Open Farm Dog Food Reviews 2023: My Dogs Tried All Recipes

open farm dog food review

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This is the ultimate Open Farm dog food review.

Pet parents are becoming more aware of the food system’s impact on the planet, animals, and nutrient density loss resulting from unsustainable farming and production practices in dog food. In response to this problem, Open Farm, a high-end dog food manufacturer, is re-inventing dog food as we know it by only using ethically sourced ingredients and sustainable practices to provide the best nutrition for pets while protecting the environment.

But is Open Farm devoted to eco-friendly and cruelty-free practices? Are their recipes truly made with human-grade and traceable ingredients? If so, are their products worth the higher price for their ingredients?

We decided to try out ALL their products to answer these and all your questions about Open Farm dog food. Let’s dive right in!

The Best Open Farm Dog Foods Reviewed

Scroll to the right to see our favorite Open Farm products.

Open Farm Dog Food Review — At A Glance

Open Farm Dog Food Review

Open Farm is a premium pet food company that produces sustainable dog and cat food made with ethically sourced, GMO-free and human-grade ingredients.

Canine Bible

Ingredientes quality
Price
Nutrition
Personalization
Variety
Customer support
Sustainability
Transparency

Our Verdict & Summary

Open Farm is raising the bar on how we feed our dogs, with even stricter quality than what we feed humans. I love that Open Farm makes dog food with four strict standards: premium nutrition, ethical sourcing, humanly-raised, sustainability, and transparency. Thanks to these manufacturing and organizational pillars, every Open Farm bag you purchase delivers exceptional nutrition.

They accomplish this by only sourcing from farms audited by Certified Humane® and Global Animal Partnership®, who test for the quality of life of farm animals. This practice ensures that only the very best animal proteins (i.e., Grass-fed beef, pasture-raised lamb and more) go into each recipe. Open Farm’s ingredient sourcing and vetting surpass almost every brand I’ve tested.

Overall, Open Farm’s sustainability and ethical business model aligns with the values of today’s pet parents, which earns it a big thumbs up from us, and our dog Lilo who loved tasting their food. This is pet food that you can feel better about feeding your dog.

Need To Improve & Downsides: One downside is the higher price than commercial kibble, but it is expected with a premium dog food brand like Open Farm. Most environmentally conscious dog owners are happy to pay the premium to help keep our planet safe. It’s worth noting that while their recipes are suitable for all dog sizes, I wish they had large or small breed-specific options. Lastly, their meal customization feature lacks a health-focused approach and their senior and puppy recipe flavor are limited.

What Makes It Unique: Unlike other dog food manufacturers, they have an unapologetic commitment to sustainability and animal welfare. We haven’t seen any other dog food brand, so wholeheartedly committed to protecting animals and the environment.

Best For: While Open Farm is suitable for all dogs (regardless of their age, size, or breed), Open Farm is a perfect choice for all animal lovers and eco-conscious dog owners who want to feed their dogs over-the-top quality food. 

Bottom Line: Open Farm is a premium dog food brand that cares for the planet. We recommend their gently cooked recipes for ultra-premium dog nutrition — If you cannot afford it, their dry and freeze-dried formulas outshine most competitors in this category.


4.6

Product Details

Product & Recipes
Ten dog food product categories: dry, wet, fresh, treats, freeze-dried, senior, puppy, vegan, bone broth & supplements. With over 50 + recipes combined

Price
From $9.99 to $149.99, it varies depending on the product you pick

Customization
You can customize your dog’s meal plan based on your dog’s preferences

Ingredients Source & Quality
Made with sustainably, ethically sourced and human-grade ingredients

Manufacturing Facility & Location
Their manufacturing facility, Barrett Ag Service, is located in Minnesota, USA.

Nutrition
All recipes meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile standards for all life stages (except one recipe – more on that later)

The Full Review

All About Open Farm Dog Food

Ch 2 | Ch 3

Open Farm Dog Food Company Overview

Open Farm Inc. is a Canadian dog food company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded in 2013 by Jacqueline Prehogan, her husband Isaac Langleben, and her brother Derek Beiglemen.

Open Farm was born when Jacqueline rescued her first dog, Bella. Jacqueline soon discovered that finding food aligned with her values was difficult. She wanted to provide her dog Bella with the highest quality food and ensure the food didn’t compromise animal welfare, sustainability, and transparency standards. After years of research and hard work, the three started Open Farm. 

Due to the high demand and success of the brand, it quickly rolled out across U.S. markets. Today, 80% of Open Farm’s business is in the U.S. You can find Open Farm products in more than 5000 pet stores in the USA and Canada.

Mission

The brand’s mission is to produce ultra-premium pet food ethically sourced and made from start to finish with sustainable ingredients — or from farm to bowl.[1] The company states, “everything in every Open Farm bag is carefully sourced from the most humane and ethical farms, fisheries, and producers.”

How Does Open Farm Work?

Open Farm offers an extensive line of pet food products, including traditional dry dog food, wet dog food, freeze-dried dog food, gently-cooked dog food, vegan dog food, dog treats, puppy essentials, dog supplements, cat dog food, etc.

Once you’ve determined which recipes are best suited for your pet, you have two options:

  • One-time purchase.
  • Subscription (auto-ship). Subscribing ensures your pet’s food will be shipped to you regularly. And, it also comes with an added discount.

To find the right recipe for your dog or cat, you can take Open Farm’s “Build Your Own Bowl” quiz for a personalized experience for your pup based on weight, activity level, health goals, choice of protein and allergies.

However, the quiz recommends recipes in the same food type as your pet currently eats. If you want to try out something new like “fresh dog food” or “freeze-dried,” select either of those options when it asks what type of food your dog currently eats.

Open Farm’s dog food subscription works similarly to other pet food delivery services. If your pet doesn’t not like their food, you can cancel your subscription at any time. Open Farm accepts returns within 15 days of your purchase.

Here is a look at all the questions you’ll be asked.

Upon submitting this information, your dog’s personalized meal plan, like the one below will be generated and emailed to you. 

This is what our Open Farm personalized plan looks like for our dog based on the information we entered.

Why Feed Open Farm Dog Food? Benefits

Open Farm pet food benefits are rooted in how they source their ingredients and manufacturing standards. Some of the benefits include:

  • Helps with food allergies (single protein recipes)
  • Great for picky eaters
  • Healthier digestions
  • Better skin and coat
  • Weight loss/management (low glycemic carbs)
  • Ingredient tracing
  • High-quality, human-grade protein
  • No additives or harmful chemicals
  • Better stools
  • Home-cooked quality kibble
  • Fresh dog meals
  • Superfood ingredients
  • Support environmental change, a better planet and animal welfare
  • Variety of recipes to meet individual pet needs and life stages (includes softer formats to make mealtime easier for seniors)
  • And much more!

Open Farm Key Features

Here are the most notable features and aspects of Open Farm dog food.

  • Ethical animal treatment. The number one priority at Open Farm is the health and safety of animals, from implementing standards to ensure the ethical treatment of farm animals to testing the animal’s quality for more responsible and kinder animal farming practices.
  • No animal experimentation. Open Farm does not experiment on animals when testing its products. Animal welfare is a top priority in everything they do. The company strongly believes animal testing (in an invasive manner or a laboratory setting) is a cruel and outdated practice.
  • Tested by third-party labs. All their products go through a lot of quality assurance testing by accredited third-party testing facilities that test for nutritional content, pathogens, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
  • Ethically sourced and humanely raised. All meats are ethically farmed 100%. They partner with regularly audited farms to verify that humane standards are maintained. No animals are kept in cages.
  • No GMOs, antibiotics, or added hormones: All their products are made with meat free from antibiotics and added growth hormones. All fruits and vegetables are non-GMO and some are organic.
  • Vet-formulated. All formulas are developed and produced by a team of animal nutrition, animal science, and food manufacturing experts.
  • Rotational bundle. Open Farm offers rotational diet recipes meaning you can rotate between their grain-free, limited ingredient formulations at any time without upsetting your dog’s stomach.
  • Fully recyclable. All Open Farm packaging is curb-side recyclable, compostable, or recyclable through a recycling program with TerraCycle.
  • Recycling program. Created the first nationwide pet food bag recycling program to help manage the brand’s environmental footprint. They also introduced an initiative to package pet food in reusable containers—another first-of-its-kind effort in the pet food world.
  • Giving back. Each Open Farm purchase contributes a percentage to rescue animals across the U.S. and Canada. You also play an essential role in improving the lives of farm animals used in food production.
  • Subscription discount. Earn a permanent 5% discount on every item when you are subscribed
  • Ingredient seasonality. Their labels indicate precisely which kind of seasonal fish is in each batch of food.
  • Audited and accredited suppliers. Open Farm’s partner farms are regularly audited to verify humane standards are maintained.

Open Farm Dog Food Sustainability

Open Farm is one of the few dog food manufacturers with clear climate goals and operates sustainably.

The company is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by %41 by 2030. They will implement aggressive reduction targets around their procurement, delivery, and transportation activities to minimize all other greenhouse gas emissions over the next year. They put their passion into action with a multi-step strategy to reduce carbon emissions.

sustainable dog food

In fact, we’ve given Open Farm the number one spot for the best sustainable dog food brand. Click the link on the left to learn more about Open Farm’s sustainability efforts compared to other brands and why they are the best.

Open Farm Dog Food Sourcing & Manufacturing

Open Farm dog food journey—from sourcing ingredients to your dog’s bowl.

Where Is Open Farm Dog Food Made?

Open Farm’s manufacturing facility, Barrett Ag Service, is located in Minnesota and has 30 years in the pet industry. To ensure that strict food safety standards are constantly maintained, this facility is regularly audited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), AIB International and Certified Humane.

Furthermore, each Open Farm dog food batch is tested by an independent third party for lab or salmonella, e-coli, and other mycotoxins before leaving the facility. They do not begin bagging the product until the lab results are clear.

Who Makes Open Farm Dog Food?

Recipes are formulated at their head office in Toronto with a team of nutrition, animal science and food manufacturing experts. Core to this team is an Animal Nutritionist who holds a Master’s Degree in Animal Science, Formulation, and Animal Nutrition and a Ph.D. Food Scientist. 

Open Farm Sourcing Standards

To ensure consistency and quality of their recipes, Open Farm relies on the following sourcing standards.

  • Audited farms. Poultry and meats are sourced from audited farms that meet strict animal welfare standards (i.e., no antibiotics, growth hormones or cages). This means healthier and happier animals and more nutritious beef, pork, and poultry for your pet.
  • 3 Sourcing mandates for fruits and vegetables (fresh, local, and non-GMO). More than 40% of their vegetables are grown in the same town as their manufacturing facilities. In total, nearly 90% of fruits and vegetables are grown locally–either in-state or in a neighboring state.
  • Ocean-caught fish. Open Farm sources ocean-caught fish to ensure the fish have lived natural lives and consumed diets free from antibiotics and artificial feed. Open Farm uses sustainable fishing practices by Oceanwise and Seafood Watch standards to minimize bycatch and overfishing and protect the marine environment.
  • Certified Humane meats. Meats are raised naturally or on vegetarian diets. For instance, their beef is grass-fed and raised on pasture, not in feedlots. Its lamb comes from pasture-raised New Zealand animals, and its pork originates from independent family farms.
  • Global Animal Partnership (GAP). The GAP partnership ensures the humane treatment of animals and responsible farm practices.
  • International sourcing. Some ingredients are unavailable/sourced from the USA, so they import them from India, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Open Farm Dog Food Ingredients

All Open Farm recipes are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Open Farm diets are meat-first recipes and their dry foods are no different, with the vast majority of protein in these recipes coming from animal ingredients. These ingredients are a rich source of natural and bioavailable vitamins, minerals and amino acids. They supply dogs with an abundant source of cysteine and methionine, the two precursors to taurine synthesis, at levels that significantly exceed AAFCO requirements. These meat ingredients are also strong sources of naturally occurring taurine, which, together with taurine supplementation, all Open Farm dry food recipes achieve taurine levels of ~0.25%.

Open Farm dog food formulas contain low glycemic complex carbohydrates like garbanzo beans, lentils and sweet potatoes instead of grains, rice, or potatoes. Low glycemic foods slow down digestion and provide a slower release of nutrients into the bloodstream, resulting in longer-lasting energy and an increased feeling of satiety.

The company uses a natural antioxidant formulated with a proprietary blend of mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E) that also provides antioxidants. Also, the “natural flavoring” displayed on the label refers to dehydrated whitefish in powder form, mixed with tocopherols (vitamin E) and salt.*

Open Farm offers various products, so it is difficult to list all its ingredients.

However, generally, all their recipes adhere to the following:

  • 100% humanely raised and antibiotic-free meats
  • Wild-caught and sustainably sourced fish
  • No antibiotics or growth hormones
  • Zero artificial flavors, preservatives, or fillers
  • Nutrient-dense, functional ingredients
  • Non-GMO fruits and veggies
  • Superfoods like turmeric and coconut oil
  • Wholesome grains like oats and quinoa
  • No corn, wheat, soy
  • All ingredients are human-food-grade
  • No rendered poultry or meat meals
  • Meat and poultry meat meals are NOT used in their formulas

NOTE: Open Farm’s dry dog formulas include feature either Ocean Whitefish meal, Herring meal, or Menhaden meal. Meat meals (diseased animal carcasses) are not desirable in dog recipes. However, they use a small batch of ocean-caught whitefish meal with traceable inputs allowing for traceability and guaranteeing the fish have lived a natural life and have not been fed antibiotics or artificial feeds. The company’s fish meat meal ingredient is a concentrated healthy protein source, unlike other cheap meat meals in kibble.

If your pet has a dietary sensitivity, Open Farm has a handy chart to easily see which products are single protein or free of certain ingredients, such as poultry, potato, peas, lentils, and beans.

Open Farm Ingredient Transparency, Traceability & Nutrient Profile

Open Farm is extremely transparent about the ingredients they use.

  • Traceable ingredients. Every bag has a code you can punch into Open Farm’s website to trace where your ingredients came from. Open Farm receives certificates of origin for every ingredient.
  • Transparency page. You can instantly trace every ingredient’s source and lab results of every bag you buy by scanning the bag’s lot code. Use the lot code feature on their transparency page.
  • Nutrient profile. All of their food ingredients are clearly labeled, giving you access to every recipe’s complete nutrient profile.

Open Farm Dog Food Reviews

Open Farm carries ten product lines with more than 50 recipes.

Our team decided to try the top products of each category of Open Farm dog food to provide you with an insight review and help you determine which recipes are the best fit for you.

The following products are for dogs, but Open Farm also carries wet and dry cat food and cat supplements.

Open Farm Gently Cooked

We think Open Farm’s gently cooked fresh dog food is the company’s best product in terms of nutritional and health benefits. Think about Open Farm’s gently cooked food as fresh homemade dog food without the hassle of cooking for your dog. Open Farm Gently Cooked is similar to dog food produced by the big “fresh dog food home-delivered” companies like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Nom Nom, and Spot & Tango. These recipes are never stored on a shelf for months. Instead, they are freshly cooked, flash-frozen, and shipped directly to your doorstep.

Their tasty recipes combine human-grade meats and superfoods like non-GMO leafy greens, pumpkin, turmeric, chia seeds, coconut oil, and more.

  • 4 Recipes: Grass-Fed Beef, Harvest Chicken, Surf & Turf & Homestead Turkey
  • Sizes: 8lb or 18lb pre-portioned pouches for easy serving

Why & When Should You Consider This Recipe?

We recommend getting this recipe if you want your dog to enjoy the benefits of fresh dog food, get the highest quality nutrition and avoid the adverse effects of traditional dog food like kibble. Open Farm’s gently cooked is the company’s least processed recipe. It does not contain nasty chemicals found in kibble, antibiotics, preservatives, added growth hormones, or more. It’s made with human-grade ingredients, so even humans can eat it. This food goes through a gradual cooking process that removes bacteria while retaining more flavor, nutrients and ingredients.

Here are the main reasons you should consider feeding gently cooked dog food to your dog.

  • Real ingredients (No by-products or meat meals)
  • Zero processing (ingredients keep their original nutrient profile and avoid harmful chemicals)
  • Best nutrition (fresh ingredients provide the highest quality nutrients)
  • Research shows feeding fresh food can help your dogs live longer
  • Health benefits
  • Learn more: Read our full Open Farm Gently Cooked review

Open Farm Ancient Grains (Dry Dog Food)

Open Farm’s traditional kibble is also known as Open Farm Ancient Grains.

Why & When Should You Consider This Recipe?

These recipes only contain a wholesome blend of healthy, nutrient-rich grains such as oats, chia seeds, brown rice, quinoa, oats, millet, and sorghum. These grains are all highly nutritious and minimally processed. Open Farm Ancient Grains recipes are made with 90% of their protein from animal sources and 10% ancient grains. The meat/protein in their recipes comes from humanly raised meat or wild-caught fish.

This recipe is excellent if you want to provide your dog with high-quality carbs and important digestible nutrients which give your dog energy and supply fiber to promote digestion. Grains include essential nutrients like protein and linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid for dogs. This science-backed blend is designed for nutrient-rich wellness using omega-3 fatty acids, iron, vitamins, and fiber.

  • 7 Recipes: Harvest Chicken & Ancient Grains, Wild Caught Salmon & Ancient Grains, Homestead Turkey & Ancient Grains, Grass-Fed Beef & Ancient Grains, Pasture-Raised Lamb & Ancient Grains, Catch-of-the-Season Whitefish & Ancient Grains & Farmer’s Table Pork & Ancient Grains
  • Sizes: 4, 11, and 22-pound bags.

When May You Avoid This Recipe?

Unless your dog has a grain allergy, this recipe is not harmful. Less than 1% of dogs are sensitive to grains and need to avoid consuming them in their food, while 99% of dogs can reap the nutritional benefits of dog food with grain. If you are unsure about your dog’s grain allergies, consider doing a dog food allergy test.  

The formulas do not contain corn, wheat, legumes, potatoes, soy, or other common grains that may cause allergies.


Open Farm Grain-Free Kibble Reviews

Open Farm Grain-Free dry dog food formulas are loaded with meaty protein, whole probiotic fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals that promote wellness and balance with a taste that even the pickiest dog can’t help but love. Instead of grains, these grain-free recipes rely on potatoes, peas, garbanzo beans, and lentils for carbohydrates.

Why & When Should You Consider This Recipe?

Upon inspecting the nutrient profile of each recipe, we determine that compared to typical dry dog food, these grain-free recipes offer above-average protein, near-average fat, and below-average carbs.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the legumes and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

  • 7 Recipes: Homestead Turkey & Chicken, Grass-Fed Beef, Wild-Caught Salmon, New Zealand Venison, Pasture-Raised Lamb, Catch-of-the-Season Whitefish & Farmer’s Table Pork
  • Sizes: 4.5, 12, and 24-pound bags.

Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw

Open Farm freeze-dried raw dog food comprises 85% animal protein and 15% produce, vitamins, minerals, and natural supplements. Depending on your needs, you can serve this recipe as a topper, treat, or whole meal.

Why & When Should You Consider This Recipe?

Unlike kibble, freeze-drying preserves more of the nutritional content of every ingredient in the recipe than dehydrating or processing (high heat baking cooking).

The freeze-drying process better preserves the taste and gives the food an airier and crunchier texture that dogs love while rendering the food shelf-stable.

Freeze-dried kibble is nutritionally and beneficially equal to raw dog food, except for the lack of moisture and messy or complicated preparation of raw food. The food can rehydrates in minutes and does not need to be registered. With these recipes, you can expect to get all the components of a raw diet, like whole meat, organs, and bone, plus an incredible mixture of superfood and wholesome ingredients.

  • 7 Recipes: Harvest Chicken, Homestead Turkey, Grass-Fed Beef, Surf & Turf, Pasture-Raised Lamb & Farmer’s Table Pork
  • Sizes: 3.5, 13.5, and 22 ounce-pound bags.

Open Farm Wet Dog Food – Rustic Stew

Wet dog food from Open Farm is called Rustic Stew. Open Farm Rustic Stew recipes make an easy-to-eat topper or complete meal thanks to their single-protein combination of humanely raised meat and non-GMO superfoods and veggies.

This wet dog food recipe has a thick, pourable stew-like texture and delivers the same humane and nutritional benefits as other Open Farm recipes. It’s also mixed with nutrient-rich bone broth to give the food soft, pourable texture dogs love.

Why & When Should You Consider This Recipe?

Aside from excellent nutrition, feeding wet dog food is great for pets with sensitive teeth. It’s also highly palatable and tends to be lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein and fat than dry food. In addition, wet dog food helps keep your dog hydrated because it has a higher moisture content than dry food making it more digestible and less stressful on other organs. This stew is a much more substantial wet dog food than others.

  • 7 Recipes: Harvest Chicken Rustic Stew, Homestead Turkey Stew, Chicken & Salmon Stew, Wild-Caught Salmon Stew & Herring & Mackerel Stew
  • Sizes: 2 packs of 5.5-ounce boxes

Open Farm Senior Dog Food

Why & When Should You Consider This Recipe?

This kibble recipe helps support healthy joints and mobility in senior dogs thanks to a blend of prime cuts of real turkey, non-GMO fruits and veggies and functional ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin to strengthen the joints. The formula contains meaty protein for maintaining muscle, probiotic fiber for digestion, and added superfoods such as New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel, cranberry, chicory root, pumpkin, coconut oil, and more.


Open Farm Dog Food Puppy

Are you looking for Open Farm puppy food? If you have a puppy, know that their recipes are formulated for all life stages. However, Open Farm does offer two specific formulas for puppies.

Both formulas offer a high-protein diet that helps prevent allergies and support DHA healthy brain development thanks to a blend of humanely raised chicken, pork, and fresh Pacific wild-caught salmon, with non-GMO superfoods.

Whether you pick Open Farm puppy ancient grains or the grain-free recipe, both are great alternatives.


How Much Does Open Farm Dog Food Cost?

Answering this question is not easy. Open Farm’s dog food costs vary according to the product you select and its size. 

Below is a table with the prices for all recipes and different sizes.

Recipe NamePrice
Gently Cooked$79.99 (8 lb), $149.99 (18 lb)
Dry Food (Ancient Grains)$19.99 (4 lb), $43.99 (11 lb), $69.99 (22 lb),
Dry Food (Grain-Free)$25.99 (4.5 lb), $49.99 (12 lb), $87.99 (24 lb),
Freeze-Dried Raw$9.99 (3.5 oz), $32.99 (13.5 oz), $49.99 (22 oz)
Wet Dog Food$47.99 (12.5 oz) case of 12
Bine Broth$6.99 (12.5 FL oz), $14.99 (32 FL oz)
Treats$11.99 (2.25 oz)

Our team did some calculations and determined the average price per pound for Open Farm’s dry dog food. On average, you can expect to pay $4.3 per pound when you purchase their dry kibble.

To put this number into perspective, let’s do some comparisons. According to Statista, for a decent mass-market kibble brand, you can expect to pay $1.97 per pound for traditional dog kibble. If you choose a high-end kibble, your cost is around $3.45 per pound.

Open Farm dog food price is a tad more expensive than the average high-end kibble. However, the price is justified. Open Farm’s ingredient quality and sustainable practices are far better than your traditional premium dog food brands.

Their Gently Cooked and Freeze-Dried formulas average a price of $9 and $43 per pound, respectively. This can add up if you have multiple dogs or large dogs.

Pro Tip: You can save 5% on every product by subscribing to regular deliveries ranging from weekly to every eight weeks.

Coupon

Readers get 20% off subscription orders with code CANINE20 + an extra 5% off for subscribing. Cancel anytime. this link to get started!

What We Like & What We’d Change

Take a look at the key positive aspects of buying Open Farm products and possible drawbacks.

Pros

  • Website makes it easy to filter options for various food sensitivities and needs, such as gluten intolerance, no corn/wheat/soy, or single-protein requirements
  • Rotational diet
  • Shelf-stable products (Gently Cooked needs to be frozen)
  • High-quality ingredients
  • No GMOs, antibiotics, or added growth hormones
  • Options for sensitive stomachs
  • Ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients
  • Ingredient traceability
  • Human-grade ingredients
  • Cat products
  • Produce is fresh, locally sourced, and non-GMO
  • No artificial preservatives and flavors
  • Transparent company
  • Variety of recipes
  • Clear feeding and transition instructions
  • Packaging is resealable and recyclable
  • Excellent customer reviews
  • Products validated by credible partner organizations
  • Available in dry, wet, raw, and fresh varieties
  • Option for grain-inclusive and grain-free diets
  • Exceeds AFFCO standards
  • All food produced in the USA
  • An independent third-party lab tests every batch of food
  • No animal testing when testing their products
  • Customer support available via live chat, phone, and email

Cons

  • While all Open Farm’s foods are consistent with the AAFCO guidelines for large dogs, their Grass Fed Beef and Ancient Grains recipes are the only recipes that do not meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for large-size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult). You should be fine feeding it to smaller dogs
  • Some customers said their dogs didn’t like the taste of their food. Others said it made their dog gassy. It’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet. It’s normal for some dogs not to like specific recipes. Other dogs adjust to new food more quickly than others, even when following the instructions to transition to a new food
  • Features either Ocean Whitefish meal, Herring meal, or Menhaden meal in their dry dog food formulas. However, they are high-quality meat meals, but we still consider it a con because they are not ideal in dog recipes regardless of the quality
  • Higher price tag than average
  • Few puppy-specific recipes
  • Only provide a few single-protein recipes
  • Not all ingredients are organic
  • No large or small breed-specific options
Chapter 2: My Experience

Our Dog’s Experience

Ch 1 | Ch 3

The Judges

We picked two Canine Bible dogs to give us their paw-honest opinion and verdict.

Gracie

Age: 5 ┊ Gender: Female ┊ Breed: Blue Tick Coonhound ┊Weight: 70 lbs ┊ Health Concerns: None ┊ Personality: Trouble

I have never seen Jossie react this way to any food before and I’ve tried lots. I am so impressed looking over the bag! I’m so happy I decided to splurge and try it.” — her person, Carly Inman

Josie

Age: 8 ┊ Gender: Female ┊ Breed: Blue Tick Coonhound ┊Weight: 67 lbs ┊ Health Concerns: Sensitive stomach ┊ Personality: Sweet & Shy

I love that I can see every ingredient in the recipe. It makes me feel safe to know what my dog is eating without risking food allergies.” — her person, Carly Inman

Lilo

Age: 2 ┊ Gender: Female ┊ Breed: Mixed-breed ┊Weight: 35 lbs ┊ Health Concerns: Anxiety ┊ Personality: Sweety-pie

“Lilo is really picky and we have tried many different brands/flavors already. She often refuses to eat her food without toppings/wet food/bone broth but she would devour the Open Farm gently cooked recipe in one minute” — her person, Anna Jones

Open Farm Unboxing

When we opened our box, we were delighted. The food seemed fresh, premium, properly labeled and smelled good.

Here is what we found inside our two delivery boxes:

  • 3 Bone broths
  • 3 Freeze-dried
  • 2 Ancient grain
  • 2 Dried dog food
  • 3 Treats
  • Grass-fed beef Gently Cooked
  • Harvest chicken Gently Cooked
  • Feeding guidelines

The main ingredients are clearly labeled on all packages. The food looked super tasty, and we could see actual real ingredients through the pouch of some recipes. Our dogs kept staring at the food, wondering how good it would taste.

My Open Farm Dog Food Review Video

Watch our canine judges Jessie and Ronie test Open Farm chicken gently cooked recipe.

My Personal Open Farm Testimonial

The most delicious experience our dogs had!

5 star rating
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“I was nervous the first time I fed the dog Open Farm Gently Cooked as a standalone meal. It would be enough if he just ate it and didn’t seem too excited about it. But to my surprise, he seemed happy to have something more substantial for dinner. I was amazed that it just smelled like real human food, and you could see the ingredients. Yes, it is more expensive than regular kibble, but it gives my pup the nutrition he needs without any chemicals and preservatives found in processed dog food, making it worth the extra cost. The product is easy to use and store. I feel good about serving it.

He’s been eating Open Farm Gently Cooked exclusively for about a month now, and his coat feels smoother than before- it must be all those fresh ingredients! Plus, there is no more smelly breath. I also love it’s the only dog food on the market I’ve come across that has strict and measured regulations on the humane treatment and life quality of the farm animals. I highly recommend this formula to anyone with a picky eater or a senior dog whose appetite is waning.

I feed my dog Open Farm Gently Cooked recipe as a topper for their usual dry food and a standalone meal. Using Open Farm dog food as a meal topper helped the packs last longer while providing nutritional benefits. Changing our dog over to Open Farm dog food caused no upset stomach, digestive side effects, or undesirable behavioral issues, in my experience. We will continue to alternate between dry food and Open Farm Gently Cooked as a standalone dish. Our experience has been positive for everyone in my household, especially our pup, who is happier to have a fresh and kibble rotational diet.

My dog is a picky eater, so this food has been heaven for him. My dog was an immediate fan.”
Carly Inman
Gracie’s owner

My Dog’s Experience With Open Farm Dog Food

Day 1

  • Both of our dogs immediately started eating the food without hesitation.

Week 1

  • We noticed our dogs doing exceptionally well on this new recipe but continue to monitor for any positive or adverse effects.

Week 2

  • No regrets. Dogs love every meal and we feel confident this food will improve our dog’s overall nutritional health. Goodbye mystery kibble balls!

Week 3

  • You can tell our dog’s coat and stools seem healthier. One of our pups has a sensitive stomach, and there haven’t been any issues with the food and how we introduced it.

One Month

  • We are so happy and grateful to have found food that works. It took about 16 days before we noticed a difference.

My Open Farm Dog Food Review Video

Watch our canine judge Lilo test Open Farm beef gently cooked recipe.

My Personal Open Farm Testimonial

Lilo gobbled down this food!

5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
5 star rating
“I was nervous the first time I fed my dog Lilo Open Farm Gently Cooked as a standalone meal. It would be enough if she just ate it and didn’t seem too excited about it. But to my surprise, she seemed happy to have something more substantial for dinner. I was amazed that it just smelled like real human food and you could see the ingredients.

Lilo suffers from anxiety, but this time her anxiety was because she was so anxious in a good way to try her first bowl of fresh dog food.”
Ana Jones
Lilo’s owner

My Dog’s Experience With Open Farm Dog Food

Day 1

  • Lilo went CRAZY! The tail was wagging, bowls were licked clean.

Week 1

  • Our dog loves the beef and the chunks of cooked vegetables, including carrots, kale, squash, and an assortment of others.

Week 2

  • A lot better dog food than most dry dog foods containing many additives. We can tell her it is revitalizing for our dog.

Week 3

  • Her coat is glistening.

One Month

  • One month later, my pup is still enthusiastic about this recipe. We didn’t notice any problem anymore. She looks forward to eating it and considers it a treat even though it’s her full meal.

Ordering & Delivery

Ordering is easy. Their website is user-friendly and provides very detailed information about the recipes. Once you know what you want, just add it to your cart and enter your shipping and payment information. The whole process took us less than 3 minutes.

After placing our order, we got an order confirmation follow-up email. They emailed us the tracking information and estimated delivery date when our food shipped out. Note that you can sign up for SMS at checkout to get alerts on your purchase and future exclusive promotions. They will give an extra 10% off on your next order if you do.

Our delivery box reached us three days after ordering. Because we ordered almost every single product, the fresh food came in a separate insulated box with dry ice to keep the food fresh and frozen. If you are not home during delivery, don’t worry, the ice is meant to keep your food safe and cold until you arrive that same day. Our dry food, freeze-dried, and treat goodies came in one big box.

Open Farm box is huge and has an attractive design. What’s best is that the cardboard box is recyclable, and all insulating materials are biodegradable. Even meal packages are made from BPA-free and non-toxic materials.

Open Farm Customer Service

Open Farm doesn’t stop at offering good food, but customer service is another strength.

To determine if their customer service was good, we tested it. We had a few fellow dog parents reach out to Open Farm’s customer service with some inquiries through email, phone, and chat. Overall, we received timely responses that were helpful and professional. Sometimes it took them a while to respond, but most of the time, we got an answer.

If you need assistance finding the pet food that’s right for you or has website accessibility issues, they have a dedicated line (+1 833-540-8602), email ([email protected]), or live chat you can use. Hours of operation are from 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, seven days a week. They will assist you via email or live chat if you have auditory issues or cannot call in.

They also leverage social media to help current customers and people inquiring about their services.

Chapter 3: Tips, FAQs & More

Additional Key Information To Know

Ch 1 | Ch 2

What Customers Think About Open Farm Dog Food

Here is what real customers are saying about Open Farms

Open Farn Dog Food Positive Review

Open Farn Dog Food Negative Reviews

Open Farm Dog Food Reddit Reviews

There are different questions and concerns people raise about this brand on Reddit. Here are some of the top threads.

“I was just looking into their freeze-dried raw. It’s almost $40 a bag. My dog is 80lbs, so I imagine he would need any 5 cups a day, according to the back of the bag. Unless I’m missing something, that seems ridiculously expensive, considering a bag is only 13.5oz. I guess for small dogs, it might be a good option 🤷” One user replies, “Yeah, it’s pretty expensive! My dog is under 10 pounds, so that it wouldn’t be too bad for my wallet” Another dog parent states, “I feed it, I love it, and so does my pup! I feed a combo of the freeze-dried raw and the ancient grains kibble. I make my own bone broth that I pour over it too.” 3

Their freeze-dried is very expensive, and its price is something you should consider before purchasing it. If you aim to feed this to your dog, we advise you use it as a topper or for small breeds. If you have a large dog, it can get rather expensive.

There is also a thread where the debate about grain-free recipes and DMC is raised since Open Farm offers grain-free formulas. It’s important to note that Open Farm has not been included in any FDA reports. Open Farm continues to monitor the FDA’s investigation and keep you updated with any important information for your pets’ health.

Other Open Farm Dog Products Reviewed

Here are other Open Farm products.

Open Farm Bone Broth

Open Farm bone broth for dogs comes in three delicious flavors. Their bone broth recipes are made by slowly simmering bones (sourced from turkey, beef, or chicken), herbs, spices, and other nutritious ingredients. The result is a nutritious, delicious broth that can add moisture to your dog’s favorite dry food, rehydrate freeze-dried recipes, kibble topper, or be enjoyed as a tasty treat on its own.

  • 5 Flavors: Chicken, beef, turkey and combo pack (chicken + beef + turkey)
  • Size: 12 and 32 FL OZ

All the formulas have these five common ingredients: carrots, pumpkin, parley, turmeric and cinnamon.


Open Farm Dog Treats

Open Farm offers a variety of irresistible, guilt-free, dehydrated dog treats. These snacks contain no glycerin, gluten, or artificial preservatives, making them the perfect midday snack or training aid. All the formulas featuO.Z. high-quality ingredients like 100% humanely raised meats, chickpeas, and rosemary extract. All the ingredients are dehydrated at low temperatures to retain ingredient nutrients.

Open Farm dehydrated treats are high in protein. In addition, 90% of the meat-based treats are the whole meat in the treat’s name.

  • 5 Flavors: Cod skins, chicken, turkey, beef and pork
  • Size: 2.25-ounce bags

Open Farm Supplements

Open Farm also offers chewable supplements formulated with 100% traceable ingredients to help support your dog’s specific needs.

  • Hip & Joint Supplement Chews for Dogs
  • Probiotic Supplement Chews for Dogs
  • Skin & Coat Supplement Chews for Dogs
  • Calming Supplement Chews for Dogs
  • Immune Supplement Chews for Dogs

Open Farm Dog Food Bundles

Open Farms also offer bundles specially formulated to meet specific needs, keep costs down, mix things up and provide an overall better feeding experience.

  • Puppy Essentials Pack: It introduces your puppy to various flavors, textures and treats, rather than just one formula.
  • New Puppy Pack: A nutrient-dense bundle is high-protein for your high-energy new best friend.
  • Bone Broth bundle: 3-flavor bone broth pack.

We Answer Open Farm Dog Food Most Frequently Asked Questions

Still have a lingering question or two about Open Farm Foods? We got you!

We answer the most popular questions about this manufacturer and their recipes below. 

Availability

Although shipping is available to the United States and Canada, several areas still await Open Farm’s availability. In the United States, they don’t ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They don’t ship to Nunavut, Yukon, or the Northwest Territories in Canada.

Additionally, Open Farm cannot be shipped to P.O. boxes because their ingredients must be temperature controlled.

Open Farm Dog Food Near Me: Open Farm Retailers

Open Farm can also be found on popular online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, or brick-and-mortar stores. Here is the complete list.

  • OU.S.Farm dog food Chewy (available)
  • Open Farm dog food Petsmart (not available)
  • Open Farm dog food Amazon (available)
  • Open Farm dog food PetcP.O.ot available)
  • Open Farm dog food Walmart (available)

Open Farm Dog Food Review — Conclusion & Alternatives

We were impressed with Open Farm’s sourcing, transparency, and food quality. All their ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced, which we think more dog food brands need to focus on.

For dog owners who want the best possible food for their pet — without the hassle of having to make it themselves — Open Farm’s Gently Cooked line is the best option. Although the price is high, it’s worth trying if you can afford to feed your dog a fresh diet. Providing fresh dog food could significantly impact their overall health, especially if your dog struggles with dietary sensitivities and other ailments. 

Your next alternative is trying their dry dog food options. They have a variety of grain and grain-free options you can pick from. The quality of their kibble is above average from your traditional kibble brands.

Be sure to consult with your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet/food. And don’t forget to take advantage of the discounts Open Farm offers, such as subscribing, and using our discount code above can help make that upgraded diet a little more affordable.


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References & Resources

Canine Bible uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

[1] The Globe & Mail
[2] Lippert & Sapy
[3] Reddit

Editorial Team at Canine Bible | + posts

Canine Bible authorship represents the unified voice of our entire editorial team and our in-house veterinarians rather than a single author. Each article, blog post, and review published under the Canine Bible name undergoes a rigorous review process, involving all team members to guarantee accuracy and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. This collaborative effort is an integral part of our editorial process and aligns with our four pillars of content creation. This approach ensures our content is backed by expert knowledge and factual information, offering our readers reliable, actionable, and trustworthy content.


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