How Switching to Fresh Food Helped My Dachshund Ruby Slim Down and Thrive

Ruby, my sweet little Dachshund, is perfect in every way… except that her vet wasn’t thrilled about her weight. So a year ago, I switched her to The Farmer’s Dog to try to help her to lose a bit of weight, and I have officially decided I will never be going back to dry kibble again. ❌

Not only did switching her food to The Farmer’s Dog support her weight loss journey, but we have noticed so many improvements overall.

Here are the 4 things that happened when we switched our overweight pup to The Farmer’s Dog:

1. Weight management (like we hoped!)

My initial draw to The Farmer’s Dog was to help Ruby lose some weight. I started her weight loss journey at the beginning of 2025, first by testing “healthy weight” kibble brands, but saw no results. We were struggling to find any kibble to manage her weight that didn’t require cutting her serving sizes significantly. Ruby was not a fan.

I chose to try The Farmer’s Dog due to their fresh-food recipes that are packed with healthy and nutritious ingredients, with recipes that are complete and balanced for dogs.

Ruby lost 3 lbs by eating high-quality, nutrient-rich meals, not cutting her portions (a good number for a small pup!) Now, Ruby is healthy and much happier about keeping her food portions!

2. She LOVES the food (her clean bowl is important to me!)

Every meal from The Farmer’s Dog is something Ruby genuinely looks forward to. She gets excited at mealtime and cleans her bowl every time, which means a lot to me because I know she’s not just eating out of necessity, she truly enjoys her food. Seeing her love her meals makes me feel confident that I’m doing right by her. We originally switched to help with weight loss, and that was successful, but what stands out most is how happy and engaged she is around food now.

3. A bonus noticeable boost

As another bonus, not only has Ruby slimmed down but she’s also noticeably more energetic and playful on walks and during playtime at home. It’s fun to see her have the zoomies again!

Every recipe from The Farmer’s Dog is complete and balanced, created by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to meet Ruby’s specific needs. I don’t know if it’s because her food is made with real meats and vegetables instead of fillers, but I’ve noticed improvements in her coat, skin, and overall demeanor. It feels good knowing she’s getting proper nutrition in every single bowl.

4. Better food didn’t mean spending more money for me (and our routine is actually easier!)

I assumed switching to fresh dog food would cost more, but that hasn’t been our experience. Before, I was constantly buying kibble Ruby barely ate, plus extra treats to make up for it. With The Farmer’s Dog, her customized plan starts at just a few dollars a day (yours depends on your dog’s size and needs), and I’m spending less overall than high-end kibble while feeding her food I actually trust.

Running out of dog food always seemed to happen at the worst possible time. With The Farmer’s Dog, Ruby’s meals arrive right on schedule, frozen and ready to thaw. It’s one less thing I have to think about, and I love knowing we always have healthy food on hand. No last-minute store runs required – it takes all the stress and guesswork out for me!

Why fresh food made all the difference for Ruby 

If your dog needs to lose a little weight – or you simply want to upgrade what’s in their bowl – The Farmer’s Dog is your next move. Ruby is happier, more active, and clearly feeling better in her body. Seeing her thrive has made the switch completely worth it!