It was the first time I’d ever seen “human-grade” and “dog food” in the same sentence.
I started seeing AJ just about a month after I got my dog Rover (innovative name, I know). I wondered whether my sister would like AJ, and I freaked out the day my parents met him, but I could never have anticipated Rover’s attitude toward AJ. He despised him (I thought). Then AJ suggested we try whole, human-grade dog food. That was when Ollie entered the picture, and, well, you’ll see what happened next…
Introducing the Two Men in My Life
The closer I got to AJ, the more anxiety I noticed in Rover. He was antisocial and lethargic, preferring to curl up in his bed rather than nuzzle either of us. All of the things my childhood dog loved to do, going for walks and streaking out the back door into our yard, didn’t seem to appeal to him. Once he even peed inside, on none other than AJ’s briefcase (which belonged to his father). I was extremely worried at this point.
Right around this time, AJ mentioned an Ollie commercial he kept seeing, and asked whether I thought it might be looking into? We spent several hours poring over my laptop together and ended up placing our first order: two weeks of Ollie’s Mixed Meal Plan. Plus, they have a starter box discount so we saved a ton of money during this trial run.
But Wait, Why Ollie?
Anyone who has done research on human-grade dog food knows there are several competing brands on the market. Ollie was ultimately my #1 choice (and thank goodness it was!) because of its impressively high quality and the way it caters to every specific consumer. In order to place my first order, the website led me through a thorough survey where I explained Rover’s entire history: breed, age, weight, eating and activity level. They then presented a customized menu for him, from which I was able to select the meals I thought he would enjoy the most.
Not that I could have made a wrong decision in terms of Ollie’s meals. They are all prepared in small batches and US-based kitchens, with the same level of care that I expect from a human restaurant. The food is cooked slowly at low temperatures to maximize nutritional value, and the ingredients are as whole and minimally processed as possible. (I know that human food in the US is highly processed, so I shiver to think about the extent to which dog food in America is processed). Plus, the recipes are developed in collaboration with veterinary nutritionists, so that each meal delivers exactly what your dog needs (and then some). Choosing Ollie felt like choosing the equivalent to a therapist for Rover—an expert third party with genuine investment in his well-being.
Feeding your pups with Ollie will run you anywhere from under $4 to $8/day, depending on the recommended portion and size of your dog. Our first order came out to about $3/day (we caught a good sale!). Full price Ollie will definitely be a bit more expensive than Rover’s old kibble brand, which ran us about $2/day, but (spoiler alert) the change I’ve witnessed has been beyond worth it.
Back to You, Rover
So… what did Rover think of the food? Would he even eat it? Did anything change at all? I’m happy to report that things went even better than I could have expected. I know this has gotta be placebo, because nothing is that fast-acting, but I swear his eyes brightened after that first meal. He’s always excited to eat (it used to be the most enthusiasm I got from him everyday) but when I served him his first Ollie meal (Fresh Turkey Dish with Blueberries), he ate with a fervor I’d never seen before.
Over the course of the next two weeks, I was shocked to see that not only did he appear more sociable and content, but he was moving throughout the house with the spirit of the pup that I’d expected. He even asked (in his way) to go outside almost every day during the second week, pawing at the door and rubbing his nose on the glass. I used to have to convince him to take his walks. Last night, he even curled up between AJ and I on the couch.
The shift in attitude that I’ve observed has been so profound that it can’t just be coincidence. Needless to say, Ollie has become a part of our routine with the same regularity as Trader Joe’s and my local café. So far, Rover’s favorites are the Fresh Lamb Dish with Cranberries, the Fresh Chicken Dish with Carrots, and the Baked Beef with Sweet Potatoes dry food.
Expressing Love Through Food
I was surprised, but maybe I shouldn’t have been. They do say, after all, that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I mean, I would’ve done anything at this point. Romantic partners will come and go (sorry AJ) but your dog is with you for life. I was in love with Rover and it had only been two months… I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t give him the happiest life possible. The best decision I’ve made in a loooong time was to give Ollie a shot (and I’m sure Rover would agree). His excitement has seeped into every aspect of his life, and it’s that much richer. I couldn’t be more grateful… and neither could AJ.
