A Pup Above Dog Food Review : Best Sous-Vide Dog Food in 2023?
As a dog owner, you know the joy that comes from having a furry friend in your life. Your dog is your best friend and, in many ways, like your child. You want what’s best for him in all things, and that should extend to the things you choose to feed him.
Though it may seem like all dog food is created equal when you’re strolling down the pet food aisle and every bag looks the same, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Commercial dog food varies considerably in quality depending on the ingredients and processes used to create it. Unfortunately, a lot of kibble on the market is made using questionable and low-quality ingredients, processed at high heat which can destroy the nutrient content of those already mediocre ingredients. The result may taste perfectly fine to your dog, but it might not be the best for his health.
If you want to give your dog the gift of a long and healthy life (let’s be honest, it’s a gift for you as well), upgrade to a higher quality diet and consider fresh dog food.
Fresh dog food is simply one of the most nutritious options out there according to pet nutrition experts. Especially when made in small batches and cooked at low temperatures, fresh dog food recipes tend to be more nutritious and better for your dog than the average kibble. There are plenty of fresh food companies out there, but today we want to introduce you to A Pup Above.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at A Pup Above, one of the best fresh dog food companies out there. You’ll learn everything you need to know to decide if this is the right one for you and for your dog.
Quick Guide
Why You’ll Love A Pup Above:
Whether you’re trying fresh food for the first time or you’re ready to commit with monthly deliveries, A Pup Above has your back. With four single-source protein recipes made with human-grade ingredients, A Pup Above delivers premium, nutrient-packed food right to your door. Your dog deserves the best you can give him and this company is here to make sure you have what you need. Try a sampler pack to test all four recipes or stick with your pup’s favorite protein and give it a try. He won’t be disappointed!
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about A Pup Above dog food.
History of A Pup Above
As is true for many fresh dog food delivery companies, the story of A Pup Above began with two dog lovers. Ruth and Javier are dedicated dog parents to the lovely Lola who became concerned about what was in their dog’s food. In response to their frustration with the commercial dog food industry, the pair set out to create their own fresh dog food solution for likeminded pet parents and their pups.
A Pup Above aims to deliver “your dog’s best life in every bite.” Not only does A Pup Above take their goal of creating wholesome, nutritious meals for dogs very seriously, but they take it one step further.
They take ethics into account with everything they do, in every phase of the product’s lifecycle. From packing design to ingredient sourcing to recycled packaging, A Pup Above aims to make responsible, ethical, and eco-friendly decisions. In an effort to keep their carbon footprint small, A Pup Above sources their ingredients locally and uses renewable energy as much as possible. In fact, their fulfillment center runs on 100% renewable energy. A Pup Above’s packaging is 100% recyclable, they choose misfit produce, and every ingredient in your dog’s food is good enough for a human, too.
A Pup Above believes we are what we eat and the same goes for our dogs. By making food more sustainable, they’re doing everything they can for pets, their parents, AND the environment.
What Should You Know About A Pup Above?
Now that you know a little more about the background of A Pup Above, it’s time to get into the details. Here’s everything you need to know about their fresh dog food products and how to order it:
What Products Do They Offer?
Right now, A Pup Above only makes fresh food for dogs. They currently offer four fresh dog food recipes, each featuring a single source of premium animal protein. Every recipe is made with USDA ingredients including non-GMO produce and made in human food facilities.
A Pup Above currently offers the following four recipes:
What makes A Pup Above dog food unique, even among other fresh dog food delivery services, is that they use the sous-vide cooking method.
The sous-vide cooking method enables A Pup Above to include up to 72% more protein than other fresh food recipes. It involves preparing the ingredients and portioning them into BPA-free packages before cooking them in non-boiling water for over two hours. This process enhances the flavor and eliminates bacteria while preserving the nutritional value of the ingredients.
Here’s what A Pup Above has to say about their recipes:
“Because we’re pet parents too, we live the reality and understand the needs of today’s furry families. We’ve carefully worked with a team of veterinarian nutritionists and food scientists to formulate recipes that put the safety and long-term health of our pups first.”
Every ingredient that goes into A Pup Above fresh dog food is chosen with “a meaningful purpose [to] create the best the recipes for our pups to thrive.” When you choose A Pup Above, you’re choosing quality nutrition and unbelievable flavor your dog will love.
Where is it Made?
A Pup Above’s fresh dog food recipes are made in a USDA inspected human food facility in Texas. This facility is audited regularly by the USDA and it is BRC certified. Every batch of food is tested for E.coli, listeria, salmonella, and other food-borne pathogens. A Pup Above uses only human-grade ingredients and processes that adhere to human food standards.
As part of their commitment to sustainability, A Pup Above sources their ingredients locally whenever possible. Many of their ingredients come from trusted farms in the United States, though some ingredients are sourced from other countries (never China), depending on the growing season. Their suppliers are required to provide proof of origins and adhere to strict standards for screening, handling, cleaning, and more.
A Pup Above never uses fillers, feed-grade ingredients, preservatives, by-products, or artificial flavorings and they don’t process their food to be shelf-stable. This means the food is cooked at lower temperatures to preserve the nutritional value for your dog.
Another perk of A Pup Above is that the package is fully recyclable, and each year, A Pup Above donates 1% of their revenue to the White Buffalo Land Trust. This money helps to fund their flagship farm, which is a “living, breathing example of regenerative agriculture and a resource for farmers and ranchers from all over the region.” Regenerative farming captures carbon from the atmosphere and helps to keep soil and water healthy.
How Much Does It Cost?
If you’ve done some price comparisons before, you already know that dog food can be expensive. But what’s the difference between a top-shelf brand and a bottom-shelf brand? In some cases, there’s not much difference at all. So, how do you really know what you’re paying for?
The trouble with commercial dog food is that you don’t always know what goes into it or how it’s being made. Sure, you have a list of ingredients, but you may not know exactly where those ingredients come from. With A Pup Above, you have a short list of whole-food ingredients and you know where the food comes from and how it is made. That information is worth its weight in gold.
If you want to give your dog the best, you should be prepared to pay for it. Fresh dog food can be pricey, but you should consider it an investment in your dog’s health and in your future together.
The cost to feed your dog A Pup Above varies depending on his size and calorie needs. You can purchase any of the four recipes in 3-pound bags for $34.99 or in 7-pound bags for $69.99. A sample pack of 3-pound bags costs about $140. For our 30-pound test dog, A Pup Above recommended about 1 pound per day. At this rate a 7-pound bag would last about a week, making the estimated monthly cost $280.
If you choose to subscribe for regular deliveries, you’ll get 25% off the 7-pound bag or 10% off the 3-pound bag. This takes the regular $69.99 price for a 7-pound bag down to $52.49 each.
Does A Pup Above Have Any Recalls?
When shopping for dog food, it’s important to do your research. Pet food manufacturers are businesses like any other, so they sometimes use misleading marketing tactics to make a sale. You can’t always take what you see on a pet food label at face value and it’s your job to know what you’re feeding your dog.
Part of your research when evaluating a new brand should be a check of the brand’s recall history.
The pet food industry is regulated by the FDA when it comes to details like labeling and food safety. If a product doesn’t accurately reflect what’s on the label or it if fails certain tests for things like food-borne pathogens, either the FDA or the company itself may issue a recall. Having a recall or two isn’t necessarily an indication of a bad brand, but it could be considered a red flag.
Fortunately, A Pup Above has had no recalls in its history. This can probably be attributed to the brand’s commitment to safety, evidenced by their use of high-quality ingredients and with their own commitment to testing. A Pup Above also makes their products themselves in human food facilities.
How Do You Order A Pup Above?
Not everyone is ready to make a long-term commitment to fresh dog food. If you’re just trying it out or you aren’t sure what recipe your dog is going to like, you may want to make a one-time purchase. Fortunately, A Pup Above makes this easy. Just select the recipe you want to try, choose your bag size (3 or 7 pounds,) and add the desired number of bags to your cart. If you want to subscribe, simply select the “Subscribe & Save” option instead of “One-Time Purchase.”
Here are the steps to follow if you want to start a subscription:
- Click the “Shop” button at the top of the A Pup Above website
- Choose from the four recipes available or click “Shop All”
- Select the bag size (3 or 7 pounds) and click “Subscribe and Save”
- Choose your preferred delivery schedule (every 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks)
- Click “Add to Cart” and add any additional recipes to your order
- Complete your order by filling in shipping and payment information
If you’re not ready to start a subscription and you don’t want to wait for shipping, you might be able to find A Pup Above in a retailer near you. Use the Store Locator on the website to check.
When you receive your food, it will arrive in the 100% recyclable packaging, in dry ice. Our package was on our front step for a little bit, and the dry ice was obviously still very cold, as was the food.
When we removed the packages from the box, we thawed the turkey recipe first (which our dog loved by the way!) and put the rest in the freezer.
The process was definitely more convenient than taking a trip to the store and lugging dry dog food home.
A Pup Above Dog Food Pros and Cons
Shopping for dog food can be challenging because there are so many options to choose from – how do you know what’s good and what’s not? By now we hope you’ve learned some of the basics, at least enough to know that A Pup Above is a trustworthy company that has great products to offer.
That being said, it’s your job as a responsible dog owner to make a smart choice on your dog’s behalf. You should consider the good and bad for any dog food company before you go all-in.
Here are some of the pros for A Pup Above:
- All human-grade ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers
- Four single-source protein recipes, two grain-free options
- Customers can make a one-time purchase or create a subscription
- Formulated by veterinary nutritionists and cooked via sous vide
Here are some of the cons for A Pup Above:
- Fairly expensive to purchase, especially compared to dry food
- Food arrives in vacuum-sealed bags, thawing can take some time
- Recipes packaged in 1-pound patties, not pre-portioned for your dog
In the end, all that really matters is your dog is happy and healthy. We’re not trying to convince you that A Pup Above is the best fresh dog food out there, but we definitely think it’s worthy of your consideration. Our goal is to provide you with the unbiased information you need to decide for yourself.
A Pup Above Raw Dog Food FAQs
Is A Pup Above grain-free?
A Pup Above offers four different fresh dog food recipes, two of which are grain-free: Beef Stew and Pork’s Luau. Both Turkey Pawella and Chicka Chicken Bow Wow contain rice.
Is A Pup Above a good option for dogs with food allergies?
Yes, A Pup Above can be a good option for dogs with food allergies. They use all human-grade ingredients and each recipe is made with a single source of protein. Two of A Pup Above’s recipes are grain-free and all are made with non-GMO produce with no artificial additives. If you know what your dog is allergic to, you can simply pick a recipe free from that ingredient.
How do I get samples of A Pup Above dog food?
A Pup Above offers the option to make a single purchase of their fresh dog food recipes or to start a subscription. You also have the option to purchase a sampler back that includes 3- or 7-pound bags of all four of their recipes. The 3-pound sampler costs about $140 and the 7-pound sampler costs $280.
Can I control my subscription online?
Yes, you can create an account when you order or start a subscription and you can control your account online. GA Pup Above allows you to adjust your subscription and delivery schedule as needed and customer service is always available for assistance if you need it.
Is the packaging environmentally friendly?
Yes, A Pup Above is highly committed to keeping their practices both ethical and sustainable. This company sources their ingredients locally and uses renewable energy as much as possible. When it comes to their packaging, everything is 100% recyclable. In fact, A Pup Above has partnered with TerraCycle to provide free shipping for customers who want to recycle their used food pouches.