Darwin's Dog Food Review

Plans & Pricing

The price you’ll pay for fresh, high-quality raw dog food from Darwin’s depends upon your dog’s weight, breed, age, activity level and more—they will use this information to provide a personalized plan designed to deliver the exact nutrition and calories your four-legged family member needs to thrive. Since larger dogs will need more food than smaller canines, owners of bigger pups can expect a bigger bill.

The cost of your plan will also depend upon which recipe you select—each two-pound package of food is priced slightly differently depending on the ingredients, with a range from $10.84 for the conventionally grown Chicken meal from the value BioLogics line, to $22.31 for their organic, free-range Lamb meal from the Natural Selections line. 

While premium raw dog food tends to be more expensive than run-of-the-mill dry options, you get what you pay for. Many owners claim that after eating Darwin’s dog food, their dogs had more energy, improved skin and coat conditions, and fewer health issues.

How It Works 

Darwin’s offers three main dog food lines to fit a variety of pets’ needs and owners’ budgets. 

Their primary Natural Selections line features the most premium ingredients, like pasture-raised meats and organic vegetables. The company also offers a more budget-friendly line they call BioLogics, which is based on the same nutritional formula for all recipes, but features meals made from conventionally produced meats and vegetables. 

Their third option, Intelligent Designs, is specifically for dogs with certain health conditions. This vet-prescribed line offers unique different formulas for dogs with kidney issues, cancer, liver disease or joint and musculoskeletal problems. 

You can rest assured that all of Darwin’s dog food is non-GMO, hormone- and steroid-free, and minimally processed for optimal nutrition. 

To find out exactly which line of Darwin’s dog food is right for your pooch, plus how much she’ll need to eat per meal (and how much you’ll need to order), you simply need to answer a few quick questions on their site to get a personalized recommendation. 

After filling in your pet’s name, breed, gender, ideal weight, life-stage (puppy, adult, senior), activity level and certain food allergies or medical conditions, you’ll see your pet’s personalized recommendation that details how many pounds of food they’ll need per week, plus a few suggested raw foods to try. 

For an even more personalized experience, you can connect with a representative from Darwin’s to discuss the right plan, menu options and portion sizes for your prized pet. This one-on-one advice is offered at no additional charge, which is a nice touch to make this process as pain-free as possible. 

Since our senior pup does not have any of the specified allergies or medical conditions listed, we were shown both their Natural Selections and BioLogics line to choose from, including a helpful weekly price breakdown so we could easily see the cost differential between the two lines. 

Your dog’s high-quality raw meals are packed on dry ice and shipped in a refrigerated box right to your door. The meals should be put into the freezer as soon as possible after they arrive, except for the few you’d like to thaw out in the refrigerator for your pup to eat (they even include a handy thaw tub to help ensure food safety). 

When it’s mealtime, you simply measure out the correct portion, and into the bowl it goes.

The Food 

When it comes to natural pet food, you can’t get much more “natural” than raw, human-quality, ethically sourced meats and vegetables like those used to create the balanced meals from Darwin’s Natural Selections dog food. Featuring recipes created with the help of veterinary nutritionists to closely mimic your dog’s ancestral diet, these complete meals not only meet, but exceed the guidelines for canine nutrition from both the AAFCO and National Research Council. 

It’s as close as you can get to feeding your canine the way nature intended…only better. 

Top-quality meats and vegetables: Darwin’s Natural Selections line uses only free-range, grass-fed beef and lamb, and cage-free chicken, turkey and duck from farms they have personally vetted, along with organic vegetables (their BioLogics line features conventionally grown meats and vegetables). In addition to the single source of protein, each contains vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, squash, sweet potato and parsley. All of their meals are made up of 75 percent protein and 25 percent vegetable mix with a balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids and essential minerals from natural sources for a complete, balanced meal in every bite. 

Zero fillers or chemicals: All of the meat used in Darwin’s dog food is hormone-, steroid- and antibiotic-free. You also won’t find any of the common fillers or grains on their ingredient lists, since grains can be difficult for dogs to digest and aren’t necessary for proper nutrition. Basically, if your pup’s ancestors wouldn’t normally eat it in the wild, you won’t find it here either. 

Minimally processed: Darwin’s takes “natural” dog food seriously. Their meats and vegetables are minimally processed and prepared raw to maintain the integrity of ingredients and preserve the bioavailability of vital nutrients (aka, the ability for these nutrients to be absorbed and used by your dog’s body) that can be lost by cooking. All meals are immediately frozen to retain freshness and shipped to your door within weeks of being made. 

Darwin’s Natural Dog Food vs. The Competition 

Here’s how Darwin’s compares to other dog food delivery brands:

The Bottom Line

While many of us tend to treat our pups like people, helping them to embrace their wild side—at least when it comes to the food they eat—may be the best thing we can do for them. And feeding them natural, raw foods like the recipes from Darwin’s is an easy, convenient way to make sure they’re getting the proper nutrition their bodies were built for. We especially appreciate that Darwin’s ethically sources their free-range and conventional meats and veggies, and they work with veterinary nutritionists to develop recipes that provide just the right mix of high-quality protein, healthy fats and carbs to help maximize your dog’s health. Plus, the fact that it was founded by a pup parent who wanted to help his own senior dog combat health problems makes this a feel good, feed good company we can get behind.