My Take on DOG CHEF: Is It a Genuine Alternative to Traditional Kibble?

When I got my dog, I did a lot of research to find out the best option for his diet, to ensure he has good health and a happy life. Through this research, I quickly discovered that veterinarians recommend a home-cooked diet: this involves preparing meals for your pet using fresh ingredients.

However, it seemed complicated and time-consuming to set up. So, I switched between various premium dry food brands until I recently discovered the concept of Dog Chef, which prepares genuine home-cooked meals of high quality for our dogs and delivers them to our door. Let me share my experience over the past three months with this service!

What is Dog Chef?

Source: dogchef.com

👍 I loved it!

• The quality of these meals,
• The time-saving advantages of Dog Chef,
• The convenient, easy-to-store individual packaging,
• The scheduling of deliveries, so you never run out,
• The cheaper trial offer,
• The ability to mix in standard dry food to save a bit on costs.

❌ What Could Be Improved

• It would be great to add a grain-free option for the chicken or pork recipes, for example.
• The fact that the first order automatically initiates a subscription (which can be cancelled straight away without any issues) is a bit unclear. I was caught off guard!

Source: dogchef.com

How Does Dog Chef Work?

Dog Chef aims to be really simple and intuitive. The goal is to reduce the mental load associated with managing your dog's meals, while providing them with home-cooked style food.

When you sign up, you'll be asked to complete a questionnaire about your dog, which will help to customise the amount of food needed for them.

Next, you'll have the option to choose from a variety of balanced recipes. Finally, you can select the date and location for delivery, so you can receive your food exactly where you want it (home, work, or at a friend's place...).

Source: dogchef.com

When you place your first order, you are automatically subscribed to receive a new order once your current one has been used up. If you're not interested, you can easily unsubscribe at no cost and quickly through your Dog Chef account or via the app.

How is my dog's menu decided?

The menu offered for your dog has been designed by Dog Chef and evaluated, then approved, by veterinary nutritionists.

The recommended quantity and scents will depend on:

• The age of your dog (puppy, adult, senior),
• Whether it is a male or female,
• Its weight,
• Whether it is desexed or not,
• Its daily routine (more relaxed, active, sporty),
• Any health issues it may have (digestive problems, allergies...).

Source: dogchef.com

Is there a commitment with Dog Chef?

No, Dog Chef is commitment-free. When you place your first order, it starts a subscription that you can cancel at any time with just one click from your customer account.

Source: dogchef.com

Where does the Dog Chef book ship?

The Dog Chef products are shipped to mainland France (excluding Corsica), Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany.

🌴 If you're going on holiday, you can temporarily change your shipping address or reschedule your delivery. To find out how, feel free to check out this tutorial video that shows you how to do it!

How does delivery work with Dog Chef?

You can have your order delivered to a location of your choice: at home, at work, or even to a friend's place who can keep the products cool until you pick them up.

As this involves the delivery of prepared meals, Dog Chef ensures there is a strict adherence to the cold chain. The meals are transported in refrigerated vans or insulated boxes.

Source: dogchef.com

To ensure that you can receive your order and get it chilled quickly, you have the option to choose the day and time slot for your delivery. It's super convenient!

👉 If you're a subscriber and you still have plenty of food left, you can postpone your next delivery from your account, as long as it hasn't been paid for or confirmed via email yet.

Can you order Dog Chef for multiple dogs?

Yes! This even gives you a discount. If you want to add a dog, you just need to create a profile for your first dog first, which will set up your account.

Source: dogchef.com

Once you have an account, you can add a dog by logging in and heading to the "MY BOX" section. On the page that appears, near the title "FAMILY", you'll see a button labelled "NEW DOG". By clicking on it, you'll gain access to the personalised questionnaire for adding a new dog.

What to Expect When Ordering from Dog Chef?

When I bought my first Dog Chef menus, I had no idea what the meals I was ordering would look like. Still, it's always nice to have some information before placing an online order. So, here’s a glimpse of Dog Chef products!

Source: dogchef.com

What menus are offered?

Dog Chef offers 5 recipes, all free from preservatives and artificial colours. The flavours available are as follows:

• Chicken,
• Beef,
• Pork,
• Duck,
• Fish.

Each type of meat makes up about 50% of the meal. This is supplemented with vegetables and fruits, and sometimes a bit of grains, for dogs that require them. The ingredients used in Dog Chef meals include items such as mealworms, carrots, parsnips, celeriac... as well as apples, rice, and oils (sardine oil, vegetable oils).

Source: dogchef.com

What Does a Dog Chef Meal Look Like?

The meals are conveniently packaged in hermetically sealed sausage-shaped bags. Each flavour is easily identifiable by the colour of its packaging. They should be kept refrigerated and opened only when it’s time to feed your dog.

Source: dogchef.com

👉 Meals can be kept in the fridge for 7 days and in the freezer for 4 months. To defrost, the easiest method is to take the portion out 24 hours in advance and leave it in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler or the microwave.

📅 Once a meal is opened, it can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge!

5 Things You Should Know About Dog Chef Menus

In the following lines, I’ll share with you five essential facts about Dog Chef before you place your order!

They are created by veterinarians

All Dog Chef recipes are developed and reviewed by qualified veterinary nutritionists. They ensure that the recipes are balanced, particularly in terms of the vitamins and minerals present in each meal.

Source: dogchef.com

👉 They make sure that the hypoallergenic recipes are truly hypoallergenic!

Dog Chef is for all dogs

No matter what type of dog you have, there's definitely a Dog Chef menu that suits them perfectly. I've particularly recommended Dog Chef to people I know who have a puppy or a senior dog, as the menus are tailored for them as well!

Source: dogchef.com

Dog Chef Offers Grain-Free Menus

All Dog-Chef menus are gluten-free. Additionally, the recipe featuring duck has been specifically created to be grain-free.

Dog Chef offers you hypoallergenic meal options

When I ordered for the first time, I was really interested in this aspect, as my dog tends to have allergies. So, I was delighted to see that Dog Chef offers two hypoallergenic recipes (duck and fish).

About the Dog Chef duck recipe, gluten-free, hypoallergenic, and grain-free

Source: dogchef.com

You can get a discount if you have more than one dog!

If you have multiple dogs, Dog Chef automatically applies a discount. To create their profile, simply log in to your account under the "My Box" section, and click on "New Dog".

How much does Dog Chef cost?

The price of Dog Chef varies depending on your dog's needs, size, and characteristics. For full board, it typically ranges from about $3 to $7 per day, while for half board, the rates are generally between $2 and $5 per day.

Feel free to use the price estimator tool available on the Dog Chef homepage to get a personalised quote!

Source: dogchef.com

What is the price of Dog Chef?

Here are some price indications obtained using the Dog Chef calculator tool:

Are there any shipping fees with Dog Chef?

The shipping costs are free as they are included in the price!

Discover Dog Chef with a 15-day trial at 20% off!

If you've just signed up, Dog Chef is offering you an exclusive 20% discount on all of its menus for 15 days of meals. This discount on your first order is really great and applies automatically. You don't have to do a thing!

Source: dogchef.com

🤑 For example, for a 10-kilogram dog on full boarding, you pay $1.98 per day instead of $2.47, saving you around $7 in total!

Save With a 15% Permanent Discount on Full Board!

If you choose full board, Dog Chef automatically applies a 15% discount on the total price of its food, by weight. Personally, I opted for half-board as it’s more accessible, but I think this option is really appealing if you have a fussy dog or if you genuinely want to feed them only home-cooked meals.

Can I give Dog Chef as a gift to someone?

At the moment, Dog Chef does not yet offer a gift card system. Feel free to check back at the time you're reading this review, as it may have changed!

Source: dogchef.com

It's still possible to gift Dog Chef menus, but you'll need to provide the recipient with the equivalent amount of money directly!

What do customers think of Dog Chef?

Reading customer reviews helps you get an idea of the quality of an online service and to know what to expect when placing an order. To save you some time, I’ve put together a summary of the reviews available online about Dog Chef.

On Google

Dog Chef showcases its numerous positive Google reviews on the homepage of its website. The average rating is excellent, sitting at 4.5 out of 5, based on a total of 811 reviews to date.

Source: google.com

Let's explore what Dog Chef customers have to say:

• The timeliness of delivery,
• The convenience of portion sizes,
• The quality of the food,
• The clarity of the instructional materials,
• The good digestibility of the food,

Positive review from a Dog Chef customer posted on Google

❌ They enjoyed it less

• Occasional issues with cold chain interruption that can occur,
• Pricing is quite high.

Mixed customer reviews for Dog Chef posted on Google

On Facebook

DogChef also displays customer reviews on its website from Facebook, where the average rating is 4.9 out of 5. This rating is based on a total of 963 reviews.

Source: facebook.com

Customers who have tried it are overall thrilled with the appeal of the product. Their dogs often show a strong desire to eat this food, which is delightful to see. They are therefore willing to pay the price for such high-quality products.

The freshness of meals is highly valued, as well as the fact that the meals are not fattening.

Source: Facebook.com

However, some customers may have faced difficulties. There can be issues with dosage or delivery, but the responsiveness of customer service has been highlighted by several clients.

About Trustpilot

You can now read over 300 reviews on the independent review platform Trustpilot. The average rating is quite positive as well, sitting at 4.8 out of 5, with very few reviews rated 1, 2, or 3 stars.

Source: Trustpilot.com

Whatever the platform, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Only a small minority have experienced issues, which can occasionally happen when ordering online. In such cases, Dog Chef's customer service is here to help!

Dog Chef on Social Media

Dog Chef places a high value on its presence across social media, frequently sharing its latest updates and tips for dog owners. You can find the brand on:

• Facebook,
• Instagram.

👉 I also invite you to check out the Dog Chef YouTube channel, which offers a heap of video tutorials to train your dog and understand their behaviour. It's fascinating!

How to teach your dog not to pull on the lead?

Source: Youtube.com

Is Dog Chef really trustworthy?

Dog chef is the brand of the Belgian company Fresh chef SRL, which is based in Brussels. The project was launched in 2017, by its two founders: Alexis d'Oultremont and Alexandre Cardon.

The company has been experiencing significant success since then and currently employs over a hundred people, producing more than 40 tonnes of food each week. It has an average of 20,000 subscribed customers.

It is therefore a reliable business, dedicated to offering quality products and satisfying its customers. To achieve this, it can be reached by phone, through a live chat, and by email.

The company also takes the time to personally respond to individuals who leave reviews on Google and Facebook, which demonstrates its commitment to service.

✅ Given this information, you can order confidently from Dog Chef. While it is indeed a foreign brand, Belgium is close to France, and the service aims to be top-notch.

My verdict on Dog Chef ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've been testing Dog Chef with my dog for over three months now, and I'm ready to share my experience with these meals. Feel free to check out my insights in the following articles!

Source: Instagram (@ruffoniofficial, @reallifeandheels, @seppethegolden)

Was it easy to order from the Dog Chef website?

The guided questionnaire is really useful and provides all the necessary information for creating my dog's personalised profile.

Personally, I have a 5-year-old male Shetland Sheepdog who is desexed and quite calm. He has a sensitive stomach, and my vet had recommended home-cooked meals, but I just haven't had the time to organise that.

Dog Chef has saved me a tremendous amount of time, as the first order takes about ten minutes, and after that, all I have to do is wait for the delivery.

Source: Instagram (@cavalouis_, @marli_thedachshund, @schipperke_chef)

How did the Dog Chef meal delivery go?

The delivery was carried out by a specialist courier, as it was always in a refrigerated van. I appreciated being able to specifically choose the date and time of delivery, which helped me organise my schedule.

During the holidays, it's really handy to be able to reschedule your delivery or have it sent to your home. Personally, I prefer to only give my dog dry kibble during this time as it's more convenient.

Source: Instagram (@schipperke_chef, @taiga_husky_siberian, @maisondepaws)

Are Dog Chef menus as high-quality as they claim to be?

It's straightforward: my dog loves Dog Chef meals! There's never a crumb left in the bowl, even though I do a mix of half portions with premium kibble.

I've never had an issue with spoiled products and the meals smell amazing... far better than standard dog food tins!

As my dog is quite sensitive, I feed him the hypoallergenic and grain-free duck menu, along with some premium grain-free kibble. He tolerates these foods very well.

Source: Facebook.com

I find it a bit disappointing that the only duck menu option is both hypoallergenic and grain-free. It would be great to offer another option to alternate!

Is the subscription worth it?

The subscription is incredibly convenient. It ensures that you never run out of food without having to think about it. As it is flexible and no-commitment, you can easily postpone or cancel your next delivery. For me, it’s truly a hassle-free and practical solution.

The only thing is that it automatically activates with the very first order, and even though you can cancel it straight away from your account, I would have preferred it to be more clearly stated.

Source: Instagram (@dogchef_fr)

✅ To sum up, I’m really happy with the meals I receive for my dog from Dog Chef. They’re well-balanced and my little mate is in great health! I can’t wait for them to offer more hypoallergenic and grain-free recipes to spice up his daily menu. 😊

Dog Chef FAQs: Answers to YOUR Questions!

Finally, here are some frequently asked questions about Dog Chef, along with their answers! 😊

What do veterinarians think of Dog Chef? 👩‍⚕️

Most vets encourage dog owners to feed their pets home-cooked meals, which are better for their health both in the short and long term. Dog Chef offers fresh and balanced meal options, which is a great choice if you don't have the time to cook for your pet.

Is there a referral system at Dog Chef?

Yes! This allows you to enjoy great discounts while doing a good deed. Indeed, every referral unlocks the following bonuses:

• - 30 % off the first order of the referral,
• $30 discount for each person referred,
• $5 donated to a shelter by Dog Chef.

Source: Dogchef.com

👉 Sponsoring is really easy: just retrieve the code available on your Dog Chef account. If you can’t find this code, your referee can simply mention your name and email address alongside their order to access the discount and ensure you receive your $30 discount!

How to get a Dog Chef discount code? 🤑

Right now, the code WOUF30 gives you 30% off your first order. If this code is no longer valid when you try it, you'll still benefit from the welcome offer of 20% off which is applied automatically!

There's also a referral offer that allows you to receive 30% off if you're referred, or $30 if you refer someone else.

How to contact Dog Chef by phone? 📞

You can call Dog Chef on 03 39 88 00 54 (or +33339880054) for free during the following hours:

• On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8am to 6pm,
• On Wednesday from 8am to 4pm,
• On Saturday and public holidays from 9am to 4pm.

💬 If you’d rather contact Dog Chef in writing, you can also use:

• The live chat available on the website, by clicking on this link,
• Your standard messaging, by sending an email to: hello@dogchef.com.

Dog Chef Phone Advisors

Source: Dogchef.com

How to cancel your Dog Chef subscription?

To cancel your subscription, simply log into your account on the Dog Chef website and submit your cancellation request.

If you simply prefer to postpone, that's also possible by clicking on the postpone option.

👉 If this seems complicated, feel free to get in touch with Dog Chef directly using one of the methods mentioned above.

I hope that my experience and the research I've done on Dog Chef have helped you to find the perfect food for your dog! Feel free to get in touch or leave a comment if you have any thoughts or questions. 😉