Mabel, my rescue canine, loves meals. Nevertheless, her common food regimen sometimes consists of kibble. Regardless of being extremely food-motivated, I can inform that she loses curiosity in common kibble. So, I’ve been wanting to strive various kinds of meals. When Ollie, a recent pet food firm that customizes customized meals for canine, despatched us some samples, I couldn’t wait to offer it a strive.
Mabel’s face lit up once we obtained our first bundle from Ollie. As I unpacked the field, she sniffed round like loopy and she or he remained curious even after I put the meals away. It was probably the most excited I’ve ever seen her get about pet food! Her pleasure made me wanting to see what she considered the brand new meals. Maintain studying to see my Ollie buyer overview.
Getting Began with Ollie Canine Meals
Immediately, I discovered Ollie’s course of extra handy than going to the shop to purchase pet food. I crammed out a web based questionnaire with Mabel’s information, together with her weight, exercise degree, recipe preferences, and allergy symptoms. Mabel is a low-energy canine, so I hoped her meal plan would assist her keep a wholesome weight.
Ollie gives recent and blended (recent and baked) meal plans. I selected a blended plan with Ollie’s chicken-flavored recent and baked meals since rooster is Mabel’s favourite taste. Nevertheless, they’ve a number of different flavors out there:
- Contemporary Meals – Beef, Rooster, Turkey, Lamb
- Baked Meals – Beef, Rooster
After answering all of the questions, the meals was shipped to my door in lower than every week! Right here’s my Ollie pet food overview on the corporate’s packaging and storage.
What’s Included within the Field?
Once I opened the field from Ollie, I used to be shocked to see all that was included. Right here is the whole lot I obtained:
- Feeding information for Mabel
- Meals storage container
- Measuring cup (solely comes with the blended meal plan)
- Meals scooper
- Bag of the gently baked meals
- Seven packages of the recent meals
The recent meals arrived frozen in an insulated bundle with dry ice on prime of the meals. It was very chilly inside, so the recent meals would’ve stayed frozen even when I hadn’t introduced the field inside instantly. The baked meals and different provides had been on prime of the insulated bundle to stop them from getting too chilly.
Storing the Meals
The field of meals additionally got here with directions on the right way to retailer and serve it. Fortunately, the gently baked meals is shelf-stable and may be saved like kibble. I stored it in the identical dry place that I often hold kibble. For max freshness, the meals ought to be used inside 12 months. When you open it, the bag is resealable, making it simple to retailer and serve.
Nevertheless, the recent meals is a a lot totally different story. Ollie’s recent meals formulation are gently cooked after which flash-frozen. So, the meals arrives frozen and will keep frozen till you’re able to serve it to your furry good friend. The recent meals may be saved within the freezer for as much as six months.
Earlier than serving recent meals to your canine, you need to transfer the frozen bundle into the fridge and provides it a minimum of 24 hours to thaw. The “puptainer” that got here with the meals makes storing packages within the fridge simple, even after they’re open. As soon as the meals is thawed, it’ll keep recent for as much as 4 days within the fridge. The method for storing Ollie’s recent meals is extra complicated than conventional pet food, but it surely didn’t take lengthy for me to get used to a routine with this new meals.
Ollie Canine Meals Overview: My Canine Tries Ollie for the First Time!
Mabel was excited to strive Ollie for the primary time even earlier than I scooped it into her bowl. Nevertheless, I didn’t need to rush into it. Though Mabel has by no means had any sensitivities to meals, recent meals is a drastic change from kibble. I regularly switched her to Ollie’s meals by mixing a few of her kibble with the brand new meals for the primary few days.
Ollie at all times recommends that canine dad and mom use a gradual transition to keep away from digestive points in canine. Right here’s the method they advocate:
- Day 1-2: Add a small quantity of Ollie to your canine’s present meals.
- Day 3-4: Combine half of your canine’s Ollie portion with half of their present meals portion.
- Day 5-6: Combine 75% of your canine’s Ollie portion with 25% of your canine’s present meals.
- Day 7: Serve your canine’s full Ollie portion with none of their outdated meals.
Step 1 – Including Ollie Baked Canine Meals
Ollie’s baked meals is just like kibble as a result of it’s shelf-stable and may merely be poured into your canine’s bowl. Nevertheless, it’s slow-cooked with out preservatives to make sure that the meals holds extra vitamins than kibble. It’s simple to measure out as a result of the measuring cup that got here within the field has the measurements on it, so I can be certain Mabel will get the correct quantity.
From a distance, the gently baked meals appears to be like like some other dry pet food, however while you look carefully, you may see bits of actual meat, greens, and fruits within the meals. The items are thinner and lighter than the kibble Mabel is used to, however she was immediately extra intrigued with the flavour than she has been with some other pet food.
I began by mixing a bit of the baked meals with Mabel’s kibble for her first meal. I didn’t add the recent meals throughout the first meal as a result of it was nonetheless thawing and I wished to see how she would react to the baked meals individually. As quickly as she smelled that there was one thing new added to her dish, she wagged her tail like loopy and struggled to sit down nonetheless for photos subsequent to her meals dish.
Though she went for the baked items first, she didn’t ignore her outdated meals fully. Quickly, her total dish was empty as typical, however she spent some further time licking the bowl clear.
Step 2 – Including Ollie Contemporary Canine Meals
For Mabel’s subsequent meal, I attempted mixing a bit of the recent pet food together with her kibble to see if her response could be totally different than the baked pet food. As quickly as I opened one of many packages, she got here working over, sniffing round like loopy. The recent pet food does have a powerful scent, but it surely’s not disagreeable.
Placing the recent meals into the bowl was messier than serving baked pet food or kibble. Nevertheless, the scooper that got here within the field made it simpler to portion the meals and transfer it into the bowl with out getting it everywhere. Once I scooped the meals, a number of crumbles acquired onto the counter, but it surely was a lot simpler to wash up than I anticipated recent meals to be. Because the identify implies, Ollie’s recent meals is filled with recent, nutrient-rich substances to offer canine a well being enhance.
As I blended the recent meals with the kibble, Mabel couldn’t include her pleasure. The recent meals was extra attention-grabbing to her than the baked meals. As you may think about, getting a pleasant image of her subsequent to the meals was close to inconceivable. As soon as I set her bowl on her feeding mat, she didn’t hesitate to gobble up her new meals. She licked the bowl like loopy, and I don’t assume she would’ve stopped licking if I hadn’t instructed her it was time to go outdoors.
Step 3 – Mixing Contemporary and Baked Meals
For the next meals, I blended a bit of the recent meals and the baked meals with some kibble. Mabel appeared to be dealing with the brand new meals nicely (no noticeable digestive points), however I nonetheless wished to be cautious for a number of extra days simply to be secure.
Mabel will get enthusiastic about any meals I give her, however there’s little question that the recent meals has probably the most interesting scent for her. But, she at all times eats all of the meals in her bowl, so the brand new meals hasn’t stopped her from having fun with kibble too. Nevertheless, I might want to wait till her transition interval is over to offer probably the most correct Ollie pet food overview.
Persevering with to Use Ollie Canine Meals
As soon as I used to be assured that Mabel’s tummy might deal with the brand new meals, I took away her kibble and fed her 100% Ollie. I’ve been giving her a mix of the recent and baked meals as directed. The directions that got here with the merchandise make it simple to portion her meals for every meal. They are saying how a lot of every sort of meals she ought to get every day, together with how a lot that may be per meal in case you serve two meals a day (which I do).
Mabel was in good condition for her age (she’s 9) earlier than attempting Ollie, and I’m completely happy to say that she nonetheless appears as wholesome on the brand new food regimen. Her stools are nonetheless stable and she or he has maintained a wholesome weight. After meals, she appears extra playful and affectionate than earlier than. I’m undecided if that’s health-related or if it’s simply her being excited concerning the meals. Both manner, each Mabel and I are happy with the outcomes.
Buyer Overview: Would I Advocate Ollie Canine Meals?
Now that Mabel has gotten to strive each of Ollie’s forms of meals, I might positively advocate this model to different canine dad and mom. Ollie is a trusted model, however now that I’ve used their merchandise, I’m extra assured about their high quality and comfort.
What I Love About Ollie
- Ollie ships proper to your door so you don’t lose time working to the pet retailer.
- The cargo comes with serving directions catered particularly to your canine’s must keep away from overfeeding or underfeeding.
- You may see the person substances within the meals because it’s not extremely processed like kibble.
- The scent and taste are interesting to most canine, particularly choosy eaters. I like the way it makes Mabel further excited for meals!
- Ollie has quite a lot of choices: 4 flavors of recent meals and two flavors of baked meals.
- The recent meals is simple for canine to chew, making it nice for senior canine and canine with dental issues.
- All canine can profit from this meals, even when they’re low-energy like Mabel.
Was There Something I Disliked?
Storing and serving Ollie requires a bit extra effort than conventional kibble, however that’s not a draw back. As an alternative, it’s simply one thing that I needed to get used to. The meals is messier than kibble, however the scoop that comes within the first field makes it simple to switch the recent meals into the bowl with out getting any meals in your palms.
There have been a number of occasions I nearly forgot to maneuver a brand new bundle of recent meals from the freezer to the fridge, however now that I’ve gotten into the behavior of it, I haven’t forgotten since. If any pet dad and mom are fearful about forgetting, setting a reminder in your telephone could possibly be a straightforward resolution.
All Canine Dad and mom Ought to Take into account Ollie
With all these issues in thoughts, Ollie is a wonderful consideration for any pet father or mother on the lookout for a brand new meals. For those who’re used to serving kibble like I used to be, it could take a short while to get used to Ollie’s recent meals, however the many advantages make the change price it. Not solely is Ollie conveniently shipped to your door, but it surely offers flavorful meals with recent, wholesome substances. Better of all, the serving directions are catered to your canine’s wants, so there’s no query of how a lot to offer them.
If you wish to give your canine high quality meals and get them extra excited for mealtime, give Ollie a strive. Our iHeartDog readers can get 60% off their first Ollie order!
