As much as I want to stick with a shelf-stable food, I have to admit — Stanley really likes the fresh food from The Pets Table, even though it comes frozen. And honestly? It’s kind of adorable.
The packaging is great. The box arrived with a matching food storage container and measuring scoop, plus clear feeding guidelines and product info. Everything feels thoughtfully put together and made a great first impression.
I was worried the frozen format might be a hassle, but it’s actually been easier to use than I expected. I just move one of the frozen packs to the fridge overnight, and by morning, it’s ready to scoop and serve. I’ve been adding a little warm water before serving to make sure Stanley stays hydrated, and he absolutely devours it.
It’s definitely a bit pricier than some of the other options I’ve tried — like Happy Howl, Sundays, and Top Shelf Dog — but if Stanley keeps eating it this enthusiastically, it might be worth the splurge. They do also have the air-dried food which we have, but Stanley hasn’t tried it yet. I’ll update when he has.
That said, the main drawback of frozen food for me is travel. It’s harder to hand off to a sitter or bring on trips compared to shelf-stable options.
Not everything has been a win. Sundays air-dried food is turning out to not be Stanley’s favorite. Even when I leave it out for free-choice snacking, he just doesn’t touch it. On the other hand, he does like Spot and Tango’s UnKibble, but I still find myself leaning toward wet or fresh food options.
We haven’t received our Top Shelf Dog shipment yet, but I’m hopeful. Right now, the decision may come down to Happy Howl vs. Top Shelf Dog. Both are economical, healthy, shelf-stable, and — most importantly — Stanley likes Happy Howl, and I’m guessing Top Shelf Dog will be similar.
What are you feeding your dog right now? Any favorite brands or food types that work well for picky eaters or small dogs? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!
