Open Farm Dog Food Reviews 2023: My Dogs Tried All Recipes
Canine Bible is reader-supported. We receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. This doesn’t affect rankings. Learn more.
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
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)
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:
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.
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:
Open Farm Key Features
Here are the most notable features and aspects of Open Farm dog food.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Name | Price |
---|---|
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
Cons
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:
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
My Dog’s Experience With Open Farm Dog Food
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
One Month
My Open Farm Dog Food Review Video
Watch our canine judge Lilo test Open Farm beef gently cooked recipe.
My Personal Open Farm Testimonial
My Dog’s Experience With Open Farm Dog Food
Day 1
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
One Month
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.
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.
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.
Open Farm Supplements
Open Farm also offers chewable supplements formulated with 100% traceable ingredients to help support your dog’s specific needs.
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.
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.
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.
Like It? Subscribe & Share!
References & Resources
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.