Maev vs Farmer’s Dog

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I compared one of my favorite fresh dog food brands, The Farmer’s Dog, to another, newer dog food company called Maev Raw Food. I wanted to compare important factors, including my dog’s reaction, prices, and ingredient quality, to see which one might be a better pick for my pet. 

If you aren’t familiar with either of these brands, you should know they don’t sell your typical pet store kibble. Both Maev and The Farmer’s Dog are premium brands that make human-grade food for dogs rather than overly processed dry food.

Both of these premium dog foods come with premium price tags. So, if you’re looking for cheap dog food, you’ll be disappointed with both brands. With that said, you might be surprised that the price per day could be lower than your daily, fancy coffee drink, particularly if you have a small or medium-sized dog.

Additionally, your dog just might LOVE this food. My dog, Max, is a super picky eater, but every day at dinner time, he whines for his meal since I started to feed him whole food instead of dry kibble. See which brand we think is better in the comparison guide below.

In this comparison:

• Maev vs Farmer’s Dog: At a glance
• Which is better for you (by category)
• Overall winner

Maev vs Farmer’s Dog: At a glance

Fresh food price	Starts around $2.25 a day or $67.50 a month	Starts around $2.77 a day or $83 a month
Type of food	Raw frozen whole food	Lightly cooked and frozen whole food
Recipe options	Chicken and Beef	Beef, Chicken, Chicken & Grains, Turkey, and Pork
Puppy formula?	Yes, Maev formulated a diet specifically for puppies from 8 weeks to two years old	All recipes meet AAFCO standards for All Life Stages, including puppies at least 8 weeks old
Sourcing	Created with human-grade ingredients that are sourced globally and prepared in the USA	Created with human-grade ingredients that are sourced domestically from reputable food suppliers, local farms, and other human food purveyors that meet USDA standards
Free shipping?	Only bulk orders receive free shipping. $9.98 shipping fee for smaller orders.	Yes, free shipping directly from their kitchens to your home
Promo discount	Get 15% off your first order. Once you have a subscription, Maev offers up to 20% off of every order through a cashback rewards program.	20% off your first order, or 60% off for The Dog Tale readers
Offers supplements?	Yes	Sort of. (see supplement section below)
Refund guarantee	Maev does not refund orders once they are placed. If you want to cancel or have a problem with your order, you can reach out to their customer service representatives for assistance.	You can get a full refund on your first purchase if you are unhappy and donate the unused food to a dog shelter.

The Farmer’s Dog vs Maev: Which is right for your pup?

For a deeper dive into either Maev or The Farmer’s Dog, check out our Maev dog food review or The Farmer’s Dog review.

Next, we’ll compare Maev and The Farmer’s Dog in a variety of important categories. Each category has a point value assigned to it based on its relevance, and we’ll tally up all of the points to find the winner at the bottom of this page.

Click a category below to jump to that section:

• Ingredient quality (2 points)
• Meal formulation (2 points)
• Recipe options (1 point)
• Treats & supplements (1 point)
• Food for puppies (1 point)
• Price (2 points)
• Customizability (1 point)
• Portioning & feeding (1 point)
• Packaging, storage & sustainability (1 point)
• Recalls (1 point)
• Shipping (1 point)
• Overall winner

Ingredient quality, sourcing, preparation & testing

The Farmer’s Dog prepares its recipes using USDA meats and produce obtained from trusted food suppliers, local farms, and human food vendors that adhere to USDA standards. These meals are cooked in a USDA kitchen in New York, using low temperatures to maintain nutrient content. After cooking, the meals are rapidly frozen for shipping.

The Farmer’s Dog maintains high safety standards akin to those in the human food industry. They rigorously inspect and test all incoming ingredients, cook them according to human food safety protocols, and conduct tests on samples from every batch to confirm they are free of contaminants before leaving their facility. Additionally, third-party lab tests are regularly conducted to ensure each batch of meals meets or surpasses AAFCO nutritional guidelines.

Maev doesn’t go into too much detail about where their products come from other than the fact that they are made in the United States with US and globally sourced ingredients. 

However, Maev’s food is made exclusively with human-grade ingredients in a commercial kitchen that meets human-grade standards. Maev states their food is 100% safe to feed raw. The food is frozen to remove contaminants, and each batch undergoes testing for E.coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Micro (APCs).

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog (+2 points)

Although it appears that both brands do a great job obtaining quality ingredients and testing regularly for contaminants, we love that The Farmer’s Dog sources 100% of its ingredients from the USA.

Meal formulation

Both Maev and The Farmer’s Dog formulated their recipes with the guidance of veterinary nutritionists to ensure they meet or exceed AAFCO nutrition standards. The Farmer’s Dog meets AAFCO standards for All Life Stages, meaning it can be fed to puppies 8 weeks old through their senior years. Maev has a puppy formula for dogs 8 weeks to 2 years and an adult formula for dogs 1 year to senior. 

Maev states that they underwent three years of research and development with hundreds of dogs and 13 of the best veterinary nutritionists in the industry to get their formulas right. 

Meal composition

The Farmer’s Dog meal options vary in ingredients, but all maintain a roughly similar makeup: meat, veggies, liver, fish oil, and a blend of vitamins and minerals.

Maev’s chicken and beef recipes are made with meat, liver, organs, veggies, fruit, peanut butter, oils, minerals, and supplements. Maev’s recipes obtain their vitamins from actual food sources instead of artificially separated nutrients. Nonetheless, they do add minerals to their ingredients. As far as I know, only two other dog food brands, Raised Right Dog Food and Sundays for Dogs, achieve AAFCO standards solely through their ingredients and without adding supplemental vitamins or minerals.

When comparing each brand’s meat composition, Maev uses muscle meat, organ meat, and liver, while The Farmer’s Dog only uses muscle meat and liver. 

But to be fair, it is unclear what percentage of either brand’s recipes is meat; it’s possible that both could contain the same amount of meat. But judging solely on the protein content, I would guess that Maev contains more meat than the majority of The Farmer’s Dog meals.

Protein and calories

The Farmer’s Dog protein levels range from 9% to 11% (as fed) or 39 to 49% (as dry matter). From what I’ve seen, these figures appear to be within the average range for premium fresh dog food. Maev’s protein levels are a little higher at 48% (as dry matter). Only The Farmer’s Dog’s chicken recipe contains this much protein.

There’s also quite a difference in the caloric density of each brand. The Farmer’s Dog ranges from 1,240 to 1,500 kcals per kilogram, while Maev contains 3,500 calories per kilogram (calories and kcals are interchangeable). Whether a meal with higher or lower calorie density is better for your dog will depend on your dog’s specific needs.

Older dogs who could afford to lose some weight may be better off with The Farmer’s Dog, while growing puppies may do better with Maev.

My observations

As I began to test Maev, I was surprised that your dog is supposed to eat Maev while it is still frozen, and the frozen pieces are larger than most pieces of kibble. You thaw The Farmer’s Dog before serving, and it has a soft, ground consistency. 

I was even more surprised that my picky pup liked eating the raw food frozen, even though he’s a tiny Yorkie. This means that, despite my concerns, Maev’s frozen food could be good for a wide variety of dogs including small ones. However, dogs with sensitive or missing teeth would be better off with The Farmer’s Dog, since it is softer and requires less chewing.

If you take a look at the photos below, you can see that the consistency of The Farmer’s Dog (top) is much more mashed and mixed with smaller food pieces than Maev (bottom), which consists of diced individual pieces of food. 

With Maev, my picky Yorkie can separate out the pieces of produce he doesn’t want to eat, specifically, blueberries, kale, and on occasion, green beans, and eat the remaining parts of his meal. Obviously, I’d rather he eat the entire dish, since that’s the only way he’ll get the nutritional balance the recipe was crafted to deliver. With The Farmer’s Dog, he isn’t able to pull out individual pieces as easily, but happily eats all of it since it is blended. So, if you want to force a picky dog to eat his vegetables, you may want to consider The Farmer’s Dog.

Winner: Maev has an edge (+1.5 points for Maev; +.5 points for Farmer’s Dog)

It’s a close decision as these both have premium formulas. But we love that Maev seeks to include ingredients that contain the necessary vitamins that dogs need rather include artificially separated vitamins. We also love that Maev includes muscle meat and two or more kinds of nutrient-dense organ meat, whereas The Farmer’s Dog only contains muscle meat and liver, and their turkey meal does not contain any liver. 

However, The Farmer’s Dog is easier to eat for dogs with sensitive teeth, and it won’t allow picky eaters to avoid specific ingredients, so we’re awarding it with half a point in this category.

Recipe options

The Farmer’s Dog offers five recipes: Pork, Chicken, Chicken & Grains, Turkey, and Beef.

The Farmer’s Dog meal options

Pork recipe: USDA Pork, Sweet Potato, Potato, Green Beans, Cauliflower, USDA Pork Liver, TFD Nutrient Blend*, Salmon Oil.
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 39% min., Fat: 29% min., Fiber: 1% max., 1370 kcal per kg / 630 kcal per lb.

Chicken recipe: USDA Chicken, USDA Chicken Liver, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Chia Seeds, TFD Nutrient Pack*, Salmon Oil.
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 49% min., Fat: 32% min., Fiber: 3.0% max., 1300 kcal per kg / 590 kcal per lb.

Chicken & Grains recipe: Chicken, Oats, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Cauliflower Leaves, Carrots, TFD Nutrient Blend, Salmon Oil
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 31%, Fat: 24%, Fiber: 1%, Calories: 1300 kcal per kg

Turkey recipe: USDA Turkey, Chickpeas, Carrot, Broccoli, Parsnip, Spinach, TFD Nutrient Blend*, Salmon oil.
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 40% min., Fat: 30% min., Fiber: 1% max. 1240 kcal per kg / 530 kcal per lb.

Beef recipe: USDA Beef, Sweet Potato, Lentils, Carrot, USDA Beef Liver, Kale, Sunflower Seeds, TFD Nutrient Blend*, Salmon oil.
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 39% min., Fat: 35% min., Fiber: 2% max., 1590 kcal per kg / 694 kcal per lb. 

*TFD Nutrient blend ingredients: Tricalcium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Bitartrate, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Taurine, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin E Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Potassium Iodide, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid

Maev meal options

Maev offers two recipe options for adults and one made just for puppies.

Beef recipe ingredients: USDA Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Sweetbread, Blanched Potato, Green Beans, Zucchini, Blueberries, Kale, Peanut Butter, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Mineral Blend, Supplement Blend
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 48.13% min, Fat: 19.25% min., Fiber: 7.32% max. 3,500 cal/kg

Chicken recipe ingredients: USDA Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Blanched Potato, Green Beans, Zucchini, Blueberries, Kale, Peanut Butter, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Mineral Blend, Supplement Blend
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 48.13% min., Fat: 19.25% min., Fiber: 7.32% max. 3,500 cal/kg

Puppy recipe ingredients: USDA Chicken, Sweet Potato, Green Beans, Chicken Liver, Zucchini, Blueberries, Kale, Chicken Gizzard, Egg, Peanut Butter, Flaxseed Oil, Fish Oil, Mineral Blend
Guaranteed Analysis (Dry Matter): Protein: 37.25% min, Fat: 14.51% min., Fiber: 6.97% max. 3,500 cal/kg

Maev’s Supplement Blend Ingredients:

In the adult ingredient lists above, you’ll notice there is a Supplement Blend. This blend contains ingredients that vary depending on the health focus you choose. There are four different supplement blend options:

• Weight & Digestion formula: Includes digestive enzymes and probiotics
• Anxiety & Mental Health: Contains bovine colostrum and L-Theanine
• Hip & Joint: Formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin
• Skin & Coat: Features Omega 6:3 fish oil

If your dog has any of the issues targeted by these blends, you’ll know which to choose. But in my opinion, the Weight & Digestion formula is a great choice for dogs without any outstanding issues, since gut health and your dog’s ability to digest food is the root of many parts of their overall wellbeing. The Skin & Coat option is also generally beneficial.

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog (+1 point)

We love that Maev offers supplement blends with all of their food. It’s an easy and regular way to help your dog stay on track with their health goals. 

But some of those ingredients, such as fish oil, are also in The Farmer’s Dog’s recipes. And if you want variety, the Farmer’s Dog has more than twice the recipe options. Additionally, The Farmer’s Dog offers pork, a novel protein option that may be more tolerable for dogs with meat allergies.

>> Read more: Best Novel Protein Dog Food

Treats & supplements

At the time of writing, neither brand offers what they call treats. However, Maev does offer a bar that blurs the line between treats and supplements.

Supplements

The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer’s Dog offers a DIY nutrient blend that allows you to make sure homemade dog food is nutritionally balanced for your dog. 

In general, we recommend you purchase your dog’s food from a respectable brand whose recipes were formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. This is because providing all of the specific minerals and nutrients your dog needs is complicated. 

But if your dog has advanced issues and no store-brand option will work, this DIY nutrient blend could allow you to complete a homemade diet. Just be sure to work with your vet if you’re going to start feeding your dog homemade food. 

Maev

Maev offers both vitamin bars and bone broth cubes that, combined with the food, assist in achieving the dog’s functional health goals, like healthier skin or improved gut health.

The vitamin bars reminded me of granola bars. Maev created four varieties to target certain needs: Weight & Digestion, Anxiety & Calming, Hip & Joint, and  Skin & Coat.

These bars were a big hit with my dog! I used them as a replacement for his normal treats. The bars only come in one size, and at 65 calories per bar, I had to break the bar into several pieces, so my tiny Yorkie wouldn’t consume too many calories in one sitting. For larger dogs, this won’t be an issue.

Maev also created frozen bone broth cubes to add to their food or as a treat. Bone broth is full of nutrients that help improve gut and digestive health, skin and coat health, and joint flexibility. Our dog wasn’t interested in eating these bone broth cubes frozen as Maev suggests, but he cleaned his bowl once they were fully melted. In my opinion, Maev’s bone broth is too expensive to be worth it. Other brands, such as Open Farm Dog Food, sell bone broth in liquid form, and you’ll get more for your money that way. 

Winner: Maev (+1 point)

Maeve has a lot more to offer in the supplement department. If you want to address a specific health goal, Maev has created 8 bundles to remove the guesswork and simplify the ordering process. These bundles include food supplemented with specific beneficial ingredients along with bone broth and/or vitamin bars. Examples include The Gassy Dog Bundle, the Senior Dog Bundle, and The Reactive Dog Bundle.

Food for Puppies

Both of Maev’s adult recipes are suited for all life stages. However, they created a formula specifically for puppies 8 weeks old up to 2 years old, including large puppies that will be 70 lbs. or more as an adult.

This puppy formula is crafted to support puppies’ growth and development. It includes egg as a complete protein, providing essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids for cognitive function, along with choline and vitamins A, D, and B for overall growth. Sweet potato adds vital minerals like potassium, magnesium, and manganese, vitamin A for vision, and fiber for digestion. 

Supplements added to the puppy formula are bovine colostrum and probiotics. According to Maev, colostrum provides remarkable antibody proteins that offer enhanced immunity and stress-relief capabilities, comparable in effectiveness to synthetic benzodiazepines.

Also included are species-specific probiotics crucial for maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria and aiding in digestion and immunity. 

The Farmer’s Dog doesn’t have a recipe exclusively for puppies. However, each of the four recipes complies with and surpasses AAFCO guidelines for all life stages, making them suitable for puppies as young as 8 weeks. For more details, refer to our guide on The Farmer’s Dog puppy food.

The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Ingredients:

Chicken, Chicken Liver, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Chia Seeds, TFD Nutrient Blend, Salmon Oil

Maev Puppy Formula Ingredients: 

Chicken Breast, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Egg, Sweet Potato, Green Bean, Zucchini, Blueberries, Kale, Peanut Butter, Bovine Colostrum 

Below is a side-by-side look at the nutrition profile of Maev’s puppy formula and a similar chicken recipe of The Farmer’s Dog.

Nutrition profile comparison in dry matter 

	Maev Puppy Formula	The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Formula
Protein	37.25%	49%
Fat	14.51%	32%
Fiber	6.97%	3%
Calories	3495 cal/kg	1300 kcal/kg

To make sense of these nutritional profiles, we checked what veterinary experts have to say about nutritional content for puppies. 

According to the VCA and Pethelpdirect, a healthy growth rate for puppies is supported by a protein content of approximately 22 to 32% (less protein for great protein quality, more protein for lower quality protein) when calculated on a dry matter basis.

Fat, essential for providing fatty acids, is a dense energy source and helps in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. However, too much energy intake can lead to obesity and developmental orthopedic diseases, so the fat content in a puppy’s diet should be between 10 to 25% on a dry matter basis.

Winner: Maev (+1 point)

With the information from our research and the assumption that both brands provide quality protein, it appears that Maev’s protein and fat content may be a better choice for puppies. But, be sure to check with your vet before choosing either option for your puppy.

Price

The Farmer’s Dog indicates that their prices begin at around $2 daily. But for our 6-lb Yorkie, the quote came to $2.80 per day, so that’s the minimum you should expect to spend. The cost per day tends to rise with the dog’s weight, since larger dogs need more food. Note that the prices in this section do not include the new Chicken & Grains recipe, which is cheaper than The Farmer’s Dog’s other recipes.

Maev prices begin at around $2.25 for my Yorkie. The Small Dog Bundle (which includes food and a month’s supply of vitamin bars) costs $3.45 per day. I recommend exploring the bundle options and using the ‘Customize Portion’ button to find out the specific price for your dog’s needs.

For those with medium-sized dogs, say a 25-lb. Corgi, the cost for a little over five weeks of food is approximately $144 or about $4.11 per day. If you choose a bundle, such as The Itchy Dog Bundle, the cost will be around $5.51 per day for five weeks of food and a month’s supply of bone broth.

As you can see in the table below, Maev tends to be less expensive for small/medium dogs, while The Farmer’s Dog appears to cost less for large and extra-large dogs.

Price Comparison Chart (before discounts)

	Maev	The Farmer’s Dog
6-lb. Yorkie male	$2.25 per day / $67.50 month	$2.80 per day / $84 per month
25-lb. Corgi male	$4.11 per day/ $123 per month	$4.93 per day / $148 per month
60-lb. Afghan Hound male	$8.47 per day / $254 per month	$8.44 per day / $253 per month
100-lb Rhodesian Ridgeback	$18.14 per day / $544 per month	$13.56 per / $406 per month

Prices vary by recipe and bundle choice, as well as how many bags of food you receive per shipment.

The Farmer’s Dog offers a supplemental or “Topper” plan of smaller meals to mix into and supplement a dog’s current diet. The Topper Plan gave us 3 different portion options for a 60-lb dog: a half portion at $37.47 per week, a quarter portion at $28.84 per week, and a little bit more than 1/8th portion at $17.92 per week. We noticed this topper plan is difficult to find on their website and wasn’t provided until we were beginning to leave the website. I’d recommend just ordering a full portion and delaying your next shipment until you need it.

Winner: Maev for small & medium dogs (+1.5 points), The Farmer’s Dog for very large dogs (+.5 points)

Maev offers a better price for small and medium dogs. The price of each brand is similar for large dogs, and The Farmer’s Dog is cheaper for extra-large breeds. You should obtain personalized quotes from both brands to accurately compare and determine the cost for your specific dog. Or see more pricing examples in our guides to how much Maev costs and how much The Farmer’s Dog costs.

Customizability

Both brands take you through a simple questionnaire to gather information about your dog. They use that information to calculate your dog’s food portions. 

The Farmer’s Dog’s questionnaire is more extensive and asks about your dog’s breed, health status, and any allergies or specific health concerns your dog may have, such as gluten sensitivity, tear stains, bad breath, or digestive problems. This additional information helps determine which recipes you should choose. 

The Farmer’s Dog doesn’t provide any prescription diets or specialized meals. They do have a supplemental meal plan to deliver smaller portions you can mix with your dog’s kibble, but it’s not easy to locate on their website. This plan lowers your expenses and the daily amount of food, adding nutritious fresh food to your dog’s existing diet. However, we discovered a cost-effective alternative: order a standard quantity of food, serve smaller daily portions, and extend the time between deliveries to create your own budget-friendly supplement plan.

One detail I like about The Farmer’s Dog is that each meal pouch is personalized with your dog’s name and portioning instructions. This would be immensely useful if you are feeding multiple dogs and need to keep track of who gets what and how much of it. Other fresh food brands do not personalize their meal pouches like this.

Both brands allow you to choose a single recipe or mix multiple recipes in your order (although Maev only offers two recipes while The Farmer’s Dog offers five). Both brands provide the option to modify recipes, adjust delivery schedules, or change other subscription details through your account. Just ensure to make these changes before your next order is processed.

Maev includes functional supplement blends tailored to support one of four areas: Weight & Digestion, Anxiety & Mental Health, Hip & Joint, or Skin & Coat. You can pick which of these blends your dog needs to customize the meal plan for your pup.

For example, if your dog is struggling with itchy or irritated skin, you can choose the Skin & Coat formula which is supplemented with fish oil to nourish the body with soothing omega-3 fatty acid. Or, choose a deeper level of nourishment by choosing the Itchy Dog bundle, which includes the Skin & Coat food as well as bone broth cubes that provide certain amino acids that are essential for skin health.

Winner: Maev (+1 point)

We love that Maev tailors to dogs’ unique needs by providing a puppy formula and targeted supplements that help your pet achieve specific health goals.

Portioning & feeding

Neither Maev nor The Farmer’s Dog individually portions their meals. Some other brands, such as Nom Nom Dog Food, do this for dogs of certain sizes.

The Farmer’s Dog uses flat, thin, vacuum-sealed packs that are stored in the freezer until the day before use. Large dogs may consume half or an entire pack in a meal, but the packs are small enough that the food won’t spoil before a small dog has the chance to finish it.

Packs require scissors to open along the top. Squeeze out the appropriate portion which is conveniently labeled along with your dog’s name on each pack. Seal the pack with a clip and store unused portions in the fridge for the next meal. 

Maev uses 5-lb. resealable bags to store their food. However, the plastic zip-style closure broke halfway through the bag, so I needed to close the bag with a clip. 

The food should be kept in the freezer and is served to your dog frozen, although you can thaw it before serving if your dog prefers it that way. I used a measuring cup to portion out each of my dog’s meals. 

I did notice that some of the food didn’t get diced properly and there were 3-inch to 4-inch pieces of frozen meat and clumps of kale that required some dicing before my Yorkie could eat it (see below). Take care washing your hands after handling Maev since the food is raw.

While neither brand is ideal to travel with, Maev might be more difficult since it needs to stay frozen.

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog by a hair (+1 point)

Neither food is difficult to portion or serve. Serving The Farmer’s Dog is a little messier than Maev since it’s fresh wet food. But if you own a large dog, storing several 5-lb. bags of Maev’s food in the freezer could be challenging. And I did have to personally cut a few pieces of Maev.

In contrast, The Farmer’s Dog packs are smaller, which might make them easier to fit in various freezer spaces. If freezer space is a concern for you, consider having food shipped to you every 1 or 2 weeks.

Packaging, storage & sustainability

The food from The Farmer’s Dog and Maev arrives in insulated cardboard boxes under dry ice to keep the food frozen during shipping and until you can store it in the freezer. Even in hot, humid weather, my food arrived frozen. If there is any concern with food spoiling, reach out to the company.

While Maev stays in the freezer and is served frozen, The Farmer’s Dog food should be thawed out in the fridge a day in advance.

The Farmer’s Dog uses packaging that is entirely biodegradable or recyclable, non-toxic, and free of BPA. Its insulation, crafted from cornstarch, can either be composted or dissolved in running water. The container for storing food is biodegradable, and the food bags are recyclable after rinsing.

On the other hand, while Maev’s cardboard boxes are recyclable, their food bags are not marked as recyclable. One Maev shipment arrived insulated in what appeared to be the same dissolvable cornstarch, while the other was insulated in a thick layer of shredded cardboard.

Each of The Farmer’s Dog food packs is individually labeled with the recipe name, your dog’s name, the packing date, and portioning instructions. This labeling is especially useful when you are feeding multiple dogs. Along with the food, your initial order includes a transition and feeding guide, a reusable insulated tote bag, and a single-use storage container.

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog (+1 point)

Maev has less packaging since the food comes in 5-lb. bags. However, the bags do not appear to be recyclable. The Farmer’s Dog involves more small food packages, but at least they are all recyclable.

Recalls

At the time of this writing, neither The Farmer’s Dog nor Maev has had any recalls according to the FDA.

Winner: It’s a tie! (+0.5 points each)

Shipping

The Farmer’s Dog ships for free.

Maev ships free if you order 7 bags (about $250 worth) or more in one order. If your order is less than 7 bags, there is a $9.98 express shipping fee added to your total. 

Both brands ship to anywhere within the continental U.S. Changes to your shipping preferences such as pausing, skipping, or delaying an order, can be made in your account. Any adjustments must be made before your next order is processed.

Shipping is adjustable but defaults to ship less frequently for small dogs and about every 2 to 3 weeks for large dogs. If you prefer to not have too much food stored in the freezer, large dogs can get food shipped weekly.

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog (+1 point)

You don’t have to pay shipping with The Farmer’s Dog. Both brands allow you to tweak how often you receive shipments, so you can get more or less at once based on your preferences and freezer space.

Overall winner

After tallying the points, The Farmer’s Dog wins, but only by a hair.

	14 points available
The Farmer’s Dog	7.5
Maev	6.5

It was a close call, and which brand you’d prefer could depend on your dog’s unique needs. For a clearer comparison, I’ve put together a list of the top features that I would consider before choosing one of these brands.

The Farmer’s Dog:

• Lightly cooked USDA meat and produce
• 100% sourced in the USA
• Mashed ingredients prevent picky dogs from separating disliked ingredients
• Soft texture for dogs with sensitive teeth
• 5 recipes available
• May be slightly cheaper for large dogs, but noticeably cheaper for XL dogs
• Individually labeled packaging that is 100% biodegradable or recyclable, non-toxic, and BPA-free
• Small food packs that are easy to stack in the freezer
• Always free shipping
• Full refund if your dog doesn’t like it

Maev:

• USDA raw meat and produce
• Sourced globally, although sourced locally whenever possible and made in the USA
• Diced frozen ingredients that slow down eating, but can be picked out by picky pups
• 2 recipes available (plus 1 puppy recipe)
• 4 supplement formulas addressing specific health goals 
• Supplemental vitamin bars and bone broth cubes
• Vitamins sourced from food ingredients, not artificially isolated nutrients 
• Cheaper cost for small and medium dogs
• Little to no mess during serving
• Contains species-specific probiotics
• Food bags are not recyclable
• $9.98 shipping unless you order in bulk

No matter which brand you select, it’s a nutritional upgrade from typical pet store kibble, and your pup will agree! Incorporating whole foods into your dog’s diet will be beneficial, as it can lower the risk of diet-related illnesses in the future. This could ultimately lead to savings on costly veterinary bills.

I have fed my dog both Maev and The Farmer’s dog and he loves them both. If you’re unsure which is a better choice, try them both and see which one your dog prefers!

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