I knew something was up when Theo started leaving kibble behind in his bowl
I’d never known Theo to skip a meal, but roughly 4 months ago, all of a sudden, the kibble we’d sworn by for a year wasn’t cutting it. I kept an eye on him as soon as I saw the change, and I finally scheduled a vet visit when I noticed that he was losing weight.
At that fateful appointment, our ever-reliable family vet, Dr. Dana Leone, suggested we look into fresh dog food. Thus began my hunt for the most nutritious, whole-ingredient-forward dog food on the market. In all of my research, Ollie and Sundays for Dogs repeatedly appeared as top contenders. Here’s what I learned…
“Fresh” Dog Foods Go Head-to-Head
Ollie and Sundays for Dogs are “fresh” dog food brands that strive to replicate the whole quality of foods an animal might eat in the wild, and to in turn improve their overall health. They both:
- Use human-grade ingredients
- Have vet-formulated recipes
- Include NO fillers or artificial flavors
- Are slow-cooked to preserve nutritional value
- Meet AAFCO & WSAVA guidelines
- Made in US kitchens
Either option sounded pretty good to me… at least, initially.
After comparing the two and their interpretations of the word “fresh” it became clear that Ollie was the best match for us. Let me explain…
The Benefits of “Fresh” Dog Food
There are oodles of studies explaining why so many dog owners are turning to human-grade, minimally processed ingredients. Research has linked fresh food with:
- Improved Digestion: Just like humans, dogs reap the benefits of a balanced diet that combines protein- and fiber-rich ingredients. Proof? Fresh dog food has been linked to regular, smaller, and less stinky (!) bowel movements. Score.
- Weight Management: By cutting out the starchy fillers and meat-adjacent “meals” that kibble brands rely on, fresh dog food avoids low-quality ingredients associated with weight gain. Some brands also recommend a customized serving for each dog, ensuring they receive the right amount of calories.
- Higher Energy Levels: Not only do quality ingredients create ready-to-use energy, but the aforementioned improved digestion leads to better sleep. This means dogs will be well-rested on top of all that stored-up, whole-food-fueled energy.
- Heightened Cognitive Functioning: Fresh dog food is formulated to include brain-healthy components rich in antioxidants (blueberries, spinach, etc) which, as we know is true of all living beings, support learning capabilities and alertness.
I had to imagine that fresh dog food tasted pretty darn good. But the health benefits? Those are what really got me.
Defining “Fresh”
The truth is, any dog food brand can call their food “fresh.” What actually makes it fresh is up for debate. So while both Ollie and Sundays for Dogs tout this label, I learned that their definitions of “fresh” are rather different.
Ollie gently cooks their human-grade ingredients, slowly and at low temperatures, so as to preserve the food’s nutritional content and avoid the speedy overcooking methods of commercial kibble & canned brands. That said, all of their recipes are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F, per CDC instruction, to kill any bacteria or pathogens. Baked (dry) Ollie food is then sealed in shelf-stable pouches, whereas Fresh (wet) food is vacuum-sealed in pouches. Fresh Ollie packs will keep up to 6 months unopened in the freezer, and 4 days once thawed and open in the fridge (this is where Ollie’s complimentary Puptainer comes in handy!).
Sundays for Dogs gently air-dries their ingredients at low temps for the same nutrition-maximizing reason as Ollie. The equivalent to an internal temperature check in the air-drying process is a “kill step,” which eliminates pathogens and therefore removes any question of food safety. All Sundays for Dogs food comes in the same dry and shelf-stable format, packaged in resealable pouches that will stay fresh up to 12 months unopened, and 8 weeks once the seal is broken. The extensive shelf-life of this food is only possible because the vast majority of moisture is removed before packaging…
These unique cooking and packaging methods result in different consistencies and, as mentioned above, shelf lives. A key distinguishing factor I noticed was that Ollie’s wet food boasts an average moisture content of roughly 70%, whereas all Sundays for Dogs’ food has a crude moisture content of 15%. Just for kicks, I Googled the moisture content of most meats (what the dogs of yesteryear likely ate) and found it to be 75%.
To me, what makes any food “fresh” (for humans and dogs alike) is how similar the result is to the ingredient itself. The monochrome, chewy chunks of Sundays for Dogs (the texture of which many customers compare to a dog treat) felt several irreversible steps away from the organic states of its ingredients. Ollie’s recipes, on the other hand, looked almost like a casserole or a smoothie. In the photos I found online, I could see flecks of the ingredients listed on the package.
Some people may argue that frozen food, by default, is no longer “fresh.” Then again, I’ve never eaten a dried apple slice that felt close to “fresh”…
Why We Went With Ollie
Food Format & Variety
Since Theo seemed pretty bored of his old kibble, variety was very important to me. I wanted to find a fresh food brand that allowed us to switch up flavor profiles and keep things interesting. Turns out, Ollie has 5 flavor options (Chicken, Lamb, Beef, Pork, and Turkey) while Sundays for Dogs has only 3 (Beef, Turkey, Chicken).
Ollie food comes in two forms: Baked (dry) or Fresh (wet), the latter of which is flash-frozen to maximize quality. Three Ollie meal plans provide the option to further customize your pup’s experience: Full Fresh, Half Fresh, and Mixed. Theo loves a soft treat (pup cups, I’m looking at you) so I liked the idea of combining soft and crunchy textures for him.
Sundays for Dogs’ unique air-drying method results in the same chewy and shelf-stable format for all recipes… not-quite-kibble, but certainly not fresh in the traditional sense, either. For that reason, committing to air-dried alone worried me.
Hydration Station
On that note… I’d never heard of air-dried dog food before Sundays for Dogs, so I wanted to do a bit of research on its implications. This article explains that dogs’ biological ancestors likely consumed diets with 75-95% moisture content. As mentioned earlier, Sundays for Dogs’ food has a crude moisture content of 15%, whereas Ollie’s Fresh food has roughly 70% crude moisture content (5x the amount of Sundays’).
Did it really matter, though? Every sign I found pointed to yes.
I learned that in the same way humans benefit from eating fresh fruits and vegetables with a high water content, animals rely in part on whole foods as a water source. Hydration from food contributes to the functioning of such basic and essential systems as the digestive tract, temperature regulation, and waste elimination. One study I found explained that dehydration and aging are commonly linked in dogs, which explains why older dogs suffer from dysfunction of the aforementioned processes.
My first takeaway was that, moving forward, Theo’s water bowl needs to be constantly filled. But beyond that, I wanted to provide him with naturally hydrating food as well… and obviously, Ollie was the best partner for that goal.
Customization & Flexibility
Both brands have welcoming new customer surveys that allow their respective teams of veterinary nutritionists to get a sense of (a) who your dog is and (b) what they need from their food. I took both quizzes for the sake of my research.
For Theo, Ollie suggested a Mixed Plan of Fresh Turkey Dish with Blueberries alongside Baked Chicken Dish with Carrots. Our Ollie menu came with instructions on portion sizing and how to seamlessly transition into serving fresh food. They also promised me a 50% off discount on our first delivery or “Starter Box.”
Theo’s recommendation from Sundays for Dogs was their Beef Recipe. To their credit, they also gave me a 20% off code for my first order. It was a nice gesture, but I was more excited about Ollie’s half-price introductory delivery.
While browsing the Ollie website, I noticed that they offer treats and supplements as optional add-ons in every delivery, which I thought was a fun little bonus. (These Beef & Sweet Potato Jerky Strips have “Theo” written all over them!).
I also read that registering with Ollie unlocks access to unlimited FREE health screenings and on-demand support through the Ollie app. Their health team is on-call for any and every question we pup parents might have, from weight and digestion to dental health. Ollie even offers a Diet Transition Screening to ensure the seamless integration of their recipes into your pup’s diet (complete with the option to submit stool photos for review). With Ollie, I could tell we’d be taken care of.
Convenience & Freshness
A big draw for me, to both Ollie and Sundays for Dogs, is the fact that they’re sold as subscriptions. But on top of doorstep delivery, our first Ollie box also included a free “Puptainer” to store leftovers as well as a scoop for serving.
Ollie’s Fresh recipes come in vacuum-sealed packs with a convenient pull-back seal for easy access and portioning. A pack has to be defrosted roughly 24 hours before serving, so each time we get close to finishing one, I pull another from the freezer.
In my experience, defrosting Theo’s dog food feels like an additional testament to its quality. Each time I take a trip to the freezer to grab fish or meat for us and a Fresh pack for Theo, I’m reminded of the immense dietary upgrade that Ollie represents.
With Ollie, We Lived Happily Ever After
Although both Ollie and Sundays for Dogs are marketed as “fresh” dog food, to me Ollie felt more deserving of the title… and that’s why I chose them.
Ollie’s Baked and Fresh preparation styles felt intuitive to me (more so than the treat-esque air-drying of Sundays for Dogs). I loved that Ollie’s food looked (and according to reviews, tasted) so real. I wouldn’t want to eat dried food for the rest of my life, and I didn’t want to resign Theo to that fate either. Plus, with 7 total recipe options and 3 adaptable meal plans, I knew Ollie’s range would be more than enough to keep Theo entertained.
The fact that Ollie personalized a menu and serving schedule for Theo made me feel extra confident in my decision. It was clear that this team knew my dog and were doing everything they could to support him.
In Ollie, I found exactly what I was looking for: a quality fresh dog food supplier. That said, I also found a support system, resources, and the peace of mind that Theo was eating the right food (and portions) for him and him alone.
