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An Honest Just Food For Dogs Review – How My Ultra-Picky Eater Reacted

Written by: Justin Palmer
Justin Palmer is a Certified Pet Food Nutrition Specialist and co-founder of iHeartDogs.com. Inspired by his rescued husky, Splash, he dedicated himself to learning about extending both the length and quality of her life. Splash lived and thrived until 18 years old, and now Justin is on a mission to share what he learned with other dog owners.Read more
| Published on February 9, 2023
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Fresh dog food has been all the rage in recent years. One look at a fresh brand such as Just Food For Dogs, and it’s no wonder why. It actually looks and smells like real human food. You see the color of the veggies and the texture of the meat.

I decided to give Just Food For Dogs a try with my ultra-picky 16-year-old Siberian Husky, Splash.

While Splash will eventually eat almost any food, she clearly shows me which she’s most excited about with her pre-dinner dance and tail wag.

When she smells something she’s interested in, she’ll do an extra aggressive pre-dinner dance. When she’s not that into her food, she’ll let it sit untouched in her bowl for a few hours, just in case I bring her something more enticing.

How My Picky Eater Reacted to Just Food For Dogs

The first Just Food For Dogs variety I gave her was the Chicken & White Rice option. Immediately after opening the package, I was struck by the pleasing smell. Unlike the smell of kibble, which comes across as a fatty grainy sort of smell, Just Food For Dogs smelled like something that could have come from my own kitchen.

Splash’s reaction was clear before I even set down the bowl. The pre-dinner dance was on! After placing her dish in front of her, she happily devoured it, thanking me with a tail wag.

On the next night I gave her the Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni variety, which has a nice texture with real noodles, unlike anything I’ve ever seen in dog food. It looked like a homemade soup without the broth! She was equally pleased with the taste of this one.

Now that Just Food For Dogs passed her picky taste-test, I decided to dig into the pros and cons of Just Food For Dogs. To summarize, here’s what I found:

Just Food for Dogs: An Honest Review from a Picky Eater
9.3/10Our Score
  • Many varieties and flavors available
  • Highly regarded by veterinarians
  • An option to buy online, and pickup in-store
  • Human-grade ingredients, meaning it's good enough quality for a human to eat!
  • Absolutely No Preservatives
  • Chicken, Lamb, Beef, Turkey, Fish, and Venison protein options available
  • Easy to rotate different proteins
  • Excellent for dogs with allergies to certain proteins or grains
  • Extremely palatable to nearly all dogs. It looks, smells, and tastes like real human food. 
  • Unlike many fresh food companies, can be purchased with or without a subscription. 
  • First-time auto-ship discount of 35%, plus free shipping
  • Not inexpensive, by any means. 
  • One recall, due to contamination of human grade green beans. The company reacted swiftly to the issue.
  • Options can be overwhelming on their website.

After researching the brand more, I was impressed that Just Food for Dogs was the most veterinarian-recommended fresh food brand for dogs. This makes it stand out in a sea of other fresh food companies receiving less veterinarian accolades.

Conclusion: Our Honest Just Food For Dogs Review

Overall, both myself and Splash were extremely pleased with Just Food For Dogs. While I can’t feed this food everyday, I do rotate it into her diet as much as possible. She loves the ever-changing variety, and I love the fact that it’s more nutritionally sound than kibble.

If you’re interested in trying Just Food For Dogs for your pup, click below for a 35% off Just Food for Dogs discount they shared with iHeartDogs readers.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Just Food For Dogs

Is Just Food For Dogs Better Than Kibble?

According to many veterinarians and pet parents, yes. The amount of processing that goes into the creation of extruded kibble tends to degrade the quality of the ingredients. Healthy fats such as omega-3 (fish oil) tend to go rancid inside of dry food such as kibble. One look at a fresh food such as Just Food For Dogs, and you can see and smell the difference.

Is Just Food for Dogs Recommended by Veterinarians?

Yes. According to the company, Just Food For Dogs is the number one recommend veterinary fresh food, according to an independent national survey of over 15,000 vets. The company offers a veterinarian education portal, helping vets pair each of their foods with a particular dog’s needs. 

How Do I Store My Just Food For Dogs Meals? Can they be frozen?

According to the company, the best way to feed fresh is to get into a cycle of freezer to refrigerator to bowl. Remove the package from the freezer and defrost in your refrigerator, or you can also immerse in cold water. Store the product in your refrigerator in a glass or plastic container and then serve the suggested amount. Just Food For Dogs can last up to one year after frozen. 

Does Just Food For Dogs Meet AAFCO guidelines & standards?

According to the company, yes. Each of the canine diets has gone through Evidence-Based Research at major universities. In addition, the company performed a year-long feeding trial. 

Has Just Food For Dogs Ever Been Recalled?

According to Dog Food Advisor, the company has had one recall due to contamination of human-grade green beans. The company reacted swiftly to the issue.

Who Founded Just Food For Dogs, and What is the Company History?

Shawn Buckley founded Just Food For Dogs after being shocked & disgusted when he found out what is legally allowed to be included in dog food. He began making his own fresh meals for his dogs and noticed an immediate difference in their overall health. Shawn later brought in a highly educated team of board-certified veterinarians and specialists to create the most nutritionally complete canine meals available. Just Food For Dogs is unprocessed and more bioavailable to your dog’s body, meaning your pup will actually absorb what they ingest. The products are created with no chicken byproduct and no preservatives. 

Does Just Food For Dogs Offer Any Discounts or Coupons for First Time Customers?

Yes. As of the time of this writing, Just Food For Dogs has a 35% discount for first-time auto ship customers (5% off for recurring orders)

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