Why (and how) an unprecedented number of pet parents are cooking meals for their dogs

More and more pet parents are leaving the dry kibble option aside in favor of fresher options. In fact, 42 percent of pet parents are interested in store-bought or subscription fresh or human-grade food for their pets.  Of course, it doesn’t get fresher than home-cooked – an option favored by an increasing number of pet parents. According to one recent study, one-fifth of pet parents claimed to cook for their pets. Nearly 87 million American households have pets, which means millions of pooches are enjoying home-cooked meals. And that number appears to be increasing.

“In general, this is a quickly growing segment of the pet parent population,” says Julia Lauria, Chief Marketing Officer of Brutus Broth, a company that crafts homestyle beef broth specially formulated for pets. “We have definitely seen an increase in interest in home-cooked meals for pets among our customers. More and more people are realizing how important it is to feed their fur babies good, healthy, all-natural food.”

The reasons pet parents choose to prepare food at home are varied and complex, but overall, they come down to a few significant factors.

Many pet parents are skeptical of mass-manufactured pet food. While this food is carefully formulated for optimum, balanced  nutrition, and is among the FDA’s most highly regulated products, concerns about additives, fillers, chemicals, processing, and ingredient standards prompt many pet parents to seek a viable alternative.

Home cooking means the chef knows exactly what’s in the food. Home-cooked meals have wholesome, natural, human-grade ingredients. Some are even powerhouses, like bone broth that’s loaded with natural nutrients that can contribute to a dog’s overall health. Many pet parents also feel that home-cooked meals offer their pet variety and added flavor, and note that their pets enjoy it much more.

Sometimes a pet has health issues that create dietary needs commercial dog foods cannot adequately address. This may be as simple as making your dog bland, easy-to-digest foods during a stomach illness, or as complex as navigating allergies, sensitivities, or nutritional deficiencies.

Under a nutritionist’s supervision, with careful planning, cooking meals at home allows you to know exactly what’s in your pet’s food at any given time, and monitor reactions to any given food.

Many pet parents see cooking for their dogs as an enjoyable and satisfying experience. They love being able to further nurture their furkids. In addition, pet parents find it enhances the bond they have with their dog and makes them feel more in control of their pet’s well being. Further, they enjoy browsing for new recipes, researching pet nutrition, building a pet menu, and discovering their pets’ preferences.

For many people, cooking pet food at home is a win-win in terms of balancing premium nutrition and cost. “These pet parents want  to feed their dogs the highest-nutrition, human-grade options, but might not have the means to subscribe to a fresh food delivery service, which can run hundreds of dollars per month depending on the quantity needed and the size of dogs,” says Julia.

Preparing food at home can be a cost-effective option. On the low end, home-cooked meals for a 50-lb dog come in at about $2.50 per day, or $69.44 per month, and on the high end, they come in at $6.10, or $170.80 per month. The lowest-priced home-prepared meals are only marginally more expensive than the highest-priced dry kibble, which comes in at around $2 per day for a 50-lb dog. However,there is a steep cost difference between homemade food and pre-made fresh food options, which range in price from $3.40 to $22 per day for a 50-lb dog.

Make nutrition a #1 priority

Dogs have very different nutritional needs than humans, and every individual dog is different, with different likes and dislikes, different appetites, different weights, and different energy requirements. It is very important to consult with your vet or a veterinary dietician to assess the right nutritional needs for your pet so the meals are as nutritious as possible.

A little preparation can help ensure that you have the right ingredients on-hand and the time to prepare them. It will also help you stay on track with your pet’s dietary needs and commit to your goal of home cooking.  Consider starting with a pet cookbook, rather than trying to create your own recipes or pulling random recipes from different sources. Brutus Broth’s recently-released cookbook, Beyond the Bowl, is a comprehensive collection of nutritious homemade pet food recipes, and a great starting point for meal planning.

Get your family or friends involved. Be creative with your food presentation, and your snack options. Enjoy the process, and the opportunity to learn a new skill and bond with your pet.

“We believe cooking pet food at home can and should be a fun family activity, and a goal that’s accessible to everyone.” notes Julia. “This is why we created Beyond the Bowl. It’s filled with fun options like Banana Broth Pupcakes, Doggo Game Day Chili, and “puptails,” fun, pet-tailored drinks like “brothiccinos,” to “barkaritas,” and “brothtinis.”

With some time, some education, and some planning, and a serious commitment to keeping your pet’s health at the forefront, feeding your pet at home is a reasonable and worthwhile goal, and one more way to show your love and care to your favorite furry family member.

TripsWithPets is a leader in the pet travel industry – providing online reservations at pet-friendly hotels across the United States and Canada.

With a vast inventory of pet-friendly accommodations, TripsWithPets provides pet travelers with a wide variety of pet-friendly options.

Pet parents go to TripsWithPets.com for all they need to find and book the perfect place to stay with their pets –  including detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities.

As passionate animal advocates, TripsWithPets  supports local and national 501(c)(3) animal welfare organizations by raising much needed funds through their annual Partners for Animal Welfare Series (PAWS)