Spot and Tango Dog Food Review: Fresh, Healthy, and Customized
Quick Guide
The Scoop:
Your dog deserves to eat well, doesn’t he? If you find yourself shaking your head at the thought of even sniffing what goes into your dog’s bowl on a daily basis, it might be time for an upgrade. Spot & Tango offers a selection of fresh, wholesome recipes made with human-grade ingredients you’d be happy to enjoy yourself. These ingredients paired with a gentle, small batch cooking process yield nutritious and flavorful meals that come pre-portioned and delivered right to your door. What more do you need?
Choosing a dog food brand seems easy. You walk into the pet store and stroll down the dog food aisle. Maybe you peruse the options for a minute or two, picking out a product that has the flavor your dog likes or has a few words on the label that appeal to you.
What you may not realize is that most dog foods aren’t all they seem to be. Many pet food manufacturers do their best to minimize costs while maximizing profits, often at the expense of the dogs who eat the products and the pet parents who buy them.
If you want to give your dog a diet worth eating, it’s time to consider an upgrade to fresh food. Fresh dog food made with real ingredients is the best way to nourish your dog’s body and feed his health.
There are plenty of fresh dog food companies out there, but fresh dog food delivery services have really taken the world by storm. Today, we’re going to talk about Spot & Tango. This company uses human-grade ingredients to prepare fresh, high-quality meals for dogs that are just as packed with nutrition as they are with flavor. We’re sure your dog will love it.
In this review, we’ll give you some insight into the Spot & Tango food brand, so you have all the information you need to decide whether it’s the right choice for your dog. Check it out below!
Spot & Tango Fresh Dog Food Delivery
The Spot & Tango company was founded in 2014 by a pair of dog lovers who made it their mission to improve the quality of their own dogs’ diet by making dog food at home. The results were so amazing that they set out to share the experience with other pets and pet parents everywhere. Thus Spot & Tango was born. Today, their products are inspired by their original recipes but formulated by veterinary nutritionists to ensure complete and balanced nutrition in every bite.
Once you learn more about Spot & Tango and what dog food products they have to offer, we think you’ll see why we like them so much. It’s our goal to provide you with the information you need to make up your own mind about this company, however, so keep reading to learn more.
Here are the top 5 things we think you’ll love about Spot & Tango:
- Choose from 6 recipes for fresh dog food or high-quality kibble
- Recipes made from locally sourced human-grade ingredients
- Products made in small batches, cooked at low heat to preserve nutrition
- Pre-portioned packages and custom meal plans designed just for your dog
- Access and adjust your subscription at any time by logging into your account
Now that you know a little more about Spot & Tango, let’s take a closer look. Once you have an understanding of the brand, we think you’ll love them too!
Choose from 6 recipes for fresh dog food or high-quality kibble
The products Spot & Tango is most known for are their fresh food recipes. This company offers three recipes of fresh dog food made with real animal proteins and wholesome produce, prepared in USDA/FDA inspected kitchens in New York.
Spot & Tango’s fresh dog food comes in the following recipes:
- Turkey & Red Quinoa
- Beef & Millet
- Lamb & Brown Rice
In addition to fresh food, Spot & Tango also offers a “fresh dry” food alternative called UnKibble. This dry food is dehydrated at low temperatures instead of being extruded, so the nutrients are more biologically valuable than many traditional dry foods. These recipes are made in Wisconsin.
Spot & Tango’s UnKibble dry food is available in the following recipes:
- Duck & Salmon
- Beef & Barley
- Chicken & Brown Rice
When you provide your dog’s information, Spot & Tango will give you a customized meal plan recommendation. You can choose whether you want to feed your dog UnKibble or fresh food according to your budget and your preferences. You can always switch at a later time.
Recipes made from locally sourced human-grade ingredients
Spot & Tango takes their role seriously. When it comes to producing high-quality products for pets, they know that quality nutrition comes from quality ingredients. They don’t cut any corners.
When it comes to their ingredients, Spot & Tango says the following:
“Our ingredients are thoughtfully sourced from local farms and human food suppliers in the U.S. We only use fresh, whole-food ingredients that meet USDA standards for human consumptions. This means we never use feed-grade ingredients, meat meals, or anything artificial, ensuring your dog is getting only the highest quality, safest nutrients available.”
Every recipe is formulated by an industry leading veterinary nutritionist and evaluated by Spot & Tango’s team of veterinarians. Their recipes are complete and balanced for all life stages according to the dog food nutrient profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Products made in small batches, cooked at low heat to preserve nutrition
Not only are Spot & Tango’s recipes made from high-quality ingredients, but they are prepared in a way that preserves the nutritional integrity of those ingredients. Commercial pet food manufacturers often cook their foods at high heat to kill pathogens, but it also destroys the nutrients. In many cases, those nutrients are added back into the food in the form of synthetic supplements.
Spot & Tango uses real USDA protein as well as fresh fruits and veggies to provide natural sources for key nutrients like protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.
Their recipes are cooked gently at low temperatures to neutralize pathogens without negatively affecting the bioavailability of the nutrients. Of their fresh foods, Spot and Tango says, “Ingredients are cooked separately, mixed together, and then flash-frozen to lock in freshness just days before arriving at your door.” UnKibble is gently dehydrated at low temperature to preserve flavor and nutrition while rendering the end product shelf-stable and scoopable for convenience.
Pre-portioned packages and custom meal plans designed just for your dog
When you buy a bag of kibble at the pet store, you have to read the feeding instructions to see how much your dog needs. Depending on the calorie content of the food, you could end up feeding your dog significantly more with one brand than with another.
If you’re tired of not knowing how much you’re supposed to be feeding your dog, you’ll love Spot & Tango. This company calculates your dog’s nutritional and calorie requirements then sends you a full month’s worth of pre-portioned packages. You’ll also receive a special portioning scoop with detailed instructions on how much to feed your dog.
The benefit of Spot & Tango’s custom meal plans is that you’ll get exactly the right amount of dog food you need for a month at a time.
Fresh dog food is more expensive than dry food, in many cases, but it is well worth it for the quality and convenience of a fresh dog food delivery like Spot & Tango. Weekly prices for UnKibble start at just $7 and for fresh food around $15. Your weekly price depends on your dog’s calorie requirements and the recipe you choose, so you’ll need to provide some information to customize your dog’s meal plan.
Access and adjust your subscription at any time by logging into your account
Ordering Spot & Tango is extremely easy. You simply fill out the information about your dog and Spot & Tango does the rest. They’ll create your custom meal plan, tell you how much it costs, and show you your delivery schedule. As long as it looks good, simply fill out your payment information to subscribe!
Here’s some of the information you’ll provide to create a subscription:
- Your name, email address, and zip code
- Your dog’s name and breed type
- Your dog’s age, alteration status, and weight
- Your dog’s body type and activity level
- Info about your dog’s health problems or dietary preferences
- Your shipping, billing, and payment information
Once you’ve created your account and started your subscription, that’s really all you need to do. Your first order will contain 2 weeks’ worth of food and, as long as you don’t cancel, you’ll start to receive 4 weeks of food at a time after that. You can change or cancel your subscription at any time by logging into your account or by contacting the customer care team.
Is Spot & Tango Really Worth It?
When shopping for pet food, there are a lot of factors to consider. Unless you know a little bit about how to interpret the information on a pet food label, however, you may find yourself shopping by price.
The trouble with shopping for pet food by price is that it isn’t always a realistic indicator of quality. Some of the most expensive dog food on the shelf contains fillers and by-products while some of the better products are actually very affordable. Fresh dog food like Spot & Tango tends to fall at the higher end of the pricing spectrum, but we’re firm believers in the idea that a high-quality diet is worth the price.
Here are some of the reasons Spot & Tango offers to encourage you to switch:
- Their recipes are formulated to increase energy levels, improve skin and coat health, and relief allergies – all of these things contribute to a happier, healthier life for dogs.
- Their ingredients are fresh and locally sourced, purchased from farmer’s markets with no added fillers or preservatives.
- They offer a 100% Happy Pup Guarantee – if you don’t love the product, you’ll receive your money back with no questions asked.
- Their recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists and perfected by animal experts, approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
- They deliver your meals on a flexible, regular schedule in eco-friendly packaging – the insulation actually dissolves in water and the box is recyclable.
- They customize your dog’s meal plan according to his unique calorie needs using information about his age, weight, breed, and health goals.
- Thousands of dogs agree that Spot & Tango just tastes better and their parents can’t argue the benefits they’ve seen with their very own eyes.
What is really comes down to is you deciding how much your dog’s health and wellness are worth. The quality of your dog’s diet is directly linked to his health. If key nutrients are missing, he’ll be more likely to develop malnutrition or other chronic health problems which can affect his lifespan and his quality of life. Not only that, but those problems could be expensive to treat – more expensive than simply investing in a higher quality diet in the first place.
We’re not suggesting Spot & Tango is the solution to all your dog’s problems, but we do want you to understand that the quality of your dog’s diet matters and that we think Spot & Tango is a responsible and healthy option worthy of your consideration.
The Pros and Cons of Spot & Tango
As a dog owner, it’s your job to make a smart and responsible decision for your dog in terms of his diet. The food you offer your dog on a daily basis is his primary source of nutrition, so if you don’t choose something good, he won’t get the nutrients he needs to be strong. As we’ve already mentioned, choosing a low-quality product might leave gaps in your dog’s nutrition which can lead to serious health problems in the future. Your dog’s health is worth spending a few extra dollars a month!
Though we love Spot & Tango, we’re not here to convince you that it’s the only dog food to consider. It’s our goal to give you the information you need to make the decision for yourself. Every dog food brand has its ups and downs, so here are the pros and cons to consider before you decide:
Here are some of the pros for Spot & Tango:
- Nutritionally balanced recipes formulated by veterinarians and veterinary nutritionists
- High-quality dog food made from locally sourced human-grade ingredients
- Fresh food is prepared in small batches, cooked at low temperatures to preserve nutrition
- Pre-portioned packages of fresh food are delivered right to your door
- Custom meal plans designed specifically for your dog’s needs and dietary preferences
Here are some of the cons for Spot & Tango:
- Fresh dog food tends to be more expensive than dry food, depending on dog’s calorie needs
- You may not be able to view the full recipe details for any product without creating an account
- Limited selection of animal proteins (three for fresh food, four for dry food)
Overall, we really like Spot & Tango and we think it’s a brand worthy of your consideration – especially if you’re already leaning toward fresh dog food. The truth is fresh food is one of the healthiest options you can get for your dog and we think Spot & Tango does it well.
We understand that fresh food might not be in the budget for every pet owner which is one of the reasons we love Spot & Tango – their fresh dry food UnKibble gives you a chance to upgrade your dog’s diet without breaking the bank.
All of Spot & Tango’s products are made with wholesome human-grade ingredients and prepared with the highest attention to detail and quality. When you feed your dog Spot & Tango you’ll feel good knowing he’s getting the quality nutrition he needs for a long and happy life. Whether you end up choosing this brand or not, we hope you’ve gotten all the info you need to decide for yourself.
Spot & Tango Fresh Dog Food FAQs
Is Spot & Tango fresh food human-grade?
Yes, both Spot & Tango’s UnKibble dry food and their fresh dog food recipes are made with human-grade ingredients. The company notes that the use “only fresh, whole-food ingredients that meet USDA standards for human consumption.” More than that, their fresh dog food products are made in USDA/FDA inspected facilities.
Do they offer any grain-free options?
Yes, about half of Spot & Tango’s recipes are grain-free – two of their fresh foods and one of their dry foods. In the UnKibble lineup, the Duck & Salmon recipe is grain-free while the Beef & Barley and Chicken & Brown Rice recipes are not. In the fresh food lineup, the Lamb & Brown Rice recipe is the only one that is not grain-free.
Can you buy Spot & Tango dog food in stores?
No, Spot & Tango is only available by subscription through their website. The benefit of using a fresh dog food delivery like this is that you get exactly the amount of food you need, and it is delivered to your door. You can change or cancel your subscription at any time.
Has Spot & Tango ever been recalled?
No, Spot & Tango has never been recalled. The company is less than 10 years old, but they are very committed to safety and quality. All of their foods are made in small batches and cooked at low temperatures to preserve the overall nutritional quality.
What is the calorie content of Spot & Tango dog food?
Different Spot & Tango recipes have different nutritional content and the amount you receive in your order depends on your dog’s calorie needs. Because you’ll receive pre-portioned packages, you don’t have to worry too much about the feeding amount – Spot & Tango sends you detailed instructions. Their fresh food recipes range from 30 to 50 calories per ounce.
