Fresh dog food has quickly become a popular choice for pet parents seeking minimally processed, high-quality nutrition for their pups. But with many fresh dog food brands positioning themselves as a healthy alternative to traditional kibble, it can be challenging to know what’s truly the best for your one-of-a-kind dog.
In this article, we’ll weigh the features of two frequently-compared brands, JustFoodForDogs and Ollie, to help you understand key differences in nutrition, ingredients, pricing, delivery, and veterinary oversight. Use this side-by-side analysis to complement your own research and choose the ideal food for your dog’s needs, health, and lifestyle.
Bowls up! Let’s dig in.
Ollie vs JustFoodForDogs: A Complete Comparison
At first glance, in the debate of Ollie vs JustFoodForDogs, both fresh pet foods seem equal, with recognizable ingredients, frozen and shelf-stable options, and a variety of proteins. But a closer look shows clear differences in formulation philosophy (recipe design), delivery model, and ordering flexibility.
| Ollie | JustFoodForDogs | |
| Ingredient quality, sourcing, and transparency | Fresh, human-grade ingredients from trusted suppliers. | USDA-inspected, human-grade whole foods; high sourcing and prep transparency. |
| Recipe formulation and nutritional standards |
AAFCO nutrient profiles with veterinary input; marketed as complete for long-term feeding. | NRC-based recipes validated with AAFCO feeding trials; complete and balanced for long-term feeding. |
| Veterinary or nutritionist on staff | Works with veterinary nutritionists during recipe development; further involvement is unclear. | Internal veterinarians and board-certified veterinary nutritionists lead formulation, research, and clinical testing. |
| Customization options | Portion and plan customization via online quiz; recipes standardized; therapeutic diets not offered. | Multiple feeding styles: complete meals, DIY blends, therapeutic diets, and vet-guided plans. |
| Available formulas | Primarily fresh meals; small selection of baked/kibble-style recipes. | Fresh-frozen meals, shelf-stable options, DIY kits, prescription support diets. |
| Convenience (delivery + purchasing) | Auto-ship subscription with pre-portioned meals; one-time purchase only at select retailers. | Subscriptions or one-time purchases online and at select retailers; flexible ordering. |
| Pricing | Based on calorie needs within subscription, primarily supports full meal plans with predictable pricing. | Based on calorie needs; options to mix formats or DIY meals to manage cost. |
Ingredient Quality, Sourcing, and Transparency
Quality ingredients from reputable sources are critical to creating a nutritionally complete and healthy fresh dog food, while responsible practices, such as transparency, build consumer confidence and help protect our pets and our planet.
JustFoodForDogs: uses USDA-inspected, human-grade, whole-food ingredients with a high level of sourcing and preparation transparency—including an open kitchen that lets you see exactly what we do and how we do it.
Ollie: Ollie focuses on fresh, human-grade, whole ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers.
Recipe Formulation and Nutritional Standards
Complete and balanced nutrition is essential when feeding fresh dog food, as nutritional gaps or inconsistencies can negatively affect your dog’s health over time.
JustFoodForDogs: Recipes are formulated according to National Research Council (NRC) nutrient standards and validated through AAFCO feeding trials. The brand emphasizes research, feeding trials, and recipe consistency to support long-term nutritional adequacy.
Ollie: Recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles and are developed with veterinary nutritionist oversight. Formulation relies on established nutrient standards rather than brand-led feeding trials or published research.
Veterinary or Nutritionist Involvement
Professional oversight can be a key consideration for pet parents evaluating the nutritional quality of fresh dog food recipes, helping ensure dogs are receiving an appropriate nutrient balance.
JustFoodForDogs: Recipe formulation and updates are led by an internal team of veterinarians and board-certified veterinary nutritionists. These professionals are involved in every stage, including research, feeding trials, and clinical use.
Ollie: Veterinary nutritionists play a role in recipe development, though the scope of their total involvement isn’t as visible online.
Customization Options
While some pet parents prefer highly personalized, tailored feeding plans, others value standardized recipes customized at the portion level. You could say it’s all a matter of taste.
JustFoodForDogs: Options are available for multiple feeding styles, including complete meals, DIY nutrient blends, therapeutic diets, and veterinarian-guided options for dogs with specific health needs (e.g., high fiber to support gut health or moderate protein for dogs with kidney disease).
Ollie: Meal portions and plan quantities are customized based on an online quiz about your dog’s size, age, and activity level. Meal plans can include a combination of fresh and baked diets, but recipes are standardized and not modifiable. Therapeutic diets are not currently offered.
Available Formulas
Fresh dog food isn’t one-size-fits-all. Having multiple formulas helps pets and pet parents find something that suits their needs and lifestyle, and makes feeding a fresh food diet easier in the long term.
JustFoodForDogs: Many formulations are offered, including fresh-frozen meals, shelf-stable options, DIY resources, and customized diets for various health needs.
Ollie: Fresh meals delivered through a subscription plan are the primary focus, with a smaller selection of kibble-style “baked” recipes. Ollie dry dog food can be mixed and matched in the meal plan for variety and a more budget-friendly feeding plan.
Convenience (delivery + purchase model)
The ease of dog food delivery and ordering can strongly influence a pet parent’s long-term commitment to feeding fresh dog food.
JustFoodForDogs: Available through subscriptions or one-time purchases online and at select retailers, JustFoodForDogs allows for flexible ordering and feeding options so you never have too little or too much.
Ollie: Ollie is built around an auto-ship subscription model with pre-portioned meals and direct-to-home dog food delivery. Online purchases require a plan, though a limited inventory of meals is available at select retailers.
Pricing
Price is often a deciding factor when comparing fresh dog food brands, particularly for long-term feeding.
JustFoodForDogs: Pricing focuses on the dog’s calorie needs and varies by product formula, with options that allow pet parents to mix feeding formats, prepare nutritionally-balanced DIY meals, or supplement existing diets to manage overall cost.
Ollie: Ollie’s fresh dog food pricing is also based on a dog’s calorie requirements within a subscription structure. This offers some predictability while primarily supporting full meal plan purchases.
Ollie vs. JustFoodForDogs: Choosing Between Brands
When it comes to choosing the best dog food, consumer research is important. In addition to the information outlined above, knowing what other pet parents are saying can add practical insight to your decision.
A quick online search will show:
- Ollie dog food reviews praise pet food palatability, convenience, meal plan design, and customer experience (ordering and dog food delivery).
- JustFoodForDogs reviews give high marks to ingredient quality, scientific formulation, research-backed recipes, and the perceived health outcomes of feeding fresh dog food.
But ultimately, choosing between fresh dog foods is a matter of your priorities (e.g., quality nutrition, health, budget, convenience) and your dog’s preferences (i.e., how it tastes and smells). After all, they’re the ones who eat it!
When viewed this way, your answer to Ollie vs JustFoodForDogs becomes clearer.
Ollie fresh dog food appeals to dog parents who seek a streamlined, subscription-only experience with less emphasis on customization and more focus on consistent pre-portioned meals. If a kibble-style, non-refrigerated option is needed, Ollie delivers.
JustFoodForDogs may be favored by pet parents who value transparency, veterinary-guided formulation and research, and a large range of flexible formulas for every dog—including those with health conditions and picky eaters. And if you’d rather home cook for your dog, JustFoodForDogs provides convenient DIY products to help you build balanced meals in your own kitchen.
Supporting Your Dog’s Nutrition With Confidence
Filling your dog’s bowl is an act of care. This means selecting the right fresh dog food brand is more than comparing labels or formulas. It’s about finding the solution that supports your dog’s nutritional needs while also aligning with your lifestyle and preferences. When you feed complete and balanced meals with clearly sourced ingredients, backed by veterinary expertise and proven research, and formulas made to fit seamlessly with your daily routine, you can fill their bowl with confidence and peace of mind.
JustFoodForDogs offers veterinarian-developed, science-backed recipes that make feeding fresh food to dogs simple. With multiple formats and preparation options, it’s easy to find an approach that works for you and your dog at every life stage.
Want to learn more about the differences between Just Food For Dogs Pantry Fresh vs Frozen or find out if a custom diet is right for your pup? Explore our complete line of options or contact our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fresh dog food right for every dog?
Fresh dog food can be an ideal choice for many dogs, but the right choice depends on each individual dog’s unique needs. Areas to consider include:
- Age and activity level: Puppies, seniors, and active dogs will have different energy (calorie) requirements. They may require higher-calorie formulas to ensure they maintain appropriate body condition, stamina, and health. Always ensure the fresh dog food you choose is formulated for your dog’s life stage.
- Health conditions and sensitivities: Dogs with allergies, digestive issues, or other health needs may require personalized nutritional guidance from a veterinarian.
- Storage and preparation: Fresh dog food usually requires refrigeration or freezing, requiring more space, time, and planning than kibble.
- Cost: Fresh food is typically more expensive than dry dog food.
- Transition timing and readiness: Making the switch to fresh dog food should be done gradually to avoid digestive upset.
Can I switch my dog from one fresh food brand to another?
Yes, although every switch should be made gradually to prevent gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting, loose stool, bloating, and gas. Introduce new dog food brands, formulations, and even different proteins within the same brand (e.g., switching from chicken to pork), over 7 to 10 days, gradually mixing more new food in with the old food and monitoring your dog for signs of distress or picky eating.
Ollie vs JustFoodForDogs: Which brand is better for long-term feeding?
Long-term suitability ultimately depends on your dog’s needs and your feeding routine. Ollie and JustFoodForDogs both offer complete nutrition for dogs using fresh, whole ingredients in veterinarian-influenced recipes, but they differ in format and customization.
The best long-term choice for your dog will depend on their health, how you plan to feed, and your preferences for convenience, format, and personalization–so make a list of what you need from your dog food subscription, then dig in and start your research!
This content is for informational use only and does not replace professional nutrition and/or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for and should not be relied upon for specific nutrition and/or medical recommendations. Please talk with your veterinarian about any questions or concerns.
