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We love our canine companions like family members. But do you consider what you’re feeding Fido as much as you plan and choose your own groceries? Ollie is a subscription-based premium dog food brand on a mission to change how our pups eat. Sure, the brand promises better weight control, a longer lifespan, and 90% good poops, but what jumped out to me was, well, the proof: 90% of Ollie members see positive changes – like improved digestion and energy, plus allergy and weight control – in their pup.
That alone was enough to convince me to give Ollie a go – and it turns out that this subscription dog food has tons of other upsides, too.
I switched my 1-year-old, very active chocolate lab Olive to Ollie’s fresh and baked food to see how she liked it (to be fair, this dog isn’t known to be picky) and how her health responded to the new diet. Here’s what happened…
We like
- The food is made from high-quality, whole foods that you can see
- My chocolate lab absolutely loved her meals
- The meal plans are backed by vets
We don't like
- The fresh food requires fridge and freezer space
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The Ollie Way
One of the coolest and most interesting parts of Ollie is how data-oriented the brand is – no wonder their pups see such amazing success! Ollie’s recipes are developed by experts in pets, food science, and vet nutritionists – and the brand uses pet parent feedback and diagnostic data from hundreds of thousands of dogs to continuously improve its formulations.
That means Ollie’s recipes are refined over time thanks to the data the brand receives on everything from your pup’s dental health to digestion, weight, skin and coat. Pretty cool huh?
Ollie Dog Food: How It Works
You’re probably used to lugging a giant bag of dry kibble or a stack of canned dog food from the grocery store to feed your pup. But considering how often our own diets change, it might be time to refresh how we feed our pets. Ollie offers direct-to-consumer subscription-based dog food made from whole-food ingredients fortified with the vitamins and minerals dogs of every size, breed, and age need.
To get started, new customers complete a brief questionnaire to provide your dog’s weight, activity level, and whether or not they’re spayed or neutered. Ollie then recommends and lets you select one of three meal plans:
- The fresh plan includes all fresh recipes that arrive frozen and must be thawed before serving
- The mixed plan includes a combination of Ollie’s baked (dry) food and fresh packs
- The half fresh plan is a lower cost fresh food option that can be used to supplement your pup's current dog food.
After choosing a plan, you select your dog’s recipes. It feels a bit like designing a menu from a meal kit for humans. Ollie offers 5 fresh recipes–pork, beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey and 2 baked–chicken and beef. Each protein is mixed with a variety of veggies, vitamins and minerals. You can view the nutrition analysis and ingredient list for each recipe, most of which contain liver, butternut squash, rice, and other fiber sources.
Olive’s (and Her Mom’s) Review of Ollie
I received a mix of fresh and baked meals for Olive. The fresh meals arrive frozen solid with dry ice and need to be thawed overnight in the fridge.
I started Olive with a bowl of fresh food. Aside from her innate affinity for the name, Olive couldn’t get enough of her Ollie food. She happily devoured it in under a minute and as usual, had an extra pep in her step after dinner. While eating Ollie food, Olive had healthy poos and eagerly awaited meal times. We didn’t hear a single complaint.
From the owner’s perspective, serving up Ollie’s fresh food feels like you’re doing the right thing for your dog. You can see that the meals are made of natural, whole-food ingredients, including lots of vegetables. I love that feeding Olive Ollie’s food means that I know she’s in good hands – I do as much research for my pup as I can, but I’m certainly no expert. Ollie on the other hand? Made by experts!
That said, Ollie takes a bit more planning than my typical feeding routine, as the brick of food must be thawed ahead of meal time. If you’re a big traveler, it’s also worth noting that after thawing, the food must be used within four days.
Olive doesn’t have a weight issue, and she’s not picky in the least. She’s very active and is always eager to eat, so I can’t say I noticed a huge difference in her response to Ollie’s meals over her previous food. But, over time I expect some changes I can see in my furry friend (like improved digestion and a shiny coat) – and others that are less visible (like improved skin and coat health), but still happening nonetheless.
How Much Does Ollie Cost?
After the first box promotion, a delivery of the fresh plan for my 65-pound puppy costs $78. A mixed box costs $65, and a half fresh costs $45.50. With Ollie, you’re opting for higher-priced proteins, such as lamb, chicken, or turkey – but they’re an investment: in your pup’s health and longevity.
Once you’re getting a scheduled Ollie delivery, you can add items to complete your pet’s diet. The brand makes jerky, dental chews, and other treats. If your dog has specific health concerns, there are supplements for gut health, skin and coat, and even anxiety.
If you’re looking to clean up your dog’s diet and ensure they get the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed to live a long, pain-free life full of long walks, enthusiastic fetches, and plenty of belly rubs, a subscription to Ollie may be just what you and your pup need. Though you’ll need to forgo some freezer and fridge space for the fresh meals, take it from Olive—they were the perfect fuel for a chocolate lab puppy to spend hours chasing her tail.
