As a mom, my #1 priority is making sure my family leads their healthiest, happiest lives–which of course includes Lilo, my blue nose pitbull!
Lilo has skin issues, and given that pitbulls are prone to health concerns, my vet recommended switching her off of kibble and to a diet that's formulated to address her needs. Trying to decide between Ollie, human-grade fresh food, and Little Hunter, freeze-dried raw food, I did a deeeep dive on both brands. Here's what I learned - and what Lilo liked best - you're welcome in advance 😘
Here's what they don't tell you... just because it's best for humans, doesn't mean it's best for dogs...
If you want the most protein-packed, nutritious option for better energy… Little Hunter
Personally, I thought Ollie would be more nutritious. Fresh food from the fridge has to be healthier, right?
What I learned about fresh food is that while it is considered human-grade, there isn’t much meat in them and they’re mostly fillers like soy, peas, legumes (for protein), wheat, and others. It’s like ordering pasta and getting one meatball! 🍝
Ollie doesn’t come close to raw, whole-animal food like Little Hunter, which is 90% whole animal meat, organs & bones (Ollie is less than 10%) and has 5x the protein. None of the nutrients in Little Hunter’s raw, freeze-dried food are cooked off! 💪
If you’re looking for a cost-conscious option without sacrificing quality… Little Hunter
I’ll admit there was some sticker shock when I switched to Ollie, which costs $240 a month. Little Hunter costs about $170/month (30% less). I wish both were cheaper, but Lilo is worth it.
If deliciousness is a factor… Little Hunter
Your pet pal has to love the food they’ll be eating daily, right? One thing about Lilo is she loves chicken. When I fed her Little Hunter’s Raw Chicken Recipe, it was gone in 2 seconds–I’ve never seen her so excited over food. 😋
Ollie’s mushy food doesn’t look as appetizing, and Lilo felt the same. She ate it, but she definitely didn’t go after it with the same excitement as her Little Hunter food.
If you're looking to avoid messy cleanup and an overstuffed freezer … Little Hunter
One of the biggest downsides of Ollie for me was the inconvenience and mess.
I had to remember to defrost Ollie 24 hours in advance, or face 5 awkward minutes of Lilo giving me the evil eye while I defrost it under warm water in the sink.
Second, it was so messy–think wet food all over the counters and floor. Another real annoyance was the smell - make sure you have sealed containers if you don’t want your fridge smelling like old dog food!
I once heard a vet call frozen fresh dog "tv dinners for dogs", and I haven't been able to serve it to Lilo since.
On the other hand, Little Hunter’s food was dry and stored in the pantry (like kibble), so it didn't smell or get tracked around my house.
If you want nutritionist-developed dog food… it’s a tie
Both Little Hunter and Ollie are veterinary nutritionist/vet developed and meet The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) quality & safety standards.
However, the “biologically appropriate” diet argument for raw - feeding a high-protein, animal-based, uncooked diet like they’d eat in the wild over giving them grain-heavy human food makes more sense to me.
My ultimate winner… Little Hunter
After less than 3 whole weeks, Lilo’s itchy skin has cleared up, her eyes are looking brighter, and she’s lost some weight, but has more energy. Not to mention her poops got smaller, firmer and less smelly.
I have to say, Ollie’s fresh food was a huge improvement over kibble. But after a couple weeks of feeding Lilo Little Hunter, the results made it the clear winner.
More affordable, healthier dog food with none of the hassle? I think Lilo would agree–everyone should give Little Hunter a shot. 🙂
