I used to think “premium” dog food meant a colorful kibble bag with a vet stamp. But after months of soft poop, itchy paws, and a dog that just didn’t seem right, I knew something had to change.
That’s when I dove into the world of fresh and raw feeding – and realized how much food impacts everything from digestion and skin to energy and long-term health.
I learned that minimally processed, species-appropriate diets – especially raw – can lead to better digestion, shinier coats, cleaner breath, and healthier weight.
So I tested four subscription brands for four weeks:
👉 Two gently cooked: Ollie and Spot & Tango
Here’s what happened – and which one my dog (and I) loved most.
Raw vs. Cooked: What’s the Difference?
Before we get into results, here's the key distinction:
Raw dog food is made from uncooked meat, bones, and organs. It’s minimally processed and preserves all the natural nutrients, enzymes, and amino acids that dogs need to thrive.
Cooked dog food is cooked at low temperatures. While it’s cleaner than kibble, heat breaks down many of the raw benefits. You’re left with something that’s convenient – but not optimal.
Ingredients & Processing: We Feed Raw Is the Cleanest Option
Both We Feed Raw and Maev are fresh raw food brands, but We Feed Raw stood out big-time. Their food is made from 100% human-grade USDA meat and nutrient-rich organs, with cold-pressure processing to eliminate pathogens without using heat. That means all the natural nutrients are left intact – exactly how dogs would get them in nature.
Ollie and Spot & Tango offer fresh cooked meals, but they also include fillers like starches and legumes that don’t really belong in a dog’s diet. And while Maev looks good on paper, the ingredient list included unnecessary extras that didn’t make a real difference in my dog’s health.
Health Benefits: We Feed Raw Showed the Biggest Improvements
This was the category that mattered most to me – and where We Feed Raw completely blew the others out of the water.
After just one week, I noticed smaller, firmer poop (a mom win if there ever was one), no more paw licking, fresher breath, and more consistent energy. By week four, his coat was shinier, his mood was better, and his digestion had totally stabilized.
Maev caused some early digestive issues for my pup, which made me hesitant to keep going. And while Ollie and Spot & Tango didn’t make things worse, they didn’t really make anything better either. They just weren’t powerful enough to tackle the underlying health stuff we were trying to fix.
Convenience: 4-Way Tie
All four brands offer customized meal plans through online quizzes and deliver directly to your door – which I totally appreciated as a busy mom.
I personally loved that We Feed Raw arrives in perfectly portioned frozen packs – just thaw and serve. Maev uses scoopable frozen pellets (a little messier in my experience), and Ollie and Spot & Tango ship cooked food in trays or pouches that go in the fridge.
Bonus: if freezer space is an issue, We Feed Raw also has a freeze-dried raw option, which gives you all the raw benefits in a shelf-stable format. That flexibility is a huge win.
Price: We Feed Raw Is the Best Value
Here’s what each brand costs per meal (based on my dog’s size and plan):
- We Feed Raw (Raw): $3.51
- Ollie (Cooked): $3.77
- Spot & Tango (Cooked): $5.69
- Maev (Raw): $5.88
We Feed Raw wasn’t just the most affordable option – it was also the one that worked. Considering how much I’ve saved on vet bills, supplements, and trial-and-error food switches, this was the easiest investment to justify.
Taste & Protein Variety: We Feed Raw Is a Crowd Favorite
While I obviously didn’t taste the food myself (lol), my dog absolutely did – and his excitement for We Feed Raw was on another level. He devoured every meal, licked the bowl clean, and even started sitting by the fridge at dinnertime.
I also loved that We Feed Raw offers a variety of proteins like beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and duck. I started with beef and turkey and plan to rotate for variety. It’s an easy way to keep meals interesting and avoid ingredient fatigue.
Maev has a smaller protein lineup, and Ollie and Spot & Tango both lean into more traditional flavors. But none of them got the same tail-wagging enthusiasm I saw with We Feed Raw.
Final Verdict: We Feed Raw Is the Clear Winner
After four weeks of testing raw and cooked dog food brands, We Feed Raw was the only one that checked every box – clean ingredients, visible health improvements, convenience, affordability, and taste.
If you’re dealing with skin issues, digestive troubles, or just want to help your dog live a longer, healthier life, raw food is 100% the way to go – and We Feed Raw makes it easy, safe, and actually enjoyable (for you and your dog).
I wish I’d switched sooner.
