Checked July 25, 2026 · 10 data rows
The Farmer's Dog vs Ollie
The Farmer's Dog vs Ollie on published label data, cost per 1,000 kcal, portioning and recall records — including Ollie's 2026…
Sundays for Dogs vs The Farmer's Dog (2026): Air-Dried vs Fresh, Per-Calorie
Checked
At a glance
| Data point | Sundays for Dogs | The Farmer's Dog |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Air-dried, shelf-stable (12 mo unopened) | Fresh cooked, frozen, pre-portioned |
| Recipes | 4 (beef, chicken, turkey, fish — fish new mid-2026) | 7 (4 proteins) |
| Publishes GA & calories? | Yes — full GA + kcal per cup per recipe | No public label data |
| Calorie density | 4,780–5,400 kcal/kg (published per recipe) | Not published |
| Est. cost, 25 lb dog | ~$3.50/day (~$5/1,000 kcal) | ~$5.75–8.00/day (~$8–11/1,000 kcal) |
| Storage & prep | Pantry; pour and serve | Freezer; thaw 24h; use within ~4 days |
| Shipping | All 50 states | Contiguous 48 only |
| Recalls ever | None on record | None on record |
| Founded by | Veterinarian (Dr. Tory Waxman, VMD) | Founders + unnamed board-certified nutrition team |
| Price history | ~30% increases documented since 2023 | Comparatively stable |
| Intro offer (checked July 25, 2026) | 30% off on-site; 40–50% via codes | 20% on-site; up to 50% via partner links |
Why the per-calorie gap is structural
Sundays removes water (15% moisture vs ~75%), so you're not paying to freeze and ship water around the country. The result: ~$5 per 1,000 kcal against $8–11 for frozen fresh — about half price for the same energy, from a recipe that's ~90% meat, organs and bone with published label data (see Sundays Beef in our database). The brand's own '55% less than fresh' claim is roughly consistent with our independent math.
The honest caveats on Sundays
Documented price creep is real: third-party tracking shows the same two-dog order rising from ~$140/month in 2023 to ~$185–190 in 2026 — factor that into a long-term commitment. Bags aren't resealable-friendly, no scoop is included, and the beef recipe's smell divides households. And air-dried is still dried: dogs that need moisture in their diet get less of it here than from fresh.
Where The Farmer's Dog wins anyway
Hydration-shy and picky dogs often do better with real moist food; pre-portioned packs remove all measurement error; and its pricing has moved less. If your dog thrives on fresh and the budget clears, there's nothing wrong with paying the fresh premium — just know from the numbers above that it *is* a premium, roughly 2× per calorie.
Questions
Is Sundays cheaper than The Farmer's Dog?
Yes, substantially, on a per-calorie basis: roughly $5 per 1,000 kcal versus $8–11, driven by moisture — air-dried food is ~15% water, fresh ~72–77%.
Does Sundays need refrigeration?
No — it's shelf-stable for about 12 months unopened and 6–8 weeks open. That also makes it the only premium option in this set shipping to all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Has either brand been recalled?
No — both have clean recall records as of July 2026, verified against FDA records.
Why did Sundays get more expensive?
The brand has raised prices repeatedly since 2023 — roughly 30% cumulatively per third-party tracking. It remains cheaper per calorie than frozen fresh even after the increases.
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Cost per 1,000 kcal
Put your own price and pack size against either brand's calorie density and settle the cost question with your numbers rather than ours.
Nutrition figures come from the sourced label database; recall statements are checked against FDA records in the recall tracker. Brands reformulate and reprice without announcing it, which is why the checked-date is printed at the top — if this page and the label in front of you disagree, the label wins and we want to know: send a correction.
Captured 2026-07-25 Methodology