Frequently Asked Questions
Feeding & Handling guidelines
How does ordering work?
- We currently offer three proteins; Beef, Chicken and Pork. These are offered in three different box sizes; Small, Medium and Large.
- We have a "How Much to Order" chart on the bowls page to help you decide how much you might want to order for a two week supply.
- You can mix and match different proteins and box sizes. ie: If you want to purchase only Beef and Pork, you can pick any size Beef box and any size Pork Box.
- If you purchase a variety box, you will receive each protein
- As we offer more proteins in the future, we are hoping to offer the option to "build-your-own-box"
Please reach out to us at tara@bensonsbowl.com if you have any questions!
How much should I order?
- We have order guidelines at the bottom of the "Shop bowls" page. These order guidelines are based on your dog's age, activity level and ideal weight, for a two week period.
- If you prefer to order every month instead, you can order twice the amount to be delivered once a month.
- Our food has consistently been a picky-eater favorite. However, if you have an ultra picky dog with unique preferences for textures, grinds, protein types, or is just sensitive to change and/or is unwell, please consider starting off with a small box.
How much of Benson's Bowls should I feed my dog each day?
- Our feeding guidelines are based on the age, activity level and the caloric content of our bowls. Your order will arrive with feeding guidelines for your dog.
- Please remember that these are just guidelines based on a dog's IDEAL weight and activity level. You know your dog better than we do, so feeding a little more or less will still work. If you need more help, please reach out to us anytime - we will be happy to help create a customized box for your dog
- We are working on creating a feeding calculator : ) Stay tuned
How do I transition my dog to Benson's Bowls?
Regardless of how your dog has handled food transitions in the past, it is very important to ease your dog into eating Benson's Bowls. Dogs have sensitive stomachs and airing on the side of care is best.
On average, we recommend a slow transition over 10 days. it is important to note that some pups would need to transition slower, while others could transition faster, so feeding a little more or little less than our recommendations is quite ok!Please monitor your pet's individual responses, reactions (and poops), and adjust the transition accordingly. We will be sure to share the transition instructions with your first order!
Day 1 - 3 :25% Benson's Bowls. 75% Old food. (mix thoroughly)
Day 4 - 7: 50% Benson's Bowls. 50% Old Food. (mix thoroughly)
Day 8 - 10: 75% Benson's Bowls. 25% Old Food (mix thoroughly)
It is okay to take it slower than this! Let's help our pups ease into their new meals.
Do I need a slow transition between the various Benson's Bowl Recipes?
Generally, if your dog successfully transitioned to eating 100% Benson's Bowls, it would not be necessary to have a slow 10 day transition to each recipe. However, if your dog has a history of sensitivities or stomach issues, we'd highly recommend transitioning to other recipes a little slower also
Do you have tips for a picky eater?
Just like humans, some pups are pickier than others.
1. Make sure that the Benson's Bowl meals are thoroughly mixed in with the previous foods.
2. Try warming up the food (and not serving it cold). Thawing it in the fridge overnight or over 24 hours is best, but adding some warm water or dog friendly bone broth will help warm down the meal even more
3. Try another protein. Dog's have preferences too, and sometimes they prefer some proteins over others.
Sometimes dogs just need time to adjust to a new food, especially if they are unwell or have been struggling to find a preferred food.
Looser stools! What should I do?
It is common for dogs to experience loose stools during the transition phase. This is because dogs have very sensitive stomachs.
1. We'd recommend adding canned pumpkin to their diet
2. Transition over a longer period of time. Increase the percentage of Benson's Bowl meals as the stools prove to be firmer at the current feeding percentage.
3. If you still need help, please reach out- we are always here to help
How long can Benson's Bowls be stored in the freezer?
Benson's Bowl meals are lightly cooked to preserve nutrient values and do not have added preservatives. The meals are cooked, packaged and frozen in short order to preserve freshness. The meals are then shipped to you in temperature-controlled packaging to arrive at your home very cold.
Please transfer the meals straight into the freezer as soon as you receive it. We recommend that you feed your pup our Benson's Bowls within 3- 6 months of ordering.
How long can Benson's Bowls be refrigerated?
Benson's Bowls can be thawed overnight or upto 24 hours in the refrigerator. If you need to thaw food in shorter order, you could submurge the un-opened packets in cold water for 30-60 mins.
Our suggestion is that the product is used within 2 days of thawing in the refrigerator for optimum freshness of the food.
Our Food
Where do you source from?
We proudly source our meats, vegetables and fruits from the same ranches and retailers that supply restaurants and steakhouses. All our raw foods have been inspected by the USDA/ and or a state regulatory agency.
All of our trace minerals and Omega 3/6 oils are also human grade and get tested for heavy metals and microbial contaminants. Our cod liver oil is wild harvested.
We've taste (and freshness) tested the proteins by cooking for ourselves- and we highly approve!
How is the food made?
Our meals are cooked in a human food facility, where we are the only pet food manufacturer. We abide by all the human food facility regulations and are routinely inspected. Our kitchen is a FDA registered facility.
Each one of our recipes has been formulated by expert animal diet formulators. We've also consulted with a renowned PhD Small Animal Nutritionist for further independent evaluation of all our recipes. All our recipes meet the AAFCO nutrient standards and are laboratory tested for nutrient accuracy and potentcy.
We very gently cook our meats and veggies in order to preserve the maximum nutrients. The meals are then promptly cooled, packaged and frozen, (following the same guidelines required of human food manufacturing). The frozen meals are then ready to be packed and shipped to you!
Do I need to cook the food?
The food is already cooked and ready for your pet once thawed. If you need to warm up the food further, try adding warm water or warm dog-friendly bone broth.
Can dogs of all life stages eat this food?
All our meals have been formulated to be complete and balanced. This means that our meals meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food nutrient profiles for dogs of all life stages. Our meals meet the nutrient requirements of puppies, adults and seniors.
We will be offering various novel proteins on a rotating basis and keep them available for dogs of all life stages. Any meals offered only for Adult Maintenance will be clearly denoted as such.
Can I give this food to my cat?
All our meals have been pecifically formulated for dogs only. Cat's have very different nutrient needs than dogs, so please save this food only for your dogs.
How much should I feed my dog and what will it cost?
The amount fed directly correlates with your dogs weight, age and activity level. Our recommendation is to use our feeding guidelines based on your pup's requirements.
The cost to feed each pup will depend on his or her nutritional needs based on weight, activity level and the choice of protein(s). A meal plan for an average 40lb dog could cost ~ $7- 8/ day depending on the protein choices. Please use our feeding guidelines to determine the cost for your dog.
Your food is diced. What does this mean? Is it safe?
We are the only cooked fresh food company offering meals with diced ingredients and we are so proud of it!
We source high quality ingredients, and want you to see, touch and smell the freshness in our bowls. Since our food has not been ground to a paste, you can see all the ingredients, and your pup can taste and experience the difference. We've picked a smaller sized dice in order to make these meals appealing and enriching to the smallest of our canine customers. If pups can crunch on kibble, they can most certainly chew on diced meat too! If you are concerned that they are eating too fast out of sheer excitement for the food, you can slow them down by introducing a slow feeder.
Which Proteins should i feed my dog? Where should I start?
We recommend starting with a protein that your pup is familiar with. Especially during the transition phase, we highly suggest starting with the protein that is closest in nature to their existing food.
Secondly, be aware of potential food allergens (Read our blog post on food allergies and intolerences). We have created single protein meals to especially cater to pups with allergies!
Once your pup is beyond the transition phase, we highly reccomend rotating between several proteins that your pup safely tolerates. Doing so exposes your pup to complete amino acid profiles offered through various proteins, reduces intolerances and sensitivities that develop over time. Doing so also keeps mealtimes exciting.
Are Benson's Bowl meals safe for human handling?
Yes our food is safe for human handling! Our food is lightly cooked, and not raw. Every protein has been cooked until the respective internal temperature has been met in order to kill any potential pathogens. It is safe for these foods to sit in your freezer and refrigerator with the rest of your foods.
How was the food formulated to be Complete & Balanced?
- Each of our recipes were carefully formulated in consultation with the Animal Diet Formulator Team
- In addition, all of our recipes and related nutritional analyses/ lab results have been independently reviewed and analyzed by a PhD Small Animal Nutritionist.
Subscriptions
How do Benson's Bowl subscriptions work?
- Our subscriptions are very easy to use. We have this in place to make things easy for you and to ensure your pup never runs out of food.
- When you pick a bowl, you would have the option of picking a one time quantity, and or a recurring quantity, delivered bi-weekly or monthly.
- Any bowls you pick for a subscription will be ready for you per your requested frequency. Subscriptions are available for shipping and local pick-up
Can I make changes to my subscription?
Definitely! You can log into your account and change the contents of your box, the frequency and event reschedule the delivery/ pick-up times.
You can always manage your subscription through your account. You can cancel your subscription anytime.
If you still need help, please reach out : )
Do I have to have a subscription?
Not at all. You can order as many bowls and boxes as many times you want without committing to the subscription.
This is an automated option to make your dog's food ordering process as seamless as possible for YOU!
If I want to make a change to my subscription, when should I make those changes?
We kindly request that any changes to your subscription should be done before 6:00PM CT on the Tuesday BEFORE the order is set to be shipped/ ready for pick up. We cannot make any promises about accommodating changes made after this cut-off period.
If you are in a bind, please still reach out to us, we are here to help!
Shipping
When and where do you ship?
- In these hot months, we ship out our non-Dallas packages on Mondays. Orders placed after 6:00AM CT on Monday will be shipped the following week. We do this to ensure that all packages get delivered safely during the week. You will receive tracking information for your order.
- Local pick-up is available for local Dallas-based customers Monday - Friday. (orders are still required to be placed online)
- We are currently preparing to ship to the 48 contiguous United States.
- If you live in certain remote areas, Alaska or Hawaii, please reach out to us. We will be happy to help you out. Special shipping rates may apply
How much does shipping cost me?
- We currently offer the following flat rates on shipping:
$20 for 10- 20lb orders
$25 for 30lb orders
$45 for 60lb orders
- A few remote places may require additional shipping fees to ensure timely delivery.
- We offer the option to choose faster shipping options at the carrier calculated rates
- We are currently working on offering even better zoned shipping rates! Stay tuned : )
Please reach out with any questions. We are always happy to help! tara@bensonsbowl.com
Will my package arrive frozen?
- We package our food in curb-side recyclable boxes and bio-degradable earth friendly insulated liners with adequate ice to allow your food to arrive at a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Especially in the summer months, if your package arrives lightly thawed, but is at refrigeration temperatures, - it is safe! Please be sure to place the food in the freezer immediately upon delivery. We share tracking information with you to help with planning.
My order arrived thawed out, what should I do?
We pack our products with sufficient insulation and ice to ensure that it arrives safely, and at an acceptable temperature.
In the unlikely event that your package arrives completely thawed out completely and/or warm to the touch, reach out to us immediately. We will help you out. Food safety and the health of your pet is of utmost importance to us at Benson's Bowl!
When should I plan to order?
If possible, please plan to order the week before you run out. This will ensure that your dog does not run out of food.
If you find yourself in a bind, and are needing the food right away, give us a call - we will try to help you the best we can. No promises, but we will always try our very best to make it happen for you.