Farmer's Dog vs Ollie? (2026 Comparison)

The Short Answer

The Farmer's Dog is the better choice for most pet owners in 2026. The deciding factor is safety: The Farmer's Dog has never had a recall, while Ollie issued a recall in November 2025 for potential metal contamination in their baked beef recipe. When you're paying premium prices for "human-grade" food, safety is non-negotiable.

However, Ollie wins on convenience. Their peel-and-serve trays are significantly less messy than The Farmer's Dog's "toothpaste tube" squeeze packs. Ollie also offers a "Mixed Plan" (combining fresh food with their own baked dry food), which is a great middle-ground for budgets that can't support a 100% fresh diet.

If you want the safest, most established fresh food, choose The Farmer's Dog. If you need the convenience of a dry/fresh mix and better packaging—and are willing to overlook a recent recall—Ollie is a strong runner-up.

Why This Matters

Fresh dog food is expensive—often 5x to 10x the cost of kibble. When you spend that kind of money, you are paying for two things: better health outcomes and higher safety standards.

The fresh food market is getting crowded, and the differences between brands are shrinking. For years, Ollie had a massive advantage because they offered grain-inclusive recipes (important for owners worried about heart health/DCM). But as of early 2026, The Farmer's Dog has closed that gap by launching their own grain-inclusive line.

Now, the choice comes down to trust and mechanics: Do you trust the brand's manufacturing? And can you deal with the daily hassle of storing and serving the food?

The Recall Reality Check

This is the biggest differentiator right now.

The Farmer's Dog

• Recalls: 0 (Zero)
• Safety Record: Flawless since launch.
• Manufacturing: Owns much of their supply chain; food is cooked in USDA-inspected kitchens.

Ollie

• Recalls: 1 (November 2025)
• Issue: Potential presence of metal fragments in the "Gently Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes" recipe.
• Impact: While this affected their baked food and not the fresh puree, it highlights a crack in their quality control that The Farmer's Dog hasn't had.

Comparison: What's in the Bowl?

Both brands use human-grade ingredients (meats, veggies, superfoods) and are cooked at low temperatures to preserve nutrients.

The Farmer's Dog

• Proteins: Chicken, Beef, Turkey, Pork.
• Grains: Now offers 3 grain-inclusive recipes (Chicken, Beef, Turkey) alongside 4 grain-free options.
• Vegetables: Carrots, green beans, broccoli, spinach.
• Fillers: None. No corn, wheat, soy, or preservatives.

Ollie

• Proteins: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Pork.
• Grains: Offers grain-inclusive options using oats and rice.
• Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, peas, rosemary, blueberries, chia seeds.
• Texture: Slightly chunkier than The Farmer's Dog (which is more of a mash).

Packaging Wars: Tube vs. Tray

If you feed fresh food every day, packaging matters.

Ollie (The Winner):

Ollie uses flat, resealable trays (similar to a TV dinner) and "Puptainers."

• Pros: Easy to stack in the freezer. Clean to open. Comes with a scoop and a custom container.
• Cons: More plastic waste (though recyclable).

The Farmer's Dog (The Loser):

TFD uses plastic squeeze tubes (chubs).

• Pros: Less packaging waste overall.
• Cons: Messy. You have to cut the tube, squeeze out the meat, and then clip it shut. It often leaks in the fridge if not stored carefully in a Tupperware (which they don't provide).

Price Breakdown

Pricing is dynamic based on your dog's age, weight, and activity level. Generally, The Farmer's Dog is slightly cheaper for a full fresh plan.

Budget Hack: Ollie offers a "Mixed Plan" where they send you 50% fresh food and 50% of their "Gently Baked" dry food. This significantly lowers the monthly cost while still providing better nutrition than standard kibble. TFD does not offer a dry food option.

The Verdict: Which is Better?

Choose Is Farmers Dog Good|The Farmer'S Dog if:

• Safety is your #1 priority. You want the brand with zero recalls.
• You have a picky eater. The "mash" texture is often more palatable to fussy dogs.
• You want grains. You can now get the benefits of fresh food with grains (rice/oats) to avoid DCM concerns.

Choose Is Ollie Dog Food Good|Ollie if:

• You hate mess. The tray packaging is vastly superior.
• You want to mix textures. The "Mixed Plan" (fresh + baked) is great for dogs who like crunch or owners on a budget.
• You need variety. 5 proteins + baked options give you more rotation.

The Bottom Line

1. Safety First: The Farmer's Dog wins simply because they haven't had to recall food for metal contamination.

2. Convenience: Ollie wins on packaging. Squeezing meat out of a tube every morning gets old fast.

3. Nutrition: It's a tie. Both now offer grain-free and grain-inclusive human-grade meals that blow kibble out of the water.

FAQ

Does The Farmer's Dog cause heart disease (DCM)?

No. There is no proven link between The Farmer's Dog and DCM. While the FDA investigated grain-free diets (specifically those high in peas/legumes), The Farmer's Dog now offers grain-inclusive recipes for owners who want to be extra safe. Does Grain Free Cause Heart Disease

Is Ollie processed?

Ollie is minimally processed. It is cooked at low temperatures to kill pathogens while preserving nutrients, unlike kibble which is extruded at extremely high heat. It is human-grade, meaning you could technically eat it (though it's bland).

Can I mix Farmer's Dog with kibble?

Yes. This is the best way to make it affordable. You can buy a smaller plan (a "topper" plan) and mix it with a high-quality kibble like Is Open Farm Dog Food Good|Open Farm or Is Purina Pro Plan Good|Purina Pro Plan.

---

References (15)

1. 1. ollie.com
2. 2. thefarmersdog.com
3. 3. thefarmersdog.com
4. 4. dogtime.com
5. 5. dialavet.com
6. 6. emrvc.com
7. 7. thefarmersdog.uk
8. 8. djangobrand.com
9. 9. foodindustrycounsel.com
10. 10. thefarmersdog.com
11. 11. thecaninehealthnut.com
12. 12. kabo.co
13. 13. thedogtale.com
14. 14. truthaboutpetfood.com
15. 15. akc.org