I adopted Charlie not long before I started The Green Hub, which means sustainability wasn’t exactly top of mind when it came to pet parenting.
Not long after we brought her home from the RSPCA, we did what most new dog owners do — popped down to the local pet store and came home with a heap of plastic toys, disposable beds, and coats she grew out of in months (we had no idea she’d get so big). Plus a bunch of stuff she didn’t really need.
Since then, I’ve become more mindful about what we buy. These days, we compost her poo, upcycle what we can, and invest in things that last, like a proper ‘forever’ bed.
More recently, I’ve been looking into better food options, and that’s how we ended up trialling Frontier Pets, an Australian dog food brand with a big mission: to help end factory farming.
What is Frontier Pets Dog Food?
Frontier’s food is freeze-dried, which means the moisture is removed without affecting the nutrients, flavours, or smell. It looks a bit like large, light pellets, not your usual hard dry biscuits.
Each recipe includes either beef, chicken, or pork, combined with:
- Free-range, pasteurised eggs
- Organic fruit and veg from Food Connect
- Natural additives like turmeric, linseed, almond meal, and kelp
They’ve worked with a holistic vet and animal nutritionist with over 30 years of experience to ensure the food meets your dog’s needs.
What Makes Frontier Pets Sustainable?
Frontier Pets sources from regenerative, higher-welfare farms using organic and pastured practices. Their goal is to show Aussie pet owners there’s a kinder, more transparent way to feed their animals.
As founder Diana Scott puts it:
“Frontier Pet food is made using only 100% ethically sourced produce including free-range meat and offal, organic fruit & veg and free-range eggs. This has a significant effect on pet’s health in the same way as humans who eat well are healthier I tell you, our pets eat better than we do!”
Charlie’s Review of Frontier Pets (Because She’s the One Eating It)
Using the feeding calculator on the site, I worked out Charlie’s daily amount. She’s six, weighs 42kg, and is pretty active. Based on her size, she needs around six cups of food a day — half in the morning, half at night.
Prep is simple:
- Scoop out the dry pellets
- Add an equal amount of warm water
- Wait a minute or two to let them soften
We did find that the water didn’t absorb fully, even after five minutes, about 40% stayed pooled at the bottom. We tried everything: cold water, warm water, crushing the pellets. Charlie didn’t mind. She licked the bowl clean and slurped up the leftover water.
She loved the food, but she is a Lab, so take that as you will.
What I Thought: Prep, Performance & Price
I really like the concept. We eat pasture-raised meat at home when we do eat meat, so it makes sense to consider welfare when feeding Charlie too.
Prep-wise, it’s an extra step compared to dry biscuits, but it only takes a minute or two.
As for results? After six weeks on Frontier:
- Her coat is shiny
- Her weight is steady
- Her poops are smaller and firmer (easier clean-up!)
No complaints there.
Is It Worth the Price?
This is where it gets tricky. We’ve gone through almost two 5kg bags (each makes 20kg of food), and at $255 per bag, it adds up quickly, especially with a big dog like Charlie.
If your pup is smaller, this could absolutely be a worthwhile switch. Frontier Pets offers sample sizes and trial packs, so you can test it out before committing to a full bag.
Shop Frontier Pets here
FAQ’s
Is Frontier Pets Australian made?
Yes! The food is made in Australia using ethically sourced, local ingredients from regenerative farms.
Is freeze-dried dog food healthy?
Freeze-drying preserves nutrients while reducing the need for fillers or preservatives. It’s considered a premium option for dogs.
Can I try Frontier Pets before buying a big bag?
Absolutely! They offer sample sizes and trial packs so you can test it out first.
