Mabel, my rescue canine, loves meals. Nonetheless, her common weight-reduction plan sometimes consists of kibble. Regardless of being extremely food-motivated, I can inform that she loses curiosity in common kibble. So, I’ve been desirous to attempt 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 attempt.
Mabel’s face lit up once we acquired our first package deal 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 essentially the most excited I’ve ever seen her get about pet food! Her pleasure made me desirous to see what she considered the brand new meals. Maintain studying to see my Ollie buyer overview.
Getting Began with Ollie Canine Meals
Straight away, I discovered Ollie’s course of extra handy than going to the shop to purchase pet food. I stuffed out a web-based questionnaire with Mabel’s data, 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 presents recent and combined (recent and baked) meal plans. I selected a combined plan with Ollie’s chicken-flavored recent and baked meals since rooster is Mabel’s favourite taste. Nonetheless, they’ve a number of different flavors obtainable:
- Recent Meals – Beef, Hen, Turkey, Lamb
- Baked Meals – Beef, Hen
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?
After I opened the field from Ollie, I used to be shocked to see all that was included. Right here is all the things I acquired:
- Feeding information for Mabel
- Meals storage container
- Measuring cup (solely comes with the combined meal plan)
- Meals scooper
- Bag of the gently baked meals
- Seven packages of the recent meals
The recent meals arrived frozen in an insulated package deal 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 straight away. The baked meals and different provides have been on prime of the insulated package deal to stop them from getting too chilly.
Storing the Meals
The field of meals additionally got here with directions on tips on how to retailer and serve it. Fortunately, the gently baked meals is shelf-stable and could be saved like kibble. I saved it in the identical dry place that I normally preserve kibble. For optimum freshness, the meals must be used inside 12 months. When you open it, the bag is resealable, making it simple to retailer and serve.
Nonetheless, the recent meals is a a lot completely different story. Ollie’s recent meals formulation are gently cooked after which flash-frozen. So, the meals arrives frozen and may keep frozen till you’re able to serve it to your furry buddy. The recent meals could 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 package deal into the fridge and provides it not less than 24 hours to thaw. The “puptainer” that got here with the meals makes storing packages within the fridge simple, even once they’re open. As soon as the meals is thawed, it would keep recent for as much as 4 days within the fridge. The method for storing Ollie’s recent meals is extra advanced than conventional pet food, nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for me to get used to a routine with this new meals.
Ollie Canine Meals Evaluate: My Canine Tries Ollie for the First Time!
Mabel was excited to attempt Ollie for the primary time even earlier than I scooped it into her bowl. Nonetheless, I didn’t need to rush into it. Regardless that Mabel has by no means had any sensitivities to meals, recent meals is a drastic change from kibble. I progressively 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 previous meals.
Step 1 – Including Ollie Baked Canine Meals
Ollie’s baked meals is much like kibble as a result of it’s shelf-stable and might merely be poured into your canine’s bowl. Nonetheless, 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 seems to be like every other dry pet food, however once you look intently, 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 every 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.
Regardless that she went for the baked items first, she didn’t ignore her previous meals utterly. Quickly, her total dish was empty as normal, however she spent some additional time licking the bowl clear.
Step 2 – Including Ollie Recent 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 can be completely 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, nevertheless it’s not disagreeable.
Placing the recent meals into the bowl was messier than serving baked pet food or kibble. Nonetheless, 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 far and wide. After I scooped the meals, a couple of crumbles received onto the counter, nevertheless it was a lot simpler to scrub up than I anticipated recent meals to be. Because the identify implies, Ollie’s recent meals is filled with recent, nutrient-rich elements to offer canine a well being increase.
As I combined the recent meals with the kibble, Mabel couldn’t comprise her pleasure. The recent meals was extra fascinating to her than the baked meals. As you may think about, getting a pleasant image of her subsequent to the meals was close to not possible. 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 informed her it was time to go exterior.
Step 3 – Mixing Recent and Baked Meals
For the next meals, I combined a bit of the recent meals and the baked meals with some kibble. Mabel gave the impression to be dealing with the brand new meals effectively (no noticeable digestive points), however I nonetheless wished to be cautious for a couple 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 essentially 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. Nonetheless, I might want to wait till her transition interval is over to offer essentially 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 kind of meals she ought to get every day, together with how a lot that may be per meal if you happen to 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 comfortable to say that she nonetheless appears as wholesome on the brand new weight-reduction plan. 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 in regards to the meals. Both means, each Mabel and I are happy with the outcomes.
Buyer Evaluate: Would I Suggest Ollie Canine Meals?
Now that Mabel has gotten to attempt each of Ollie’s sorts of meals, I’d undoubtedly 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 possibly can see the person elements 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 additional excited for meals!
- Ollie has a wide range 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 a substitute, 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 fingers.
There have been a couple of occasions I virtually forgot to maneuver a brand new package deal 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 apprehensive about forgetting, setting a reminder in your telephone may very well be a straightforward answer.
All Canine Mother and father Ought to Think about Ollie
With all these issues in thoughts, Ollie is a wonderful consideration for any pet mother or father on the lookout for a brand new meals. Should you’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, nevertheless it gives flavorful meals with recent, wholesome elements. 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 attempt. Our iHeartDog readers can get 60% off their first Ollie order!
