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
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The company replied to 94% of reviews.
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Most recent review: October 2026.
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My dogs won’t eat it so I’m gonna have to give it to someone else because my dogs will not eat none of it. I’ve opened three boxes and I’ve thrown three boxes away so for me it was a waste of money. My dogs didn’t care for it. I got the beef stew, the lamb and a turkey.
Response from Happy HowlJul 30, 2026
Thank you for your review! We are sorry to hear that your dogs were not fans of the Beef, Lamb, and Turkey recipes. When transitioning dogs to a new fresh food, picky eaters often do best with a slow transition! We recommend starting by mixing a tiny portion of Happy Howl into their familiar food, or warming it up slightly to enhance the natural flavors and smell. We appreciate your feedback and hope your pups find a routine that works for them!
BT
Billy T.
Your product looks and smells good but…
Your product looks and smells good but it's 74% moisture. 14 ounces of the food I cook is about 30% more by volume than a 14 oz box of yours and mine cost less! I've been mixing HH with my food trying to wean my dog on to it but repeatedly she manages to separate and leave yours on the side no matter how well I mix it. I was hoping to use HH when we travel and cooking was difficult but right now the jury is out
Response from Happy HowlJul 29, 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us your honest feedback! We are so glad to hear that you appreciate the quality, look, and smell of our meals. Transitioning a dog who is already used to a delicious home-cooked diet can definitely take a little extra patience, as pup parents know best how clever dogs can be at picking out their favorites! Since our meals are steam-cooked right inside the carton to preserve natural juices without artificial dry fillers, the texture is naturally rich in hydration. We truly appreciate you giving us a try for your travel routine, and we hope your pup grows to love it just as much as your home cooking!
DV
David V.
It’s just frustrating when the weekly…
It’s just frustrating when the weekly shipments don’t ship. You take the money every week, how about ship the product too? Or don’t take the money until the food ships
Response from Happy HowlJul 28, 2026
We are so grateful you took the time to share this candid feedback with us, though we completely understand how frustrating those shipping delays have been! Going from 3-day turnarounds to 7–8 business days is not the experience we want for you, especially when your billing is on a set schedule. Your review gives our team exact insights into where our delivery timing is falling short, and we are actively using this information to fix those shipping gaps and make our process far more reliable!
ND
Nancy D.
Pros and cons
Shipping was fast, account easy to access, food is convenient to store and use. But cancelled my account because my dogs would not eat any of the 3 recipes
Response from Happy HowlJul 28, 2026
Thank you for sharing your experience and for giving all three of our recipes a try with your doggy crew! We're thrilled our shelf-stable boxes and easy account portal made life simpler for you, even if the flavor test fell a bit short this time. Selective pups definitely keep us on our toes, but simple tricks like mixing a tiny amount into their favorite food or offering a few bites by hand can often help bridge the gap for picky tastebuds!
MA
Martin
Not Worth the Extra Expense.
My dog has eaten lamb kiddle, but hated the Lamb Howl based food.
I pointed out to Howl that the kibble I use has a guaranteed protein content of 28-32%. Reading the Howl boxes, their protein content is around 7%. Despite what the box says, Howl says its protein content is in the 20% range. Someone is lying.
Response from Happy HowlJul 27, 2026
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We completely understand how confusing pet food labels can be when comparing two totally different types of food. Because Happy Howl is a fresh, shelf-stable meal with high natural moisture rather than dry kibble, the 7% crude protein listed on our box reflects the as-fed Guaranteed Analysis. When you remove the moisture to compare nutrition on a Dry Matter Basis—the standard way to compare fresh food to kibble—our recipes range between 23.7% and 30.5% protein depending on the flavor. We never want you to feel misled, and we are always here to help explain how fresh food nutrition works!
GM
Gabriel M.
Moldy food and pour customer service
I've gotten molded food told it would be made up in my next shipment never happened I lost my punch card when checking out and they stopped sending bags to keep the food safe after opening and it takes days to get a response from anyone I am not impressed with the customer service
Response from Happy HowlJul 26, 2026
We are so sorry for these frustrating mix-ups and for keeping you waiting on a reply. The previous replacements missed your shipment due to an old duplicate subscription that was canceled, but we have made sure to fix this: all 3 free replacement cartons are locked in and scheduled to ship with your August 4th order. We’ve also updated your account so extra storage bags are automatically included with all future shipments. Thank you for your patience while we get this sorted out!
KM
KM
Seems ok
When we received it the box was very warm. I was unsure of the freshness. I opened a box or the turkey and two out of our three dogs gobbled it up, but the third turned his nose up (which he tends to do when food has gone bad.) I opened a box of the beef to see if he would have the same reaction and it was covered in white specks that looked like bacteria growth. I reached out to support and got a prompt reply explaining that their food is safe at high temps up to 119 degrees and that the white specks are congealed fat, not bacteria, which is common for beef. I opened another turkey box to be sure and there were no specks. My two dogs that like the food ate that right up and have not been sick, so I'm certain their response was correct. However, I did not appreciate the tone of the response, and because not all of our dogs love it I will likely not order again.
Response from Happy HowlJul 26, 2026
Hi Kristin,
Thank you for reaching out to us with your questions! We completely understand your caution when it comes to your pup's food, and we are happy to provide clarity on our packaging, storage instructions, and what you noticed in the cartons.
Delivery & Heat Protection Our food is fresh and shelf-stable, so it does not ship frozen or packed in ice. Our packaging is specifically designed to handle high shipping temperatures up to 119 degrees, and we’ve made continuous improvements over time to ensure the food remains completely safe at ambient temperatures until opened.
Storage Instructions Unopened cartons can be stored at room temperature in your pantry. Because our recipes use real, fresh ingredients without artificial preservatives, once a carton is opened, it must be refrigerated and will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
White Film / Speckles (Congealed Fat) What you are seeing is congealed fat—not mold. In a properly sealed, shelf-stable carton, mold cannot grow because there is no oxygen present after sterilization (mold will only grow if a carton has been pierced, which would look undeniably green/fuzzy and typically cause leaking).
During our cooking process, natural meat fats liquefy under heat and migrate toward the edges and top of the carton. As the box cools, this protein-fat fraction turns white or opaque and settles as a light film or speckles. This is a natural behavior of gently cooked, real-meat recipes (similar to how fat rises to the top of a crockpot and turns white as it cools).
This is not a safety concern at all. In fact, this is the healthiest form of fat with high bioavailability, allowing your dog's digestive system to easily convert it into energy!
Recipe Variations: You will notice this white fat crystallization more frequently in beef and lamb recipes than in leaner proteins like turkey, because beef and lamb naturally contain higher levels of saturated fats. Even within the same batch, slight variations in natural meat cuts can cause some cartons to show more visible fat specks than others while maintaining the exact same nutrient profile.
Refund Policy Because this order was purchased using a 40% off promotional discount code, it is non-refundable per our company policy. However, we want to fully reassure you that the food you received is completely fresh, safe, and wholesome for your pets to enjoy!
Please let us know if you have any additional questions—we are always here to help!
Warm Regards,
Devon
The Happy Howl Team
MR
Ms R.
Trying out a new dog food -I liked that it didn’t have to be…
I liked that it didn’t have to be frozen and it could be kept on the shelf, but unfortunately, my dog did not like it
Response from Happy HowlJul 24, 2026
We're so sorry your pup didn't take to it! We know how great it is to skip the frozen storage, so it's always a bummer when a selective eater turns up their nose. A quick tip that often helps is warming the food up for a few seconds in the microwave to enhance the natural smell, or using it as a meal topper alongside their current food. Thank you for giving Happy Howl a try!
