The Farmer’s Dog vs. Homemade Dog Food: Which Is Better?

Many pet owners wonder whether it’s better to prepare fresh food at home for their dogs or to order a service like The Farmer’s Dog. Both options promise healthier meals than traditional kibble, but they come with important differences in safety, convenience, and nutritional balance.

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The Appeal (and Risks!) of Homemade Dog Food

Making your dog’s meals at home can feel like the ultimate act of love. You know exactly what ingredients you’re using, and you can avoid fillers, preservatives, or mystery meats. For dogs with allergies or very picky eaters, homemade food may seem like the simplest solution.

But there’s a catch: it’s surprisingly difficult to create a diet that is nutritionally complete and balanced. Dogs need the right levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in every meal. Without professional guidance, it’s easy to end up with deficiencies that could harm your dog’s health over time.

For more information about what dogs actually need in their food, read my post, Best and Worst Foods for Your Pet (or watch my video below).  You’ll get a link to see Dr. Karen Becker’s video explaining this and also a link to get a copy of her book, Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats.

Also check out this post, Is Homemade Dog Food a Good Idea?

Unfortunately, even your veterinarian isn’t necessarily someone whose opinion you can count on regarding your dog’s nutrition.  Vets, like doctors for humans, get very little education regarding nutrition in medical school.  It’s only the veterinary nutritionists who actually have the knowledge and education to give you solid advice, not most veterinarians.

Watch My Video: Best and Worst Foods for Your Pet

Homemade Dog Food vs. The Farmer’s Dog: Key Differences

This is where The Farmer’s Dog stands out. The meals are:

• Formulated by veterinary nutritionists to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.

• Made with human-grade ingredients—real meat and vegetables, not by-products or fillers.

• Pre-portioned for your individual dog based on age, weight, activity level, and health needs.

• Delivered fresh to your door, ready to store in the fridge or freezer.

Unlike homemade diets, there’s no guesswork. You know your dog is getting all the nutrients they need in the right amounts.

You can read my full review of The Farmer’s Dog here.

The Time & Cost Factor

Cooking for your dog can take a lot of time, especially if you’re preparing meals in bulk. You’ll also spend money sourcing ingredients and supplements to balance the diet properly.

A personal note here:  I had a miniature doxy once who was terminally ill and I tried making meals for her myself in a desperate attempt to save her life. (That’s little Taz in the picture smooching me!)  That’s when I started to research cooking for her and began realizing that a dog’s nutritional needs go far beyond cooking them some chicken, veggies and rice.

I can’t remember the source anymore – it was years ago when I did this.  But I remember hearing an expert talking about how dogs (and cats) need the stuff they’d naturally eat, not just human foods.

Sounds gross, but I remember them saying, for example, that when a cat eats a mouse, or when a dog (used to be wolves!) eat a rabbit, they get stuff they need from eating the bones, the organs, the brains, the eyeballs…and even fiber from eating the fur!

I had to purchase very specific supplements to make sure she was getting everything she needed.  And I probably wasn’t actually succeeding.  It grossed me out, bigtime.  But it made me realize that an animal’s nutritional needs aren’t the same as a human’s nutritional needs.

The veterinary nutritionists at The Farmer’s Dog actually know what they’re doing!  The meals arrive ready to serve. While the cost may be higher than kibble, it’s often comparable—or even cheaper—than buying all the fresh ingredients yourself, especially when you factor in the supplements you’ll need plus the time saved.

And I don’t know about you, but peace of mind is valuable to me as well.

The Bottom Line

If you enjoy cooking and are working closely with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist, homemade food can work. But for most pet owners, The Farmer’s Dog is the safer, more convenient choice. You get peace of mind knowing your dog’s food has been formulated by experts and tailored to their needs—without spending hours in the kitchen.

Try The Farmer’s Dog Today

You can get 50% off your first box of The Farmer’s Dog and see the difference fresh food makes in your dog’s health and happiness.

I Donate to Animal Charities

Thank you for visiting People Loving Animals!  I hope this post helps you decide on the best way to make sure your dog gets all of their nutritional needs met so they can live their best life!

I receive a commission for some of the products and services I recommend on my site.  I donate 10% of my earnings to the animal charities listed here.  Thank you for your support!  Debra

If you’d like information on the most popular brands of fresh dog food, read my post, Fresh Dog Food Comparisons and Reviews.

For more help, read more of my dog health posts here!