Open Farm vs The Farmer's Dog: 2026 Comparison

The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar beast with hundreds of brands on the market for you to choose from. But with so many options, it can be hard to decide which one is right for your unique furry friend. Two popular brands that our readers often can't decide between are Open Farm and The Farmer's Dog. We will take a deep dive into both brands, covering histories, ingredients, sustainability, price, availability, and average customer reviews. While they are two tough competitors, there are subtle differences between the two that might make one a better fit. In our opinion, though, you can't go wrong with either choice.

A Quick Comparison

Open Farm History

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Open Farm was created by two childhood best friends, Mario Sacco and Arnaud Devos. The idea for the company came to them when they were working on a sustainability project together in college. They realized that there was a huge opportunity in the pet food industry to create a more sustainable and ethical product. With that, Open Farm was born.

The company started small, with just a handful of employees. But it quickly grew, and today Open Farm is one of the leading sustainable pet food brands on the market. Open Farm is committed to sustainability in everything they do. All of their ingredients are ethically sourced from family farms and fishermen that follow strict ethical and environmental standards. They are also a carbon-neutral company, offsetting all of their emissions.

The Farmer's Dog History

The Farmer's Dog was founded in 2015 by Jonathan Regev and Justin Kan. The two met while working at a tech startup, and they quickly realized they had a shared passion for dogs. They were also both interested in the pet food industry and saw an opportunity to create a more sustainable and ethical product.

The Farmer's Dog started as a subscription service, delivering fresh, homemade dog food to customers' doorsteps. The company has since expanded and now offers a wide variety of products, including kibble, wet food, treats, and supplements.

The Farmer's Dog is committed to using only the highest quality ingredients in their products. All of their ingredients are ethically sourced from family farms and fishermen that follow strict ethical and environmental standards. They are also a carbon-neutral company, offsetting all of their emissions.

Open Farm Manufacturing

Open Farm's products are made in Canada and the United States. Open Farm ingredients are locally sourced from Canadian farms whenever possible. Open Farm offers dry food, wet food, and treats for dogs and cats in a variety of different protein flavors. They are certified by the Global Animal Partnership, Humane Farm Animal Care, and Kitchener Humane Society. They are also a Certified B Corporation.

The Farmer’s Dog Manufacturing

The Farmer’s Dog recipes are manufactured within USDA-inspected facilities in the United States. Their ingredients are sourced from the United States as well. All of their ingredients are made with human-grade ingredients. They offer fresh, cooked food recipes. The Farmer's Dog is also certified by the Global Animal Partnership, Humane Farm Animal Care, and Kitchener Humane Society.

Open Farm Product Line

Open Farm offers a wide variety of dog food options to suit any dog the following types of dog food:

Their recipes come in the following protein flavors:

That makes this food suitable for even the pickiest eaters or dogs with a specific type of protein allergy. You’re sure to find something for your pup.

The Farmer’s Dog Product Line

The Farmer’s Dog specializes in fresh, gently cooked recipes. They offer four different recipes:

The recipes require a subscription service, and the food you receive is tailored to your dog’s needs and preferences.

Open Farm vs. The Farmer’s Dog Ingredients

Open Farm's products contain high-quality proteins, veggies, and fruits. All of their ingredients are ethically sourced from family farms and fishermen that follow strict ethical and environmental standards.

In addition to the protein sources mentioned earlier, common fruit and veggie ingredients include:

You can trace the origin of each of the ingredients on the website or by using the code on the packaging.

The Farmer's Dog's recipes also contain high-quality proteins, veggies, and fruits. In addition to the main protein sources, you can find the following ingredients in their recipes:

You can see most of these ingredients in the gently cooked food recipes.

Open Farm vs The Farmer's Dog Brand: Customer Service

Both brands offer excellent customer service. If you sign up for a subscription, Open Farm allows you to cancel your subscription at any time, and they will refund you for the rest of the box that hasn't been shipped. They also have a very responsive customer service team, who will answer any questions or concerns you may have. There were no stand-out problems among reviewers, aside from those who didn't like the prescription model.

The Farmer's Dog also allows you to cancel your subscription at any time. They will also donate any unused food to a local animal shelter. Some of their reviews reported long wait times for customer service but didn't provide additional details. Overall, both brands seem to excel at customer service with Open Farm perhaps having the edge.

Head-to-Head: Open Farm vs The Farmer's Dog

Sustainability

Open Farm and The Farmer's Dog are both known for their high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients. They are also carbon-neutral companies, offsetting all of their emissions. Open Farm excels at producing sustainable pet food products. All of their ingredients are ethically sourced from family farms and fishermen that follow strict ethical and environmental standards. You can also trace their ingredients back to the source.

The Farmer's Dog is also known for their high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients. They excel at using recycled and recyclable materials in their packaging. Open Farm is a Certified B company, which means they meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The Farmer's Dog does not have Certified B company status.

Product Line

The open farm is the clear winner when it comes to variety. They offer a wide range of products, including wet food, dry food, treats, and supplements. The Farmer's Dog only offers their signature wet foods.

Brand Reputation

Open Farm is the clear winner when it comes to overall brand reputation. They are a well-known and respected company in the pet food industry, with a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. The Farmer's Dog is also a well-respected company, but they don't yet have the same level of name recognition as Open Farm.

Recalls and Safety Issues

Open Farm and The Farmer’s Dog have never had a recall or safety issue. The only major safety issue with both companies is that all of The Farmer’s Dog recipes have to be refrigerated or they’ll spoil. With Open Farm, only their gently cooked recipes and broth and liquid toppers have to be refrigerated. If you don’t want to do this, they have other recipes available that don’t require refrigeration.

Pricing

Open Farm is the cheaper option, with prices starting at $2 per day. The Farmer's Dog is more expensive, with prices starting at $3 per day. You also aren’t obligated to sign up for a subscription with Open Farm, so you don’t have to receive the food each month. There are also more options if you want more affordable pricing. The Farmer’s Dog can be expensive if you have multiple dogs or larger dogs that eat more food.

Brand Warranty

Open Farm's warranty covers you if you have a problem or if your dog doesn't like the food. It states you can return the product if you are unsatisfied, and you will receive a refund, minus shipping. The Farmer's Dog's warranty also covers you if your dog doesn't like the food. They'll refund you and have you donate the product to a local animal shelter.

Conclusion

Overall, it seems that both brands are pretty comparable when it comes to the quality of their products. They have high-quality proteins, veggies, and fruits in their ingredients, they're both carbon-neutral companies with recyclable packaging, and they offer a subscription product line.

So, which one is right for you and your dog? If you're looking for the convenience of monthly deliveries tailored to your dog and gently cooked, fresh food, go with The Farmer's Dog. If you're looking for the widest variety of product offerings, go with Open Farm. And if you're unsure about which food is right for your dog, consult with your veterinarian. They will be able to recommend a food based on your dog's individual needs.