A few years ago, being into food culture usually involved having an opinion about foams, a weakness for overpriced olive oil, and an obsession with that Snow Egg from Masterchef (seriously, remember when the whole nation lost it over that egg ?) Now, it feels like everyone is a gourmand. I bet you’re reading this like,pfft please the Snow Egg was so 2010.

Not surprisingly, that obsession has extended to our pets. Many of us aren’t satisfied with just grabbing whatever the cheapest 25 kilo bag of dog food is. We’re treating our mate’s diet with as much care and consideration as our own. 

The thing is, the more attention you pay to what actually goes into a lot of pet food, the less comfortable you’ll be with serving it up. The majority of commercial dog food options are bulked out by cheap, nutritionally empty, filler ingredients. There have also been a number of disturbing incidents of global brands using contaminated products that make pets sick. Those off-putting factors have inspired many owners to make their own food. But while cooking your dog dinner gives you greater control over your their diet, it doesn’t always mean you’ll automatically make the right choice.

Wanting to know more about the pros and cons of homemade pet food, we took a closer look at its advantages and drawbacks. And came up with some simple thought starters to consider before you go full Julia Child.

Until next week, tell your dog I say hi!