The Farmer’s Dog: Unpacking the Best Pet Subscription Box of 2025

How the Winner Was Determined

A panel of subject matter experts selected the 20 best subscription boxes for pets, and turned it over to the public to vote for their favorite brands. In the 2025 Best Pet Subscription Box Category, The Farmer’s Dog was chosen by the public as the winner, taking the No. 1 spot out of the top 10 highest ranking brands.

If you’re not familiar with The Farmer’s Dog, keep reading to learn what makes this brand so beloved by dogs (and their humans).

Why We Love The Farmer’s Dog

In honor of USA Today’s 10Best, here are our top 10 reasons why we love The Farmer’s Dog—and why you and your pup might love them, too:

1. Pre-portioned, fresh food delivered to your door. What and how much to feed your dog can be quite elusive, especially if they need to lose or gain a little weight, or are declining in activity level with age. So we appreciate that The Farmer’s Dog completely takes care of that part, with pre-portioned packs that are made just for your pup. No more math, measuring or guessing what’s best. And their team is on standby 24/7 for anything you need, including tweaking your dog’s plan as their needs change.
2. Recognizable, pronounceable ingredients. When you think about it, fresh dog food just makes sense, because if ultra-processed food is bad for us humans, why would it be good for our dogs? The Farmer’s Dog recipes are chockfull of real, human-grade ingredients you can pronounce, like meats, veggies, fruits and other superfoods. 
3. Gentle cooking process. Unlike kibble, which is highly processed and cooked at high temps that can compromise the nutritional value of the ingredients, The Farmer’s Dog food is gently cooked to retain vital nutrients and avoid the sketchy side effects of ultra processing.
4. Expert formulation. The Farmer’s Dog is formulated by a team of on-staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists. The veterinary nutritionist is a rare expertise—only around 100 out of 100,000 vets in the U.S. are certified in nutrition, and The Farmer’s Dog has an entire team of them.
5. Meets and exceeds national feeding standards. All varieties of The Farmer’s Dog are complete and balanced for all life stages as established by AAFCO, or American Association of Feed Control Officials, a nonprofit organization that has set the standards for the quality and safety of pet food in the U.S. Additionally, The Farmer’s Dog exceeds the guidelines of WSAVA, or the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, which has created recommendations and standards for dog food brands and what to look for on a dog food label, to ensure safe and healthy feeding.
6. Human-grade standards. Every step of The Farmer’s Dog’s sourcing, cooking, packaging and storing processes meet the same standards required for human food, in USDA- and FDA-inspected facilities.
7. Comprehensive assessment. A user-friendly onboarding experience, complete with an in-depth questionnaire, takes into account your dog’s breed, size, weight, age, activity level and other factors, which are used to customize their caloric intake according to their exact needs, specifications and preferences.
8. Custom portioning. The Farmer’s Dog uses a specialized algorithm designed by board-certified nutritionists to create precise portions that are unique to your dog’s nutritional needs. 
9. Mission-driven company. How often can you say you support a company that deeply cares? The Farmer’s Dog obsesses over customer support, quality, the best ingredients and all dogs everywhere. Their mission drives everything they do, and it really shines through in every facet of their brand and products.
10. Investing in veterinary research. The Farmer’s Dog is committed to evidence-based practices. They announced an initial investment of $10 million this year that will be used to fund residencies, grants and clinical studies across a number of universities. The goal is to gain a better scientific understanding of pet nutrition and ultimately to deliver the best possible product to your pup.

How to Choose the Best Pet Food Delivery Service

If you’re sold on the benefits of fresh dog food for your favorite four-legged friend, but aren’t sure how to get started, here are some tips to help you choose the right option for you:

• Consider your dog’s needs. Age, breed, activity level, weight and body condition score all determine the optimal caloric intake for your dog. In addition, be sure to consider any allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients, as well as any foods or flavors your pup tends to turn their nose up to. Does the fresh food brand take all of these factors into consideration? If so, that’s an indicator of quality and likely a good choice for you and your pup.
• Evaluate nutritional balance and ingredient quality. Ensure the food is formulated to meet or exceed AAFCO standards as a complete and balanced option for your pup’s life stage. Look for a brand that uses human-grade meats and high quality ingredients you can pronounce. Read the ingredient list carefully and avoid foods with fillers and meat meals.
• Consider the brand’s reputation and values. Look through product reviews from other dog owners and brand reviews from reputable sources. Does the company employ veterinary nutritionists to formulate their recipes? What is the quality control process for ingredients and finished products? Finding the answers to these questions will help steer you toward a high quality, reputable brand.

Whether you’re a fresh food enthusiast or are just hearing about The Farmer’s Dog for the first time, the benefits of feeding fresh are numerous, and can lead to a better, longer life for your pup—and that’s something we can all get behind.