Where it started:Rocky changedeverything andI never set out to start a dog food company.My husky Rocky had the worst stomach on the planet. Years of vet visits, prescription diets, and hundreds spent on premium food brands. We tried everything. Nothing worked.So I decided to build it myself. 36 recipe iterations. Countless hours with vets and nutritionists. All chasing one question: what’s the best food we could possibly make for a dog? When we finally got it right, Rocky was the proof.He hasn't been sick in over 18 months. He runs three miles with me every morning. That's the standard every Happy Howl bowl is held to. Nothing less.Colin Buckley– Founder
Happy Howl (thehappyhowl.com) has 4,371 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5.
Also known as
thehappyhowl.com
Website
thehappyhowl.com
Category
Pet Stores
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 94% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
Edits
Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
Score
This company cannot pay to remove reviews or change its score.
Hard to order if your not a scheduled customer, you also get penalized because I like to schedule my orders.
Response from Happy HowlOct 6, 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We understand that it can be challenging to place orders without being a scheduled customer. Our system is designed to encourage scheduled orders, by choosing the SUBSCRIBE & SAVE option, which helps us ensure timely delivery.
We appreciate that you like to schedule your orders, and we value your loyalty. If there’s anything we can do to make the ordering process easier for you, please let us know—we’re happy to help!
Thank you for your understanding and for being a valued customer. You can contact us at [email protected] to set up your subscription or follow the steps below.
How to Create a Happy Howl Subscription:
1. Go to: www.thehappyhowl.com
2. Choose Your Recipes
• Lamb Delight (gentle, single protein)
• Turkey Dinner (lean & light)
• Grandma’s Beef (hearty & classic)
• Or a Variety Pack!
3. Select Your Delivery Frequency
• Most customers choose every 3 or 4 weeks, but you can customize it anytime
4. Add to Cart & Checkout
• You’ll automatically be enrolled in a subscription when you click "SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE"
KA
Karen
Mixed review
I followed the feeding instructions but when I took my Greyhound to the vet she said that he was very underweight and needed to bulk up. He is currently 63lbs and I feed him like an 80lb dog according to your measurements. He should at minimum be 70lbs. That being said he loves the flavor but I'm not sure about it being nutritional for all breeds, with that being said my 13yr old cockapoo has been thriving on it
Response from Happy HowlAug 26, 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience and feedback. 🐾💛 We’re so glad to hear your cockapoo is thriving and enjoys the flavor! We understand your concern about your Greyhound’s weight — every dog is different, and some breeds (like Greyhounds) may require higher caloric intake or specialized nutrition. We recommend consulting with your vet to adjust portions or supplement as needed to help him reach a healthy weight. Your pups’ health and happiness are always our top priority, and we truly appreciate your insights.
Each box of Happy Howl contains approximately 400 calories, but it’s important to note that not all calories are created equal. Our food is highly nutrient-dense, meaning it delivers more bioavailable nutrition in a smaller volume compared to many conventional dog foods that are filled with “empty calories.” Because of this, dogs require fewer total calories per day to stay full, energized, and healthy.
For example, a 70 lb active dog eating traditional kibble or lower-quality food may need 1,300–1,700 calories to feel satisfied. But with Happy Howl, that same dog often thrives on fewer calories — around 2 to 2.5 boxes per day — while maintaining ideal weight, muscle tone, and energy levels. You’ll also notice smaller, healthier stools with less digestive strain, which is a sign of efficient nutrient absorption.
That’s the Happy Howl difference: real food that keeps your dog fuller longer, promotes lean body mass, and supports long-term health with every meal.
Let us know if you’d like help personalizing your dog’s plan — we’re happy to assist!
CC
Casey C.
my dogs refused to eat the turkey on my last order…
my dogs refused to eat the turkey on my last order - i shared with HH & ask for refund or credit ? NO!! Or if i could just order other 2 meals? No, only the 3pack assortment+would be a 50% price increase. No Way!! I'd been a recurring customer over a year. No Longer.
Response from Happy HowlAug 22, 2025
Hi Casey! We are so sorry to hear about this issue. We previously did not offer 2 recipe combo packs, but after other customers sharing similar feedback we recently launched these two recipe combo packs. We have also launched 36 unit packs which are a much more feasible price point per unit than what you were likely seeing from your 24 unit case subscription. If you're open to it, we would love the opportunity to make this right for you! Please feel free to reachout to [email protected] and Mel will personally assist you!
RN
Royanne N.
Very little nutrition in Happy howl
Initially I was going home about happy hour. I dog is a very picky eater and she would like a food for a day or two and then not eat it. With happy how she loved it and I was really happy about that. It also seemed to cure a skin condition that she's had since she was a puppy. So initially I was really happy with this food. But then I took her to the vet and she has lost 6 lb for a 40 lb dog that's a lot of weight. And I started looking at the composition of the food. There's only 7% protein in a box of this food. And the calories aren't that much. There's no evidence anywhere on the website of the that the food is complete because it's not. I'm very disappointed I'm going to have to find some other food for this dog. Like 80% of the dog food is water. Very disappointed.
Response from Happy HowlAug 22, 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with Happy Howl. We’re genuinely sorry to hear about your recent concerns, and we’d like to clarify a few key points to ensure you’re getting the most accurate and complete information about our food.
1. Protein Content (7% vs. 30% Dry Matter Basis)
While our guaranteed analysis shows 7% protein as-fed, this is standard for gently cooked or wet foods due to moisture content. To accurately compare our food to kibble or dry food, you must use a dry matter basis (DMB)—which removes water from the equation. On a dry matter basis, Happy Howl contains 30% protein, which is actually higher than many leading kibble brands. We’d be happy to share the exact dry matter breakdown if helpful.
2. Calorie Density
Happy Howl is formulated to be nutrient-dense but calorie-controlled, which is ideal for many dogs—especially those who are inactive or prone to weight gain. However, every dog’s caloric needs vary, especially if they’re highly active, young, or underweight. We recommend adjusting portion size or adding a topper to increase calories if needed. We also offer free one-on-one onboarding to help tailor feeding amounts based on your dog’s activity level and metabolism.
3. Completeness & Balanced Nutrition
Happy Howl is 100% complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards for adult dogs. Our food contains all required vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—this is something we take extremely seriously. If this was unclear, we’ll ensure it’s made more prominent on our website and packaging. You can view our full nutritional panel and AAFCO statement here:
[Link to product nutritional info page]
4. Water Content
It’s true that gently cooked foods like Happy Howl contain more moisture than kibble—but this is a good thing. Dogs are biologically designed to eat moisture-rich diets. Most kibble is only 10% moisture, leading to chronic dehydration over time. Our food contains around 70–75% moisture, which supports digestion, kidney health, and overall hydration.
5. Weight Loss
We’re so sorry to hear about your dog’s weight loss. However, rapid or unintentional weight loss is rarely caused by food composition alone—it may signal an underlying health condition or incorrect feeding amount. We strongly encourage dog parents to monitor weight regularly and adjust feeding as needed. We also offer ongoing customer support to help troubleshoot these kinds of issues and prevent problems before they arise. Additionally, it has been proven that dogs that have calories restricted by 15% in comparison to standard caloric feeding schedules live on average 30% longer compared to dogs that are fed the standardized recommended caloric intake for maintenance. While we don't always recommend dog owners follow this, it is important to consider when thinking about dogs overall longevity.
We’re proud to have helped improve your dog’s skin condition, and it sounds like she really enjoyed the food. We’d love the opportunity to continue supporting you and your pup with personalized guidance—just reach out to our customer care team at [email protected].
JM
justine M.
Still waiting for refund
Canceled auto shipment that was never set up. Have no phone number to call. All emails or bots. They claim it was out for delivery. That was a lie. It was never picked up from company. Still waiting for my refund. Review will change once I receive my money back
BZ
Barbara Z.
Not for my dogs
My dogs don’t like it.
SL
Sharon L.
Your website sale prices are…
Your website sale prices are misleading. You need to make it clear before you add to your cart that the sale price is only for first time buyers
LO
Lou
My dog can’t have fat and my vet read…
My dog can’t have fat and my vet read package and said includes puppies and has fat. My dog has IBS amd can’t have fatty foods