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Why I Kicked Kibble to the Curb
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had a dog—but it wasn’t until this year that I realized how little I knew about their nutritional needs. Dogs eat dog food. In my house, it’s always been Purina Pro dry food. End of story.
Or so I thought…until my feisty rescue Lola started dealing with some, let’s say digestive issues. Lola’s always been the picture of health, but once she turned 8, I started to notice a huge change in her energy levels and bowel movements (sorry, but dog owners know the struggle).
Her vet recommended I feed her a basic diet of chicken, rice, and veggies for a few weeks to see if that made a difference. But ya girl is not a chef, so to the internet I went. Lo and behold, there are companies out there that do all of the work for you.
After combing through dozens of rave reviews, I decided to try out Ollie because of how delicious, customizable, and beginner-friendly their fresh meal delivery service is.
Feed Your Pets Like Family With Ollie
Ollie is a no-sweat subscription dog food company founded by a team of passionate pup parents. Their mission: to provide fresh, vet-formulated meals made with whole, high-quality ingredients that are specifically tailored to meet every dog’s unique nutritional needs.
Getting started with Ollie is (almost too) easy:
- You fill out a short questionnaire that includes the name of your dog, their current (and ideal) weight, allergies, age, and food preferences. Then, Ollie crafts up a meal plan that recommends the right recipes and perfect portion sizes for your pup.
- After that, you get a custom Starter Box, which includes two weeks of ready-to-serve food in pre-portioned packs, a feeding guide to ensure your dog’s transition to fresh food is seamless, and a free scoop and reusable “puptainer” to store open food packages—all for 50% off.
- Then, you’re on auto-pilot with Ollie’s easy-breezy subscription. Every 1-8 weeks (depending on the size of your dog), they’ll send a big box of fresh, human-grade food to your door. You just pop it all in the freezer, and thaw as needed.
As For the Cost…
Because I’m sure you’re wondering—yes, fresh dog food delivery is expensive. But Lola’s worth it. She’s been with me through multiple jobs, boyfriends, quarantine, and a cross-country move. I’d sell a kidney for her.
The price fluctuates based on your dog’s age, breed, weight, and the recipes you choose. I picked the chicken, beef, and lamb options, and for a very active 15 lb Jack Russell mix, the grand total came to $17.05 a week for the 2-week starter kit, and $34.10 a week after that.
While that may seem steep, I think of it as an investment into Lola’s health. I’d pay 10x that amount to make sure she lives her longest, happiest life possible (and it’s nowhere near as expensive as an emergency vet bill).
Compared to a $60 bag of Purina Pro that will last me forever, it’s not cheap. But comparing kibble to Ollie is like comparing fast food to a farm-to-table fine dining restaurant.
Six months in, I’m not sure if Lola or I like Ollie more. All I know is, I won’t feed her anything else. Here’s why I recommend Ollie to every pup parent I know:
1. High-Quality Meals = A Happy Pup
Ollie is a prime example that less is more. Their balanced, vet-formulated recipes are made with minimally processed ingredients, gently slow-cooked in small batches to preserve as much flavor and nutrient density as possible. Ollie’s fresh meals are all human-grade and free of artificial ingredients or fillers like corn, wheat, or soy.
You can pick between four different recipes: beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb—or choose them all if you want! Each is packed with high-quality animal protein, vitamin-rich greens like kale or spinach, and fiber-rich veggies like pumpkin and sweet potato. Lola’s partial to the lamb option with cranberries and butternut squash, but I love being able to serve her different meals every day. She’s eating better than I am, honestly.
2. Nutrition You Can See
Based on how excited Lola gets around meal time now, I know she loves how delicious Ollie’s fresh recipes are. What excites me most is how much of a difference Ollie has made in her digestion and energy levels. I saw improvements right away. (Sorry again) but her bowel movements have been on-point since we switched to Ollie, which is a win for both of us.
And, to my delight, Lola’s energy is through the roof these days. We go on long walks and hikes, and I can barely keep up with her. According to her last vet checkup, my girl has even trimmed down a pound—a positive side effect of her new high-quality diet. She looks as strong as ever, and her coat looks shiny and fabulous.
3. A Customizable Subscription
As much as I used to love making a 9 pm run to the pet store to get a bag of food when we were running low, Ollie’s subscription service makes my life so much easier. I always know when I’m going to receive a shipment. Since Lola is pretty small, I set the delivery interval for every six weeks—which is just enough time for me to get about 90% of the way through the last shipment. When the box arrives, I just pop her food in the freezer and forget about it, then defrost a pack in the fridge the day before serving.
If we’re going on vacation or if Lola’s eating less than we planned, I can skip or change shipment dates with the click of a button. It’s all so stress-free and easy. If you ever have any questions (which I definitely did at the beginning), Ollie’s next-level support team is easy to contact over phone, text, or email—and such a joy to talk to. It’s clear they’re all passionate dog parents like me.
4. Ollie Thought of Everything
I did a lot of research before deciding on Ollie, and one of the biggest differentiators for me was how they nailed the small details—like free shipping with all subscriptions—and the free scoop and reusable container that come with the Starter Pack (which makes serving and storing leftovers mess-free).
And my newest obsession: the treats and supplements. I added the Beef and Sweet Potato Jerky and the “Zoomies” hip and joint support supplement to last month’s subscription, and Lola’s been enjoying both (almost) as much as her daily meals. The treats and supplements are a reminder that health, happiness, and longevity begin with high-quality food.
5. Picky Eaters Agree
It’s crazy to me now that I fed my dog the same exact meal twice a day for eight years. Lola used to pick at her food for hours, but in the last six months, there hasn’t been a single day she hasn’t licked her bowl clean in minutes. With multiple delicious, exciting recipes to choose from, I feel good knowing that I’m not just feeding her the same old kibble-flavored kibble that I used to. Apparently I’m not the only one:
There’s No Risk in Trying Ollie
I’ll admit, making the switch to Ollie’s top-notch, nutritious meals for my furry best friend may have been a bit of a selfish move. I want her to feel her best 100% of the time so I can spend as much time as possible with her. The fact that she can’t get enough of Ollie’s delicious recipes is just a major plus.
So if you’re a devoted pet parent like me and your dog is your baby—I could not recommend Ollie more. They have a full money-back guarantee, so there’s no reason not to give it a try.
Head to Ollie’s website now to create your pup’s custom meal plan and take advantage of the 50% off Starter Pack. Your dog will thank you!
