Is Homemade Fresh Food Really Best for Your Dog?

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Ollie is a dog-first company providing fresh, healthy food for dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

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Making your dog’s food at home may sound like a great way to go the extra mile and ensure your dog gets quality nutrition, but is it really the best option for your dog? While many pup parents like the idea of knowing exactly what goes into their dog’s bowl, there are several risks and challenges to consider before committing to home cooking. Discover how homemade dog food stacks up to the professionals, and if it’s the right choice for your pup.

Fresh Dog Food vs. Homemade Dog Food: What’s the Difference?

Fresh dog food generally refers to commercially prepared meals made from whole, human-grade ingredients. Brands like Ollie gently cook the food at safe temperatures, portion it for your dog’s needs, and ensure each recipe meets AAFCO nutritional standards. These meals are ready to serve—no measuring, no cooking, no guesswork.

Homemade dog food is made entirely in your own kitchen. This could mean following a recipe you found online, consulting with a veterinary nutritionist, or simply cooking a mix of meats, vegetables, and grains. While homemade food can be fresh and wholesome, it’s often harder to ensure that it’s nutritionally complete, especially without professional guidance.

Take our quiz to discover personalized meal recommendations for your pup.

Benefits of Making Fresh Dog Food at Home

Making your dog’s meals from scratch can have some clear benefits:

Complete Ingredient Control – You decide exactly what goes into the food, which is helpful if your dog has allergies or sensitivities
Maximum Customization – You can adjust textures, flavors, and ingredients based on your dog’s preferences
Ultimate Freshness – You know the food was just prepared in your own kitchen

These are the same reasons some people cook for themselves instead of ordering out—it gives a sense of connection to the food.

The Significant Challenges of Homemade Dog Food

While making your pup’s meals at home can be rewarding, it comes with substantial challenges:

Nutritional Imbalances

According to University of California, Davis researchers, 95% of homemade dog diets don’t meet canine nutritional requirements . Your dog needs precise levels of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to stay healthy. Missing key elements—like the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio—can cause long-term health issues.

Food Safety Risks

If you’re using raw meat, you risk bacterial contamination like Salmonella or Listeria. Even cooked meals can spoil quickly without proper storage protocols that commercial facilities use.

Time and Expertise Requirements

Cooking balanced meals for your dog daily or weekly takes significant planning, shopping, and kitchen time. Without professional guidance, it’s easy to unintentionally feed your dog an unbalanced diet.

Fresh ingredients and Ollie fresh dog food on tile counter

Fresh Dog Food Benefits from Professional Brands

Studies have shown that dogs fed fresh diets can live up to 2.5 years longer than those on commercial diets [1]. Professional fresh food offers several key advantages:

Superior Digestibility

Fresh dog food tends to be more digestible than dry or canned dog food [2]. Studies show that dogs digest fresh food really well, with absorption rates above 82%, especially proteins and fats [1].

Expert Nutritional Formulation

The best fresh dog food comes from reputable companies that staff board-certified veterinary nutritionists and adhere to AAFCO nutrition guidelines [2]. Every recipe is designed to meet your dog’s complete nutritional needs.

Enhanced Safety Protocols

Professional facilities maintain USDA-certified kitchens with strict safety measures that eliminate harmful bacteria while preserving nutrients.

Explore Ollie’s expertly formulated meal plans designed for your dog’s specific needs.

Human Grade Dog Food: What It Really Means

In early 2023, AAFCO published new guidelines for human-grade dog food. The term is better defined and requires specific documentation in order for manufacturers to label their products human-grade [3].

All ingredients within human-grade food must be fit for human consumption. In addition, human-grade dog food must be manufactured in a facility registered as both an FDA animal food facility and an FDA human food facility that gets inspected by the USDA [4].

This means higher safety standards and ingredient quality than you can typically achieve in a home kitchen.

Fresh Dog Food for Allergies: A Reliable Solution

The most common food allergens in dogs are proteins, especially those from dairy, beef, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, or wheat gluten [5]. The most common signs of food allergies in dogs are itching, frequent skin and ear infections, and chewing/licking of the feet [6].

Fresh dog food helps manage allergies by:

Providing limited ingredient options with novel proteins
Eliminating common fillers and artificial additives
Improving digestion through fresh, minimally processed ingredients that are easier for dogs to digest, reducing issues like diarrhea and gas [7]

If your pup has food sensitivities, consider Ollie’s lamb recipe, which provides a novel protein source for sensitive dogs.

Best Fresh Dog Food Subscription Services: Cost and Convenience

Fresh dog food sales have risen 86.5% since 2021 [8], as more pet parents discover the benefits. Professional subscription services offer:

Personalized Nutrition

Your dog receives customized portions based on their breed, age, weight, and activity level—no guesswork required.

Consistent Quality

Ollie starts at $1 per meal, or less than $4 per day for small dogs [9], providing restaurant-quality meals with professional oversight.

Ultimate Convenience

No meal planning, shopping, or prep time. Perfectly portioned meals arrive at your door on schedule.

Why Ollie Bridges the Gap

Ollie offers fresh, human-grade meals that combine the quality and wholesomeness you’d want from homemade food with the precision of veterinary nutrition. We source premium meats and fresh vegetables, cook them gently in USDA-certified kitchens, and portion them to your dog’s exact needs.

With Ollie, you get the peace of mind that your dog’s meals are nutritionally complete, safe to eat, and incredibly tasty—without spending hours in the kitchen.

Learn how Ollie works and see why thousands of pet parents have made the switch.

Making the Right Choice for Your Pup

The decision between homemade and commercial fresh food depends on your time, resources, and ability to work with a veterinary nutritionist. While homemade food can be healthy, it’s challenging to get the balance right without professional guidance—and mistakes can have long-term health consequences for your dog.

Ollie takes care of the complex nutritional calculations for you—sourcing premium ingredients, cooking meals safely, and ensuring every recipe is nutritionally complete. You get the same freshness and quality you’d aim for at home, without the risks or hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is professionally made, fresh dog food healthier than homemade? Not necessarily healthier, but consistently more reliable. While homemade can be healthy, 95% of homemade dog diets don’t meet canine nutritional requirements unless formulated by a veterinary nutritionist. Professional brands like Ollie ensure balanced nutrition in every meal.

Can I switch between homemade and fresh commercial food? Yes, but transition gradually and ensure both options are nutritionally complete to avoid digestive upset or nutrient gaps.

How do I ensure homemade food has enough nutrients? Work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist who can design a balanced recipe for your dog. Avoid relying on online recipes without professional oversight.

What’s the biggest advantage of professional fresh food over homemade? Consistency and safety. Professional brands provide the freshness and real ingredients of homemade food—plus the safety, consistency, and nutritional precision of a professionally formulated diet.

How much does fresh dog food cost compared to homemade? While the upfront cost may seem higher, professional fresh food eliminates the time, expertise requirements, and potential veterinary costs associated with nutritional imbalances from homemade diets.

Ready to give your pup professionally prepared fresh food? Try Ollie today with our satisfaction guarantee.