Get Joy Fresh vs The Farmer's Dog: An Honest Comparison for Dog Parents (2026)

Updated: July 2026 · Reviewed against verified competitor data and Get Joy product facts · See our vet & nutrition experts

Both Get Joy Fresh Meals and The Farmer's Dog are a genuine step up from standard kibble, and both are quality human-grade fresh food, so the honest question is not which brand is better in the abstract. It is what the food actually does for your dog once it is in the bowl. If your dog is thriving on The Farmer's Dog and its digestion is dialed in, you do not need to change anything; if you went fresh and your dog's digestion, stool, or itching still is not where you want it, that is the reason to keep reading.

Here is what most fresh comparisons miss. The conversation usually stops at format, fresh versus kibble, when the outcome that matters happens deeper down. That is where Get Joy takes a different path: we start with the gut, because gut health is whole-body health, and we build functional gut support directly into every Fresh Meal. Fresh is the format. Gut function is the outcome.

What is the main difference between Get Joy Fresh and The Farmer's Dog?

The main difference is that Get Joy Fresh is built around gut function while The Farmer's Dog is built around fresh, personalized ingredients. The Farmer's Dog built the fresh category as most people know it: recipes developed with board-certified veterinary nutritionists, genuinely fresh human-grade food, and pre-portioned packs with your dog's name on them that take real guesswork out of feeding.

If you switched your dog from kibble to The Farmer's Dog, you made a real upgrade, and this post does not pretend otherwise. The difference shows up after the ingredients. Fresh food removes a lot of what was wrong with highly processed kibble, but real food alone does not actively feed and balance the gut microbiome. That is why some dogs go fresh and still deal with loose stool, gas, itching, or an off-and-on appetite. The ingredients improved. The gut support did not. Get Joy was built around that exact gap.

How do Get Joy Fresh and The Farmer's Dog compare at a glance?

Here is the head-to-head on the factors dog parents ask about most.

Which does more for your dog's gut health?

Get Joy Fresh does more for the gut because gut support is engineered into the food itself, not left to chance. Whole-body health starts in the gut: it is where digestion, nutrient absorption, immune activity, and even skin health begin, and real food alone does not automatically balance the microbiome that runs all of it. Every Get Joy Fresh Meal is gently kettle-cooked from human-grade whole foods, with each protein cooked separately and then combined, and reaches 95%+ starch gelatinization so it is easier to digest. Recipes use real meat and organ meat, garden vegetables, brown rice (or quinoa in the lamb recipe), salmon oil for omega-3 (EPA and DHA), flaxseed, turmeric, and gut support built right in: inulin, a prebiotic fiber, and a yeast-culture postbiotic. There are four proteins (chicken, beef, turkey, and lamb), no fillers, byproducts, seed oils, or artificial anything, and every recipe is developed with a PhD animal nutritionist and a veterinarian, cooked in a USDA-certified kitchen, and AAFCO complete and balanced for all life stages, including large-breed puppies.

What dog parents typically notice within two to four weeks of a gut-first food: firmer, more consistent stool, less gas, and a steadier appetite, and over time a shinier coat and less scratching. Individual dogs vary, and no food treats, cures, or prevents any medical condition. But if you are already feeding fresh and still not seeing those basics, the missing piece usually is not fresher ingredients. It is gut function. And the meal is only the start of the routine. When a dog needs deeper gut support, Get Joy's Freeze-Dried Raw Meals, treats, and supplements carry Belly Biotics, our proprietary blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, all built around the same gut-first belief. Meals come first, and everything else deepens the routine, from one brand. The Farmer's Dog sells you a meal. Get Joy builds a routine: fresh food as the base, with a full portfolio to layer on as your dog needs it. If you want the science first, start with Gut Health 101 and our guide to pre, pro, and postbiotics.

Which has better ingredients?

Both brands use genuinely good ingredients, but Get Joy pairs premium protein with a functional gut layer and purpose-chosen whole foods. Get Joy Fresh recipes lead with real meat and organ meat, garden vegetables, and a whole-food carbohydrate (brown rice, or quinoa in the lamb recipe), then add salmon oil for omega-3 with EPA and DHA, flaxseed, turmeric, and the built-in gut support. There are no fillers, byproducts, seed oils, or artificial anything.

The Farmer's Dog uses fresh, human-grade meat and vegetables in four recipes, gently cooked and pre-portioned. It is quality food. The difference is not sourcing standards, which both take seriously. It is that Get Joy adds a functional gut layer on top of a clean base, and the recipe cooks each protein separately before combining and reaches 95%+ starch gelatinization for high bioavailability and a smaller, firmer stool. Curious how the cooking method matters? See kettle-cooked vs sous-vide dog food.

What does each really cost per day?

Here is an honest annoyance with most fresh food subscriptions: you cannot see a real price until you hand over your email and complete a quiz. The Farmer's Dog works this way. Third-party testing puts their plans anywhere from about $2.31 per day for extra-small dogs to over $26 per day for giant breeds, but your number stays hidden until the end of their signup flow.

The takeaway is not that Get Joy is the cheap option. It is that for the same fresh food budget you may already be spending, you can get fresh food plus built-in gut support, and you can see the price before you commit to anything.

Who should choose Get Joy Fresh, and who should choose The Farmer's Dog?

Choose based on results, not brand loyalty. If your dog is genuinely thriving on The Farmer's Dog, do not fix what is not broken. If your current fresh food is not delivering on digestion or skin, a food with gut support built in is the more direct fix.

Is switching to Get Joy Fresh simple?

Yes. If you decide to try Get Joy, transition gradually over 7 to 10 days: start with about 25% Get Joy mixed into your dog's current food and increase every 2 to 3 days. Slow transitions are kinder to sensitive stomachs. Every order is backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee, and subscriptions can be paused, skipped, swapped, or canceled anytime from your account.

The final verdict: Get Joy Fresh or The Farmer's Dog?

Both are quality fresh foods. The deciding question is whether you want fresh ingredients alone, or fresh ingredients plus a food that actively supports the gut.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Farmer's Dog worth it?

For many dogs, yes. It is quality fresh food with strong personalization. Whether it is worth it for your dog depends on results: if digestion, stool, and skin are all good, it is working. If not, consider a fresh food with gut support built in.

What is a good alternative to The Farmer's Dog?

Get Joy Fresh Meals are the closest functional alternative: human-grade, gently kettle-cooked fresh food with the same convenience, plus inulin, a yeast-culture postbiotic, and omega-3s built into every recipe, and a full gut-health portfolio behind it.

How much does The Farmer's Dog cost per day?

Reported pricing runs from about $2.31 per day for extra-small dogs to over $26 per day for giant breeds, but exact pricing is only shown after completing their quiz. Get Joy shows pack pricing on the site, and most dogs land between $3 and $9 per day.

Does Get Joy Fresh have probiotics?

Get Joy Fresh builds gut support into the recipe itself: inulin (a prebiotic fiber), a yeast-culture postbiotic, and salmon-oil omega-3 with EPA and DHA. For the full Belly Biotics blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, pair Fresh with our Freeze-Dried Raw Meals or gut supplements as one routine.

How long until I see results after switching?

Most dog parents report changes in stool quality and digestion within 2 to 4 weeks, with coat and skin improvements typically following. Every dog is different, and no food treats or cures medical conditions.

Published by Get Joy, and yes, we make one of the foods in this comparison. We will be fair anyway, because you will fact-check us, and you should. Competitor details (formats, ingredients, pricing, and policies) are drawn from each brand's own website and public retailer listings as of July 2026; prices and specs can change, so confirm current details on each brand's site. Get Joy figures are from getjoyfood.com and internal product documentation. Pricing varies by dog size, recipe, and plan. This article is for education and is not veterinary advice; consult your vet for your dog's individual needs.