Tag: #thepetstable

Fresh Food Win for Stanley




As much as I want to stick with a shelf-stable food, I have to admit — Stanley really likes the fresh food from The Pets Table, even though it comes frozen. And honestly? It’s kind of adorable.

The packaging is great. The box arrived with a matching food storage container and measuring scoop, plus clear feeding guidelines and product info. Everything feels thoughtfully put together and made a great first impression.


I was worried the frozen format might be a hassle, but it’s actually been easier to use than I expected. I just move one of the frozen packs to the fridge overnight, and by morning, it’s ready to scoop and serve. I’ve been adding a little warm water before serving to make sure Stanley stays hydrated, and he absolutely devours it.


It’s definitely a bit pricier than some of the other options I’ve tried — like Happy Howl, Sundays, and Top Shelf Dog — but if Stanley keeps eating it this enthusiastically, it might be worth the splurge. They do also have the air-dried food which we have, but Stanley hasn’t tried it yet. I’ll update when he has.


That said, the main drawback of frozen food for me is travel. It’s harder to hand off to a sitter or bring on trips compared to shelf-stable options.

Not everything has been a win. Sundays air-dried food is turning out to not be Stanley’s favorite. Even when I leave it out for free-choice snacking, he just doesn’t touch it. On the other hand, he does like Spot and Tango’s UnKibble, but I still find myself leaning toward wet or fresh food options.

We haven’t received our Top Shelf Dog shipment yet, but I’m hopeful. Right now, the decision may come down to Happy Howl vs. Top Shelf Dog. Both are economical, healthy, shelf-stable, and — most importantly — Stanley likes Happy Howl, and I’m guessing Top Shelf Dog will be similar.

What are you feeding your dog right now? Any favorite brands or food types that work well for picky eaters or small dogs? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

Dog Food Overload: Where Do You Even Start?

Dog food. How do you pick? There are so many options out there—canned, dry, fresh, frozen, air-dried, shelf-stable… and honestly, I had no clue how to decide.

My vet did recommend going with one of the fresher food options, especially since Stanley is so tiny. He said that for a small dog, the cost of high-quality food is a lot more manageable, and the nutritional quality is usually better.

Bean, Feeling left out lately!

So, in the spirit of this blog, I’ve ordered four different sample packs to test out.

1. Sundays for Dogs

This one looks like jerky—very minimal prep, human-grade ingredients, and totally shelf-stable. I love the convenience. For a Stanley-sized dog, this food would cost about $18.75 per week.

2. Spot & Tango (UnKibble)

I added this one after seeing it pop up on a few “top food” lists. It’s a dry but minimally processed food they call “UnKibble.” I ordered their Turkey and Sweet Potato recipe.
Price: $16.50 per week—the most affordable of the four.

3. The Pet’s Table

This brand offers both fresh food and air-dried options. I ordered a combo pack with:

  • Chicken Casserole with Green Beans (fresh)
  • Chicken & Sweet Potato, and Salmon & Whitefish with Pumpkin (air-dried)

They also throw in a free bag of chicken bite treats with every order as long as you stay subscribed.
Cost: $21.70/week, with slight discounts if you buy 8 weeks at a time or tweak the fresh/dry mix.

4. Happy Howl

I love the idea behind this one—it’s fresh food that stays shelf-stable until opened, so only one box at a time needs to go in the fridge. I ordered their variety pack with:

  • Grandma’s Beef Stew
  • Tasty Turkey Feast
  • Lamb Delight

This one comes in at $21.25/week for Stanley. Price may shift a bit based on the flavors I choose long-term.

Stanley The Lap Dog

The Plan (and the Problem)

Now that I’ve ordered all four, I need to create a smart plan to test them—without upsetting Stanley’s little tummy. Switching foods too fast is never a good idea, so we’ll go slow.

What am I looking for?

  • High-quality ingredients
  • Convenience
  • Something Stanley is excited to eat
  • And all else being equal? I’ll go with the more affordable option.

I’d also love to try Ollie and The Farmer’s Dog down the line, but these four stood out first. I originally planned to test just three—but Spot & Tango’s ingredients, price, and single protein per flavor really appealed to me.

What He’s Eating Now

Stanley’s Home Base – And Puck’s!

Right now, Stanley is on Dr. Harvey’s, a mix-you-add-your-own-protein-to food that worked wonderfully for Cali. It was a great option for her kidney issues—customizable, tasty, and way better than the expensive prescription foods she refused to eat.

But for puppies, Dr. Harvey’s recommends adding protein, oil, plain yogurt, and cottage cheese—a little more involved than I’d like. It’s great food, but not the simplest option when there are other fresh choices that come ready to go.

Let’s Compare Together!

The samples should start arriving next week, and I’ll be blogging our journey as Stanley and I go through each one.

Do you feed your dog a fresh or air-dried food? I’d love to hear what you’re using and how it’s working for you. Drop your favorites (or fails!) in the comments—I’m always open to suggestions!