Frequently Asked Questions
Our Food
Q: How is Dog Standards food made?
A: Our three recipes are prepared in commercial-grade kitchens located in Toronto, Ontario. This is important because these facilities are held to the same standards of human-grade food production, meaning that the safety, quality of ingredients, and food preparation methods are of the highest caliber.
After cooking in small batches, our recipes are portioned specifically for your dog's caloric needs and are frozen before being shipped. We use thermal packaging and dry ice in our shipping boxes to ensure that your dog's food arrives at a safe temperature without using any preservatives.
Q: What does human-grade dog food mean?
A: Simply put, our dog food is edible for humans and surpasses the standards currently present in the commercial dog food industry.
Our ingredients are sourced from human food suppliers as well as local farms, and are cooked in commercial-grade kitchens.
Commercial dog food, (aka the kibble you find at the pet store) is feed-grade, meaning that it’s not safe for human consumption due to its lack of regulation and incredibly low health and safety standards. Check out our Why Fresh? page to learn more.
Q: Do I need to cook the food?
A: Nope! Our food is cooked, quickly frozen, and then shipped to your door. Once the pack is defrosted, simply add to your pup’s bowl and watch their tail wag. If your dog prefers warm food, simply add hot water to their bowl and mix — please don’t microwave the food as this will diminish the nutrients.
Q: How do you know what food my dog needs?
A: We teamed up with top veterinary nutritionists to formulate our recipes, as well as feeding guidelines for various combinations of dogs. Through our quick questionnaire we get to know the unique needs of your pup based on your responses to important questions such as: age, weight, breed and activity level. Then, our super smart algorithm calculates exactly how many calories per day your dog requires to thrive.
We don’t stop there — we encourage you to chat with our team regarding your dog’s progress so we can adjust their meal plan if necessary. After all, no pup is the same, although all equally as loveable.
Q: Can my puppy eat your food?
A: Yes! Our food is formulated for All Life Stages, which includes dogs 1 month old through to the senior years.
Packaging & Shipping
Q: Is your packaging environmentally friendly?
A: Yes, it is! The box your dog’s food is shipped in, the thermal lining that keeps it cool, and the void packaging are all 100% recyclable. Our vacuum sealed food packs are also recyclable after they’ve been rinsed, and the sticker has been removed.
Q: What should I do after receiving my order?
A: Once the dry ice has sublimated, it’s safe to handle the packs. Transfer all packs except for one day’s worth of food to the freezer. Transfer that portion to the fridge to safely defrost 24 hours prior to feeding time. You’ll have your dog’s specific feeding instructions included in your box — ensure that you read and retain this sheet as a guide, while recycling all other shipping materials.
Q: Where do you ship to?
A: We currently ship across Ontario, anywhere that next-day shipping is available via our third-party shipping partner.
Q: What if I’m not home when my box arrives?
A: Not to worry, our thermal packaging and dry ice are designed to keep your dog’s food cold for far longer than when it first arrives on your doorstep.
Subscription
Q: How will I be billed for my subscription plan?
A: For your first two week starter box, you will be billed immediately. For every subsequent shipment, you’ll be billed every 2 weeks from the first date of purchase.
We suggest adding help@dogstandards.ca to your email contact list to ensure that you receive all important emails associated with your shipments.
Q: What if I need to make changes to my subscription?
A: You can skip or cancel your subscription at any time by logging into to your account, as long as it is before you've been billed for your next delivery. If you'd like to adjust your dog's recipes, contact us at help@dogstandards.ca and we'll be happy to assist.
Q: Can I send my shipment to another address?
A: Yes, you can change your address at any time by logging into your account, as long as the address is within Ontario and next-day shipping is available.