Main Features of Real Dog Food Delivery
Our team has researched and reviewed Real Dog food delivery. We believe its main features are as follows:
- Single-ingredient products
- Made in FDA-inspected facility
- Proteins rotated every month
- Air-dried in small batches
- No preservatives or additives
- Wellness Membership
- Month-to-month subscription
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What Goes Into Real Dog Boxes
Every month, Real Dog makes up a new menu with a new selection of proteins. Below we share what our team found out about what goes into Real Dog boxes.
Treat & Chew Box
The Treat & Chew box contains three bags of single-ingredient chews and 3 bags of single-ingredient treats. The air-dried treats are made of different organ meats, muscle meats, and seafoods each month. For example, flavors of the month have included pork liver, duck wing, and beef blackstrap.
Chew Only Box
With the Chew Only Box, your furry friend will get 3 bags of light, medium, and heavy chews. The light chews provide a quick, nutritious snack. Medium chews are a little larger and more challenging for your dog and keep your pet entertained while you’re on the phone or eating dinner. Heavy chews are long-lasting treats that can keep your pup entertained for hours.
Treat Only Box
With every monthly delivery, the Treat Only Box includes 3 bags of organ meats, muscle meats, and seafood treats. The organ meat treats contain a variety of hard-to-find organs besides liver. The muscle meat treats are thinly sliced, lean proteins that are great for training. A variety of fish fillets, whole fish, and other seafoods provide Omega-3s.
Mini Box
Designed with small breeds, senior dogs, and puppies in mind, the Mini Box includes 2 bags of treats and 1 bag of chews in the starter box. Subsequent shipments will provide 1 bag each of treats and chews.
Real Dog Add-Ons
Besides the boxes of treats and chews, Real Dog offers add-on products. Here are the Real Dog add-ons that are available to order.
Super Chew
Super Chews are individually packed, large chews that keeps dogs busy for multiple chews. You can purchase Super Chews as a standalone subscription or add as many as you like to your Real Dog Box order.
Ancestral Meatballs
Based on the ancestral canine diet, Ancestral Meatballs are a high-value treat. The meatballs are made of muscle, organ, bone, seafood, and fiber. Each package contains 8 ounces of Ancestral Meatballs. Order alone or as an add-on.
Food Toppers
Made from 50/50 liver and other secreting organ meat, Real Dog Food Toppers are an easy way to add nutrition to your dog’s diet. Organ meats are dried and ground into a shelf-stable powder that you can sprinkle over your pet’s food. Food Toppers can help balance home-made dog foods or stimulate a finicky eater’s appetite. Like the other add-ons, you can subscribe to Food Toppers or add to your box order.
Made in FDA-Approved Kitchen
Real Dog does not have a USDA-inspected facility, but the company is registered with the FDA and licensed by the California Department of Health. The treats and chews are processed in a facility in San Diego that is regularly inspected by the FDA and California Department of Health.
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How Real Dog Food Subscriptions Work
Real Dog products are available on a month-to-month subscription basis. Read below to learn about how the Real Dog subscription process works.
Choose Real Dog Box or Add-Ons
The Real Dog ordering process is fairly straightforward. First, decide which product and/or add-ons you’d like to order. Before you order, you have an opportunity to inform Real Dog of any allergies or food intolerances so your order can be prepared accordingly.
Month-to-Month Subscription
All Real Dog subscriptions are on a month-to-month basis. There is no long-term commitment, and you can skip shipments or cancel your subscription at any time. Subscription prices depend on the products that you order, with the largest boxes costing the most. Shipping is free with your box subscription or order of three or more add-ons.
Your Dog’s Preferences and Sensitivities
After your first box, the certified pet experts at Real Dog become familiar with your dog’s needs and sensitivities. According to the Real Dog website, all customer service staff are certified professional canine nutritionists (CPCNs). Your food orders will be prepared to accommodate your pet’s preferences and needs.
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Real Dog Box Delivery: Benefits and Any Drawbacks
We have looked at how Real Dog food is made and how the subscription works. In the following sections, we review benefits and any drawbacks our team found after researching Real Dog.
No Preservatives or Additives
When searching for the best pet food delivery, you want to find safe products made without additives. The treats, chews, meatballs, and food toppers at Real Dog are prepared without additives or preservatives. We think that pet parents will appreciate knowing that their pup is receiving food deliveries that are additive-free.
Different Proteins Each Month
Each month, Real Dog rotates the proteins in their boxes. For example, organ meat may be pork liver one month and a different organ the next month. According to the company website, varying the proteins can be beneficial for a dog’s digestion.
Formulated by Experienced Dog Nutritionists
Real Dog recipes are formulated by “experienced dog nutritionists.” One of the conventional hallmarks of quality dog food is development by veterinarians, but there is no mention on the Real Dog website of veterinarian participation. According to the website, the company keeps informed of the latest pet nutrition developments and conducts workshops and training sessions for the veterinary industry.
Before switching dog food brands, it’s always a good idea to talk to your veterinarian.
Wellness Membership
Real Dog offers a Wellness membership on a monthly or annual basis. Members have the opportunity to consult with certified professional canine nutritionists (CPCNs). We’re impressed with the membership perks, which include:
- Unlimited access to CPCNs
- Monthly individual consult with a Wellness Coach
- Access to research and tools from the Feed Real Institute
- Priority on monthly menu
- Early access to members- and subscribers-only Secret Shop
As Real Dog notes, the CPCNs are not veterinarians and cannot prescribe medications or diagnose your pet’s health issues. Talk to your veterinarian about any concerns you have about your pet’s health or nutrition needs.
Customer Support
Real Dog provides a variety of customer support resources. The website provides an email address and text number for contact information, but the website does not specify hours of availability. There is an FAQ page with extensive information about Real Dog food products, billing, shipping, and other topics of interest. There is also a chat option that is available 24/7 and appears to be automated.
Other resources on the Real Dog website include research articles, information about courses and workshops, and a feeding calculator.
Satisfaction Guarantee
Sometimes even the best dog food delivery isn’t right for your best buddy’s taste buds. If your furry friend just doesn’t care for a particular Real Dog product, let the company know within 30 days of delivery. The company will replace the product and will not include it in future orders for your pet.
Concluding Thoughts on Real Dog Food Delivery
Real Dog formulates and prepares its pet foods with a great deal of care and thoughtfulness. Although the treats, chews, and other products are not advertised as AAFCO compliant or USDA-approved, Real Dog foods are prepared in an FDA-inspected facility. The California Department of Health also inspects the facility.
The company provides a detailed explanation of its food philosophy and its reasons why it bypasses AAFCO profiles and USDA certifications. According to the Real Dog website, the recipes are developed by pet nutrition experts, not licensed veterinarians. We encourage pet parents to check with their veterinarian before trying any new dog food.
Overall, we are impressed with Real Dog’s attention to detail and quality in the preparation of its dog food. For example, we like the fact that the menu changes every month and that the treats and chews are made in small batches from single ingredients. We think that pet parents will appreciate the availability of CPCNs to answer questions. However, the CPCNs are not veterinarians and cannot replace the advice of your vet.
From treats and chews to food toppers, we like the variety of boxes and add-ons that are available by subscription. We also applaud the fact that you can cancel your subscription or skip shipments at any time.
After our research and review, we believe that Real Dog food delivery offers a quality product. We recommend Real Dog as a choice in the search for the best dog food delivery.
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