Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/a-pup-above-dog-food-review

In the world of fresh dog food, there are more choices than ever. From custom-preportioned meals to grocery store brands, all these choices present a problem for owners who just want the best for their pups. After all, how do you know which brands deliver on their promises and which are just good at marketing themselves?

I recently had the opportunity to test four recipes from A Pup Above, a dog food company with a unique approach to fresh food. They cook their human-grade meat via sous vide to retain more nutrients and protein than the competition. They also go the extra mile to ensure their ingredients are sustainably grown and humanely harvested.

My senior Chihuahua, Papyrus, has been loving this food and I am a pretty big fan too. Keep reading my A Pup Above brand review to discover why this take on fresh fare has won us over and if it’s the right choice for your pooch.

At a Glance: What We Received

About A Pup Above

A Pup Above started with a simple mission: make dog food that is more sustainable, easily traceable, and better for us, our dogs, and the planet. Today, the company takes this mission into account during every step of the process, from sourcing their ingredients to designing their packaging.

Who Makes A Pup Above and Where is it Produced?

A Pup Above was started by Ruth and Javier Marriott and their dog Lola in 2018 with a brand overhaul in 2020. They operate out of Austin, Texas, and all of their dog foods are made in USDA human-grade kitchens.

Which Types of Pets is A Pup Above Best Suited For?

Most dogs can benefit from a fresh, natural diet like the fresh recipes A Pup Above offers.

These meals are high in protein and fat, making them an especially great option for active, young, and working dogs. With proper portioning, they can also be a great choice for seniors and less active dogs.

A Pup Above recipes are tailored to the nutritional needs of adult dogs. They can be used as a topper for puppies, but should not be fed exclusively to dogs under one year of age.

Key Features

There are many things that set A Pup Above, well, above the competition. Here, we’ll look at how their ingredients, preparation, sourcing, focus on sustainability, and ordering options make them unique in the fresh dog food world.

Ingredients

The first ingredient in every A Pup Above fresh food recipe is meat. This is one reason these recipes are so much higher in protein than other fresh food options. The second ingredient in all recipes is organ meat sourced from the same animal as the muscle meat.

These high protein, nutritionally dense ingredients make up most of the food. I know this is true because you can see it!

From here, each recipe contains a handful of nutrient-dense vegetables such as sweet potatoes, spinach, and green beans. A few recipes also contain some less desirable plant ingredients, including potatoes, rice, and peas. But these make up such a small portion of the total ingredients that they don’t pose the same problems they do when used in large quantities as we see in many dry dog foods.

Each recipe also contains a plethora of superfoods. Bone broth, turmeric, thyme, and parsley are used in every flavor to provide unique nutrients and plenty of robust antioxidants.

A special blend of minerals and vitamins is also added to every batch to ensure your dog gets all the nutrients they need to thrive. While a lack of bone meal and whole prey ingredients makes these synthetic nutrients necessary, it is worth noting that this food has fewer added nutrients than most.

Notably, it does not have any added amino acids. This is a testament to how nutrient-dense the meat ingredients are and how well the preparation method preserves these nutrients.

Preparation

One of the most unique aspects of A Pup Above’s fresh food is how they cook it.

Raw food has many benefits largely because it contains more nutrients than cooked food. Heat breaks down enzymes and vitamins while reducing mass, which lowers the protein content. However, raw food also requires special handling, can cause issues for immune-suppressed dogs, and is more likely to harbor high amounts of dangerous bacteria.

Gently cooked fresh food is a compromise that provides safe food with a higher nutrient profile than traditionally cooked options. A Pup Above has taken this compromise to a new level by utilizing sous vide to cook their ingredients.

Sous vide cooking involves placing the ingredients in a vacuum-sealed container and putting them in a water bath. The vacuum conditions inside the container lower the boiling point of water, allowing the ingredients to cook at much lower temperatures.

These lower temperatures are less harmful to nutrients, keeping more of them intact throughout the cooking process. Additionally, less mass is lost during cooking and all of the juices are retained in the final product, leading to food with naturally higher amounts of macronutrients.

Sourcing

This company also goes above and beyond when it comes to sourcing their human-grade ingredients.

All of the meat ingredients come from farms that practice humane farming. The chicken, turkey, and pork are sourced from cage and crate-free facilities, while the beef comes from ranches, not feed lots.

The fruit and vegetable ingredients are non-GMO and sourced from farms that practice sustainable farming. Because of this, they are exposed to nourishing soils that are naturally higher in nutrients and antioxidants.

If you want to know more about where the food in your bags came from, you can use the best-by date to look up where each ingredient was sourced. For example, I know the pork in my bag came from Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, while the green beans came from Oregon, and the turmeric came from India.

I will note that this feature on the company’s website doesn’t always work flawlessly. Of the four bags I received, I could only recall accurate sourcing information on one of them.

Sustainability

Sourcing sustainably farmed ingredients is just one way that A Pup Above supports sustainability practices.

Their packaging, for instance, is also created with the planet in mind. All of their packaging is 100% recyclable. The boxes can be recycled curbside, while other parts of the packaging are recyclable through Terracycle and NexTrex.

A Pup Above’s fulfillment center runs on 100% renewable energy. And every year, the company donates 1% of their revenue to White Buffalo Land Trust. This farm is a working, producing example of regenerative agriculture and serves as an education space for farmers and ranchers in the region.

Ordering Options

When it comes to fresh food, A Pup Above offers four recipe options. Each contains ingredients from only one type of animal, making it easier to find options for dogs with protein allergies. If your dog doesn’t have restrictions, you can opt for the sampler pack and try all four recipes.

For all their options, you can opt for a one-time purchase, or use their subscribe and save feature to save 10% and have your food automatically delivered as often as necessary.

With their “100% tail wags guarantee,” you can try their food risk-free and return it for a full refund if your dog doesn’t like it.

Reviews of the A Pup Above Recipes We Received

1. Chicka Chicka Bow Wow

This recipe contains slightly less protein and fat than the other options, making it a great choice for less active adult dogs.

The chicken that supplies the meat, liver, and bone broth is 100% cage-free and sourced in the USA.

Chicka Chicka Bow Wow is not grain-free as it contains rice. But, as you can see by looking at the food, the amount of rice is quite a bit less than what you’ll get with other fresh food options.

Like other recipes from this company, this one is loaded with superfoods, including apples, spinach, turmeric, parsley, and thyme.

My Chihuahua, Papyrus, is a big fan of this recipe. It provided an easy and gentle transition option since his previous food was chicken-based.

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2. Porky’s Lua

If you’re after a high-protein option for your senior pooch, the pork recipe is your best bet. This flavor is loaded with 51% protein but contains a lower calorie content. This makes it an excellent choice for older dogs who typically need more protein in their diet but have a reduced need for calories.

This recipe is made from crate-free pork farmed using humane methods. This is ethically better and produces meat with higher nutritional value.

In addition to pork meat, this recipe also contains pork liver and bone broth. Both of these ingredients are loaded with nutrition.

Porky’s Lua contains some unique ingredients, including pineapple and green beans, which bring their own benefits. Pineapple contains antioxidants celebrated for their anti-inflammatory properties while green beans are loaded with fiber.

My senior pup happily gobbled up this recipe without complaint.

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3. Texas Beef Stew

This recipe contains the highest amount of fiber and fat out of all the options. It is a great choice for very active dogs and working dogs.

The beef that supplies the meat, liver, and bone broth is sourced from ranches rather than feedlots. Not only does this make it better for the environment, but it means the cattle receive better nutrition. This makes for more nutritious meat for your dog.

The third ingredient is russet potatoes, which isn’t my favorite starch to see so high up in the ingredients list. But again, you can tell from looking at the food that there is very little potato compared to meat.

Plus, this recipe contains plenty of nutrient-dense plant ingredients to offset that high starch content. Tomatoes, carrots, and parsley pack plenty of antioxidants to keep your pup healthy and happy.

Papyrus has always been a big fan of beef and this option was no exception.

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4. Turkey Pawella

The turkey recipe from A Pup Above contains less moisture than the other options. This means that, while it has moderate protein and less fat than the beef recipe, it is the highest calorie option of the four. This makes it a great choice for dogs who need to gain weight and those who are very active.

Turkey Pawella is made using cage-free turkey, which supplies the meat, organs, and bone broth. One of the stand-out features of this recipe is that it contains three organ ingredients while the others only contain one.

Turkey hearts, livers, and gizzards all provide nutrients that meat alone cannot.

Turkey hearts are high in taurine and other amino acids as well as many B vitamins. Turkey livers are packed with iron and vitamin A. And turkey gizzards are incredibly high in protein and amino acids.

Papyrus was a big fan of the turkey recipe and I liked how gentle it was on his stomach.

Our Experience With A Pup Above

My dog, Papyrus, has rarely met a food he doesn’t like. Luckily, I am a bit more discerning. Not only am I very picky about the quality of ingredients that go into his dish, but I am also always on the lookout for dog food companies that go beyond quality to do better by livestock and the planet.

That is exactly why I was so excited to give A Pup Above a try.

Not only did the recipes look like they were packed with all the right stuff, but I was very encouraged by this company’s focus on sustainability and ethically sourced meat.

Since Papyrus doesn’t have any food allergies, I went all in on the sample pack and tested all four recipes.

What We Liked

As far as Papyrus is concerned, there is nothing not to like about this food. For the last week, he has been rotating through all four options and has eagerly devoured every one.

Despite the fast transition from his homemade fresh diet, he’s had no digestive issues. All four options seem to be treating him just fine.

As far as my opinion, I have also found a lot to love about this food. I like that I can see each ingredient clearly in the bowl. Even more, I love that there appears to be vastly more meat than plant-based ingredients.

I’ve tested and reviewed quite a few premium dog foods at this point, and this one rates very high on the list in terms of protein content. This is also one of the few companies I’ve reviewed who don’t have to add taurine to make up for nutritional loss during cooking. I have to assume the sous vide cooking method is responsible for this.

I also like that each recipe only contains ingredients from a single animal source. This makes it super easy for dogs with protein allergies and sensitivities to find a recipe they can eat.

Some of the recipes contain peas and white potatoes, which can reduce taurine absorption. Luckily, it is pretty clear from looking at the food that the amount used is very small and unlikely to cause issues.

The other area where this food impressed was the price. Now, that’s not to say these recipes are cheap. But when I compared the price per pound to other premium fresh food options, I only found one that cost less. And I didn’t find any cheaper options that compared in terms of protein content.

Where I Saw Room for Improvement

I only had one minor complaint about this food.

Each three-pound bag is broken up into three separate packages. For my seven-pound Chihuahua, these aren’t exactly small amounts, which means I have to thaw about five day’s worth of food at a time. Luckily, A Pup Above says the packs stay good in the fridge for up to seven days after being opened, which is longer than most companies recommend.

Overall, I have been really impressed with the quality of the recipes and the ingredients used. And even more impressed with the care that goes into sourcing these ingredients and how affordable the meals are considering this.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for fresh dog food that’s high in animal protein and goes above and beyond in terms of sustainability and ethical sourcing, look no further than A Pup Above.

Each recipe from this company contains only ethically sourced meats and sustainably farmed plant ingredients. These meals are impressively high in protein and contain nutrient-dense foods cooked via sous vide to retain as much protein, vitamins, and antioxidants as possible. If you’re wondering if they taste good, just watch how fast my Chihuahua gobbles them up.

Source: Dogster