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Open Farm Dog Food Review 2024: Our Vet-Approved Expert’s Opinion

Written by: Savanna Stanfield

Last Updated on May 14, 2024 by Dogster Team

Open Farm Dog Food - Featured Image

Open Farm Dog Food Review 2024: Our Vet-Approved Expert’s Opinion

VET APPROVED

Dr. Paola Cuevas Photo

REVIEWED & FACT-CHECKED BY

Dr. Paola Cuevas

Veterinarian, MVZ

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more »
Our Final Verdict

We give Open Farm dog food a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

*Use code PETKEEN20 and save on your first auto-ship order.

If you’re looking for high-quality, human-grade dog food made with locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, then Open Farm may be the answer. This family-owned company arose out of a couple’s desire to feed their dog a nutritious meal made with high-quality ingredients. But when exploring their options, they found that the meat used in a lot of dog foods came from farms that didn’t treat their animals ethically. So, they decided to create their own line of dog food that met their ethical and sustainability standards.

Open Farm sells dry dog food, wet dog food, freeze-dried raw dog food, and even gently cooked fresh dog food, all of which are made with human-grade ingredients that meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards for nutritional levels and nutrient profiles in dog food. And unlike other human-grade dog food options, they offer both one-time purchase and subscription options so that you can choose what best fits your budget and needs.

The bottom line is that if you’re an animal-lover and eco-conscious consumer who cares about where your products come from, then Open Farm might be a good fit. Continue reading our review to learn more about what Open Farm can offer and if it is the right choice for you and your dog.

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At a Glance

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Homestead Turkey and Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food Homestead Turkey and Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
  • Low in fat
  • Contains DHA
  • Small kibble size
  • Second place
    Surf and Turf Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food Surf and Turf Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
  • Made with raw grass-fed beef
  • Salmon as a souce of omega-3 fatty acids
  • Contains organic fruits and vegetables
  • Third place
    Homestead Turkey Gently Cooked Recipe Homestead Turkey Gently Cooked Recipe
  • Low in fat
  • Great for dogs with allergies
  • Pre-portioned pouches for easy serving
  • Open Farm Grass-Fed Beef Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Open Farm Grass-Fed Beef Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw
  • High in protein and fresh beef
  • No rendered poultry or meat meals
  • Raw feeding made easy with scoopable morsel format
  • Open Farm Homestead Turkey Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Open Farm Homestead Turkey Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw
  • High in protein and fresh turkey
  • 100% traceable ingredients
  • No meat byproducts
  • Open Farm Dog Food Reviewed

    Open Farm makes their dog food with several standards in mind, including premium nutrition, ethical sourcing, sustainability, and transparency. They only source their ingredients from family farms that use humane farming practices. They audit these farms to ensure that they meet strict animal welfare standards and that the animals have plenty of room to roam without being cooped or caged up.

    If you want transparency in ingredients, then Open Farm provides that as well. Part of their mission is for every consumer to be able to trace where every ingredient of their food is sourced by using the lot number on the product packaging along with the product tracing feature on their website.

    If those reasons aren’t convincing enough, Open Farm is sure to have a product for even the pickiest of dogs, as they offer eight different protein ingredients in their dog food. They have products for puppies and senior dogs as well as wet food, dry food, slow-cooked frozen food, and even freeze-dried food as well as treats, bone broth, and supplements for your dog.

    Homestead Turkey & Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

    Who Makes Open Farm Dog Food and Where Is It Produced?

    Open Farm Dog Food is a family-owned business that was started by Jacqueline Prehogan and Isaac Langleben. They are headquartered in Toronto, Canada which is where their recipes are developed and formulated. The actual manufacturing facility is located in Minnesota so that they are better able to access the farms where they source the ingredients for their recipes.

    Which Types of Dogs Is Open Farm Best Suited For?

    Open Farm is suitable for dogs of pretty much any breed and size, as they offer a wide range of recipes and flavors. If you decide to go with one of their dry dog foods, the kibbles are small enough for even puppies and small breed dogs to eat with ease. They also offer dry dog food specifically for puppies or senior dogs.

    If your dog has trouble chewing or digesting dry food, they also offer wet food varieties which they call stew, as well as freeze-dried raw food that can be softened by adding water or broth to it. And by taking their quiz and answering questions about your dog’s breed, age, weight, lifestyle, and dietary preferences, Open Farm will even suggest which recipes your dog might benefit most from if you’re unsure which products to choose.

    a small dog eating an open farm dog food recipe

    *Use code PETKEEN20 and save on your first auto-ship order.

    Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better With a Different Brand?

    If your dog requires a specific dog food (i.e., prescription food) due to a health condition, then Open Farm might not be suitable for your dog. Open Farm does help you choose products to work around allergies, but they don’t offer specific prescription diets. If your dog does a specific condition, it is best to talk with your veterinarian first as to whether Open Farm dog food might be an option for you.

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    Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

    All Open Farm’s dog foods are high in protein to ensure that your dog receives the most vital nutrients needed to keep them healthy.

    The seven different protein sources that may be contained in their foods include:
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Turkey
    • Fish
    • Lamb
    • Pork
    • Venison

    Each recipe may contain several different types of proteins in it, but all recipes contain protein as at least the first three ingredients. The meats used in Open Farm’s dog food recipes are free of antibiotics and growth hormones and all fish used are wild-caught instead of farmed to ensure better quality. All their foods contain zero artificial flavors and fillers as well.

    Fruits and vegetables are also used in their recipes to provide additional nutrients that your dog can’t get from meat. All their vegetables are non-GMO and locally sourced and nearly 40% are grown in the same town as their manufacturing facility, with 90% grown in the same state or neighboring states.

    The exact fruits and vegetables vary by recipe, but examples of common ones they use include:
    • Blueberries
    • Cranberries
    • Spinach
    • Pumpkin
    • Kale
    • Apples
    • Potatoes
    • Peas
    • Lentils

    Some of their recipes do contain “ancient grains”, such as oat and sorghum. All their recipes that contain ancient grains are gluten-free, but they do offer recipes with no grains at all if you’re concerned about a possible allergy.

    Surf & Turf Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food


    What Vitamins Are Included in Open Farm’s Dog Food Recipes?

    Dog food can contain vitamins that are either naturally found in the ingredients used or added as a supplement. The more vitamins added are added as a supplement the less natural vitamins contained in the diet’s ingredients. Vitamins are micronutrients needed to maintain healthy metabolism and functions of organs such as the eyes, skin and coat, brain, heart, circulatory and immune system.

    Most of Open Farm’s recipes may contain the following vitamins:
    • Vitamin A
    • Vitamin D3
    • Vitamin E
    • Vitamin B12
    • Thiamine (vitamin B1)
    • Folic acid (vitamin B9)

    Vitamin A helps your dog’s vision and immune system stay healthy. Vitamin D3 helps to keep your dog’s bones healthy and vitamin E helps keep your dog’s skin, coat, and brain health. The group of B vitamins supports a variety of body functions such as cellular metabolism, the creation of red blood cells, brain activity, the skin cells’ regeneration among many others.


    What Minerals Are Included in Open Farm’s Dog Food Recipes?

    Minerals are also essential micronutrients that your dog doesn’t get through the other ingredients found in dog food. A lot of these minerals are added as a supplement, but they can all be traced back to the source by using the lot number on your Open Farm product packaging.

    Examples of mineral supplements that are added to Open Farm Dog Food include:
    • Zinc
    • Iron
    • Copper
    • Manganese
    • Selenium
    • Calcium

    Open Farm Homestead Turkey Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw & Chicken Broth


    Downsides to Open Farm Dog Food

    The only downside to Open Farm dog food is that it can be pricey. Even though the food is pricey, that’s to be expected out of high-quality dog food that uses human-grade ingredients. With that being said, some types of Open Farm products are cheaper and provide a better value than others (dry dog food versus freeze-dried dog food), but if you’re on a budget then this may not be the most affordable product for you.

    One option that can save you a little bit of money is to sign up for their auto-ship service in which they’ll ship the dog food to you on a regular basis. Doing this can save you a little bit of money on each order as long as you’re okay with being regularly charged. Or, if you choose to buy the food on a one-time basis, you can always buy smaller packages if you’re looking to save money in an instant.

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    A Quick Look at Open Farm Dog Food

    Pros
    • Recipes meet AAFCO standards
    • All ingredients are human-grade
    • Ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced
    • Ingredients can be traced back to the original source
    • A wide range of product selection for all types of dogs
    Cons
    • Some types of food come in fewer flavors
    • Not the most budget-friendly option, although some products are cheaper than others

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    Recall History

    As of the writing of this review, Open Farm has never had a recall of any of its dog food products or recipes.

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    Reviews of the 3 Best Open Farm Dog Food Recipes

    1. Homestead Turkey and Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

    Homestead Turkey and Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

    Use code PETKEEN20 and save on your first auto-ship order.

    The Homestead Turkey and Chicken dry dog food recipe consists of turkey, chicken, ocean whitefish meal, russet potatoes, and chickpeas as its first five ingredients. Also included in this recipe are fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, apples, carrots, and pumpkin among others.

    This recipe contains a minimum of 30% fat and 14% protein, so it’s a great option if your dog needs a low-fat diet. It also contains DHA which helps support healthy brain development and the kibbles are small enough for dogs of all sizes to enjoy. The only downside would be that it is not suitable for dogs who don’t like turkey and chicken flavors or are allergic to chicken, turkey or fish.

    Pros
    • Contains DHA
    • Low in fat
    • Small kibble size
    Cons
    • Some dogs may not like the flavor

    2. Surf and Turf Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

    Surf and Turf Recipe Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food

    Use code PETKEEN20 and save on your first auto-ship order.

    This surf and turf recipe is a freeze-dried dog food that consists of beef, beef hearts, salmon, beef livers, and ground beef bone as the first five ingredients. It also contains organic carrots, squash, blueberries, sunflower seeds, cranberries, spinach, kale, and pumpkin seeds.

    This recipe contains a protein content of 41% minimum and a fat content of 32.5% minimum. Since it’s freeze-dried, it’s supposed to have bone broth (which Open Farm also sells) or water poured over it to rehydrate it. Although this food is easy and tasty for dogs to eat, it isn’t as great of a value compared to dry dog foods especially if you have a large dog.

    Pros
    • Made with raw meat
    • Contains organic fruits and vegetables
    Cons
    • It may not be the best value for your budget

    3. Homestead Turkey Gently Cooked Recipe

    Homestead Turkey Gently Cooked Recipe

    Use code PETKEEN20 and save on your first auto-ship order.

    Open Farm’s Homestead Turkey Gently Cooked Recipe is a fresh food option for your dog without the hassle of cooking. This recipe is made with turkey, kale, carrots, apples, butternut squash, and pumpkin as the main ingredients and is free of wheat, corn, potatoes, and legumes, all of which are common allergens or difficult for dogs to digest.

    This food contains a minimum of 9% protein, and  7% fat minimum, it is fresh food with 76% water so the protein percentage is 37.5% and fat 2.17% on a dry matter basis. Fresh food is a great option to maintain healthy hydration levels. This food is definitely a premium choice because it is expensive. But if you’re able to sustain that cost over time, then it is a healthy and nutritious option that your dog is sure to love, regardless of age or breed.

    Pros
    • Single protein source
    • Helps maintain healthy hydration
    Cons
    • Pricey

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    What Other Users Are Saying

    Open Farm Dog Food has an overwhelming number of 5-star reviews from customers. Most agree that even their picky dogs gobbled this food right up and others say their dogs’ issues such as a dull coat or itchy skin resolved within just a few weeks of them eating Open Farm dog food. They also rave about the all-natural ingredients used and how there are no fillers are artificial flavors used. The only complaints seem to be that it makes some dogs gassy or poop more, but it’s mostly on an individual basis rather than with specific dog breeds.

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    Final Thoughts

    Open Farm produces human-grade, ethical, and sustainably sourced dog food in a variety of different recipes, including dry food, freeze-dried raw food, and fresh food that is gently cooked. Although the food can be a bit pricey, all of the recipes provide a high-quality and nutritious diet for your dog. Open Farm is suitable for all dogs, regardless of their age, size, or breed.

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