5 Best Raw Dog Food Delivery Services

Raw dog food diets have been gaining popularity recently.

It’s believed that raw food is more nutritionally dense than commercial canned food or kibble. However, raw dog food is a controversial topic, so please fully research the subject. If you want further information, I wrote a fact-based article on the benefits and risks of raw dog food.

These diets may give your dog cleaner teeth, a shinier coat, boost their immune system, and increase energy, according to WebMD. Raw food may even reduce your dog’s risk of bone and joint dysfunction. Many companies have taken advantage of this trend with their own raw dog food delivery services.

Yep, you can get premium raw dog food for your favorite pup delivered without even leaving your home. There are several options on the market, but not to worry; I’ve created a list of the best raw dog food delivery services just for you and your best friend. As with any changes to your dog’s diet, please consult with your veterinarian first since there are pros and cons of raw dog food.

I may earn a commission if you buy through my links, but you pay nothing extra.

At A Glance: Best Raw Dog Food Delivery Service

Best Overall Pick and Variety: Raw Paws Pet Food

Best for Venison and Elk Meat: RAW Wild Dog Food

Best Tailored Meal Plans: Darwin’s Natural Pet Products

Best Prey Model Meal Plan: We Feed Raw

Best BARF Diet Products: Cali Raw Nutrition

Best Raw Dog Food Delivery Service: My Top Picks

1. Raw Paws Pet Food (Finest Overall Pick- Coupon Code RAWPAWSPET for 10% off)

Variety is the spice to life, but it’s also a big selling point for our next raw dog food delivery service – Raw Paws Pet Food.

Their Story:

Raw Paws Pet Food is based in Indianapolis, IN. They began as a small co-op in 2007, then grew into a pet food supplier by 2014, so they offer partnerships for vendors in addition to their online sales.

Their mantra is “the best chance of having a happy pet is through the best quality nutrition,” and they’ve made it their mission to make the best quality nutrition affordable and accessible for pet parents everywhere.

Meal Quality & Plans:

If you’re looking for options, Raw Paws is the place to go. Their online store offers selections for frozen food, variety packs, toppers, bones, freeze-dried food, treats, supplements, and (of course) raw diet foods.

If your dog has specific dietary needs, Raw Paws has pages of their website dedicated to organic, wild-caught- pasture-raised, free-range, and grain-free food products.

For the raw food selections, Raw Paws offers meal plans for the BARF Diet, Prey Model, and Alpha-Prey Model.

The BARF diet consists of meat, meaty bones, fruit and vegetable scraps, and supplements to round out your dog’s nutrition, and Raw Paws’ meal plans for this model follow these guidelines to a T.

The Prey Model is more meat-heavy and eliminates veggies and fruit from the equation. Raw Paws offers a Prey Model meal plan with 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organs.

Finally, the Alpha-Prey model mirrors the diet of dogs’ ancestors even more closely with more organs than anything. These meal plans from Raw Paws are 45% organ meat, while 55% is a blend of meat and bone.

Current deals:

10% Off Sitewide – no minimum order amount (Valid with promo code “RAWPAWSPET”)

Cost:

BARF diet raw food is $9.49 per pound and is the cheapest option for raw food on Raw Paws’ website.

For the Prey Model, prices start at $9.49 per pound and can go up to $14.49 per pound, depending on your meat choice.

The Alpha-Prey Model is the most expensive; prices range from $69.99 for a 16-ounce package of freeze-dried beef, to $89.99 for a 16-ounce package of freeze-dried duck.

Shipping costs largely depend on the contents of your order. Non-frozen items (such as the freeze-dried food) are eligible for free shipping on orders of $49 or more.

Frozen items are eligible for free shipping on orders of $199 or more, and orders less than $199 are shipped at a flat rate of $25. Depending on your location, your order arrives within one to four days.

2. RAW WILD Dog Food (Top for Venison and Elk Meat)

Our first option for the best raw dog food delivery service is RAW WILD Dog Food – an all-American and all-meat brand.

Their Story:

RAW WILD is based in Utah and family-owned. They pride themselves on providing organic, wild Rocky Mountain elk and venison, ethically hunted by licensed rifle and bow hunters.

Part of the reason for the meat selection is their firm belief that raw beef, chicken, and sheep products are cast-offs from commercial rendering plants.

They are committed to giving your dog real, high-quality meats right from the mountains of the USA.

Meal Quality & Plans:

The ingredients in RAW WILD’s meals are simple: 99.4% wild venison and elk meat, and 0.6% vitamins and minerals.

The list of ingredients not in their meals is much longer; there are no added growth hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, fillers, grains, or animal byproducts.

All meals are made in small batches to ensure quality control and don’t include organs of any kind.

RAW WILD is a subscription-based service. Based on your dog’s size (and appetite), you can choose from a 12-pounds-per-month package, 24 pounds, or 48 pounds every month.

RAW WILD hopes their product will be your dog’s daily food source, but they also recommend using it as a topper to your dog’s current food as an enticing appetizer and added source of nutrients.

Cost:

Buying in bulk is the name of the game with RAW WILD.

The basic subscription for 12 pounds per month will cost $10.99 per pound, or about $132. The mid-tier subscription for 24 pounds per month drops down to $9.99 per pound, or $240, and the largest subscription option is 48 pounds per month for $8.99 per pound or roughly $432.

Of course, if you’d like to give it a try before committing to a large purchase, RAW WILD offers a one-time trial price. You can try the 12-pound package for only $8.25 per pound (a 25% discount) or $98.91 in total.

The cost of shipping largely depends on where you live. For most states in the western and central U.S., shipping is free since the company is based in Utah. For states on the eastern coast (Zone 8 of the UPS Zone Chart), shipping will cost extra due to UPS shipping regulations.

For Zone 8 states, the total expense for shipping and handling somewhat depends upon the size of your chosen subscription package. The trial package, 12-pound, and 24-pound will cost an extra $60, and the 48-pound subscription is $100.

3. Darwin’s Natural Pet Products (Finest Tailored Meal Plans)

With a wide range of meal plans, cost, and meat selections, Darwin’s Natural Pet Products is next on our list.

Their Story:

Gary Tashjian founded Darwin’s Natural Pet Products when his dog, Max, was suffering from arthritis.

He tried switching Max to a raw diet on a whim, but instantly saw an improvement in Max’s symptoms and energy levels.

Curious, Gary tried the raw diet with his other dog, Casey, who suffered from chronic skin conditions.

After a few weeks, Casey’s symptoms virtually disappeared! That’s when Gary decided he wanted to share the power of raw food diets with dogs everywhere.

Meal Quality & Plans:

All of Darwin’s food offerings are grain-free, gluten-free, hormone-free, and steroid-free. They are committed to ethical meat farming and providing a balance of 75% meat, 25% vegetables, and a nutrient blend to round out your dog’s diet.

There are three lines of meal plans that Darwin offers: BioLogics, Natural Selections, and Intelligent Design.

BioLogics is the most budget-friendly of the three options. The nutrients are still high-quality, but this line uses conventionally-grown veggies and meats.

Natural Selections is a middle-of-the-road option. With this plan, you get the same nutrient composition that the BioLogics line offers, but the meats and vegetables are 100% organic.

Intelligent Design is the most costly line to choose from for one reason: it’s only available with a prescription from your vet. The meals are formulated to support dogs with certain health issues and use pesticide-free, antibiotic-free, organic ingredients.

Current deals:

Save $50! Get 10 lbs for just $14.95 with free home delivery

Cost:

The cost for each line of meal plans varies slightly.

The cheapest option is the Chicken Meal Plan from the BioLogics line at $4.69 per pound, and the most expensive choice is the Intelligent Design Kidney Support Formula at $8.90 per pound.

And don’t worry about extra delivery fees – shipping is free for Darwin’s customers.

4. We Feed Raw (Optimal Prey Model Meal Plan)

Another subscription-based service, We Feed Raw, has quite a story about their humble beginnings.

Their Story:

We Feed Raw began in 2009 when Alissa Zalneraitis and her boyfriend, Rich Reel IV, set out to bring the benefits of raw dog food to their close friends and family member’s pets.

Alissa was a life-long animal lover, and Rich was a sushi chef who realized that the kitchen was a daunting place for many people – especially when preparing raw food!

Their business started as a small operation but snowballed thanks to word of mouth. Soon, they were preparing meals full-time, running their business in a garage full of 500-pound chest freezers.

Tragically, Alissa became ill as their business was on the cusp of booming. She and Rich moved to Maine to be closer to her family, who helped them continue their operations. Alissa fought bravely until she passed away in 2014.

Alissa’s legacy lives on as We Feed Raw continues to thrive today. They have since partnered with a Ph.D. animal nutritionist and continue to bring the highest quality raw feeding experience to their customers.

Meal Quality & Plans:

The meal plans from We Feed Raw are based on the Prey Model, with 80% meat, 10% organ meat, and 10% edible bone. They also add a vitamin and mineral pre-mix (sourced and prepared in the U.S.) to their meal plans to boost the nutritional content even further.

The big sell for We Feed Raw is that they customize your dog’s meal plans based on – well, your dog! Before ordering your raw food, you take a questionnaire to determine your dog’s nutritional needs based on breed, size, age, and activity level.

Once they have this information, the website presents you with your pricing options for an Essential Plan or Premium Plan, and you can choose between a 2-week supply or 4-week supply.

Current deals:

Save 20% off your order

Cost:

For a frame of reference, feeding an active, 2-year-old Labrador with an ideal weight of 70 lbs. with We Feed Raw costs $14.64 per day with the Essential Plan.

If you were to upgrade that same dog to the Premium Plan, the price goes up to $15.89 per day, regardless of whether you choose the 2-week or 4-week supply.

With We feed Raw, shipping is free to the East Coast and most of the Midwest, but Western states will have to pay shipping and handling fees. There is a 20 lb. minimum, and it will cost an additional $45 per box to ship your order.

5. Cali Raw Nutrition (Most Favourable BARF Diet Products)

Finally, our last recommendation for the best raw dog food delivery service is Cali Raw Nutrition.

Their Story:

Cali Raw Nutrition is based in Southern California, founded in 2018 by Brandine Strand.

She had a long-haired chihuahua named Clyde, who unfortunately struggled with many health problems and eventually passed away from kidney failure.

Brandine began to question what she was feeding her other dogs and did some digging into the kibble vs. raw food debate.

She immediately switched her two dogs to a raw diet after reading all of the benefits and saw an immediate improvement in their lingering digestion and skin problems. Eventually, Brandine joined forces with an animal diet formulator, James Pendergast, to bring Cali Raw and the benefits of raw food to the rest of the Sunshine State.

Meal Quality & Plans:

All of the ingredients in Cali Raw’s food are human-grade, and USDA certified. They are committed to using only humanely-raised animals and fresh, local veggies and fruits for their formulas.

Their blend of raw foods is closely aligned with the BARF diet, made in small batches of 250-280 pounds for quality purposes.

Each batch includes meats, veggies, fruits, and organic vitamins and minerals to boost the nutrition content even further. Cali Raw also includes Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Oil in their meals.

While you can purchase individual 1-pound bags of their meals and custom boxes of 1-pound bags, Cali Raw offers a subscription service for pre-built boxes that are tailored to your dog’s needs.

They do have a feeding calculator online to help you determine how much food your dog needs every month before you choose between the subscription box and building your own.

Cost:

Cali Raw offers Adult Subscription Boxes and Puppy Subscription Boxes to accommodate dogs in all stages of life. The Adult Subscription Box starts at $65, and the Puppy Subscription Box begins at $69.90.

If you’d like to purchase individual 1-pound packages, the cost starts at $6.50 per pound for turkey and chicken, all the way up to $8.50 for lamb.

Depending on your location and the weight of your order, shipping costs anywhere from $18 to $40. Your order will arrive within seven days, with plenty of dry ice and insulation to keep everything frozen in place.

Buyer’s Guide to Uncooked Canine Meal

Uncooked Diet Plans – What’s the Difference?

Earlier, we touched on three different models for feeding your dog a raw diet. And while we talked about the various food components and amounts of each one, what else distinguishes one from another? Let’s dive a little deeper.

The BARF Diet

Dr. Ian Billinghurst, an Australian veterinarian and nutritionist, popularized the BARF diet in the early 1990s once he realized how much his four-legged clients benefitted from a raw diet. Initially, the term “BARF” stood for “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food,” but today, it also stands for “Bones and Raw Food.”

The BARF diet premise is simple – lots of meat, some meaty bones and organs, and a bit of fruit and veggies to make sure your dog is getting complete nutrition (I have another article discussing some healthy vegetables for dogs). While there isn’t a hard-and-fast rule of how much of each you should give your dog, it generally shakes out to:

• 70% muscle meat
• 20% raw meaty bones & organs (make sure most of the organ meat is liver!)
• 10% vegetables and fruit

The BARF diet plan is heavy on the protein with moderate amounts of fat and a low dose of carbohydrates, and you can add supplements to meet your dog’s dietary needs.

The Prey Model

The Prey Model is also very meat-heavy, but it eliminates vegetables and other plant products from your dog’s diet. Instead, you feed your dog whole, intact prey animals like chicken, rabbit, even sections of deer or other large animals.

If the thought of hunting for your dog’s food sounds a bit too, ah…involved, you can adapt to the “Franken Prey Model.” All the meats come from the supermarket instead of the woods, and you assemble various cuts from different animals.

The Prey Model is a bit more strict and closely follows these guidelines:

• 75-80% muscle meat
• 10% raw, edible bone
• 5% liver
• 5% other organs
• 0-5% animal-based fiber (fur, feathers)

Keep in mind that you should rotate the kinds of meat that you feed your pup (don’t feed them a chicken-only diet, for example) to maintain a healthy mix of different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

The Alpha Prey Model

Much like the Prey Model, the Alpha Prey Model removes plant products from your dog’s diet to focus solely on animal products. However, the ratios are much different:

• 45% organs (raw liver, heart, kidney, lung, tripe)
• 55% meat and edible bone of any kind

Why so much organ meat in the Alpha Prey Model? Think of it this way: packs of wolves in the wild (much like your sweet pup’s carnivorous ancestors) hunt in groups, but there is a hierarchy to respect – especially when it comes to eating their prey.

The biggest, strongest leader of the pack, the alpha dog, gets to eat first. Since he gets the first pick, the alpha will eat the nutrient-dense vital organs and some meat around them, so he gets the best sources of essential proteins, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.

This diet ensures maximum health for the alpha so that he can lead his pack with strength and vitality.

The Alpha Prey Model provides the same nutrients to your dog that alphas in the wild get. And let’s be honest – isn’t your pup the alpha of the house anyway?

How to Store Uncooked Canine Meal

Raw food is made from human-grade ingredients, so you can approach your dog’s raw food the same way you would your own food.

However, it’s best to follow the company’s instructions since it’s specific to their exact product.

When it comes to leftovers, you can usually store them in the refrigerator for a few days, depending on the type of protein. For food that won’t be given to your dog soon, you should store it in the freezer to prevent bacteria from forming.

Remove the raw dog food from the freezer as needed, and thaw it in the refrigerator before giving it to your pup. In most cases, you’ll need at least a day to thaw your dog’s food, but you can also thaw the packaging in cold water to help speed up the process if needed.

How Long to Thaw or Defrost

You should follow the company’s instructions on thawing or defrosting. However, oftentimes, the easiest and safest method to defrost your dog’s raw food is in the refrigerator overnight. This keeps the meat at a consistent, safe temperature to prevent bacteria growth.

You can make this method even more convenient by pulling out 2-3 days of food portions to thaw in the fridge at a time. Your dog’s food will stay good in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days if it’s thawed, depending on the type of protein.

If you’re in a time crunch and you need to thaw your dog’s meal faster, you can use the cold water method.

Make sure the raw meat is fully sealed in a waterproof container, and there are no holes in the packaging. Submerge the package in a bucket of cold water, and then change the water every 25-30 minutes until the meat is fully thawed.

The cold water bath can take anywhere from 45 minutes to multiple hours, depending on how big the portion is that you’re trying to thaw.

It’s important that the water you use is cold for this method. Warm or hot water runs the risk of heating the meat to an unsafe temperature, which can cause bacteria to grow or even partially cook your meat.

Never thaw your meat on your counter. The room temperature is too warm to safely thaw your meat, and bacteria will start to grow.

Using the microwave to defrost your meat is also risky. With this method, you risk:

● Cooking the meat and killing off essential nutrients
● Heating the meat to a temperature that breeds bacteria
● Turning any chewy bones in your dog’s meat into brittle bones that are dangerous to consume

How to Transition Your Canine to a Uncooked Meal Diet

There are 2 common but very different methods to transition your dog to a raw food diet: immediate or gradual. The right transition method will depend on your dog’s age, current health, and previous diet. However, check out the company’s instructions and also speak to your vet for the best advice.

The Gradual Method

Transitioning to raw food too quickly can be a big shock to some dog’s digestive systems, especially if they’re senior dogs who’ve been fed an all kibble diet for their entire lives. In those cases, you’ll want to go for a gradual approach.

Start with only one type of protein, preferably one that your dog is already familiar with.

While protein variety is great and a staple of many raw food diets, you’ll need to add each of those proteins in one at a time, giving your dog time to adjust in between and watching for signs of allergies.

Start with 20% of the new raw food and mix with 80% of your dog’s old food for 3-5 days, monitoring any symptoms or adverse reactions. Once you’re confident that your dog’s system has adjusted well, you’ll increase the percentage of raw food in the mixture to 50%.

Repeat this same process and then, when you’re confident that your dog’s digestive system is reacting well, increase the percentage again to 80%. Once your dog has adapted to this percentage, you can fully transition to an all raw diet.

If your dog struggles with the addition of raw food at first, you can also try lightly cooking the food as an additional transition step.

The Immediate Method

Many pet parents of puppies and healthy, young dogs have found that transitioning cold turkey is the best way to make the switch. You’ll simply toss out your dog’s old food and start feeding them the raw diet immediately with no transition steps in between.

For some dogs, they see no adverse reactions to this method, but others may experience diarrhea for a few days before their digestive systems fully adjust.

How Much Uncooked Canine Meal to Feed

The exact amount that you feed your dog is determined by many factors, including their age, breed, weight, and activity level.

Chat with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist to learn the appropriate calorie counts and nutrients that your pup’s raw diet should consist of.

A few general rules of thumb for adult dogs are:

● Highly active or underweight dogs should eat 3% of their current weight in pounds of raw food
● Senior dogs, those who are less active, or dogs that are overweight should eat 1.5% of their current weight in pounds of raw food
● Adult dogs that are already at their ideal weight should eat 2-3% of their current weight

The amount will differ for puppies who need more calories and nutrients to support healthy growth and development. For puppies, they’ll typically need 2-3 times the amount of food that an adult dog of the same weight would need, split between 3-4 meals per day.

How to Safely Handle

According to the CDC, raw food can carry a variety of bacteria, including Salmonella and Listeria. Raw food should always be handled with caution to prevent anyone in your family from getting sick.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after handing your dog’s raw food. Then disinfect any surface that your dog’s raw food touched or that you touched prior to washing your hands. This could include:

● Countertops
● Refrigerator
● Cabinet handles
● Bowls
● Cooking utensils

Once your dog has finished eating their food, be careful with your interactions.

Don’t let your dog lick your face or mouth after eating, as this can still pass on any bacteria in the food. If your dog does lick you after eating, immediately wash your hands and any body part they touched with soap and water.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a number of different raw dog food delivery services on the market to choose from. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose the best one that fits your needs.

Keep in mind that this is a controversial topic with opinions on both sides as to the benefits and risks of raw dog food.

You should do your research before having raw dog food delivered to you.

If you’re not interested in raw food, I also have an extensive article on the best fresh dog food delivery.

Let us know your experience with raw dog food or ask us any questions you have below.