If you’re looking for healthier alternatives to traditional kibble, The Pets Table offers an interesting variety of choices. Instead of selling just one type of dog food, the company offers fresh dog food, air-dried food, and plans that combine the two.
That flexibility is one of the things that caught my attention about The Pets Table. You can choose a full fresh-food diet, combine fresh and air-dried food, or even use smaller fresh portions along with your dog’s existing food.
But is The Pets Table actually good dog food? In this review, we’ll take a close look at the ingredients, nutrition, fresh and air-dried options, how the subscription works, pros and cons, and whether I think The Pets Table is worth trying.
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Grab my point-by-point comparison of fresh dog food brands!
What is The Pets Table?
The Pets Table is a personalized dog food delivery service backed by HelloFresh. The company was founded by three longtime HelloFresh employees who wanted to bring the company’s experience with meal delivery and ingredient sourcing into the pet food market. You’ll be able to hear more from those employees later in this post.
The Pets Table offers several feeding options rather than requiring every customer to choose the same type of food. Depending on your dog’s needs and your budget, you can choose Fresh, Air-Dried, Mixed, or Fresh 50% Portions.
You’ll be asked to answer questions about your dog so The Pets Table can recommend an appropriate meal plan and portions.
👉 See The Pets Table Plans for Your Dog
Is The Pets Table Dog Food a Good Brand?
One of the most important things to look at when evaluating any dog food is who formulates it and whether it provides complete and balanced nutrition.
According to The Pets Table, its recipes are reviewed by an on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionist. The company says its foods meet AAFCO nutrient profiles both through formulation and through laboratory analysis of the finished product.
The Pets Table also states that its recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional profiles for all life stages, including the growth of large-breed puppies.
The company provides unusually detailed information about its quality-control process as well. According to The Pets Table, ingredients are evaluated before they’re used, and finished foods undergo nutrient analysis as well as testing for potential hazards including E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. The company also performs shelf-life testing and digestibility trials.
I like seeing this level of transparency from a dog food company. Attractive ingredients are important, but a dog food also needs to provide the right nutrients in the right amounts. And the fact that they’re willing to put this level of detailed statements on their website gives me confidence that they stand behind those claims.
Watch this video about the founders of The Pets Table!
The Pets Table Fresh Dog Food
The fresh food is probably the part of The Pets Table that will be most interesting if you’re already considering switching your dog away from traditional kibble.
The Pets Table Fresh recipes are made with human-grade ingredients and delivered frozen. Real animal protein is the first ingredient, and the recipes incorporate recognizable ingredients such as vegetables along with the vitamins, minerals, oils, and other nutrients needed to make the food nutritionally complete.
The company’s current Fresh recipes include several protein choices, including beef, chicken, turkey, and pork recipes.
The Fresh food is produced in a USDA-inspected human-grade food facility in the United States.
If you’re still deciding whether making the switch makes sense financially, see my article Is Fresh Dog Food Worth the Cost?
You can also see The Pets Table alongside other fresh-food options in my Fresh Dog Food Comparisons and Reviews.
I personally love when pet owners switch their pets to fresh food. What a fantastic life improvement for the pet!
The Pets Table Air-Dried Dog Food
The Pets Table also offers air-dried dog food for people who want an alternative to kibble without the refrigeration and freezer space required by traditional fresh food.
Air-dried food is shelf stable, making it considerably more convenient for storage and travel. It’s also less expensive than feeding The Pets Table’s full Fresh plan.
This option could be particularly appealing if you like the idea of upgrading your dog’s food but aren’t ready for the cost or logistics of a completely fresh diet.
The Pets Table Mixed Plan
The Mixed Plan combines Fresh and Air-Dried meals, with approximately half of the dog’s calories coming from each type of food.
I think this is one of the more interesting things about The Pets Table because it addresses two of the biggest objections people have to fresh dog food: cost and convenience.
Your dog still gets fresh meals, but you also have shelf-stable food available. The combination can make the overall feeding plan more affordable than feeding exclusively fresh food.
The Pets Table Fresh 50% Portions
There’s another option for dog owners who want to incorporate fresh food without paying for a complete fresh-food diet. To me, this may be the perfect combination to improve your dog’s diet even if you have a limited budget.
The Fresh 50% Portions plan provides approximately half of your dog’s daily calories. You supply the remainder using your dog’s existing food.
This gives you a way to add fresh food to your dog’s diet while keeping the cost considerably lower than replacing 100% of your dog’s food.
I especially like having this option available because fresh dog food doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision. I think anything we do to improve our pet’s health is meaningful!
Though I do worry about this one a bit because once your dog tries the fresh food, they may turn their nose up to their regular dog food! LOL When I was a kid, we had a Poodle named Pepi. His food would sit in his bowl all day long. He’d wait until the family finished dinner, holding out for any possible handouts…then he’d finally go eat his dog food!
The Pets Table Dog Food Ingredients
Protein is the first ingredient in The Pets Table recipes. Depending on the recipe you select, protein sources include meats such as beef, chicken, turkey, pork, salmon, whitefish, and lamb.
The recipes also contain fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, oils, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary to create complete and balanced meals.
The Pets Table says it uses fresh proteins and whole vegetables as the majority of its food and adds specific nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and oils, to provide complete nutrition.
The company also incorporates sources of fiber and added yeast culture, a postbiotic, and uses ingredients such as salmon oil to provide omega-3 fatty acids.
How Does The Pets Table Subscription Work?
You begin by completing a short questionnaire about your dog. The Pets Table uses that information to personalize your dog’s meal plan and portions.
You then choose among the available Fresh, Air-Dried, Mixed, or Fresh 50% Portion options.
Awesome benefit: The Pets Table sends a two-week trial box so you and your dog can try the food before committing long term. The company currently offers a 100% money-back guarantee on the trial if the food doesn’t work for your dog. I like this. It means you don’t lose your money if your dog isn’t happy.
How Much Does The Pets Table Cost Per Month?
The cost of The Pets Table depends on your dog’s size, calorie needs, and which feeding plan you choose. However, The Pets Table does provide sample pricing based on a typical 25-pound dog eating two meals per day, which gives us a good idea of what you might expect to pay.
Based on The Pets Table’s current sample prices, here’s approximately what each plan would cost for a 25-pound dog:
- Air-Dried Plan: About $1.59 per meal, or approximately $95 per month.
- Fresh Plan: About $2.70 per meal, or approximately $162 per month.
- Mixed Plan: About $2.40 per meal, or approximately $144 per month.
- Fresh 50% Portions: About $1.65 per meal, or approximately $99 per month. Keep in mind that this plan provides only about half of your dog’s daily calories, so you’ll also need to factor in the cost of the food you use for the other half.
These are estimates based on a typical 25-pound dog being fed twice a day for 30 days. The Pets Table notes that its sample prices don’t include shipping or discounts, and your actual cost will vary depending on your dog’s individual calorie needs. Also keep in mind that these prices are current as of the date of this post. But you’ll be given clear pricing if you decide to try it.
As you’d expect, a small dog may cost considerably less to feed, while a large dog requiring significantly more calories can cost much more. That’s why The Pets Table gives you a personalized price after you provide some basic information about your dog.
But I think I need to challenge that theory a little: If you’ve ever owned a Dachshund, you know they’re absolutely glutenous! I’d bet my last two mini doxies could out-eat a Rottweiler anytime. LOL
One thing I like about The Pets Table is that you don’t have to choose the most expensive full Fresh plan. The Air-Dried, Mixed, and Fresh 50% Portions plans give you several ways to incorporate higher-quality food while keeping the monthly cost more manageable.
👉 Get a Personalized Plan from The Pets Table for Your Dog
Does The Pets Table Meet AAFCO Standards?
Yes. According to The Pets Table, its recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, including the growth of large dogs weighing 70 pounds or more as adults. The company says it verifies nutritional adequacy through both formulation and laboratory analysis of the finished food.
If you don’t know, the AAFCO is the “Association of American Feed Control Officials.”
It’s worth understanding that this is not the same thing as saying the foods have completed AAFCO feeding trials. The Pets Table is transparent that its nutritional adequacy is established through formulation and finished-product analysis.
I appreciate that distinction because it gives dog owners more useful information than simply saying a food is “AAFCO approved,” which isn’t actually how AAFCO works.
Is The Pets Table Vet Approved?
The Pets Table employs an on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionist who helps formulate and review its recipes. The company identifies its veterinary nutritionist as Dr. Sarah Wilson, who has extensive experience in veterinary medicine and nutrition.
Having qualified veterinary nutrition expertise involved in formulation is an important factor I consider when evaluating dog food, particularly when the food is intended to serve as your dog’s complete everyday diet.
I think we need to be careful about products that just say, “vet approved.” A board-certified veterinary nutritionist has specialized nutrition expertise far beyond general veterinary training.
What I Like About The Pets Table
- Multiple feeding options. You aren’t forced into an expensive 100% fresh-food plan. Though if you can afford that, it’s truly a wonderful improvement for your dog’s diet.
- Board-certified veterinary nutritionist involvement. The company employs a qualified veterinary nutritionist who helps formulate and review the recipes.
- Complete and balanced nutrition. The recipes are formulated for all life stages and the company performs finished-product nutritional analysis.
- Real animal protein is the first ingredient.
- Fresh food is produced in a USDA-inspected human-grade facility in the United States.
- Detailed quality-control information. The company publicly explains its nutritional and food-safety testing.
- Personalized portions. Your dog’s feeding plan is based on information you provide about your individual dog.
- Budget flexibility. Fresh, Air-Dried, Mixed, and 50% Fresh options give you several ways to balance nutrition, convenience, and cost.
- Two-week trial. The money-back guarantee reduces the risk of trying the food with a picky dog.
Potential Complaints About The Pets Table
No dog food is going to be right for every dog or every household, and there are a few things I’d consider before signing up.
Fresh Dog Food Costs More Than Kibble
Like most fresh dog food delivery services, feeding a dog entirely fresh food will generally cost more than feeding conventional kibble. The good news is that The Pets Table offers several alternatives if the full Fresh plan doesn’t fit your budget, including its Mixed, Air-Dried, and Fresh 50% Portions plans.
Fresh Food Requires Freezer and Refrigerator Space
The traditional Fresh meals arrive frozen, so you’ll need enough freezer space to store them and you’ll need to plan ahead for thawing. If that’s inconvenient for your household, the Air-Dried option may make more sense.
It’s a Subscription Service
Some people love having dog food delivered automatically; others would rather buy food as needed. If you’re in the second group, you’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable managing a recurring delivery plan.
Your Dog Still Has the Final Vote!
We can analyze ingredients and nutritional standards all day, but dogs have opinions of their own. There’s no guarantee that every dog will like every recipe. That’s why I like the fact that The Pets Table starts with a two-week trial and backs it with a money-back guarantee.
Is The Pets Table Good for Picky Eaters?
The Pets Table specifically markets its Fresh food toward picky eaters, and its customer reviews include many reports from owners of picky dogs who say their dogs enjoy the food.
That doesn’t guarantee your particular dog will like it, of course. But having multiple recipes and different food formats gives you more options than you’d have with a company selling only one or two recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Pets Table
Is The Pets Table fresh dog food?
Yes. The Pets Table offers human-grade Fresh dog food delivered frozen. However, Fresh isn’t its only option. The company also offers Air-Dried food, a Mixed plan combining Fresh and Air-Dried food, and Fresh 50% Portions designed to provide approximately half of your dog’s daily calories.
Is The Pets Table dog food complete and balanced?
According to The Pets Table, its recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, including the growth of large-breed dogs. The company says this is verified through formulation and laboratory analysis of finished products.
Does The Pets Table have a veterinary nutritionist?
Yes. The company employs an on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionist who helps formulate and review its recipes.
Where is The Pets Table dog food made?
The company says its Fresh food is produced at a USDA-inspected human-grade food facility in the United States and its Air-Dried food is also produced at a facility in the United States.
Does The Pets Table require a subscription?
The Pets Table operates as a personalized dog food delivery service. You’ll create a feeding plan based on information about your dog and receive food according to the delivery schedule for your plan.
Can I feed only part fresh food?
Yes. The Fresh 50% Portions plan is specifically designed to provide approximately half of your dog’s daily calories so you can combine it with your existing dog food. The Mixed Plan is another option that combines Fresh and Air-Dried meals.
Is The Pets Table good for puppies?
The Pets Table states that its recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, including growth of large-breed puppies. If your puppy has special nutritional or medical needs, talk with your veterinarian about the most appropriate diet, or ask to speak with someone at The Pets Table to fine-tune your puppy’s needs.
Does The Pets Table offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. The Pets Table currently offers a two-week trial box backed by a 100% money-back guarantee if the food isn’t right for your dog.
Is The Pets Table Worth It?
I think The Pets Table deserves serious consideration if you want to improve the quality of your dog’s food but would like more flexibility than many fresh dog food companies provide.
If you want to feed entirely fresh food, you can. If you’d rather combine fresh and air-dried food, you can do that. And if you’d simply like fresh food to make up part of your dog’s existing diet, there’s an option for that too.
👉 See Which The Pets Table Plan is Best for Your Dog
Don’t forget to grab my point-by-point comparison of fresh dog food brands!
More Dog Food Reviews and Posts You Might Like
- Ollie Dog Food Review
- The Farmer’s Dog Review
- A Pup Above Dog Food Review
- The Pets Table Dog Food Review
- The Farmer’s Dog vs. Homemade Dog Food
- Ollie Dog Food vs. The Farmer’s Dog
- Fresh Dog Food Comparisons and Reviews




