My Dog Ate Ollie's Fresh Dog Food For 1 Month — Here's My Honest Take

My dog is the opposite of a picky eater. She'll eat anything: frozen green beans, romaine lettuce butts, cheese, and (her personal favorite) cucumbers. But as much as I try to optimize her diet for longevity, she's still heavier than her veterinarian would like (similar to 60% of dogs in the U.S.).

The subscription-based dog food company creates fresh, human-grade meals for pups that meet AAFCO standards. Formulated by vets, the minimally processed food is made in the U.S. with natural ingredients, like high-quality meat.

When you sign up for Ollie, you're taken through an in-depth survey about your dog's daily habits and dietary restrictions. This includes sharing your pup's current weight, optimal weight (per their vet), and daily activity levels.

Once you've shared this information, Ollie finds the ideal caloric intake for your pup. You'll then have a choice to opt in for a fully fresh plan, a mixed bowl plan (50% fresh, 50% Ollie dry food), or a half fresh plan (50% Ollie, 50% your current food).

While I debated the Mixed Bowl Plan—it's about $40 cheaper per month—I opted for the Full Fresh Plan for testing to ensure Cleo got the full Ollie experience.

Cleo's prior dry food was a sweet potato and chicken mix, so I decided to play it safe by opting for the fresh chicken recipes. Plus, I love that it catered to sensitive stomachs, which would help make the transition over to the diet easier.

You can schedule Ollie to arrive on a specific day, with options to change the arrival date under your account page. Every box arrives entrées frozen solid due to dry ice.

When my order arrived, I immediately moved it to my freezer, where the supply took up about 25% of my freezer space. I found the rectangle packages stacked easily to ensure they took up minimal space.

Only one critic really matters here: Cleo. As mentioned, Cleo really is not picky about food. Remember the plain lettuce I mentioned before?

I think her preference for Ollie was reflected throughout the transition over to the fresh food. When the bowl was evenly split between her old and new food, she still always ate Ollie first.

However, the transition to Ollie's food was not perfectly seamless. The first day of only eating Ollie, I think I transitioned too rapidly from 70% to 100% fresh food. Cleo was slightly constipated, so I had to add back a little dry food to get her bowels moving again.

In the end, I'm glad we made the switch. Not only does Cleo seem to love her meals, but she's also started to shed some of the extra weight she's carried over the last two years.

This was a huge win for me! I've been trying to cut back Cleo's food and increase Cleo's activity levels to help her lose weight. Remember: Dogs who have overweight (~10-20% more than their ideal body weight) are at a higher risk of health issues like diabetes, reduced immunity, arthritis, and cancer.

You can add optional supplements or treats to every order. Fun fact: Your first box should come with two free items.

Training treats: Great for those who want a bite-sized addition for small pups or mental stimulation via training. Available in peanut butter and Parmesan.

Crunch Treats: Baked treats for pups who like a little bit of crunch. Available in sweet potato or apple and mixed berry.

Jerky: Chewy, meat-based treats intended for occasional rewards. Available in beef & sweet potato or chicken & apple.

Additionally, the brand sells minty dental chews and straight sweet potato slices. I opted for the mint dental chews because they help keep Cleo's teeth clean between brushings.

Let's face it: $180-$200+ in dog food every month is steep (i.e. the cost of a fully fresh meal plan). It won't fit into everyone's budget—and I'm still trying to figure out how much fresh food is right for my budget.