As a city dweller who buys most of my groceries on the way home from work, hauling home giant bags and cans of dog food on the subway is my least favorite errand. Thankfully, the latest entrants into the delivery economy are fresh-dog-food delivery services. Think Blue Apron meets Grub Hub, but for dogs.
My dog Mabel and I recently had the chance to try a complimentary subscription to PetPlate [1], and we were both very impressed with the products. PetPlate calls its food "human-quality dog food," and while I didn't taste the food, it looks more like human food than dog food. It's made with whole foods (meat and veggies) and no animal byproducts and artificial ingredients. When you sign up for a subscription (or a $20 trial), PetPlate will customize your dog's meals based on your dog's age, weight, and nutrition needs, and meals cost $3 a day and up. Read on to see what we thought.
Recipes
Mabel got to sample Oven Roasted Turkey and Farmhouse Beef and enjoyed them both equally. In addition to being made with USDA-quality meats, PetPlate's meals include fresh fruits and veggies, which are important to a dog's diet, as well as some of Mabel's favorite foods, like sweet potatoes and pumpkin.
Servings
Each PetPlate container is 16 ounces, and how much you feed your dog depends on his or her weight. For a 40-pound dog like mine, you would serve half a container per meal, if not served with any other food. However, I gave her less because Mabel enjoys a mix of dry food and wet food. That said, I much prefer PetPlate to wet food because the dry food stays crunchy, rather than getting soaked in gravy or stew.
Shipping
PetPlate ships to all 48 states in the continental US, and shipping is free. The meals arrive frozen and will last in the fridge unopened for 10 days. I stored mine in the freezer and took each container out to thaw the day before serving.
The Verdict
Since I can't ask Mabel what she thought of the food, I'll use two other indicators. My dog isn't one of those pets who immediately scarfs down everything in her bowl (she's more of a grazer), but with PetPlate, she often ate everything in one sitting.
My other judge of a food's quality is Mabel's adorable little turds, which were healthy and solid, unlike the gross runny mess some lower-quality food produces. Fellow dog owners will understand this struggle.