with a particular focus on pet nutrition) for their guidance. These experts helped us identify the most important features to consider when choosing the right fresh dog food for your pup.

We made sure each recommendation meets guidelines for dog food set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). It is important to note, however, that unlike the FDA or USDA, AAFCO is not a governing organization that can “approve” foods or food brands.

Additionally, we prioritized brands that adhere to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) global nutrition guidelines, which cover factors including nutritionist qualifications, quality-control practices and nutrition research. The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, JustFoodForDogs, Nom Nom and FreshPet say they meet or exceed these guidelines; PetPlate does not meet all of them, for the reasons noted in its description.

If you’re considering switching your dog to a fresh food diet, there are a few factors to keep in mind. These include the age of your pet and whether or not the formula was developed by a veterinary nutritionist. Here’s everything you should consider:

Make sure the brand mentions working with veterinary nutritionists; an in-house team of experts is even better. “Not all pet food is created equal, and simply reading the ingredient list doesn’t give us the full picture," says Wolfe. "Pet guardians should look for food developed by a veterinary nutritionist and tested for pathogens before it reaches the shelves.”

Human-grade ingredients can be one consideration, but they shouldn’t take priority over nutritional adequacy. The term refers to ingredients and manufacturing that meet standards for human food, not whether the finished diet is nutritionally complete and balanced. “If a pet food contains ‘human-grade’ ingredients, it means the food meets the same safety and quality standards as food intended for human consumption,” says Wolfe. “The entire manufacturing process must comply with FDA regulations for human food. This differs from traditional dog food, which is made with ‘feed-grade’ ingredients—those deemed safe for pets but not necessarily suitable for humans.”

Consider your pet’s life stage. Dr. Brett Shorenstein, a New York City-based veterinarian, advises waiting until your pup is around a year old before transitioning them to fresh food. “I’ve seen puppies that aren’t gaining weight, for instance, because the amount of calories provided and, potentially, the ratio of fat just hasn’t been right for that puppy's growth,” he says. With commercial diets, it’s easy to use the feeding guidelines on the back of the bag to ensure you’re feeding your puppy the appropriate amount as they continue to grow.

Wolfe adds: “I generally recommend avoiding all life stage formulas for dogs prone to obesity or those who are already overweight. Senior diets vary widely in nutritional content, and there’s no regulation governing what should be included. So it’s not quite as simple as picking up a diet labeled for seniors.” She advises annual nutrition consultations for senior pets, to ensure their diet fully supports their individual needs.

“There really isn’t a health condition I can think of that wouldn’t benefit from a fresh food diet,” says Wolfe. “Conditions like kidney and heart disease, urinary stones, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disorders, arthritis and obesity can all improve with specific dietary modifications.” While she advises nutritional consultations as well as considering a homemade diet, you’ll need to chat with your veterinarian (and obtain a prescription) before starting your dog on a prescription diet from a service like JustFoodForDogs.

Before fully switching over onto new food, start with 25% new food, 75% old food for two days, then half and half for two days, followed by 75% new food and 25% old food for two days, advises Shorenstein. “Not every diet is right for every pet,” he says. “We can see people transition, where their pet’s stool was perfect, and everything was perfect. And once they transition, they’re going more frequently or their stool is more soft, and so that might be a fiber-related concern.” Sometimes an over-the-counter fiber supplement can remedy this, but if stool issues don’t resolve within a month or so, Shorenstein recommends going back to your dog’s original diet before potentially trying a new one that works better for them.

Make sure you consult with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist before switching, to ensure the caloric and overall nutritional requirements of your particular animal are being met. “​​They will be able to discuss the benefits and potential drawbacks of each option and can help guide you toward the best choice for the unique needs of your pet,” says Zarrella.

The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen team is dedicated to finding the best pet products on the market.

• The Forbes Vetted team has experience covering canine diet topics from the best dry dog food to the best dog food delivery services to how to approach fresh, homemade dog food.
• Emmy Favilla, the author of this story, regularly covers pet content at Forbes Vetted, maintains a wide network of veterinary experts and is active in the dog rescue community. She’s also been a dog owner for over a decade.
• Several Forbes Vetted and Forbes staff members shared their experience feeding their dogs meals from the delivery services on this list: Deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala, executive director Cory Baldwin, former senior designer Elliot Vinzon, associate product manager Julie Finken, and VP of business strategy Jennifer Bruno.
• Home editor (and dog owner) Kelly O’Sullivan, who has written many pet-related pieces at Forbes Vetted, edited this article.
• Forbes Vetted regularly updates stories to ensure top picks are in stock and advice remains up to date. This story was last updated in August 2026 by home and pets writer Fran Sales.

• Brett Shorenstein, VMD, is co-founder of Veterinary Innovative Partners (VIP), a network of nearly 70 veterinarian-owned and -operated hospitals across 12 states. Shorenstein also practices at Abingdon Square Veterinary Clinic in New York City.
• Hillary Wolfe, DVM, CVFT, is a Florida-based veterinarian, food therapist and founder of Tula Veterinary Nutrition, where she provides consultation services and offers pet food courses. Wolfe is certified in food therapy, natural nutrition and integrative therapeutic nutrition.
• Heather Zarrella, DVM, is a veterinarian at Chewy, where she helps oversee the company’s telehealth platform, Connect With a Vet. She earned her undergraduate degree in animal science from Oklahoma State University and attended veterinary school at the University of Florida. Before joining Chewy, she practiced small animal general medicine in South Florida.