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Ollie Dog Food Reviews: Delivered Fresh To Your Door

Ollie is a relatively new brand compared to well-known dog foods, but don't let that put you off. They are already hugely successful and proving to be one of the country's leading suppliers of fresh dog meal subscriptions (as well as probiotics and treats). Not only are dog owners raving about it, but veterinary experts and nutritionists enthusiastically recommend these customized meal plans too. This honest review will help you understand whether this brand might be a good meal solution for your pooch.

Emma Braby Picture

Last Updated: June 8, 2023 | 9 min read

dog in a box from ollie jumping towards ollie product and ingredients on a table

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Deciding which food to feed your dog is a huge decision. And with all the confusing labels and nutritional jargon to decipher, it is also difficult. As pet parents, we want the best for our beloved pups, so feeding fresh, human-grade food is becoming increasingly popular. And that’s where Ollie steps in.

Ollie is an automatic subscription service that delivers fresh dog food, probiotics, and treats straight to your door. It’s quick, convenient, and high quality too. This comprehensive food review looks at the Ollie brand, their safety record, what food ingredients they use, and more. Plus, we explain how the subscription works, showing you how simple it is to set up.

Perhaps you’re venturing into the world of fresh dog food for the first time. Or maybe you are looking for a better quality, natural diet for Fido. Either way, this review will help you decide whether Ollie is the right option for you and your pup.

At a Glance: Ollie Dog Food Favorites

Ollie Chicken Dog Food
Our Rating

Chicken Recipe

Spinach
and cod liver oil

Ollie Beef Dog Food
Our Rating

Beef Recipe

Sweet potatoes, peas, and rosemary

Ollie Turkey Dog Food
Our Rating

Turkey Recipe

Carrots, blueberries, and chia seeds

Note: Clicking the above links will take you to MyOllie.com, where you can get additional product information and customer reviews. If you make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Brand History

Dog eating Ollie dog food out of a bowl with packaging and ingredients
The company is headquartered in New York.

Ollie is a relatively new brand established in 2016 by three dog parents who questioned the mass-produced processed dog food quality. Together they wanted to create simple, delicious, and nutritious food that provides complete nutrition for our pets. Their mission is to “improve the lives of pet parents and pups everywhere by putting nutritious food in every dog’s bowl.”

Despite being new to the market, they have already been featured in prominent news outlets like Business Insider, Forbes, and Los Angeles Times. This word of mouth has helped them spread the word, and they are now up there with the fresh food market leaders.

Ollie is a nationwide subscription service that provides your pup with the best nutrition and gives back to the doggy community too. They have provided over five million meals to dogs in need.  They are also committed to donating 1% of their revenue to rescue organizations and kill-free shelters. So every time you do the best for your pup, you help another dog in need too.

Recall History

When a food product does not meet the standards expected, it can be recalled voluntarily by the brand itself. Or by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), which governs pet food standards nationally.

Thankfully, Ollie hasn’t had any food recalls, which means that they have met all of the standards expected by the FDA and themselves so far. This is excellent news for us doggy parents who take the safety of our pups seriously. They also test every batch to ensure that they meet their high-quality standards every time. An independent laboratory completes the testing.

Range Of Recipes

Raw meats on a table
Ollie offers four recipes, a suitable selection for the majority of dogs.

Ollie is not an option if your pup has specific dietary needs or allergies that rule these four options out. But this is similar to many fresh subscription brands, such as The Farmer’s Dog. We suspect that their ongoing success will naturally lead to a broader selection of recipes in the future.

Like most other fresh food companies that calculate your pup’s precise nutritional needs, Ollie does not offer specific life-stage recipes. However, because they take your dog’s birthday into account, they ensure that they always meet their dietary needs. All of their recipes are compliant with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines, meaning every recipe is suitable for every life stage, even for large breeds.

The personalized plan also takes into account lifestyle and weight, meaning that although every recipe is the same, the pouch you receive for your pup contains the exact amount of calories they need. This ensures that Fido’s weight management or weight loss journey is predetermined for you. There is no more guessing how many cups to feed your canine.

All of their recipes are grain-inclusive. This rules out Ollie for those dogs who feel much better on a grain-free diet. All of their recipes use chia seed, which is a gluten-free grain. The chicken and lamb recipe lists rice in their ingredients list. The beef and turkey recipes are suitable for those needing a gluten-free diet.

Pros & Cons

ProsCons
Veterinary nutritionists assist with plan personalizationLimited range of recipes
Every ingredient is human-gradeNeed to remove from freezer to thaw a day before
Free from preservatives and fillersMore expensive than traditional kibble
Meat sourced from US or Australian free-range farmsNo grain-free options
Cooked fresh and flash-frozen to maintain nutritional goodness
Convenient pre-portioned packs
Delivered to your door on your chosen date
Nationwide and free shipping on subscriptions
100% money-back guarantee on the starter pack
Free food container to maintain freshness

Ollie Recipes

Ollie prides itself on providing the best human-grade food by using the finest premium ingredients. They never use artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. Instead, they select every component for a specific purpose. This means everything Fido needs for a well-balanced diet is listed. Let’s take a look at the ingredients list for each recipe.

Beef Recipe

Ollie Beef Dog Food

Beef, peas, sweet potato, potato, carrot, beef kidney, beef liver, spinach, blueberries, dicalcium phosphate, chia seed, iodized salt, fish oil, zinc gluconate, rosemary, vitamin E supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), potassium iodide

Each recipe uses one animal source, meaning if you select the beef recipe, you’ll only find beef meat listed. This simple approach makes things more manageable so that you know what you’re getting, unlike most kibble recipes. Plus, many dogs find a sole animal protein simpler to digest compared to a blend of meats. The first ingredient in every recipe is real meat, which is an excellent sign of quality.

Chicken Recipe

Ollie Chicken Dog Food

Chicken, carrots, peas, rice, chicken liver, potatoes, spinach, dicalcium phosphate, whole dried eggs, fish oil, blueberries, chia seeds, calcium carbonate, iodized salt, cod liver oil, zinc gluconate, rosemary, copper gluconate, choline bitartrate, vitamin E supplement, manganese gluconate, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2)

Each recipe lists liver, again sourced from the same animal, and the beef recipe also lists kidney. Liver and kidney might sound revolting to you, but these organ ingredients are rich in amino acids and other essential nutrients. Plus, they’ll drive Fido’s tastebuds wild. Each recipe also contains either fish oil, cod liver oil, or coconut oil. These are all high-quality omega fats essential for puppy development, joint support, skin and coat health, and more.

Turkey Recipe

Ollie Turkey Dog Food

Turkey breast, kale, lentils, carrots, coconut oil, turkey liver, blueberries, pumpkin, dicalcium phosphate, chia seeds, iodized salt, calcium carbonate, cod liver oil, zinc gluconate, iron sulfate, choline bitartrate, manganese gluconate, manganese sulfate, copper gluconate, vitamin E supplement, thiamin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), potassium iodate

Each recipe lists a unique combination of fruits and vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, spinach, kale, butternut squash, blueberries, and cranberries. These supply your pup with a mixture of prebiotic fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Smoother digestion, healthier stools, and a more robust immune system are some of the benefits of these ingredients. Each recipe is boosted with added supplements too.

Lamb Recipe

Ollie Lamb Dog Food

Lamb, butternut squash, lamb liver, kale, rice, chickpeas, chickpea flour, cranberries, green beans, potato, dicalcium phosphate, chia seeds, cod liver oil, iodized salt, calcium carbonate, zinc gluconate, taurine, vitamin E supplement, iron sulfate, pantothenic acid, manganese gluconate, thiamin hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), potassium iodate, folic acid

All of their recipes include chia seed, a gluten-free grain, which means that every recipe is grain-inclusive. Chia seed is also rich in copper, zinc, and manganese. Ollie also uses rice in the chicken and lamb recipes. Rice is a gentle grain rich in vitamins B, D, and E and other micronutrients. The presence of these two ingredients is comforting for those concerned about grain-free diets and the potential link to heart disease.

Pork Recipe

ollie pork

Pork, pork livers, butternut squash, rice, sweet potatoes, oats, peas, carrots, spinach, apples, tricalcium phosphate, salmon oil, salt, taurine, zinc gluconate, vitamin E supplement, ferrous sulphate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), potassium iodide.

Ollie Probiotics

Belly Rub Probiotics

Ollie Belly Rub Probiotics
  • Made with Pumpkin seed, Papaya Leaf Powder, and Probiotic blend (Enterococcus faecium, lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus casei, Lactococcus lactis, lactobacillus reuteri).
  • Natural supplement that helps your pup have a happy and healthy tummy.
  • Contains a blend of 5 probiotic strains, guaranteed to provide 1B CFU per 3.5g chew.
  • Active Ingredients: Pumpkin Seed Powder, Papaya Leaf Powder.

Ollie also has supplements as an optional add on to give your dog further the nutrients they need for joint and other needs. Ollie’s Belly Rub probiotic supplements promote healthy digestion and come in a duck flavor.

Each probiotic is for dogs of all ages and sizes and is scientifically formulated by biochemists and made with all-natural ingredients. They undergo a cold extrusion process and are tested in a third-party lab to ensure safety. All manufacturing is done in the United States.

These Belly Rub probiotics offer a blend of 5 probiotic strains, guaranteed to provide 1B CFU per 3.5g chew—and promote a healthy digestion system for your dog. It’s non-GMO, and 100% of the palm oil comes from certified sustainable sources.

Nutritional Analysis

The ingredients that Ollie uses are high-quality. To understand what this offers your dog compared to other brands, we need to analyze the nutritional ratios.

According to the Dog Food Advisor, the four recipes offer an average protein content of 39% and a mean fat content of 26%. Using these figures, Ollie offers above-average protein and fat levels but below-average carbohydrates. And this is why Ollie is an ‘enthusiastically recommended’ premium brand.

Where Do They Make the Food?

Ollie makes and hand-packs their food in their facility in New Jersey. Their team cooks the food at low temperatures and flash-freezes them to maintain optimum nutrition. They do this in small batches to ensure quality.

Ollie states that they source their hormone-free chicken, turkey, and beef from human-grade farms in the US. Their pasture-raised lamb comes from free-range farms in the US and Australia. This is excellent news because both of these countries have higher food quality standards compared to others. Plus, each partner must undergo a substantial certification process to become an Ollie supplier.

However, they do not comment on where the other ingredients are sourced, such as fruits, veggies, vitamins, and minerals. They state that they are “carefully sourced.” It is not uncommon for many brands, including premium ones like Ollie, to source their micro-ingredients overseas. Although this is not a problem considering their strict processes, it is always good to be aware of this.

How Does Ollie Work?

The process is quick and straightforward. First, you need to set up an online profile using your email address, where Ollie will ask you questions about your dog. They’ll ask for their name, birthday, breed, current weight, ideal weight, and whether they are neutered.

Ollie Dog Food Quiz
They’ll also ask about your dog’s lifestyle, including their current food and any allergies.

This whole process takes less than a few minutes, and then they’ll calculate the best diet plan for your pup. Based on your answers, they’ll state how many calories your dog needs every day and the best recipes to pick.

Ollie Dog Food Quiz results
You can change the recipes if Fido prefers a different flavor or if you want to try out a different mix. 

Once you have set up payment, Ollie will ship your starter box immediately or on your specified date. The starter box provides two weeks’ worth of food. This way, Fido gets to try the food for a short period without you committing to a more extended subscription on food that they might not like. But having a look at the reviews, the majority of four-legged customers love this food. If you are satisfied with your starter pack, it will continue delivery to your door with no fuss.

If your pup didn’t lick his bowl clean for any reason, Ollie offers to refund the full cost of your starter pack. If you need to make changes to your delivery or payment dates, it is simple to do so on your account. You can also pause deliveries should you need to for any reason.

How Much Does it Cost?

You get better value for money compared to other similar personalized plans. According to the Ollie website, their plans start at less than $4 a day for smaller dogs. This averages to $8 a day, depending on the size of your dog and how much they need to eat. To find out how much it will cost to feed your dog, you fill out a questionnaire to personalize your plan. Every dog is different, meaning every price will be different.

Sure, this might not be suitable for every owner’s budget. And it is more expensive than dried or lower-quality diets. But Ollie provides top-quality, human-grade, fresh food that is convenient, so you get what you pay for. Additionally, when comparing Ollie to other fresh food services, they advise higher calories for most dogs. This means that you get more calories per dollar.

Our readers can get 50% off their first order. No code needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Ollie.

How does Ollie tailor the recipe to my dog?

Ollie calculates all of the information using their algorithm, developed with a board-certificated vet nutritionist. This ensures that your dog receives the right amount of food based on the information you give them, including any allergies and weight management needs. If your dog’s details change, update your profile, and they’ll adjust the food accordingly.

How should I make the switch to Ollie food?

Gradually switching your dog to any new food is essential to avoid stomach upset. Especially if their previous diet was dried kibble or a lower-quality diet. A new diet will disrupt your dog’s microbiome, but it will adapt without any issues when transitioned gradually. According to Ollie’s canine care team, here are the transition guidelines:

  • The first 1 to 3 days, serve 25% of the whole portion size of the new food mixed with 75% old food
  • Days 4 to 6, serve 50% of the new food mixed with 50% of the old food
  • Days 7 to 10, serve 75% of the new food mixed with 25% of the old
  • After day 11, serve 100% new food

Do I need to prepare anything?

No, everything is ready for you – that’s the beauty of Ollie. All you need to do is pop it in the refrigerator and wait for Fido’s belly to start rumbling. When kept in the fridge, the food stays fresh for four days. If you need food beyond that, keep the packs in the freezer. Just remember to thaw the food as it takes 24 hours to defrost thoroughly.

What if I’m not at home when the food is delivered?

Ollie food packs will stay fresh up until midnight on the day it arrives, thanks to the ice, insulation, and delivery conditions managed by their shipping partners. But be sure to refrigerate or freeze the packs you receive as soon as you can. If your food is not cold when it arrives, Ollie advises you to contact the canine care team before feeding it to Fido.

Can I change my order?

It is straightforward if you need to update your dog’s dietary details, change your address (permanently or temporarily), or rush or delay an order. Simply log into your account and change whatever needs changing. You can manually cancel your subscription at any time.

Final Thoughts

Dog eating Ollie dog food
It’s difficult to find faults with this brand.

Sure, there aren’t many recipe choices when comparing Ollie to a big kibble brand. But thanks to their personalized meal plans, Ollie is certain to deliver the ultimate in taste and nutrition. They provide pre-packed, cooked food, leaving almost nothing for you to do except put it in Fido’s bowl.

Ollie uses meat sourced from top-quality suppliers, and the finest ingredients, and their recipes are AAFCO-compliant and rigorously tested. So despite being a little more expensive than traditional kibble brands, it is a healthy diet that is worth paying for if your budget allows it. And you can be sure that Fido will approve of this human-grade, tasty food (and if he doesn’t, Ollie guarantees your money back!).

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety or care advice. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, insurance expert, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

2 Comments

  1. Have a 10 yr old 24lb insulin dependent Diabetic dog, currently on Hill’s Science W/D stew which she hates. Want to transition to Whole Foods.
    Please send contact number to my e-mail.
    TY, JC

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