The Farmer's Dog stands out for its use of human-grade ingredients and customized meal plans, making it a potentially better option for owners prioritizing ingredient quality and personalization. However, Royal Canin offers a wider range of specialized diets and is often recommended by veterinarians, making it a more accessible and potentially cost-effective choice for many pet owners.
| Attribute | The Farmer's Dog | Royal Canin |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient Quality | Uses human-grade ingredients from restaurant suppliers, local farms, and other human food purveyors that meet USDA standards. Recipes are made with whole, lightly cooked ingredients. Does not contain feed-grade ingredients, artificial additives, by-products, flavors, or preservatives. | Emphasizes a nutrient-first approach, selecting ingredients based on their nutritional benefits, quality, digestibility, and safety. Uses high-quality raw materials and has strict selection criteria for suppliers. Includes animal proteins (poultry, pork, beef, and by-products) and plant proteins (rice, wheat, corn, barley, and oats). |
| Protein Source and Content | Offers recipes featuring high-quality proteins such as beef, turkey, chicken, and pork. Includes whole muscle and organ meat. Chicken recipe has 44.6% protein (dry matter), Beef recipe has 39.1%, Turkey recipe has 33.9%, and Pork recipe has 36%. | Animal proteins used include poultry, pork, and beef, as well as by-products. Plant proteins, such as rice, wheat, corn, barley, and oats, offer amino acids. |
| Carbohydrate Source and Content | Carbohydrate sources include sweet potatoes, chickpeas, lentils, carrots, and other vegetables. Digestible carbohydrate content is estimated to be between 28% and 38%. Chicken recipe has 20.4% carbs (estimated), Beef recipe has 24.1%, Turkey recipe has 36.4%. | Plant proteins, such as rice, wheat, corn, barley, and oats, offer starch, dietary fiber, fat, minerals, amino acids, and vitamins. |
| Fat Source and Content | Fat sources include meat and salmon oil. Chicken recipe has 25% fat (dry matter), Beef recipe has 28.1%, Turkey recipe has 19.6%, and Pork recipe has 28%. | Fat sources include fish oil, vegetable oils (soy, sunflower), and animal fats like chicken fat. |
| Fiber Content | Fiber-rich ingredients include lentils, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and various vegetables. The fiber content for the Turkey recipe is 1.5% (estimated dry matter content). | Fiber sources include beet pulp, pea fiber, powdered cellulose, and psyllium seed husk. |
| Vitamin and Mineral Content | Each recipe contains a nutrient blend that provides essential minerals and vitamins, including Vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, D3, E, and taurine. Supplemented with salmon oil, which contains Omega-3 fatty acids. | Royal Canin diets are supplemented with a range of vitamins and minerals to meet AAFCO standards. |
| Calorie Content | Chicken recipe contains 590 calories per pound, Beef recipe contains 721 calories per pound, and Turkey recipe contains 562 calories per pound. | Calorie content varies depending on the specific formula. |
| Life Stage Appropriateness | Recipes are complete and balanced and formulated for all life stages. For puppies, calorie needs are determined based on predicted adult weight. | Offers a range of formulas tailored to different life stages, including puppy, adult, and senior. |
| Specific Dietary Needs Support | Offers customized meal plans tailored to a dog's specific dietary needs. The Turkey Recipe is a low-calorie and low-fat option suitable for overweight dogs. Recipes are designed to address health concerns such as allergies, weight management, and digestive issues. | Provides specialized diets to address specific health concerns like allergies, weight management, and digestive issues. |
| Digestibility | Uses gently cooked meat to preserve natural enzymes and nutrients, which improves digestibility. Clinically proven to be highly digestible. A highly digestible diet can improve the quality and quantity of a dog's poop. | Emphasizes the use of highly digestible proteins and ingredients to maximize nutrient absorption and minimize digestive upset. |
| Palatability | Clinical studies have shown that fresh, gently cooked food from The Farmer's Dog is highly palatable. Customer reviews indicate that dogs generally find the food appealing. | Guarantees 100% satisfaction for palatability, quality, and consistency. |
| Testing and Quality Control | Recipes are formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists and meet AAFCO standards. The ingredients and facilities meet USDA standards. The food is cooked at low temperatures to eliminate harmful pathogens while preserving nutrients. Studies have been conducted to prove digestibility and macronutrient bioavailability. | Has put nutritional quality and product safety at the heart of its operations for over five decades. They use gold standard production processes and have specialist buyers worldwide who use the same selection and purchasing processes for raw materials. Every single shipment is checked before entering production centers, and facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art testing labs. They also conduct palatability trials, digestibility trials, and clinical trials. |
| Price | $2.49 to $21.42 per day (depending on dog's size, age, activity level, and recipe). For a 50-pound adult dog: $7.25 to $8.00 per day, depending on the protein option. | Pricing can vary depending on the specific formula and retailer. |
| Ratings | Not available | Not available |