Pets

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

About Spot and Tango

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

Spot and Tango creates ready-to-serve fresh and nutritious meals for dogs and delivers them right to your door.

Spot and Tango has been featured in Good Housekeeping, CNN, Business Insider, and TechCrunch and has a loyal following of 22k on Instagram. 

This Spot and Tango dog food review will do some digging into the brand, how its service works, what its food is like, customer reviews, and more, to help you decide if they are the right choice for your furry companion. 

Overview of Spot and Tango 

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

Pets are special. The companionship and unconditional love they offer is unmatched. One poll found that 88% of Americans consider their pets to be members of the family. So, you’d probably want to feed them like members of the family as well! Spot and Tango may be able to help you out.

Founder of Spot and Tango, Russel Breuer, was inspired by his goldendoodle, Jack, to create nutritious canine meals. Using ingredients from the farmer’s market, Breuer was able to cook a fresh, healthy meal that his dog loved.

His success with Jack led Breuer to start Spot and Tango in 2013. Their dog food is formulated by a veterinary nutritionist to ensure their products meet all of a dog’s dietary needs.

Sourcing ingredients from local farms and human food suppliers, their food is human-grade and contains balanced nutrition including a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that are essential to your dog’s health.

The brand makes a point to never use feed-grade ingredients, meat meals, or any other suspicious ingredients by opting for a USDA/FDA inspected kitchen in New York. There, meals are cooked at a low grade to ensure the nutrients stay intact.

But, Spot and Tango Unkibble is made in their facility in Wisconsin and is gently pasteurized for the crunchy texture dogs are used to but with added nutrients available. 

Next up are the brand’s highlights in this Spot and Tango dog food review.

Highlights

  • Variety of meals available with essential vitamins and minerals
  • 12 simple human-grade ingredients used in each formula
  • Fresh and Unkibble options to suit your dog’s preferences
  • No preservatives, hormones, or artificial ingredients
  • Made in USDA certified kitchens
  • Developed by veterinary nutritionists 
  • Ingredients sourced from local farmers
  • Eco-friendly packaging, compostable and recyclable materials only
  • Donation program for unused food
  • Free shipping

Choosing fresh dog food has many advantages for your pup, from a better-looking coat, to joint pain relief, to increased energy. Spot and Tango use only whole-food ingredients like millet, blueberries, and chicken liver, and nothing artificial, ever.

This Spot and Tango dog food review will now break down how their service works and what you can expect when you place an order.

How Does Spot and Tango Work?

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

Spot and Tango delivers Fresh Meals or Unkibble to your door every 2 weeks. You start the subscription service by taking a test and letting them know all about your pup.

Spot and Tango will then recommend a meal plan based on all of the information entered. If satisfied, enter your shipping and billing information. 

Your order is estimated to be delivered within 1-2 business days. When your order arrives, the dog food is packaged in compostable and recyclable materials and lays flat for easy storage.

If you chose the Fresh Meals, keep them in your freezer and defrost before serving or heat them up on the stove. The Unkibble is shelf-stable and can be kept in a cool, dark space for up to 12 months

If you’d like to learn more about what their food can do for your dog, you can enter your dog’s breed in their ‘Why S + T’ section of their website.

For example, if you have a Mountain Cur, look for Spot and Tango Cur for the specifics on why their food is beneficial for this dog at every stage of their life. 

Your subscription will auto-renew every 2 weeks and you’ll be charged exactly 14 days from the day of your first purchase.

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

If you need to cancel your subscription, you can do so at any time. If you would like to temporarily pause your plan, that’s also an option.

There are no one-time purchases, but if you would like to try it out for only 2 weeks you can cancel your subscription right after your first payment is processed.

This Spot and Tango dog food review will note that there is a 50% discount for the two-week trial and it is completely refundable if your dog does not like the food. They also have a donation program where you can send the food back so that it does not go to waste.

Proper nutrition is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Just like us, getting the right nutrients can lead to a better-looking coat, improved digestion, and assists with either gaining or losing weight if needed.

This Spot and Tango dog food review will now go over their Fresh Meals and Unkibble plans and provides examples of their plan options. 

How Much is Spot and Tango?

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

The Spot and Tango price for Fresh dog food starts at $13 per week, while the Spot and Tango Unkibble price starts at $7 per week.

Please note that weekly prices vary by the weight, breed, and activity level of your dog. This Spot and Tango dog food review took the test for a 68 lb American Bulldog and these were the plan prices recommended:

  • Fresh: Full Meal Plan $70/week, trial price: $35/week
  • Fresh: Topper Meal Plan $27/week, trial price:$13/week
  • Unkibble: Full Meal Plan only $45/week, trial price: $23/week

Spot and Tango Subscription Review

It’s important that Spot and Tango gets to know your dog before they recommend a meal plan. Factors like weight, breed, and health conditions, must all be considered when choosing the right food.

When you take the Spot and Tango test, you’ll be asked the following questions so that they can understand your dog’s needs and recommend the proper diet plan:

  1. Enter your name, email address, and how many dogs you have
  2. Enter your dog’s age, name, and zip code to find out if they deliver to your area
  3. Note whether your dog is fixed, the breed, and birthday (they’ll send a gift!)
  4. Enter your dog’s body type, weight, lifestyle, and if they have any health conditions
  5. Choose if your dog would like Unkibble or Fresh meal options
  6. Pick up to three recipes and either the Full or Topper plan
  7. Choose treats (for an additional cost)

This Spot and Tango dog food review took a test with details for a lazy, 68 lb American Bulldog with a hip condition, and Spot and Tango recommended a Fresh diet of 749 calories per day.

If you receive this recommendation and want to opt for the Unkibble instead, that’s also an option.

Spot and Tango Fresh Review

If your dog is used to eating kibble and you’re looking to try something new, consider Spot and Tango’s Fresh recipes, which come in three delicious flavors: Turkey and Red Quinoa, Beef and Millet, and Lamb and Brown Rice. All of the recipes contain spinach, carrots, peas, eggs, parsley, apple cider vinegar, safflower oil, vegetable stock, and added vitamins and minerals.

Taken together, these ingredients can do a great job maintaining your dog’s health. Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer in dogs, although the study[1] was only conducted on Scottish terriers. Similarly, carrots have been shown to be a great source of fiber[2] for your dog.

Let’s take a closer look at the Beef & Millet recipe. Millet is high in nutrients like phosphorus. One study[3] showed that phosphorus is essential for the healthy development of puppies.

Spot and Tango’s Turkey and Red Quinoa recipe also contains apples, in addition to the ingredients in the name and the base ingredients above. Apples are a great source of fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Vitamin C, in particular, is known to be an antioxidant. Early studies[4] have shown that vitamin C can help with oxidative damage in canines. 

Additionally, Spot and Tango’s Lamb and Brown Rice recipe contains blueberries. Like apples, blueberries have antioxidant properties. One study[5] conducted on sled dogs showed that dogs who were fed blueberries while exercising might be more protected against oxidative damage than dogs who were not fed blueberries.

Spot and Tango lists all ingredients that are included in the meal which you can easily find in their Recipes section.

Spot and Tango Unkibble Review

If your dog is used to kibble, and you want to continue with a similar type of food, consider Spot and Tango Unkibble. Like their fresh recipes, Unkibble is made without additives, preservatives, or filler. One example of the Unkibble recipes is Chicken & Brown Rice which includes: chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, kale, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, sunflower seeds, ginger root, kelp, salt, mixed tocopherols, and vitamins and minerals. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of some of these ingredients.

Sunflower seeds are rich in nutrients. One study[6] found that dogs who were supplemented with sunflower seeds for one month had shinier coats and better skin. Additionally, ginger[7] has been shown to soothe nausea in dogs, so if your pup is the type to deal with a regular upset stomach, this recipe could help.

Worried about the “mixed tocopherols” in this supposedly all-natural canine meal? Don’t worry, mixed tocopherols is just a scientific term for vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin. Like blueberries, which we discussed above, vitamin E[8] supplementation has been shown to protect against oxidative damage in dogs. Once the bag is open, the food should be consumed within 3-4 weeks but one bag should make up your dog’s entire diet for 2 weeks.

Spot and Tango Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

This Spot and Tango dog food review will start by saying there are no websites that have an adequate amount of customer ratings and that the following reviews may not be a true reflection of the brand.

This Spot and Tango dog food review has taken customer reviews from Best Company, SpotandTango.com, the BBB, and The Dapple, to provide a variety of reviews to hopefully give you a better understanding of the brand. 

A total of 17 customers on Best Company rate the brand at a 2/5 star average. One customer who rated them as 5/5 stars said, “All in all I’m really pleased with both the food and the customer service. In fact, they have been quite friendly and helpful.”

Spot and Tango kibble reviews on SpotandTango.com are all positive but do not provide average customer ratings.

One reviewer says that her dog: “is so excited for her meals. Her coat looks amazing and she has no stinky breath!” Another says that they have “the best customer service I have ever encountered. My dogs love it.”

Next, The Dapple wrote a review of the brand’s order process and dog food saying, “It’s not really surprising, but the pups absolutely loved the food and seemed to feel good after eating it regularly. And I felt great knowing that they were eating fresh, wholesome food.”

But with any brand, there is bound to some negative feedback. Another user replied under The Dapple article that their Yorkie was sick within a few minutes of eating their food. Whereas complaints on the BBB speak of problems with the food and the company, stating that Spot and Tango refused to reimburse customers after they canceled their orders.

Despite these red flags, more customers (and their pups!) seem to enjoy Spot and Tango’s services and products more than those that don’t. 

Is Spot and Tango Worth It?

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

This Spot and Tango dog food review struggled to find a proper representation of the brand reflected in customer’s reviews.

It should be noted that Spot and Tango Reddit threads did not provide any helpful information on the brand. Users did post that they were happy to have a 50% off trial, but that’s it. 

This Spot and Tango dog food review noticed that the brand does try to resolve complaints and acknowledges that it takes time for dogs to transition to a fresh diet. To prove it, all complaints on the BBB have been addressed and have an attempted resolution.

There is a possibility that your dog may not like the food, and this is where the brand’s Happy Pup Guarantee comes into play on your trial order. Note that this is also completely refundable.

If your dog still does not enjoy the food on future orders, the company has a donation program that offers 50% off when you donate your unused food to an animal program. 

But, Spot and Tango food is balanced, freshly cooked, human-grade, many dogs love it and there are not enough customer complaints to warrant saying their brand is not worth buying and there has been no sign of a Spot and Tango recall. 

So, is Spot and Tango a good dog food? We believe it’s worth the buy, especially if you want to improve your dog’s health and quality of life for as long as possible. 

Spot and Tango Promotions & Discounts 

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

Spot and Tango currently has a 20% off discount with promo code ‘VALENTINE’. They also have a permanent 50% off trial

Sign up for Spot and Tango

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

To sign up for Spot and Tango, head to SpotandTango.com and follow these steps:

  1. Click ‘Get Started’
  2. Enter your personal information
  3. Answer the questions about your dog(s) in the quiz 
  4. Choose meal type
  5. Enter shipping and billing information
  6. Get your order in 1 to 2 days

FAQ

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

Who owns Spot and Tango? 

Russel Breuer is the founder and owner of Spot and Tango.

Is Spot and Tango grain-free?

Spot and Tango is not grain-free. They use healthy, complex carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, and millet to provide fiber.  

How much does Spot and Tango cost?

This Spot and Tango dog food review found that Unkibble plans start at $7 per week and fresh meals start at $15 per week. The actual cost is calculated by your dog’s weight, breed, and activity level. 

How do I cancel my Spot and Tango subscription?

To cancel Spot and Tango, you can do so within your account on SpotandTango.com or by calling them or visiting their help page.

You’ll need to do this before your next order is scheduled to process so make sure you cancel by 5 pm EST the day before your order charges. 

What is Spot and Tango’s Shipping Policy?

Spot and Tango offers free 2-day shipping to the 48 contiguous states. They use FedEx Ground shipping for all of their orders.

Your dog’s meals will arrive 14 days apart unless you pause or cancel your order. Spot and Tango will send you a reminder 3 days before your order ships, just in case you need to adjust anything. 

What is Spot and Tango’s Return Policy?

For the trial order, you can get a full refund if your dog does not like the food with their 100% Happy Pup Guarantee. For all other orders, Spot and Tango offers a 50% refund when you donate your unused Spot and Tango dogs food to an animal shelter. 

How to Contact Spot and Tango Customer Service

Spot and Tango Dog Food Review

For any other information that this Spot and Tango dog food review did not provide, you can contact them by calling the contact number at 718-514-6292. You can also visit their help page for further support.


We also recommend checking out similar dog food brands that you and your pet will also enjoy:

Article Sources

  1. Raghavan, M., Knapp, D. W., Bonney, P. L., Dawson, M. H., & Glickman, L. T. Evaluation of the effect of dietary vegetable consumption on reducing risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 227(1), 94-100
  2. Eisenhauer, L., Vahjen, W., Dadi, T., Kohn, B., & Zentek, J. Effects of Brewer’s spent grain and carrot pomace on digestibility, fecal microbiota, and fecal and urinary metabolites in dogs fed low- or high-protein diets Get access Arrow Journal of animal science, 97(10), 4124-4133
  3. Kiefer‐Hecker, B., Kienzle, E., & Dobenecker, B. Effects of low phosphorus supply on the availability of calcium and phosphorus, and musculoskeletal development of growing dogs of two different breeds Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, 102(3), 789-798
  4. Gordon, D. S., Rudinsky, A. J., Guillaumin, J., Parker, V. J., & Creighton, K. J. Vitamin C in Health and Disease: A Companion Animal Focus Science Direct Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 39, 100432.
  5. Dunlap, K. L., Reynolds, A. J., & Duffy, L. K. Total antioxidant power in sled dogs supplemented with blueberries and the comparison of blood parameters associated with exercise Science Direct Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 143(4), 429-434
  6. Rees, C. A., Bauer, J. E., Burkholder, W. J., Kennis, R. A., Dunbar, B. L., & Bigley, C. E. Effects of dietary flax seed and sunflower seed supplementation on normal canine serum polyunsaturated fatty acids and skin and hair coat condition scores Veterinary dermatology, 12(2), 111-117.
  7. Sharma, S. S., Kochupillai, V., Gupta, S. K., Seth, S. D., & Gupta, Y. K. Antiemetic efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) against cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs Science Direct Journal of ethnopharmacology, 57(2), 93-96
  8. Motta, S., Letellier, C., Ropert, M., Motta, C., & Thiébault, J. J. Protecting effect of vitamin E supplementation on submaximal exercise-induced oxidative stress in sedentary dogs as assessed by erythrocyte membrane fluidity and paraoxonase-1 activity Science Direct The Veterinary Journal, 181(3), 288-295

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HELP!
SUSAN M. NISSLEY
3 years ago Reply
Experience

when are you going to answer my previous post? MY EMAIL IS NOT WORKING SO PLEASE ANSWER HERE.

Help!
SUSAN M. NISSLEY
3 years ago Reply
Experience

This is not a question; it is a comment. Your dog food is too expensive. You do not have a way to get in touch if there are problems. I want to discontinue. DO NOT SEND ANYTHING ELSE TO Susan Nissley, 241 Hardie Cemetery Rd, Gordon, GA 31031. I would like to send back the order you just sent but am unwilling to pay the cost involved. Apparently you do not honor your messages to stop services. I no longer have an Email account. THIS WILL BE YOUR ONLY NOTIFICATION. I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY CREDIT CARD NOT TO ACCEPT YOUR REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT.

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