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We (Mike and Steph) welcomed the cutest long-haired dachshund puppy into our family 9 years ago. From day one, I treated Django like a baby. I cradled him against my chest and rocked him to sleep (I still do!), took him on subway rides throughout NYC when I was meeting up with friends, and even brought him along on several cross-country and cross-Atlantic vacations.
Although Mike and I have since grown our family by 3 over the past six years—in addition to Django, we have a 6 year old boy, 3 year old boy, and 1 year old girl (it's exhausting 🤪)—Django will always hold the title of my first child.
Just like my human kids, I’m incredibly mindful about what I feed Django. My priority is to always feed Django the highest quality and most nutritious food and treats so he stays healthy and physically fit as he enters his senior years. And as the owner of DJANGO, a dog accessories and apparel USA small business, I come across many reputable dog food brands each year through my research and work.
This is how I discovered Tally’s Ranch—a premium freeze-dried dog food brand that prioritizes top-tier ingredients and nutritional integrity. After learning more about their chicken and beef dog food recipes, I was excited to order Tally's Ranch for Django.
Here is a detailed and comprehensive product review of freeze-dried dog food brand Tally’s Ranch based on our personal experience feeding the meals to our sausage dog, Django.
The story behind Tally's Ranch and what sets them apart
Tally’s Ranch was founded by Michael Goldman. Michael worked for almost a decade in the pet food industry and saw a frustrating pattern: the majority of dogs were fed highly-processed and nutrient-lacking kibble. And while healthier dog food options have finally started to emerge in recent years, these options have generally been very expensive and very inconvenient. Fresh dog food, for instance, will easily take up half of your freezer if your dog weighs over 10 lbs (ask me how I know!).
A few years ago, Michael rescued a sweet-natured shelter dog named Tally from Texas. Like many rescue dogs, Tally faced her share of challenges, including a sensitive stomach and red, itchy skin. When Michael set out to find healthy, minimally processed dog food that would help with Tally's condition — and that didn't cost a small fortune — he quickly realized how limited his options were.
Working with a licensed veterinarian, Michael developed a line of freeze-dried dog food made from real, healthy ingredients. Tally's Ranch now offers two popular dog food recipes, Chicken and Beef. Both recipes are designed to nourish dogs with the highest quality proteins, veggies, and legumes. The Chicken recipe is even great for dogs with sensitive stomachs, like Tally.
What is freeze-dried dog food?
Freeze-dried dog food is made by freezing raw, high-quality ingredients and then slowly removing most of their moisture in a vacuum. This process locks in nutrients and flavor while creating a lightweight, shelf-stable, and convenient dog food that is packed with real, whole ingredients. And unlike fresh dog food which can last for a few days in the refrigerator, freeze-dried dog food typically has a multi-year shelf life when left in an unopened bag.
What ingredients are in freeze-dried dog food?
Freeze-dried dog food typically contains high-quality animal proteins, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and other nutrient-dense ingredients that support a balanced diet for dogs.
Tally's Ranch sources all of its USDA meats and human-grade ingredients from farms and ranches throughout the United States.
Freeze-dried dog food vs. kibble
As we mentioned above, gentle freeze-drying locks in the natural nutrition and flavor of every dog food ingredient. Unlike highly-processed kibble — which is typically cooked at extremely high temperatures and then sprayed with artificial flavors and fats to make it more appealing — freeze-dried dog food starts with real, whole ingredients and preserves their natural qualities. Learn more about how dog kibble is made here.
Additional benefits of freeze-dried dog food
- Minimally processed: Made without the high-heat cooking methods used in traditional kibble production, helping retain essential nutrients.
- Easier to digest: Freeze-dried dog food is much more gentle on sensitive stomachs and great for dogs with food sensitivities and/or allergies.
- Lightweight and shelf-stable: Convenient for storage and travel without refrigeration.
- Great taste dogs love: Freeze-dried food is naturally flavorful without the need for artificial additives or sprays.
- Closer to a raw diet — without the mess: Offers the nutritional benefits of raw feeding in a safe, clean, and easy-to-serve format.
Is freeze-dried dog food considered raw?
No, freeze-dried dog food is not the same as raw dog food since the ingredients are gently freeze-dried and vacuum-processed to remove moisture. Premium dog food brands like Tally's Ranch also go an additional step to kill any potential harmful pathogens and bacteria. More on this below.
Raw dog food is just that — raw. Raw dog food ingredients are in their original, uncooked form.
Tally's Ranch freeze-dried dog food is a great option if you’re looking for something natural, nutrient-rich, and minimally processed — without the mess or food safety concerns that can come with fully raw dog food.
Is freeze-dried raw dog food safe?
Freeze-dried raw dog food is considered very safe and much safer than traditional raw food. This is because the freeze-drying process removes almost all moisture. Bacteria need moisture to survive.
With that said, not all freeze-dried dog food brands follow the same safety standards. Some brands may skip important safety steps, increasing the risk of harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria.
This is why it’s so important to choose a brand like Tally’s Ranch that takes extra precautions to ensure food safety.
Tally’s Ranch gently freeze-dries their raw ingredients over 24 hours and uses a proprietary method to briefly heat the food to 165°F. This additional step effectively kills all harmful pathogens and bacteria without compromising the integrity or nutrition of the raw ingredients.
Whether you decide to order Tally's Ranch or not, always look for companies like Tally’s Ranch that are transparent about their sourcing, production process, and safety standards.
Tally's Ranch Unboxing
Our first box of Tally's Ranch arrived quickly, and I was immediately impressed with the experience. I ordered both the chicken and beef recipes to give Django some variety. Django fortunately does not have any food sensitivities, and I’m always a fan of rotating proteins and ingredients when possible.
In addition to our 2 lb bags of food, Tally's Ranch included a few thoughtful extras in our first order: a thank you note, detailed feeding instructions for transitioning Django to his new food, a very nice gold food scooper, and even a high-quality branded grocery tote. Thoughtful things like this go a long way and made our first experience with Tally’s Ranch extra special.
What Dehydrated Dog Food Really Looks Like
Above and below are close-up views of Django's beef and chicken recipes from Tally's Ranch. As you can see, each dehydrated morsel is packed with visible ingredients. In the beef recipe, you can easily spot the orange pieces of sweet potato and carrot, along with green bits of kale and string beans. It’s clear that these aren’t just fillers, but real, whole foods. The same goes for our Tally's Ranch chicken recipe, where the ingredients are just as recognizable.
It’s comforting to know exactly what Django is eating, and these close-up shots really show how simple and honest the ingredients are.
Tally's Ranch Recipes, Ingredients, and Guaranteed Analysis
We've been feeding Django Tally’s Ranch for a little while now, and I’m genuinely impressed with the quality of ingredients and nutritional value of the food. It’s very important to me that I know exactly what’s in the food I’m giving Django, and Tally’s Ranch makes this really easy.
Here is a breakdown of what’s in our Tally's Ranch Freeze-Dried Beef and Chicken Recipes — both of which Django loves!
Freeze-Dried Beef Recipe Ingredients & Guaranteed Analysis
Tally's Ranch Beef Recipe Ingredient List:
- Animal Protein: Beef, Beef Liver
- Grains: Steamed Barley
- Vegetables: Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Beets, Kale, Green Beans
- Fruit: Guava
- Oils & Fats: Flaxseed, Cod Liver Oil
- Supplements: Nutritional Yeast, Sea Salt, Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative)
Tally's Ranch Beef Recipe Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein (min): 28%
- Crude Fat (min): 21%
- Crude Fiber (max): 5%
- Crude Moisture (max): 8%
Freeze-Dried Chicken Recipe Ingredients & Guaranteed Analysis
Tally's Ranch Chicken Recipe Ingredient List:
- Animal Protein: Chicken, Chicken Liver
- Grains: Steamed Barley
- Vegetables: Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Beets, Kale, Green Beans
- Fruit: Guava
- Oils & Fats: Flaxseed, Cod Liver Oil
- Supplements: Nutritional Yeast, Sea Salt, Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative), Vitamin E
Tally's Ranch Chicken Recipe Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein (min): 30%,
- Crude Fat (min): 19%,
- Crude Fiber (max): 5%,
- Crude Moisture (max): 8%
Dog food made with organ meat
Fun fact: Both of Tally's Ranch recipes include organ meats (chicken liver, beef liver). This is because organ meats are incredibly beneficial for dogs. In addition to having high nutritional content, these proteins are rich in essential vitamins (A and B12) and minerals (iron and copper) that support vision, immune health, and energy metabolism.
Do Tally's Ranch recipes contain artificial preservatives, artificial ingredients, or colors?
No, never. All Tally's Ranch recipes are free from artificial preservatives, artificial ingredients, and artificial colors.
Is freeze-dried dog food expensive?
Freeze-dried dog food will always be more expensive than traditional, highly-processed kibble. This is because the freeze-drying process is time-consuming and costly. But you get what you pay for.
There's a reason why we don't feed our small children processed and packaged food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fresh ingredients may cost a bit more, but I know we're giving our children something healthier, more nutritious, and better for their overall well-being in the long run.
And for what it's worth, freeze-dried dog food is typically more affordable than fresh and raw dog food, which have a much shorter shelf life and can be harder to store.
Why we love Tally's Ranch for Django
The type of food we feed ourselves and our dogs has a huge impact on digestion and overall health and wellbeing. This is why we choose to feed Tally's Ranch freeze-dried dog meals to Django. The ingredients are simple, nutritious, and recognizable — high quality animal protein, vegetables, legumes, and zero fillers or artificial ingredients.
Are Tally's Ranch and other premium dog foods more expensive than kibble? Absolutely. But for us, Tally's Ranch is a worthwhile investment if it means supporting Django’s health, happiness, and hopefully giving him as many good years as possible. At the end of the day, his well-being is 100% worth it.
