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 what the best option for his diet would be, to ensure he has good health and a happy life. Through this research, I quickly discovered that veterinarians recommend home-cooked meals: this involves preparing meals for your pet using fresh ingredients.

However, I found it complicated to set up and quite time-consuming. So, I switched between several brands of premium dog food until I recently discovered the concept of Dog Chef, which prepares proper homemade meals for dogs and delivers them straight to our door. Let me share my experience over the last three months with this service!

What is a Dog Chef?

Source: dogchef.com

👍 I Loved It

• The quality of these meals,
• The time-saving benefits of Dog Chef,
• The convenient and easy-to-store individual packaging,
• The delivery scheduling, so you never run out,
• The cheaper trial offer,
• The option to switch with regular kibble 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 instance.
• The fact that the first order automatically starts a subscription (which can be easily cancelled immediately) is a bit misleading. I found it surprising!

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 will be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your dog, which will help to tailor the amount of food needed for them.

Next, you'll have the choice of several balanced recipes. Finally, you can select the date and location for delivery, so you can receive your groceries exactly where you want them (home, work, a friend’s place, etc.).

Source: dogchef.com

When you place your first order, you are automatically signed up to receive a new order when your current one has been consumed. If this doesn't suit you, you can easily unsubscribe at no cost 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 created by Dog Chef and reviewed, then approved, by veterinary nutritionists.

The recommended amounts 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 neutered or not,
• Its daily activity level (calm, active, sporty),
• Any potential health issues (digestive problems, allergies...).

Source: dogchef.com

Is there a commitment with Dog Chef?

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

Source: dogchef.com

Where is the Dog Chef book available?

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 delivery address or reschedule your delivery. To learn how to do this, be sure to check out this helpful tutorial video!

How does delivery work at Dog Chef?

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

As this is a delivery of cooked meals, Dog Chef ensures that there is 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 really handy!

👉 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 by email yet.

Is it possible to order Dog Chef for multiple dogs?

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

Source: dogchef.com

Once you have an account, you can add a dog by logging in, and then going to the section "MY BOX". On the page that appears, near the title "FAMILY", you'll see a button that says "NEW DOG". By clicking on it, you'll be able to access the customised questionnaire for a new dog.

What to Expect When Ordering from Dog Chef

When I bought my first Dog Chef meals, I had no idea what the dishes I was ordering would be like. However, it's always nice to have a bit of information before placing an online order. So here’s an overview of Dog Chef products!

Source: dogchef.com

What menus are available?

Dog Chef offers 5 recipes, all free from preservatives and colourings. Here are the flavours available:

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

Each type of meat makes up around 50% of the meal. In addition to this, vegetables and fruits are included, along with a bit of cereals for dogs that require them. Some of the ingredients used in Dog Chef meals include mealworms, carrots, parsnips, celeriac... as well as apples, rice, and oils (sardine oil, vegetable oils).

Source: dogchef.com

What’s a Dog Chef meal like?

The meals come conveniently packaged in vacuum-sealed pouches. Each flavour is easily identifiable by the colour of its packaging. They should be kept refrigerated and opened only when you're feeding 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 beforehand and leave it in the fridge. Alternatively, you can use a bain-marie or the microwave.

📅 Once a meal is opened, it can be kept for 3 days in the fridge at most!

5 Things You Should Know About Dog Chef Menus

In the following lines, I'll share with you five essential things you need to know about Dog Chef before placing your order!

They are created by veterinarians

All Dog Chef recipes are developed and monitored by qualified veterinary nutritionists. They ensure that the recipes are well-balanced, particularly with regard to the amounts of vitamins and minerals included in each meal.

Source: dogchef.com

👉 They make sure that the hypoallergenic recipes are genuinely suitable for everyone!

Dog Chef is for All Dogs

No matter what type of dog you have, there’s definitely a Dog Chef menu that suits them. I’ve particularly recommended Dog Chef to those around me who have a puppy or a senior dog, as the menus are tailored for them too!

Source: dogchef.com

Dog Chef Offers Grain-Free Menus

All Dog-Chef menus are gluten-free. Additionally, the duck recipe has been specially formulated to be grain-free.

Dog Chef offers you hypoallergenic menus

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 multiple dogs!

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

How much does Dog Chef cost?

The price of Dog Chef depends on your dog's needs, taking into account their size and characteristics. For full board, it typically ranges from €2 to €5 per day, while for half board, the rates are more around €1.30 to €4 per day.

Don’t hesitate to use the price estimation 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 estimates obtained using the Dog Chef calculator:

Are there any shipping charges with Dog Chef?

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

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

If you’ve just signed up, Dog Chef is offering you an exceptional 20% discount on all of its menus for 15 days of meals. This discount on your first order is genuinely great and will be applied automatically. You don't need to do anything!

Source: dogchef.com

🤑 For instance, for a 10-kilo dog on full board, you would pay €1.98 per day instead of €2.47, which amounts to a saving of around €7 in total!

Save with a permanent 15% off full board!

If you choose the full board option, Dog Chef automatically applies a 15% discount on the total price of its food, by weight. Personally, I've gone for a half board option as it’s more affordable, but I find this choice really appealing if you have a picky dog or if you want to exclusively feed them home-cooked meals.

Can I gift Dog Chef to someone?

At the moment, Dog Chef does not yet offer a gift card system. Feel free to check back when you read this review, as things may have changed!

Source: dogchef.com

It’s still possible to give Dog Chef meal plans as gifts, but this will be done by simply providing the recipient with the equivalent amount of money!

What do customers think of Dog Chef?

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

About Google

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

Source: google.com

Let's explore the feedback from Dog Chef customers together:

• The punctuality of the delivery,
• The convenience of the portions,
• The quality of the food,
• The clarity of the instructions,
• The good digestibility of the food,

Positive review from a Dog Chef customer left on Google

❌ They enjoyed it less

• Occasional issues with breaks in the cold chain that may occur,
• Quite high costs.

Mixed customer feedback on Dog Chef left on Google

On Facebook

The company DogChef also showcases customer reviews left on Facebook on its website, where it has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5. This rating is based on 963 reviews.

Source: facebook.com

Customers who have tried it are generally delighted with the taste of the product. Their dogs are often very eager to eat this food, and it's lovely to see. They are therefore willing to pay a bit more for such quality products.

The freshness of meals is also valued, along with the fact that the meals don't contribute to weight gain.

Source: Facebook.com

However, some customers may have encountered difficulties. There can occasionally 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 very positive as well, sitting at 4.8 out of 5, with very few reviews rated at 1, 2, or 3 stars.

Source: Trustpilot.com

Whatever the platform, the reviews are generally very positive. Only a small minority have encountered issues, which can occasionally happen with online orders. In such cases, Dog Chef's customer service is ready to assist!

Dog Chef on Social Media

Dog Chef places a strong emphasis on its social media presence, regularly sharing its new offerings along with 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 lots 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 Reliable?

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 experienced significant success since then and currently employs over a hundred people, producing more than 40 tonnes of food each week. On average, it has 20,000 subscribed customers.

It is therefore a reliable company that is committed to offering quality products and ensuring customer satisfaction. To achieve this, they can be reached by phone, through live chat, and by email.

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

✅ Given this information, you can confidently order from Dog Chef. Although it's a foreign brand, Belgium is close to France, and the service aims to be impeccable.

My verdict on Dog Chef ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It’s been over three months since I started testing Dog Chef with my dog, and I’m now ready to share my experience with these meals. I invite you to read my feedback in the following posts!

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

Was it easy to order from the Dog Chef website?

The guided questionnaire is incredibly handy and provides all the necessary information for creating a personalised profile for my dog.

Personally, I have a 5-year-old male Shetland Sheepdog who is neutered and quite calm. He is fairly sensitive when it comes to his digestion, and my vet recommended home-cooked meals, but I just didn't have the time to organise that.

Dog Chef has allowed me to save a huge 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 specialised courier, as it always involved a refrigerated van. I appreciated being able to choose the exact date and time for the delivery, which helped me organise myself.

During the holidays, it’s also really handy to be able to postpone your delivery or have it delivered to your home. Personally, I prefer to just give my dog dry food during the holidays as it's more practical.

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

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

It's simple really: my dog loves Dog Chef meals! There’s never a crumb left in the bowl, even though I do a half-and-half, mixing them with premium kibble.

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

As my dog is quite sensitive, I feed him a hypoallergenic duck menu with no grains, paired with premium grain-free kibble. He tolerates these foods really well.

Source: Facebook.com

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

Is the subscription worth it?

The subscription is incredibly handy. It allows you to never run out of food without having to think about it. Since it is flexible and commitment-free, you can easily postpone or cancel your next delivery. For me, it's a truly practical and hassle-free solution.

The only thing is that it automatically activates from the very first order, and even though you can cancel it immediately from your account area, I would have preferred if this was made clearer.

Source: Instagram (@dogchef_fr)

✅ To sum up, I'm really delighted with the meals I receive for my dog from Dog Chef. They are well-balanced, and my furry friend is in great health! I'm looking forward to them offering more hypoallergenic and grain-free recipes to vary his daily menu. 😊

Dog Chef FAQ: I’m answering YOUR questions!

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

What do veterinarians think of Dog Chef? 👩‍⚕️

Most vets advise dog owners to feed their pets home-cooked meals, which are healthier for their well-being in both the short and long term. Dog Chef offers fresh, balanced meals, which is a great option 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. In fact, 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 very straightforward: you just need to retrieve the code available on your Dog Chef account. If you can't find this code, your referral can simply mention your name and email address along with their order to avail of the discount and secure your €30 off!

How to get a Dog Chef promo 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 can still take advantage of the welcome offer of 20% off that will apply automatically!

There’s also a referral offer where you can get 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 at 03 39 88 00 54 (or +33339880054) free of charge during the following hours:

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

💬 If you would prefer to contact Dog Chef in writing, you can also use:

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

The Dog Chef phone advisors

Source: Dogchef.com

How to Cancel Your Dog Chef Subscription?

To cancel your subscription, simply log in to your customer account on the Dog Chef website and request the cancellation.

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

👉 If this seems complicated, feel free to contact Dog Chef directly using any of the methods mentioned above.

I hope 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. 😉