FAQ

We guarantee that most dogs will love our food. If, for some reason, yours is in the rare minority, we will refund your money, offer store credit, or an exchange for any of our products, on a case by case basis.

Yes! Every item sold as pet food must be lab-tested for a nutrient profile and licensed by the state department of agriculture. That includes fresh food and any item presented publicly as consumable for pets.

Our recipes have been designed by a Diplomate of Veterinary Nutrition. There are fewer than 100 such professionals in the entire world. We have them re-reviewed at least annually to ensure we are applying the most current information in pet food nutrition. And all of them are tested for a nutritional profile by a third-party independent lab.

We love it when people tell us they prepare their dog or cat’s food. But we also know from experience that sometimes it’s not possible due to time or other constraints. We are experts at sourcing ingredients; we have personal relationships with over a dozen farmers who grow or raise the ingredients that go into our food. We pride ourselves on transparency, not something attainable when purchasing ingredients from mass-produced operations.

In addition, our food is balanced with the proper vitamins and minerals necessary for adult dogs. Home-prepared foods often lack necessary nutrients. We do sell a multivitamin powder to add to homemade meals; please visit our Shop Pet Food page to order Chef’s Canine Complete if you decide on a homemade diet.

We are not veterinarians or pet nutritionists, nor can we diagnose a problem or prescribe a diet for your pet. We will make suggestions for your pet based on the information you provide us, but we recommend you consult with a veterinarian or pet nutritionist if you have any concerns about your pet’s health, or are changing the diet of a pet, especially if your pet is sick and medications or other treatments are being used.

We ask for a 5 business day turnaround between most orders and delivery.

Yes. Door-to-door delivery is FREE within a 20-mile-radius of New Milford, Connecticut, and on farmers’ market days in Litchfield and Fairfield Counties, Connecticut, and northern Westchester County, New York. Door-to-door delivery charges begin at $25 per delivery from 20 to 30 miles from New Milford. We ship orders beyond 30 miles based on freight quotes from cost-effective and reputable shipping companies. See our Shipping page for more information.

There is no minimum for our ready-made menu options. We do require a full-batch minimum for custom or special orders and a $50 minimum for free delivery.

The cost of our pet food is proportionate to the ingredients in the recipe. Please visit the Shop Pet Food page for ingredients and pricing.

Yes. Just as we humans do not continue to consume baby food throughout our lives, your pet’s dietary needs will change depending on his or her life stage and other factors. We will modify a recipe based on the changing dietary needs of your pet.

Yes. We will work with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist to customize food to reflect the dietary needs of your pet.

No. In fact, we believe good health begins when your pets are young. The best course of action with any pet is to feed them real food from the beginning of their lives.

All of our recipes are packaged and immediately frozen to maintain nutritional integrity and longevity. You should treat our pet food as you would human food, as it is made of exactly the same ingredients. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, “Frozen foods remain safe indefinitely; freezer storage recommendations are for quality (i.e., taste) only.” Once thawed, the wet food should last three to five days in the refrigerator.

Our food is prepared by hand in a board-of-health-certified human-food kitchen. All wet food is packaged fresh-frozen and delivered or shipped frozen. Our treats are dehydrated and delivered or shipped fresh. We do not use a co-packing facility; we oversee all production personally.

Naturally, ingredients vary depending upon the recipe. However, we use poultry, meat, and fish that is raised ethically and free of added growth hormones and antibiotics. We use local, organic, and/or restaurant-grade fruits and vegetables that are grown from non-genetically engineered seeds, and dried goods such as buckwheat or brown rice flour are free of preservatives.

All of our food is free of added growth hormones, antibiotics, genetically engineered ingredients, and preservatives. We do not use feed-grade ingredients, by-products, or rendered ingredients, nor do we process our food to be shelf-stable.

Our food is fresh, human-quality food sourced personally from local farmers and/or businesses. We obtain ingredients just as restaurants do. In fact, Paul has voluntarily obtained a Serv-Safe certification for human food preparation. Our food is prepared in small batches, cooked gently, and immediately frozen to maintain its nutritional value.

To locate a holistic veterinarian or pet food therapist, visit the Find a Holistic Veterinarian page of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association website. Type in your zip code and the site will list holistic vets and nutritionists in your area.

Custom pet food is food a veterinarian or a pet nutritionist recommends for the specific needs of your pet. We are happy to customize our existing recipes to meet your pet’s dietary needs, or we will source ingredients and create entirely new recipes to meet your pet’s needs.

You do not need a recipe for our line of fresh, prepared wet food or treats. For custom orders, we work with pet owners and veterinarians or pet nutritionists to create meals.

At this point, we make six varieties of fresh, complete and balanced food for adult dogs and a fresh-food topper for cats. We also prepare custom recipes in conjunction with veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists. Please see our Custom Pet Food page for more information about a custom recipe.

Currently, we sell direct-to-consumer at farmers’ markets, events, and via our website. We have chosen to sell at one independent pet food store located in our home town. Please check the Where to Find Us page for the latest listings.