Are you considering switching your dog to Ollie dog food but unsure about its fresh and baked recipes? As a dog owner who’s tested numerous fresh dog food brands across the US, I’ve put Ollie through its paces with my picky eaters. My Alaskan Klee Kai duo, Copper and Skye, usually thrive on fresh options, but finding a consistent winner has been challenging since our move back to California from the UK.
Ollie stands out in the fresh dog food market, competing with top players like The Farmer’s Dog and Nom Nom. In this Ollie dog food review, I’ll break down the pros and cons based on hands-on use, covering their dry kibble alternatives and fresh meals. Whether you’re feeding a fussy pup or budgeting for premium nutrition, these insights from real feeding trials will help.
For more detailed personal takes, check out my Ollie dog food reviews.
Copper and Skye enjoying Ollie meals
Pros of Ollie Dog Food
Ollie excels in flexibility and quality, making it a strong contender for dog owners seeking human-grade ingredients without the hassle of cooking.
Versatile Formats: Fresh and Baked Options
Originally focused solely on fresh dog food, Ollie expanded to include baked recipes by late 2023. This duo of formats—fresh meals and shelf-stable dry kibble—lets you customize based on your dog’s preferences and your lifestyle. For picky eaters like Skye, blending textures keeps mealtime exciting and prevents boredom.
Ollie’s baked recipes
Flexible Mix-and-Match Plans
Budget-conscious? Ollie’s subscription model shines with options for 100% fresh, half-fresh/half-baked, or full mixes. This scalability means you can dip into premium fresh food without breaking the bank, unlike rigid all-fresh plans from competitors. It’s ideal for transitioning dogs from kibble while controlling costs.
Wide Recipe Variety
Variety is key for finicky dogs, and Ollie delivers with beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and turkey in fresh recipes, plus beef and chicken baked options. This range rivals the best in the industry, ensuring you can rotate proteins to maintain interest and meet nutritional needs. Vets often recommend protein rotation for balanced diets, supported by guidelines from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Thoughtful Packaging Perks
Your first Ollie box includes a scooper and storage container—a small but game-changing detail many brands overlook. Fresh food stays fresh longer without messy, smelly pouches cluttering your fridge, simplifying daily routines.
Ollie fresh dog food packaging
Personalized Meal Plans
Ollie’s online quiz tailors recipes to your dog’s age, weight, activity level, and health quirks, much like a vet consultation. This customization ensures calorie-appropriate portions, promoting optimal weight management and vitality—backed by my observations of steadier energy in trial dogs.
Attractive First-Order Discounts
New customers often snag significant savings on the starter box, making it low-risk to test. These promotions, combined with free shipping, ease the entry into fresh feeding.
Ollie’s welcome box
Cons of Ollie Dog Food
While Ollie has strengths, it’s not perfect—especially for budget-focused or dry-only feeders.
Premium Pricing for Fresh Meals
Full fresh plans are among the priciest I’ve reviewed, comparable to Nom Nom but steeper than The Farmer’s Dog. Expect $4–$8 per pound depending on your dog’s size, which adds up for larger breeds. Mixed plans help, but pure fresh isn’t economical long-term for everyone.
Limited Baked Recipe Selection
Only two baked flavors (beef and chicken) feel restrictive next to their robust fresh lineup. More options would enhance pairing potential for variety seekers.
Ollie’s baked food and scooper
No Standalone Dry Food Plan
Baked kibble requires a mixed subscription—you can’t order dry-only. This limits appeal for kibble loyalists, unlike brands such as The Pets Table that offer standalone dry subscriptions.
Lacks Portion Guidelines on Pouches
Unlike pre-portioned competitors like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie’s pouches don’t include clear serving guides. Measuring manually works but adds mental load, especially for multi-dog households.
Mixed Results with Picky Eaters
Copper and Skye loved the beef and lamb fresh recipes but snubbed pork and turkey, requiring mixes to finish meals. We eventually switched, as consistency faltered—common feedback in owner forums like those on Reddit’s r/dogfood.
Skye and Copper eating Ollie
Final Thoughts on Ollie Dog Food
Ollie dog food offers premium, customizable nutrition with fresh and baked flexibility, ideal for introducing high-quality meals alongside kibble. Its recipe variety and personalization shine for most dogs, drawing from human-grade standards that align with veterinary nutrition principles.
However, the cost, limited dry options, and palatability inconsistencies may deter some. If your pup thrives on it, the pros outweigh the cons—but always consult your vet for breed-specific advice, especially for small breeds like Klee Kai prone to sensitive stomachs.
Ready to try? Start with a discounted box and monitor your dog’s response. For fellow dog parents, sharing your Ollie experiences in comments helps everyone!
Ollie’s human-grade recipes
References:
- Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines on dog nutrition.
- Personal feeding trials with Alaskan Klee Kai, 2023–2024.
