Home-cooked for Dogs: A Lovely Idea, But Is It Realistic?

A Hard-Truth I Had to Accept

When I was planning to become a dog mum, I pictured myself cooking for my dogs with love and care. I imagined serving them the freshest meals, supported with the best supplements, and I was so excited to give them nothing but the best. But when the time came, the reality felt very different. My dogs were not as interested in their home-cooked meals as I had hoped, and to my surprise, they actually preferred their kibbles.

Over time, what made it even more disheartening was noticing how their health began to suffer. They had bouts of diarrhea for several nights, waking my husband and me in the early hours. I felt overwhelmed with guilt, wondering if I had somehow prepared the food incorrectly. I kept trying to improve, but things only seemed to worsen, until eventually I returned to feeding them kibble.

At first, I used a generic brand that most people seemed to rely on, and while their digestion did improve, I became concerned after reading the ingredient list. The food contained fillers with limited nutritional value, and much of the protein came from sources labeled as “fish meal” or “lamb meal.” I later learned that “meal” refers to meat that has been rendered, dried, and ground, and while this process does concentrate protein, the quality depends heavily on whether the source animal is clearly specified. For example, “chicken meal” or “salmon meal” is more transparent than vague terms like “meat meal.”

Understanding this helped me see that not all kibbles are created equal. It isn’t that “meal” itself is bad, but that labels without clear sourcing can make it harder to know the quality of what goes into the food.

This experience strengthened my resolve to find a kibble that was as close to home-cooked as possible, with ingredients I could trust. That was when I came across NUTRIPE.

I want to be transparent here—this is a sponsored post. But I only agreed to share about NUTRIPE because I was genuinely convinced that the ingredients are ones I would feel confident feeding my own dogs.

Ok why the home-cooked meal obsession?

Part of the reason home-cooked meals felt so appealing to me was tied to my idea of what being a good “dog mum” meant. Food is such an essential part of the bond we share with our dogs, and I wanted to make sure I was giving mine the very best. I believed that the fresher the food, the better their quality of life would be. In many ways, cooking for them even felt like an extension of our own family meals, something that kept us all connected around the dinner table.

There is also something deeply emotional about preparing food by hand. Just like how we cook for the people we love, making meals for my dogs felt like a natural way of showing care and devotion. It was about more than nutrition, it was about love, comfort, and the belief that every meal could strengthen our bond. I imagined them not only thriving physically, but also feeling nurtured in the same way we do when someone cooks for us.

And all of that is still true. Fresh food does have undeniable benefits, and the emotional connection it creates is real. But there was one important factor I had not considered: my dogs’ own preferences. As much as I wanted them to love the meals I made, they simply did not share the same excitement I felt in preparing them.

What are the other challenges of the home-cooked meal endeavour?

Another thing I came to realize was how challenging it can be to sustain a fully home-cooked diet. For a small dog like a 5kg poodle, the estimated cost of feeding balanced, home-prepared meals can range between 6 to 10 SGD per day depending on the type of protein and supplements you use. Over the course of a month, that adds up to roughly 180 to 300 SGD. At first, I thought this was reasonable because I wanted the best for my dogs, but when you add in the cost of supplements, vitamins, and the occasional higher-quality cut of meat, the expenses can climb very quickly.

Then there is the time involved. Cooking meals for dogs is not as simple as tossing a piece of chicken in a pan. Each recipe needs to be carefully balanced with protein, vegetables, carbohydrates, and added nutrients to make sure it meets a dog’s dietary needs. This means extra planning, weighing ingredients, and sometimes even batch cooking. After cooking comes portioning, which often requires measuring out exact amounts for each meal to prevent underfeeding or overfeeding. On top of that, storing home-cooked food safely is another layer of work. You need enough fridge or freezer space, airtight containers, and a good system to rotate portions so nothing spoils.

Despite pouring so much effort into every step, what hurt the most was seeing my dogs still suffer. I kept pushing myself to try harder, believing that if I just did a little more, it would work out. But the truth was, no matter how much I cooked or adjusted, they were not thriving. It became clear that my determination to make homecooked meals work had started to come at the expense of their health and happiness.

Image from Barkedclub: Luna is savouring the whiff of NUTRIPE’s oven-baked kibbles.

NUTRIPE: Same Love, More Practical

When I was approached by NUTRIPE I will admit I was still a little skeptical. At the end of the day kibble is kibble, right? But after learning more about their process and their commitment to high quality ingredients I found myself genuinely impressed. What won me over was not just the ingredient list but how carefully thought out the formulas are. Their oven baked Krunch range in particular has become a favorite in my household. I even use it as training treats for both my own dogs and my clients’ dogs.

Take the KRUNCH NZ King Salmon and Albacore Tuna with Green Tripe Formula as an example. The first ingredients are wild caught salmon and albacore tuna from New Zealand. These real and high quality proteins are naturally rich in omega three fatty acids, which help keep skin healthy, coats glossy, and joints strong. The formula also includes green tripe, which is something almost no other dog food brand in Malaysia offers. Green tripe is a powerhouse ingredient for digestion and gut health, making it especially valuable for dogs with sensitive stomachs or inconsistent stools. To complete the formula, superfoods such as spinach and kelp provide natural sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall wellbeing.

For me, seeing ingredients like these on a label gave me the same peace of mind I was searching for when I first wanted to cook meals at home. The difference is that with NUTRIPE my dogs actually enjoy the food, and I can feel confident that I am giving them the nutrition they need without the stress and uncertainty of home cooking.

Long story short

This whole journey has been a lesson in humility and in focusing on what truly matters. When I first set out as a dog mum, I thought love meant cooking every meal from scratch. I poured my energy into chopping, cooking, and portioning food, all in the hope that fresher would mean better. It was an act of love, but somewhere along the way I realized that love is not only about effort, it is about the outcome.

Cooking for your dog will always feel like the ultimate gesture of care. It mirrors the way we prepare meals for our families, sharing food as a sign of connection. Yet love also means listening to your dog’s needs and respecting their preferences. If they are not thriving on what we imagine to be “the best,” then perhaps what is truly best lies elsewhere. For me, it meant accepting that while home cooked meals sounded ideal, they were not the right fit for my dogs.

With NUTRIPE, I finally found the balance I had been searching for. The food is made with high quality proteins, nutrient rich superfoods, and even unique ingredients like green tripe that support digestion and overall wellbeing. Most importantly, my dogs actually enjoy it, and I no longer feel the stress or guilt that used to weigh me down at mealtimes. Instead, feeding time has become simple, nourishing, and joyful again.

So in the end, love is not defined by the hours we spend in the kitchen, but by the wagging tails, healthy bodies, and excited faces that greet every meal. With NUTRIPE, you get the same love and care you dreamed of with home cooked food, only in a form that truly works for both you and your dogs.

If you’ve been reading this far and you’re Singaporean, it’s your lucky day

NUTRIPE is actually available in Singapore! (Not yet in Malaysia but if you want to register your interest to be notified by me personally when it arrives, click here to submit your interest