Is Open Farm Rustic Stew or The Farmer's Dog Chicken better?

The Farmer's Dog wins by 5 points (A/95 vs A/90). The Farmer's Dog uses USDA human-grade whole-cut chicken, vet-nutritionist formulation, and per-dog personalized subscription plans. Open Farm Rustic Stew uses G.A.P. Step 2 welfare-certified chicken in shelf-stable cans at 50–70% lower per-meal cost with no subscription commitment. Pick The Farmer's Dog for premium fresh-prepared subscription feeding; pick Rustic Stew for shelf-stable wet feeding at retail pricing.

What's the difference between USDA human-grade and G.A.P. Step 2?

These are two different certifications addressing different dimensions. USDA human-grade refers to chicken processed in human-food-grade facilities to standards suitable for human consumption — a food-safety and processing-quality designation. G.A.P. Step 2 (Global Animal Partnership) is an animal welfare certification — chickens raised with enriched environments, space to roam, natural light, no antibiotics, with independent third-party audits. They can overlap but cover different concerns: USDA human-grade focuses on processing standards; G.A.P. focuses on animal welfare. For owners weighing both, brands like Open Farm and The Farmer's Dog provide different combinations of these credentials.

Can I switch between The Farmer's Dog and Open Farm Rustic Stew?

Yes — both are AAFCO complete-and-balanced wet foods with humanely-sourced chicken, so switching between them is structurally safe. Both come in roughly comparable moisture density (~80% water) so the GI transition is gentler than switching between dry and wet formats. The flavor profile difference (fresh-prepared vs canned kettle-cooked) may affect palatability — some dogs prefer one texture over the other. For owners using The Farmer's Dog at home but traveling without freezer access, Rustic Stew is a structurally compatible same-supply-chain backup option.

Open Farm Rustic Stew vs The Farmer's Dog Chicken: Which Is Better for Your Dog?

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The short answer: The Farmer’s Dog wins by 5 points (A/95 vs A/90). Both deliver wet-food feeding with humanely-sourced chicken in primary position. The Farmer’s Dog uses USDA-rated whole-cut chicken with veterinary-formulated subscription plans personalized to each dog (weight, activity, age, sensitivities). Open Farm Rustic Stew uses G.A.P. Step 2 certified chicken in shelf-stable cans at a more accessible per-meal price. Different feeding models — subscription fresh-prepared vs shelf-stable canned wet.

The scores

Open Farm Rustic Stew Harvest Chicken Rustic Stew Wet Dog Food: A (90/100) — Humanely Raised Chicken, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Spinach.

The Farmer's Dog Chicken Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food: A (95/100) — USDA Chicken, Chicken Liver, Brussels Sprouts, Bok Choy, Chickpeas.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two products:

Open Farm Rustic Stew: Humanely Raised Chicken, Chicken Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Spinach

The Farmer's Dog Chicken: USDA Chicken, Chicken Liver, Brussels Sprouts, Bok Choy, Chickpeas

The 5-point gap (The Farmer's Dog Chicken wins by 5 points) shows where the v15 rubric weights ingredient breadth, protein density, and supplement depth differently.

Where Open Farm Rustic Stew pulls ahead

Shelf-stable shelf life (3+ years unopened): Rustic Stew cans are retort-sterilized for long shelf life without preservatives. The Farmer’s Dog requires refrigeration and freezing — meaningfully different storage profile. For owners traveling, in storage-constrained situations, or with intermittent feeding patterns, shelf-stable wins. Shop on Amazon →

Significantly lower per-meal cost: Rustic Stew typically prices 50–70% below The Farmer’s Dog per calorie. For mass-retail accessibility — particularly for owners with multiple dogs or fixed budgets — this is the structural advantage.

No subscription commitment: Rustic Stew can be purchased one can at a time from Chewy, Amazon, or in-store retailers. The Farmer’s Dog requires a recurring subscription with onboarding consultation and 2–4 week delivery cadence. For owners who prefer single-purchase flexibility, this matters.

Where The Farmer's Dog Chicken holds its own

USDA-rated whole-cut chicken vs canned: The Farmer’s Dog uses USDA human-grade whole-cut chicken — the same grade of chicken sold in supermarkets for human consumption. Open Farm uses G.A.P. Step 2 chicken (welfare-certified) but not USDA human-grade. The grade difference reflects different supply-chain standards. Shop on Amazon →

Per-dog personalization: Subscription onboarding sets feeding plans by individual dog — weight, age, body condition, activity level, allergies, sensitivities. Each shipment is portioned to that dog’s specific caloric needs. Rustic Stew is one-size-fits-most canned food — the personalization is up to the owner.

Veterinary nutritionist formulation: The Farmer’s Dog publishes its veterinary-nutrition formulation lineage. Open Farm is also formulated by trained pet nutritionists but doesn’t emphasize the veterinary-credential angle as a marketing differentiator. For owners weighing formal vet credentialing on the formulation side, this differentiates.

The bottom line

Both formulas are A-tier wet-food feeding with humanely-sourced chicken. The Farmer’s Dog Chicken wins by 5 points on USDA human-grade chicken, per-dog personalization, and veterinary-nutritionist formulation lineage. Open Farm Rustic Stew wins on shelf stability, significantly lower per-meal cost, and no-subscription flexibility. Pick The Farmer’s Dog for premium subscription fresh-prepared feeding with full personalization. Pick Rustic Stew for shelf-stable wet feeding at retail pricing with single-purchase flexibility — or as a same-supply-chain wet option when traveling without freezer access.