Verdict: Raw Coated Kibble wins for most dog owners — it delivers roughly 32–36% protein content at about 400–470 kcal per cup, so a 50 lb dog eats around 2.5 cups a day and the food lasts weeks, not days. Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties win on ingredient density (roughly 44% protein, 90%+ animal ingredients, no starch binder), but the same 50 lb dog needs about 250 g of patties daily, which runs roughly five to eight times the cost per calorie. The single deciding factor is dog size: under 20 lb, full-time patties are realistic; over 50 lb, patties make far more sense as a topper. You can compare both formats side by side in our dry dog food collection and our freeze-dried dog food range.
| Feature | Raw Coated Kibble | Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Medium and large dogs, multi-dog homes, owners wanting raw benefits on a kibble budget | Small dogs, picky eaters, and owners using raw as a topper or full diet for dogs under ~25 lb |
| Protein source | Cage-free chicken, grass-fed beef or wild-caught salmon, plus a freeze-dried raw coating | 90%+ single-species meat, organ and ground bone with a small produce and probiotic blend |
| Typical guaranteed analysis (protein / fat / fiber) | ~32–36% / ~16–18% / ~4–5% max | ~44–46% / ~25–30% / ~5% max |
| Calorie density | ~400–470 kcal per cup (as-fed) | ~4,000–4,700 kcal per kg; roughly 110–140 kcal per 1 oz patty |
| Daily amount, 50 lb adult dog | ~2.25–2.75 cups per day, split into two meals | ~250 g (roughly 8–10 patties) per day |
| Moisture | ~10% max (bowl water matters) | ~5% max — rehydrate with warm water or broth |
| Prep time | Scoop and serve | Crumble, add water, wait 3–5 minutes |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$$ |
| Available at Ashario | Shop raw coated kibble | Shop freeze-dried raw |
Where Raw Coated Kibble wins: calorie density, cost per day and everyday practicality
Raw Coated Kibble wins on cost per calorie and on portion practicality. At roughly 400–470 kcal per cup, a single cup feeds about as many calories as two to three freeze-dried patties, which is why large-dog households almost always land here. The kibble is baked, then coated with freeze-dried raw pieces and dusted with probiotics, so dogs get a raw-forward flavour profile without raw-diet handling.
Run the math on a 50 lb (23 kg) moderately active adult dog needing about 1,100 kcal per day. At 460 kcal per cup, that's roughly 2.4 cups — call it 1¼ cups morning and night. A 22 lb bag holds roughly 80 cups, so it lasts a bit over a month for that dog. The same 1,100 kcal in patty form is about 250 g of freeze-dried food per day, and freeze-drying is expensive because removing 70% of a raw patty's water under vacuum takes far more energy than extrusion does.
Our team at Ashario Pets recommends the raw-coated route to most first-time raw-curious owners for a simple reason we watch play out weekly: people stick with it. In our store we see customers who bought freeze-dried patties for a 70 lb Lab come back three weeks later asking for something more sustainable, then settle on kibble as the base with patties crumbled on top three or four days a week. That hybrid keeps the daily budget flat while still adding animal protein and fat.
Both formats are formulated to meet the nutrient profiles published by AAFCO — always read the statement on the bag to confirm whether a formula is for adult maintenance or all life stages, since life-stage formulation matters far more than marketing copy. AAFCO's profiles set 18% minimum protein content and 5.5% minimum fat content for adult maintenance on a dry-matter basis, and 22.5% protein for growth. Both Stella & Chewy's formats clear those floors comfortably; the kibble simply does it at a lower cost per kcal.
Who should default to the kibble?
Owners of dogs over about 40 lb, multi-dog homes, anyone travelling or boarding frequently, and households where more than one person feeds the dog. Scoop-and-serve dry food removes the rehydration step, which is where feeding errors usually creep in.
Where Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties win: ingredient density and fussy eaters
The patties win on ingredient concentration. With roughly 44% protein content, 25–30% fat content and 90%+ of the recipe coming from muscle meat, organ and finely ground bone, a patty is essentially a raw meal with the water pulled out — no starch binder needed to hold the shape. For dogs who ignore dry food, that density is the whole point.
Three situations where patties earn their premium:
- Small dogs. A 10 lb dog needs roughly 250–300 kcal per day, which is about two to three patties. That's a realistic full-time raw diet without a shocking weekly grocery bill.
- Picky or convalescing eaters. Rehydrated patties smell strongly of meat and land near 65–70% moisture once mixed, which helps dogs who don't drink enough. Pet owners tell us this is the trick that finally got an appetite back after a dental procedure — though anything appetite-related deserves a call to your vet first.
- Owners wanting minimally processed, limited ingredient options. Single-protein patties make elimination trials cleaner because the ingredient panel is short and legible.
Freeze-dried raw is still raw. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine advises washing hands, bowls and prep surfaces after handling any raw pet food, and the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends caution in homes with immunocompromised people, infants or seniors. Freeze-drying reduces moisture to about 5% but is not a pathogen kill step on its own, so handle patties like you'd handle ground meat.
One more honest limitation: fat. At 25–30% fat content, patties are calorie-dense per gram, and dogs with a history of pancreatitis or fat intolerance may not tolerate them well. That's a veterinary conversation, not a retail one. If you want raw texture with a different fat profile, our frozen raw dog food selection gives you more room to choose.
Stella & Chewy's dog food feeding amounts: exact daily portions by body weight
Feeding amounts differ by roughly a factor of ten between the two formats by weight, because one is 10% moisture and the other is 5% moisture but three times as calorie-dense per gram. Below are working starting points for a moderately active adult dog; adjust by body condition score after two weeks, not by the bag alone.
- 10 lb (4.5 kg) — about ½ cup kibble per day, or roughly 55–65 g of patties (2–3 patties).
- 25 lb (11 kg) — about 1⅓ cups kibble per day, or roughly 140–150 g of patties (5 patties).
- 50 lb (23 kg) — about 2¼–2¾ cups kibble per day, or roughly 250 g of patties (8–10 patties).
- 80 lb (36 kg) — about 3½–4 cups kibble per day, or roughly 375–400 g of patties (13–14 patties).
Always cross-check against the guaranteed analysis and the kcal-per-cup figure printed on the specific bag you buy — recipes get reformulated, and salmon versus beef versions of the same line can differ by 40 kcal per cup. Puppies typically need 1.5 to 2 times adult maintenance calories during growth, and large-breed puppies need controlled calcium, so growth formulas aren't interchangeable with adult ones.
On the cost question in the title: we don't publish prices in articles because they move too often, and our price match guarantee means the number you'd pay depends on the day. The stable, useful ratio is this — per 1,000 kcal delivered, freeze-dried raw typically costs five to eight times what raw coated kibble costs. Multiply your dog's daily calorie need by that ratio and you'll know instantly whether full-time patties fit your household.
Which should you pick? Three owner scenarios
Match the format to your dog's weight and your routine, not to the marketing. Here's how the decision actually breaks down in conversations we have at the counter.
Scenario 1: A 9 lb senior Shih Tzu who picks at dry food
Better fit: Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties. At roughly 250 kcal per day, two rehydrated patties cover the whole diet, the added moisture supports hydration, and the strong aroma helps a dulled sense of smell. Senior dogs with kidney or dental issues need a vet's sign-off on protein content first.
Scenario 2: A 68 lb active Shepherd mix walked twice daily around G. Ross Lord Park
Better fit: Raw Coated Kibble, with patties as a topper. This dog burns roughly 1,400–1,500 kcal a day. Three cups of kibble plus one crumbled patty (about 120 kcal) hits the target, keeps the ingredient variety, and stays affordable through a GTA winter when walk lengths — and appetites — swing.
Scenario 3: Two 35 lb dogs in one household
Better fit: Raw Coated Kibble. Combined, they need roughly 1,700 kcal daily. In patty form that's about 380 g a day, or over 11 kg a month — the volume alone makes it impractical. Our nutrition experts at the North York store typically suggest kibble as the base with freeze-dried treats used for training instead, so the raw element shows up in the dog treats budget rather than the meal budget.
Bottom line: Raw Coated Kibble delivers about 32–36% protein at 400–470 kcal per cup and is the practical choice for dogs over roughly 40 lb; Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties deliver about 44% protein with 90%+ animal ingredients and make sense as a full diet for small dogs or as a topper for everyone else. Weigh your dog, calculate daily kcal, then multiply — the per-calorie gap of five to eight times decides it faster than any ingredient panel.
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Common questions about Stella & Chewy's formats
Can I mix Raw Coated Kibble and Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties in the same bowl?
Yes. Mixing is the most common approach we see, and both formats digest at similar rates. Keep total daily calories constant: every patty you add (roughly 110–140 kcal) should replace about a quarter cup of kibble. Introduce the patties over 7–10 days to let gut bacteria and probiotics adjust.
Do freeze-dried patties need to be rehydrated?
Rehydrating is strongly preferred. Add warm water at roughly a 1:1 ratio by volume and wait 3–5 minutes; the patty returns to near 65–70% moisture, closer to a fresh raw meal. Dogs fed dry patties without extra water can end up short on fluid intake, especially in heated winter apartments.
Which Stella & Chewy's formula should I choose for my dog?
Start with life stage, then protein. Choose an all-life-stages or growth formula for puppies, adult maintenance for grown dogs, and a single novel protein such as salmon or duck if your dog has suspected food sensitivities. Grain-free versus wholesome-grain is a tolerance question — discuss it with your veterinarian if your dog has a heart or digestive history.
Is freeze-dried raw actually better than raw coated kibble nutritionally?
It's more concentrated, not automatically better. Patties carry higher protein and fat content and fewer processing steps, while raw-coated kibble is a complete, AAFCO-profile diet at a fraction of the cost per calorie. Both can keep a dog in excellent condition; the American Kennel Club and most veterinary nutritionists judge diets by outcomes — coat, stool, weight, energy — over marketing categories.
Not sure which direction suits your dog? Bring your current bag in and our staff will run the calorie math with you — we do it dozens of times a week. You'll find us at 1111A Finch Ave W, Unit 2, North York, ON M3J 2P7 (open 7 AM to 11 PM daily); most GTA addresses can get same-day delivery through SkipTheDishes or a similar app.
For more format comparisons and feeding guides, browse our dog blog, read up on dog wellness needs, or explore pet food for specific needs if your dog has allergies, joint concerns requiring glucosamine and omega-3 support, or weight goals.
