Get Joy vs We Feed Raw: Which Raw Diet Is Actually Better for Your Dog?

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

Both Get Joy and We Feed Raw are a genuine step up from standard kibble, 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, and which approach fits your household. If your priority is gut function and everyday convenience, Get Joy is likely the better fit; if you specifically want a made-to-order frozen raw plan with custom per-dog portioning, We Feed Raw is a strong choice.

Here is what most raw comparisons miss. The question is not just how raw a food is. It is what the food actually does for your dog once it is in the bowl. That is where Get Joy takes a different path: we start with the gut, because gut health is whole-body health, and we build our Belly Biotics blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics directly into every meal. Raw is the format. Gut function is the outcome.

What is the main difference between Get Joy and We Feed Raw?

The main difference is that Get Joy is built around gut function while We Feed Raw is built around raw format. We Feed Raw focuses on being 100% raw with custom portioning delivered to your door. Get Joy focuses on what happens after your dog eats: better digestion, immune support, and a cleaner bowl, powered by biotics built into the food.

We Feed Raw offers frozen patties for all life stages and a freeze-dried line for adult dogs only. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is a single shelf-stable format that works as a complete meal, a topper, or a training reward, and it is formulated for all life stages.

Get Joy vs We Feed Raw at a glance

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

Which is better for your dog's gut health?

Get Joy is the clear choice for gut health because it is the only one of the two that builds a live pre-, pro-, and postbiotic system into every meal. Our Belly Biotics blend delivers 3 billion CFU per pound across five probiotic strains, plus inulin as a prebiotic and yeast culture as a postbiotic. This is not a sprinkle-on afterthought. It is a structural part of the recipe.

Why does this matter so much? Gut health drives far more than digestion. A balanced microbiome supports immune function, skin and coat, steady energy, and a healthy inflammatory response. We Feed Raw's pitch is that its food is pure raw, and it is, but pure raw with no built-in biotic system leaves the gut-support job undone. Get Joy does that job in the same scoop. 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 clean, animal-first ingredients, but Get Joy pairs premium protein with functional gut support and purpose-chosen whole foods. Our Freeze Dried Raw uses USDA-sourced beef or chicken with organ meat, plus pumpkin, flaxseed, salmon oil, and the ancient grain sorghum, which is gluten-free and low glycemic. We hold the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio at no more than 3:1 for anti-inflammatory support, and there are no seed oils, fillers, byproducts, or artificial anything.

We Feed Raw uses a simple 80/10/10 frozen recipe and an 85/15 freeze-dried recipe with non-GMO produce, both formulated by a PhD nutritionist. It is a quality build. The difference is that Get Joy adds a functional gut layer on top of a clean base, and reaches 99% starch digestibility (95%+ gelatinization) for high bioavailability and a smaller, firmer stool.

Is Get Joy safer than We Feed Raw?

Both brands take safety seriously, but they get there in very different ways, and Get Joy's method protects nutrients better. We Feed Raw relies on high-pressure processing, or HPP, which uses intense pressure to inactivate bacteria. It works, but it is a harsh step that can degrade delicate nutrients and wipe out live probiotics.

Get Joy uses Competitive Inhibition instead. This is an FDA-approved, natural kill step where beneficial probiotics claim the space and resources that harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria would need to survive. Picture a dog park where all the good dogs already took the best spots, so the troublemakers have nowhere to go. Because we do not lean on HPP, high heat, irradiation, or acidifiers, and we keep our max product temperature at 125°F, we preserve the nutrients, texture, and probiotics that make freeze-drying worth doing in the first place.

Which is more convenient?

Get Joy is more convenient day to day because it is shelf-stable, scoop and serve, and works for every dog in the house. There is no freezer space to clear and no overnight thaw. You store it in the pantry, scoop it, and serve it dry or rehydrated with a little water or bone broth. Because freeze-drying removes nearly all the moisture, about 1 lb of Get Joy equals roughly 4 lbs of fresh food, so a light bag goes a long way. See how much freeze dried raw to feed for portions.

We Feed Raw's frozen line is its core product, and frozen means freezer storage plus roughly 24 hours of thawing. Its freeze-dried line is convenient too, but it is limited to adult dogs. Get Joy gives you one simple format for your puppy, your adult, and your senior, on a subscription you can pause, skip, or cancel anytime.

Which works for every life stage?

Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is complete and balanced for all life stages, including puppies expected to grow past 70 pounds as adults, which is the toughest AAFCO standard to meet. That means one food from puppyhood through the senior years, with no switching between "puppy" and "adult" formulas. We Feed Raw's frozen patties are all life stages, but its freeze-dried recipes are formulated for adult dogs only, so a growing puppy household would need the frozen line.

The final verdict: Get Joy or We Feed Raw?

Get Joy is the best choice for dog parents who want the benefits of raw plus a real gut-health system in one convenient, shelf-stable meal. We Feed Raw is the better fit if custom-portioned frozen raw is your top priority.

Frequently asked questions

Is Get Joy better than We Feed Raw?

For dog parents who care about gut health and everyday convenience, Get Joy has an edge because it builds a pre-, pro-, and postbiotic system into every meal and uses a natural kill step instead of HPP. We Feed Raw is a strong choice if you specifically want a frozen, custom-portioned raw plan.

Does We Feed Raw have probiotics in the food?

We Feed Raw's focus is on being 100% raw rather than on a built-in live probiotic system. Get Joy builds Belly Biotics into every meal at 3 billion CFU per pound across five strains.

Does Get Joy use HPP?

No. Get Joy uses Competitive Inhibition, an FDA-approved natural kill step, instead of high-pressure processing, high heat, irradiation, or acidifiers. This keeps nutrients, texture, and probiotics intact.

Is Get Joy good for puppies?

Yes. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is complete and balanced for all life stages, including puppies expected to weigh more than 70 pounds as adults. We Feed Raw's freeze-dried line is for adult dogs only.

Can I use Get Joy as a topper?

Yes. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw works as a complete meal, a topper over your dog's current food, or a training reward. Even a small daily scoop adds real raw nutrition and gut support.

Competitor details (formats, HPP use, life-stage positioning) are drawn from We Feed Raw'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. This article is for education and is not veterinary advice; consult your vet for your dog's individual needs.