From Sourcing To Serving, A Closer Look Inside Our Bowl.
From Sourcing To Serving, A Closer Look Inside Our Bowl.
LINKED TO A LONGER LIFE
Choosing what to feed your dog is one of the most impactful health decisions you can make for them. The research is starting to catch up to what many fresh-food feeders have suspected for years.
WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY?
The Lippert-Sapy study showed dogs fed fresh food lived up to 2.5 years longer than dogs fed 100% kibble.*
That's not a minor quality-of-life improvement. That's years of mornings, walks, and time with a dog you love. The difference between fresh food and conventional kibble isn't just what's in the bowl. It's what that food does inside the body over months and years of feeding.
A Pup Above is built on the belief that dogs deserve the same whole-food nutrition standards we hold for ourselves. Every recipe starts with human-grade ingredients, cooked sous vide to preserve nutrients, formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, and validated through independent feeding trials. Not because it's easy to produce that way. Because the evidence suggests it matters.
*Individual results may vary. The Lippert-Sapy study observed associations between diet and longevity in a survey-based population. Consult your veterinarian for guidance on your dog's specific nutritional needs.
Vet-formulated
Each recipe is crafted by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to ensure complete, balanced nutrition that meets AAFCO standards. Most dog food brands stop there. We don't.
WHAT ARE FEEDING TRIALS AND DIGESTIBILITY STUDIES?
Feeding trials and digestibility studies confirm a dog food is complete and balanced in real life, not just on paper. Any brand can formulate a recipe that looks good in a spreadsheet. Fewer are willing to prove it actually works inside a dog.
A Pup Above conducts 6-month, in-home feeding trials to verify that nutrients are properly absorbed, body condition remains stable, and no signs of nutritional imbalance occur. These trials are expensive and time-consuming. We do them anyway because your dog deserves food that's been proven, not assumed.
Digestibility studies measure how efficiently dogs absorb key nutrients. A Pup Above is 93% digestible, validated by independent feeding trials. That means more nutrition absorbed from every bowl, less waste in your yard, and a dog whose body is actually getting what the label promises.
Sous-Vide Cooking
Sous vide is a cooking method developed in fine-dining kitchens to solve a specific problem: how do you cook meat and fish to the precise temperature that maximizes flavor and texture without destroying the nutrients that make whole food worth eating?
The answer is low heat, applied slowly, in a sealed environment. No high-heat extrusion. No nutrient-stripping bake cycles. Just gentle, controlled cooking that preserves the integrity of every ingredient from the moment it goes in to the moment it lands in your dog's bowl.
Most kibble is produced through extrusion, a high-heat, high-pressure process that makes manufacturing cheap and shelf life long, but strips out much of the nutritional value that whole ingredients actually contain. Sous vide does the opposite. It costs more to produce. It takes longer. The result is food that tastes like real food and nourishes like real food, because it is real food, cooked the way real food deserves to be cooked.
BONE BROTH BUILT IN
Most dog food adds flavor at the end of the process. We build it in from the start.
WHY BONE BROTH AND NOT JUST WATER OR BROTH FLAVORING?
Bone broth is not a seasoning. It is a functional ingredient. When you simmer bones low and slow, the result is a liquid dense with collagen, gelatin, glycine, and glucosamine. These are the same compounds that support joint cushioning, gut lining integrity, coat quality, and skin health. Adding water to dog food adds nothing. Adding bone broth adds measurable nutritional value to every bite.
Most pet food manufacturers use water or "natural flavors" as a liquid base because it is cheaper and easier to source at scale. We use real bone broth because the biological difference is not marginal. It is significant.
Every A Pup Above recipe is infused with bone broth during the cooking process, not sprayed on afterward. That means the broth penetrates the food rather than coating the surface, and the nutrients it carries are distributed through every serving rather than concentrated on the outside of a kibble piece that will lose them the moment it hits moisture.
The result is food that smells like real food, tastes like real food, and delivers the functional benefits of an ingredient your dog's body actually knows how to use.
100% Human-Grade
Most pet food is made in feed-grade facilities under feed-grade standards. That means ingredients, handling, and kitchen conditions that would never be permitted in food made for people.
Every ingredient in A Pup Above meets the legal definition of human-grade: fit for human consumption, handled in USDA-inspected facilities, and held to the same safety standards as the food in your own kitchen. That's not a marketing claim. It's a regulatory distinction that less than 1% of pet food brands can make.
From the farms where our ingredients are sourced to the facility where each recipe is cooked, every step in our supply chain meets the strict requirements for human-grade quality. When we say human-grade, we mean it in the technical, legally defensible sense of the word.
Non-GMO Produce
The fruits and vegetables in every A Pup Above recipe are fresh, whole, and non-GMO. No concentrate. No by-product meal. No produce you couldn't identify by name.
We also source a portion of our produce through upcycling partnerships, using fresh fruits and vegetables that are cosmetically imperfect but nutritionally identical to what you'd find in a grocery store. This reduces food waste, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and keeps usable food out of landfills without compromising a single ingredient standard.
Your dog gets whole-food nutrition from ingredients you can actually read on the label. The planet gets a little less waste. That tradeoff costs us more to execute. We think it's worth it.
Transparency isn’t just a promise — it’s built into every bag.
Click a recipe below to find out the origin and benefit of each ingredient.
Beef
Chicken
Pork
turkey
Turducken
Ingredients
Every ingredient is sourced with intention — origin and benefits listed below.
Ingredient
Origin
Our ranch raised beef is an excellent source of protein that's rich in flavor.
Our beef liver is a doggy delicacy rich in nutrients that support vision, skin and immune health.
A delectable and digestible source of fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Ripe tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which supports heart health.
Made using the bones from the beef we source, bone broth supports gut health and joint rejuvenation.
Carrots are rich in beta carotene, which supports vision and immune health.
Rich in plant-based protein and high in fiber for digestive health.
Rich in linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid for dogs.
An anti-inflammatory rich in curcumin that supports joint and bone health.
Thyme supports digestive health and is rich in antioxidants.
Parsley supports digestive health and is a natural breath freshener for pups!
Calcium and Phosphorous for bone and nerve health.
Calcium for bone and nerve health.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for nerve and muscle function.
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that maintains fluid balance, nerve function and muscle activity.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for muscle function, nerve health and bone strength.
Controls hormones and promotes a healthy nervous system. Chelated zinc is better absorbed than standard zinc oxide or sulfate.
An essential mineral for the prevention of anemia, iron stimulates hemoglobin production. Chelated iron is better absorbed than non-chelated iron forms.
Plays a vital role in red blood cell production, immune function, and bone health in dogs. Chelated copper is better absorbed than copper sulfate or oxide.
An essential mineral that promotes healthy nerve function and bone development. Chelated manganese is better absorbed than manganese oxide or sulfate.
A source of iodine, an essential mineral that supports thyroid function and hormone regulation.
A powerful antioxidant, selenium stimulates the immune system and promotes a healthy circulation system.
Vitamin that helps regulate calcium and phosphorous levels to support bone health and muscle function.
An essential vitamin that protects cells from oxidative damage and supports the immune system.
Ingredients
Every ingredient is sourced with intention — origin and benefits listed below.
Ingredient
Origin
Our cage-free chicken is an excellent lean source of meat protein
Our cage-free chicken liver is a doggy delicacy rich in nutrients that support vision, skin and immune health.
A sweet and savory source of fiber and beta-carotene.
Supports gut health and joint rejuvenation.
A gentle, easy to digest carbohydrate that’s low-fat and gluten free.
A sweet, crisp source of dietary fiber and vitamin C.
Leafy greens rich in iron and magnesium.
Leafy greens rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
An anti-inflammatory rich in curcumin that supports joint and bone health.
Thyme supports digestive health and is rich in antioxidants.
Parsley supports digestive health and is a natural breath freshener for pups!
Calcium and Phosphorous for bone and nerve health.
Calcium for bone and nerve health.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for nerve and muscle function.
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that maintains fluid balance, nerve function and muscle activity.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for muscle function, nerve health and bone strength.
Controls hormones and promotes a healthy nervous system. Chelated zinc is better absorbed than standard zinc oxide or sulfate.
An essential mineral for the prevention of anemia, iron stimulates hemoglobin production. Chelated iron is better absorbed than non-chelated iron forms.
Plays a vital role in red blood cell production, immune function, and bone health in dogs. Chelated copper is better absorbed than copper sulfate or oxide.
An essential mineral that promotes healthy nerve function and bone development. Chelated manganese is better absorbed than manganese oxide or sulfate.
A source of iodine, an essential mineral that supports thyroid function and hormone regulation.
A powerful antioxidant, selenium stimulates the immune system and promotes a healthy circulation system.
Vitamin that helps regulate calcium and phosphorous levels to support bone health and muscle function.
An essential vitamin that protects cells from oxidative damage and supports the immune system.
Ingredients
Every ingredient is sourced with intention — origin and benefits listed below.
Ingredient
Origin
Our crate free pork is an excellent source of protein that's rich in flavor.
Our crate-free pork liver is a doggy delicacy rich in nutrients that support vision, skin and immune health.
A sweet and savory source of fiber and beta-carotene.
Supports gut health and joint rejuvenation.
Rich in plant-based protein and high in fiber for digestive health.
Rich in bromelain, an enzyme with antibacterial properties that aid in digestion.
An anti-inflammatory rich in curcumin that supports joint and bone health.
Thyme supports digestive health and is rich in antioxidants.
Parsley supports digestive health and is a natural breath freshener for pups!
Calcium and Phosphorous for bone and nerve health.
Calcium for bone and nerve health.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for nerve and muscle function.
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that maintains fluid balance, nerve function and muscle activity.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for muscle function, nerve health and bone strength.
Controls hormones and promotes a healthy nervous system. Chelated zinc is better absorbed than standard zinc oxide or sulfate.
An essential mineral for the prevention of anemia, iron stimulates hemoglobin production. Chelated iron is better absorbed than non-chelated iron forms.
Plays a vital role in red blood cell production, immune function, and bone health in dogs. Chelated copper is better absorbed than copper sulfate or oxide.
An essential mineral that promotes healthy nerve function and bone development. Chelated manganese is better absorbed than manganese oxide or sulfate.
A source of iodine, an essential mineral that supports thyroid function and hormone regulation.
A powerful antioxidant, selenium stimulates the immune system and promotes a healthy circulation system.
Vitamin that helps regulate calcium and phosphorous levels to support bone health and muscle function.
An essential vitamin that protects cells from oxidative damage and supports the immune system.
Ingredients
Every ingredient is sourced with intention — origin and benefits listed below.
Ingredient
Origin
Our cage-free turkey is an excellent lean source of protein that's rich in flavor.
Our cage-free turkey hearts is a doggy delicacy rich in taurine and antioxidants for joint and heart health.
Our cage-free turkey liver is a doggy delicacy rich in nutrients that support vision, skin and immune health.
Our cage-free turkey gizzards are rich in nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
Ripe tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which supports heart health.
Carrots are rich in beta carotene, which supports vision and immune health.
Supports gut health and joint rejuvenation.
Rich in plant-based protein and high in fiber for digestive health.
A gentle, easy to digest carbohydrate that’s low-fat and gluten free.
An anti-inflammatory rich in curcumin that supports joint and bone health.
Thyme supports digestive health and is rich in antioxidants.
Parsley supports digestive health and is a natural breath freshener for pups!
Calcium and Phosphorous for bone and nerve health.
Calcium for bone and nerve health.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for nerve and muscle function.
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that maintains fluid balance, nerve function and muscle activity.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for muscle function, nerve health and bone strength.
Controls hormones and promotes a healthy nervous system. Chelated zinc is better absorbed than standard zinc oxide or sulfate.
An essential mineral for the prevention of anemia, iron stimulates hemoglobin production. Chelated iron is better absorbed than non-chelated iron forms.
Plays a vital role in red blood cell production, immune function, and bone health in dogs. Chelated copper is better absorbed than copper sulfate or oxide.
An essential mineral that promotes healthy nerve function and bone development. Chelated manganese is better absorbed than manganese oxide or sulfate.
A source of iodine, an essential mineral that supports thyroid function and hormone regulation.
A powerful antioxidant, selenium stimulates the immune system and promotes a healthy circulation system.
Vitamin that helps regulate calcium and phosphorous levels to support bone health and muscle function.
An essential vitamin that protects cells from oxidative damage and supports the immune system.
Ingredients
Every ingredient is sourced with intention — origin and benefits listed below.
Ingredient
Origin
Our cage-free turkey is an excellent source of lean protein that's rich in flavor.
Our cage-free chicken hearts are a doggy delicacy rich in taurine and antioxidants for joint and heart health.
Our cage-free chicken liver is a doggy delicacy rich in nutrients that support vision, skin and immune health.
Supports gut health and joint rejuvenation.
A sweet and savory source of fiber and beta-carotene.
Rich in plant-based protein and high in fiber for digestive health.
A rich, savory doggy delicacy that’s packed with protein and omega fatty acids.
A sweet, crisp source of dietary fiber and vitamin C.
A juicy and sweet source of fiber & antioxidants.
Thyme supports digestive health and is rich in antioxidants.
An anti-inflammatory rich in curcumin that supports joint and bone health.
Parsley supports digestive health and is a natural breath freshener for pups!
Made from fresh sardine, herring, mackerel and anchovy, our fish oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids (DHA and EPA), that support healthy skin and coat + inflammatory and immune responses.
Calcium for bone and nerve health.
Calcium and Phosphorous for bone and nerve health.
Sodium is an essential electrolyte that maintains fluid balance, nerve function and muscle activity.
Potassium is an essential nutrient for nerve and muscle function.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for muscle function, nerve health and bone strength.
Controls hormones and promotes a healthy nervous system. Chelated zinc is better absorbed than standard zinc oxide or sulfate.
Choline is an essential nutrient that plays a critical function in brain, liver, and muscle health.
An essential mineral for the prevention of anemia, iron stimulates hemoglobin production. Chelated iron is better absorbed than non-chelated iron forms.
A source of iodine, an essential mineral that supports thyroid function and hormone regulation.
An essential B-complex vitamin that supports a healthy nervous system and maintains skin and coat health.
An essential mineral that promotes healthy nerve function and bone development. Chelated manganese is better absorbed than manganese oxide or sulfate.
Plays a vital role in red blood cell production, immune function, and bone health in dogs. Chelated copper is better absorbed than copper sulfate or oxide.
A powerful antioxidant, selenium stimulates the immune system and promotes a healthy circulation system.
An essential vitamin that protects cells from oxidative damage and supports the immune system.
An essential vitamin that supports energy production, brain function, digestion and red cell formulation.
An essential vitamin that supports energy production, brain function, skin health, and digestion.
An essential vitamin that supports energy metabolism and other cellular functions.
An essential vitamin that supports energy metabolism, nervous system function, heart health, and digestion.
An essential vitamin that supports vision, growth, and immune function.
An essential vitamin that supports brain function, metabolism, immune health, and red cell production.
An essential vitamin that helps regulate calcium and phosphorous levels to support bone health and muscle function.
An essential vitamin that plays a crucial role in cell growth, red blood cell production, and DNA synthesis.
The Fresh Food Effect
Small Changes. Big Impact.
Studies show that adding just 20% of fresh food can help dogs live up to 2.5 years longer than dogs fed kibble.*
Our fresh food is gently cooked sous-vide to lock in nutrients, boost flavor, and eliminate harmful pathogens. With pet health issues like obesity and cancer on the rise, more research shows the benefits of fresh food and the risks of many highly processed commercial diets. Whether your dog is picky, has health concerns, or eats anything, we’ve seen the difference fresh food can make—starting with our own pups.
Nope! We do the cooking for you. All you have to do is defrost and serve to your pup. You can serve it directly from the fridge or add a touch of hot water if your dog prefers warm food.
Yes! Our food is real food so it’s important you treat it the same as your own fresh food. Keep the food at a safe temperature in a refrigerator or freezer. Your delivery box will come with dry ice and liners to ensure it arrives frozen. The packaging also includes info on how to store and feed the food properly (it’s very simple!).
We work with top food scientists and vet nutritionists to make the healthiest pup food possible. Our vet nutritionists carefully formulate each recipe to be 100% complete and balanced according to AAFCO standards for adult maintenance.
We’re big believers in creating products that are good for the planet and healthy for our pups! Our cardboard boxes and insulation are curbside recyclable. Our food bags are fully recyclable through our partnership with Terracycle. Our food bags are also made from BPA-Free materials and are non-toxic.
