My Thoughts on DOG CHEF: 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 had good health and a happy life. Through this research, I quickly discovered that vets recommended a home-cooked diet: this involves cooking meals for your pet using fresh ingredients.

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

What is a Dog Chef?

Source: dogchef.com

👍 I Loved It

• The quality of these meals,
• The time-saving aspect of Dog Chef,
• The convenient and easy-to-store individual packaging,
• The delivery scheduling, so you never miss out,
• The more affordable trial offer,
• The ability to mix in traditional kibble to save a bit on costs.

❌ What Could Be Improved

• It would be great to add a grain-free option for chicken or pork recipes, for example.
• The fact that the first order automatically triggers a subscription (which can be cancelled immediately without any issue) is not very clear. 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 of managing your dog's meals, while providing them with home-style food.

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

Then, you'll have a selection of nutritious recipes to choose from. Finally, you can pick the date and location for delivery, so you can get your food delivered right to where you want it (home, work, or to a friend...).

Source: dogchef.com

When you place your first order, you are automatically signed up to receive a new order once your current one has been consumed. If that’s not for you, you can easily unsubscribe at no cost, either through your Dog Chef account or via the app.

How is my dog's menu created?

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

The amount and recommended fragrances 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 activity level (rather relaxed, 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 starts a subscription, which you can cancel at any time with just one click from your customer account.

Source: dogchef.com

Where can I find the Dog Chef book?

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

🌴 If you're heading off on holiday, you can temporarily change your delivery address or reschedule your delivery. To find out how, check out this tutorial video that shows you what to do!

How does delivery work at Dog Chef?

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

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

Source: dogchef.com

To ensure you receive your order and can quickly chill it, you have the option to choose the day and time slot for your delivery. This is really convenient!

👉 If you're a subscriber and 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 entitles you to a discount. If you want to add a dog, simply start by creating 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 will see a button that says "NEW DOG". By clicking on it, you will gain access to the customised questionnaire for a new dog.

What to Expect When Ordering Dog Chef?

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

Source: dogchef.com

What menus are on offer?

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

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

Each type of meat makes up about 50% of the meal. This is complemented with vegetables and fruits, and sometimes a bit of grains, for dogs that require it. The ingredients used in Dog Chef meals include items such as worm beans, carrots, parsnip, and 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 come conveniently packed in hermetically sealed sausage-shaped bags. Each flavour is easily identifiable by the corresponding colour of the packaging. They should be kept refrigerated and only opened 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 the bain-marie method or the microwave.

📅 Once a meal has been opened, it should be kept for a maximum of 3 days in the fridge!

5 Things You Should Know About Dog Chef Menus

In the following lines, I'm sharing five essential pieces of information about Dog Chef that you should know 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 balanced, particularly with regard to the amounts of vitamins and minerals in each meal.

Source: dogchef.com

👉 They make sure that the hypoallergenic recipes are genuinely what they claim to be!

Dog Chef is for All Dogs

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

Source: dogchef.com

Grain-Free Meals Available at Dog Chef

All Dog-Chef meals are gluten-free. Additionally, the duck recipe is specifically developed 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. I was thrilled 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 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 under the "My Box" section, and click on "New Dog".

How much does Dog Chef cost?

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

Feel free 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 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!

Try Dog Chef with a 20% discount for 15 days!

If you’ve just signed up, Dog Chef is offering you a special discount of 20% on all its menus for 15 days of meals. This discount on your first order is quite appealing and will be applied automatically. There’s no need for you to do anything!

Source: dogchef.com

🤑 For example, for a dog weighing 10 kilograms in full board, you pay $1.98 per day instead of $2.47, which means a total saving of about $7!

Save 15% on Full Board for Life!

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

Can I gift Dog Chef to someone?

At the moment, Dog Chef doesn't offer a gift card system yet. Feel free to check back when you're reading this review, as it might have changed!

Source: dogchef.com

It’s still possible to give Dog Chef menus, but this will be done by giving the recipient the equivalent amount of money directly!

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 some 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 timeliness of delivery,
• The convenience of portion sizes,
• The quality of the food,
• The clarity of the instructions,
• The good digestibility of the food,

Positive review from Dog Chef customer on Google

❌ They appreciated it less

• Occasional issues with cold chain breaks that may occur,
• Prices are quite high.

Mixed customer feedback on Dog Chef left on Google

On Facebook

The company DogChef also displays customer reviews on their website, sourced from Facebook, where they have 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 thrilled with the appeal of the product. Their dogs often show great enthusiasm for these foods, which is a joy to see. They are therefore willing to pay a premium for products of such quality.

The freshness of meals is also valued, along with the fact that the meals are not fattening.

Source: Facebook.com

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

About Trustpilot

It’s now possible to 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

No matter the platform, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Only a small minority have encountered issues, which can sometimes happen when ordering online. 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 presence on social media, regularly sharing its updates as well as 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 plenty of video tutorials to train your dog and decode 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, 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. It has an average of 20,000 subscribed customers.

It is therefore a trustworthy company that is committed to providing quality products and ensuring customer satisfaction. To achieve this, they can be contacted via 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 their commitment to customer service.

✅ With this information in mind, you can confidently order from Dog Chef. While it is a foreign brand, Belgium is close to France, and their service aims to be exceptional.

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 testimony in the upcoming sections!

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 has a sensitive stomach, and my vet suggested home-cooked meals, but I just didn't have the time to sort that out.

Dog Chef has really helped me save a huge amount of time, as the first order takes about ten minutes to prepare, 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 was always done with a refrigerated van. I appreciated being able to specifically choose the date and time of delivery, which helped me to organise myself.

During the holidays, it's also really handy to be able to reschedule your delivery or have it sent to your home. Personally, I prefer to just give my dog kibble during the holidays because it's easier.

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

Are Dog Chef's menus as high-quality as they claim?

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

I've never had an issue with spoiled products and the meals smell fantastic... much better than regular dog food tins!

Since my dog is quite sensitive, I give him the hypoallergenic, grain-free duck menu, paired with premium grain-free kibble. He copes really well with this food.

Source: Facebook.com

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

Is the subscription worth it?

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

The only thing is that it automatically activates with the 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 it up, I’m absolutely thrilled with the meals I receive for my dog from Dog Chef. They are well-balanced, and my pup is in great health! I can't wait for them to offer more hypoallergenic and grain-free recipes to diversify his daily menu. 😊

FAQs about Dog Chef: I'm answering YOUR questions!

To wrap things up, here are some frequently asked questions about Dog Chef that are commonly found online, along with their answers! 😊

What do veterinarians think of Dog Chef? 👩‍⚕️

Most veterinarians 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 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 lets you enjoy great discounts while also doing a good deed. In fact, every referral unlocks the following bonuses:

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

Source: Dogchef.com

👉 Sponsoring is really simple: all you need to do is get the code available on your Dog Chef account. If you can't find this code, the person you are referring can simply mention your name and email address along with their order to qualify for the discount and to ensure you receive your $30 discount!

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 still have the welcome offer of 20% off, which will be applied automatically!

There's also a referral offer that lets you 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 for free on 03 39 88 00 54 (or +33339880054) during the following hours:

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

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

• The live chat on the website, by clicking on this link,
• Your regular 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 in to your account on the Dog Chef website and request the cancellation.

If you’d prefer to simply postpone it, 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 listed 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. 😉