We Feed Raw vs The Farmer's Dog: Which Diet Is Truly Best for Your Dog?

Pet parents today have more options than ever when it comes to feeding their canine companions. The rise of fresh and raw diets offers a welcome alternative to traditional kibble, sparking a major debate between two of the leading brands in this space.

The comparison of We Feed Raw vs The Farmer's Dog is one of the most common for owners seeking a higher-quality food. While both brands aim to provide better nutrition, our core philosophies are fundamentally different: we offer a truly raw, uncooked diet, while The Farmer’s Dog provides a gently cooked, fresh food option.

This guide provides a comprehensive, fact-based comparison, exploring the key differences in food type, nutrition, and convenience. We will help you understand that a truly species-appropriate raw food is good for dogs, and we will show you why We Feed Raw offers the superior choice for your dog's health.

For a similar comparison of raw food brands, you can also check out our article on We Feed Raw vs Viva Raw.

The Fundamental Difference: Raw vs. Gently Cooked

At the heart of the We Feed Raw vs The Farmer's Dog debate is the core distinction between raw and cooked food. This difference in processing impacts everything from nutrient integrity to digestibility.

We Feed Raw's Biologically Appropriate Raw Diet

A raw diet is the closest thing you can get to what a dog's wild ancestors would have eaten. Our food at We Feed Raw is uncooked, cold-pressed, and minimally processed. This approach preserves the natural state of the ingredients, which is packed with enzymes and nutrients that a dog's digestive system is biologically designed to absorb.

By avoiding heat, we ensure the food maintains its integrity, offering a biologically appropriate meal that supports everything from digestive health to a healthy coat. Our raw diet aligns perfectly with the carnivorous nature of dogs, who thrive on a diet of muscle meat, organs, and bone.

The Farmer's Dog's Gently Cooked Approach

The Farmer's Dog, on the other hand, provides a gently cooked fresh food option. Their food is made with human-grade ingredients that are minimally processed but heated to a temperature that eliminates pathogens.

While this approach is a significant step up from highly processed, high-heat extruded kibble, it is important to recognize the trade-off. Cooking, even at a low temperature, can alter the nutritional structure of the food. It destroys the natural enzymes found in raw ingredients that aid in digestion, and it can reduce the potency of certain heat-sensitive vitamins and minerals.

The Farmer's Dog provides a fresh meal, but it is not a raw meal.

A Head-to-Head Comparison of Safety and Nutritional Philosophy

Safety and nutritional completeness are non-negotiable for a healthy diet. Both companies prioritize these, but our methods of achieving them are distinct.

Is High-Pressure Processing Better Than Cooking for Safety?

Both companies prioritize food safety, but we do so through different methods. The Farmer's Dog uses cooking to eliminate pathogens, a traditional and effective method. We Feed Raw, however, uses an innovative, non-thermal process called high-pressure processing (HPP) to achieve the same goal.

HPP is a cold-water process that applies ultra-high pressure to our food. This pressure effectively inactivates pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli without using heat, so the food remains raw and retains its natural enzymes and nutrients.

In this way, We Feed Raw provides the best of both worlds: a truly raw diet with the peace of mind that comes from a scientifically validated safety step.

Ingredients and Diet Philosophy

The diet philosophies of the two brands also differ significantly. We Feed Raw’s philosophy is centered on providing a species-appropriate, carnivorous diet that is rich in animal protein and fat, with very few carbohydrates.

Our limited-ingredient recipes contain a precise ratio of muscle meat, organ meat, and bone, ensuring they are complete and balanced. We use a small amount of a vitamin and mineral mix to guarantee that every meal meets AAFCO standards, making it easy to feed your dog a nutritionally sound diet.

The Farmer's Dog's food is also formulated by veterinary nutritionists and meets AAFCO standards. However, their recipes are a blend of meat and a variety of vegetables and fruits, which, while fresh, are not a necessary part of a dog's ancestral diet. The inclusion of these ingredients, while appealing to some owners, means a dog's diet contains more carbohydrates than it naturally requires.

Recipe Variety and Product Lines

We Feed Raw offers a wide range of proteins to provide variety and cater to dogs with different taste preferences or sensitivities. Our five frozen raw recipes (chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, and duck) are AAFCO-approved for dogs of all life stages. We also offer two convenient shelf-stable, freeze-dried recipes (beef and chicken), which are complete and balanced for adult dogs.

The Farmer's Dog also offers a variety of recipes (beef, chicken, turkey, and pork), and like our frozen recipes, they are pre-portioned and delivered to your door.

Convenience, Cost, and Lifestyle Considerations

The best diet for your dog is one that you can consistently feed them. This means convenience, cost, and storage are all crucial factors.

Portioning and Preparation

Both companies offer pre-portioned meals, but the practical differences can be significant. The Farmer's Dog ships its food in larger, flexible packaging that requires refrigeration. We Feed Raw’s patties are frozen and individually packaged, making them easy to store in the freezer and thaw just one or two meals at a time.

This is a major advantage for small dogs or for owners who want to use our raw food as a topper. We even send a complimentary container to hold any leftovers, a small but thoughtful detail that demonstrates our commitment to convenience.

The Cost-Benefit Analysis

Both We Feed Raw and The Farmer's Dog are premium products, and as such, they are more expensive than conventional kibble. When comparing them, it is important to consider not just the sticker price but the nutritional value you are receiving for your money.

We Feed Raw's diet is more nutrient-dense, and because of this, our customers often report health benefits that can lead to fewer vet visits over time.

A Matter of Storage

Both diets require refrigeration and/or freezer space. The Farmer's Dog's food is delivered in larger packs that require consistent refrigeration. We Feed Raw's patties are frozen and can be thawed as needed, which gives you more flexibility with storage.

Additionally, our shelf-stable, freeze-dried recipes require no refrigeration at all, making them an excellent choice for travel, hiking, or simply as an easy-to-store option.

The Verdict: Why We Feed Raw Is the Best Choice for Your Dog

The choice between We Feed Raw vs The Farmer's Dog is ultimately a choice between a raw diet and a cooked one. While The Farmer's Dog offers a fresh, human-grade food that is a step above conventional kibble, it does not provide the same benefits as a true raw diet. The cooking process, however gentle, alters the food's nutritional structure and destroys vital enzymes.

We Feed Raw, on the other hand, provides a truly raw diet with the peace of mind that comes from our scientifically validated HPP safety process. Our recipes are species-appropriate, nutritionally complete, and made with limited, high-quality ingredients that are easy for your dog to digest. We believe this combination of safety, species-appropriate nutrition, and convenience makes We Feed Raw the truly best choice for your dog.

Ready to provide your dog with a raw diet that aligns with their natural biology and supports their long-term health? Take our quiz now to get started on their personalized meal plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main difference between We Feed Raw and The Farmer's Dog?

The main difference between We Feed Raw and The Farmer's Dog is the processing method. We provide a truly raw, uncooked diet that preserves natural enzymes and nutrients. The Farmer's Dog offers a gently cooked, fresh food diet.

While both are considered high-quality, only our approach aligns with a dog's natural biology as a carnivore, which thrives on a raw diet.

Is We Feed Raw or The Farmer's Dog safer for my dog to eat?

When it comes to safety, we believe our method makes We Feed Raw the safer choice. The Farmer's Dog uses cooking to ensure their food is free of pathogens.

We use high-pressure processing (HPP), a non-thermal process that effectively inactivates pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli while keeping the food raw. This gives us the best of both worlds: a raw diet with the assurance of a scientifically validated safety step.

How does the nutritional philosophy of We Feed Raw vs The Farmer's Dog differ?

Our nutritional philosophy is centered on species-appropriate, carnivorous diets. We use a limited-ingredient approach with a precise blend of muscle meat, organ meat, and bone to ensure our recipes are nutritionally complete.

The Farmer's Dog includes a variety of vegetables and fruits in their recipes, which, while fresh, contain carbohydrates that are not a necessary part of a dog's ancestral diet.

When considering convenience, which is better: We Feed Raw or The Farmer's Dog?

The convenience of We Feed Raw or The Farmer's Dog depends on your lifestyle, but we offer greater flexibility. Both brands deliver pre-portioned meals to your door. However, our shelf-stable, freeze-dried recipes require no freezer space or thawing, making them ideal for travel or as a carb-free kibble topper.

In terms of value, what are the key differences between We Feed Raw vs The Farmer's Dog?

When evaluating We Feed Raw vs The Farmer's Dog, the value goes beyond cost per pound. Our diet is more nutrient-dense and bioavailable, which means your dog's body uses more of what we provide.

Our scientifically-backed approach to safety and our commitment to a species-appropriate diet can lead to long-term health benefits, which can reduce future veterinary bills.