Dog food. How do you pick? There are so many options out there—canned, dry, fresh, frozen, air-dried, shelf-stable… and honestly, I had no clue how to decide.
My vet did recommend going with one of the fresher food options, especially since Stanley is so tiny. He said that for a small dog, the cost of high-quality food is a lot more manageable, and the nutritional quality is usually better.

So, in the spirit of this blog, I’ve ordered four different sample packs to test out.
1. Sundays for Dogs
This one looks like jerky—very minimal prep, human-grade ingredients, and totally shelf-stable. I love the convenience. For a Stanley-sized dog, this food would cost about $18.75 per week.
2. Spot & Tango (UnKibble)
I added this one after seeing it pop up on a few “top food” lists. It’s a dry but minimally processed food they call “UnKibble.” I ordered their Turkey and Sweet Potato recipe.
Price: $16.50 per week—the most affordable of the four.
3. The Pet’s Table
This brand offers both fresh food and air-dried options. I ordered a combo pack with:
- Chicken Casserole with Green Beans (fresh)
- Chicken & Sweet Potato, and Salmon & Whitefish with Pumpkin (air-dried)
They also throw in a free bag of chicken bite treats with every order as long as you stay subscribed.
Cost: $21.70/week, with slight discounts if you buy 8 weeks at a time or tweak the fresh/dry mix.
4. Happy Howl
I love the idea behind this one—it’s fresh food that stays shelf-stable until opened, so only one box at a time needs to go in the fridge. I ordered their variety pack with:
- Grandma’s Beef Stew
- Tasty Turkey Feast
- Lamb Delight
This one comes in at $21.25/week for Stanley. Price may shift a bit based on the flavors I choose long-term.

The Plan (and the Problem)
Now that I’ve ordered all four, I need to create a smart plan to test them—without upsetting Stanley’s little tummy. Switching foods too fast is never a good idea, so we’ll go slow.
What am I looking for?
- High-quality ingredients
- Convenience
- Something Stanley is excited to eat
- And all else being equal? I’ll go with the more affordable option.
I’d also love to try Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog down the line, but these four stood out first. I originally planned to test just three—but Spot & Tango’s ingredients, price, and single protein per flavor really appealed to me.
What He’s Eating Now

Right now, Stanley is on Dr. Harvey’s, a mix-you-add-your-own-protein-to food that worked wonderfully for Cali. It was a great option for her kidney issues—customizable, tasty, and way better than the expensive prescription foods she refused to eat.
But for puppies, Dr. Harvey’s recommends adding protein, oil, plain yogurt, and cottage cheese—a little more involved than I’d like. It’s great food, but not the simplest option when there are other fresh choices that come ready to go.
Let’s Compare Together!
The samples should start arriving next week, and I’ll be blogging our journey as Stanley and I go through each one.
Do you feed your dog a fresh or air-dried food? I’d love to hear what you’re using and how it’s working for you. Drop your favorites (or fails!) in the comments—I’m always open to suggestions!