The Best Homemade Food For Pugs: Is It Better Than Pet Store Dog Food?

Owning a Pug (or any other four-legged creature for that matter) means being responsible for its well-being, and giving it shelter and food. And speaking of the latter: is store-bought food better than homemade? In case you happen to be a DIY kind of person who likes to make everything from scratch, you might probably want to cook meals yourself for your wrinkle-faced fella. If that sounds like you, you could be wondering what the best homemade food for Pugs would be. But first, we are going to discuss the pros and cons of both store food brands and home-cooked meals so you can make the right choice. Let’s dig right into it then! 

best homemade food for pugs
Best Homemade Food for Pugs

Related Reading: The Best Food Bowl For Pugs: Regular Bowls Vs Slow-Feeders

Store Food Vs Homemade Food For A Pug Puppy

Store Food

Pros

  1. Convenient: no-hassle feeding, where you just buy a prepared food bag and give it out to your pal. Especially useful for those on-the-go pet parents who are working long hours and simply have neither energy nor time to make anything from scratch.
  2. Easy to Store: yep, another five cents into a store’s food “piggybank.” It doesn’t go bad and an owner can just zip the bag shut when not in use.  All a human mommy/daddy has to think about is where to put the bag for easy access. The only time it needs refrigeration is when you mix it with some prepared table food or wholesome snacks like poultry, fruits, and veggies. 
  3. Well-Balanced with Vitamins and Minerals: normally, all good-brand dog foods are manufactured with a pet’s health in mind. Quality dry food’s composition is nutritious, packed with good-for-the-pup ingredients like chicken, beef, salmon, veggies, many vital vitamins, and fiber. So your growing (or on the contrary, aging) pal will get all the nutrients it needs to be healthy and energetic for years to come.  
  4. Cleans Teeth: if you are like many other pet parents who just hate brushing their dogs’ teeth, you are not alone! It might seem like a daunting task for both a two- and a four-legged creature. Therefore, we can call dry dog kibbles to the rescue! While your flat-faced pooch has its meal, it also cleans its teeth and massages gums by chewing on hard food particles. The chewing and breaking down pieces help to fight plaque, tartar, and other canine dental issues
  5. Easy to Use for Traning: yep, that is all pet owners’ go-to trick. If you want your stubborn wrinkle-faced to learn a command or two, just grab a few pieces of its favorite dog food and see the magic happen! Just remember not to overfeed, as Pugs are prone to gaining weight, and rather quickly! 

However, nothing is 100% perfect in this world, including dog food. For some parents, the cons we are about to discuss may become a “deal-breaker” while choosing the right type of food for their beloved cuddly partners.

Cons 

  1. Doesn’t Provide Hydration: it is true, that dry dog food is very…, well, drying. It doesn’t contain enough aqua for a proper pup’s hydration. However, the solution might be quite simple: just add a little water and mix it with a Pug’s food. Or just put a water bowl next to its feeder: most fluffy pals would want to drink right after they are done with their meal.
  2. Hard to Digest: when it comes to digestion, not all dog food brands are created equal. In case they don’t contain enough fiber, a pancake-faced mutt might develop constipation. Hence, an owner has to introduce fiber to his/her dog’s daily diet. Vegetables are an excellent source of fiber, you just have to start with tiny pieces to see if an allergic reaction might follow. 
  3. Not Flavorful Enough: compared to homemade cooking, dry kibbles are not as “aromatic,” so to speak. A pooch may lose interest in eating the “same ole” meal every day as it doesn’t have any distinctive flavor. After all, wouldn’t you? 

You can “spice up the game” by adding small pieces of meat, cooked fish, or some other great snack your Pug puppy is a fan of. My dog, for instance, loves apples. Therefore I know exactly how I am going to trick her into cleaning up her plate. Well, mommy’s gotta do what mommy gotta do! It works like magic every time.

And now, let’s see what the best homemade food for Pugs is and how it compares to store-bought meals. 

Related Reading: Can Dogs Eat Cooked Brussel Sprouts? Benefits and The Best Cooking Methods – Pug Friend.

Homemade Food for Pugs

Pros

  1. Cheaper than Store Food: if you compare pricing for homemade dog food for Pugs and the store brands, it will be clear that the former will be much cheaper. The reason? Dog food manufacturers throw the cost of making food, and taxes into the total price besides the price of food itself.  
  2. More Flavorful: by all means, indeed! Especially if you mix meats, fish, grains, veggies, and fruits to make a “perfect rainbow” meal that is both nutritional as well as delicious! You can refer to this cookbook for some great Pug dog food recipes that will make your furry friend drool. It is hard to single out one canine favorite recipe as most of them are so tasty! Your Pug pal will be coming back for more!  
  3. Easier to Digest: since it is more hydrating than dry food kibbles. Fruits and greens naturally contain water in their composition. Therefore any canine pal who has problems with constipation can benefit from a balanced homemade diet. Owner-prepared meals can also become the best home food for Pugs who are still in the puppy stage as their teeth are growing and can’t process hard foods yet.
  4. Perfect for Senior Pugs: when your pal reaches its “golden age,” its fangs will slowly start to decay. Hence, it will be harder and harder for it to chew on dry kibbles. It may even lose a tooth or two in an attempt to crush the hard pieces. So, it is logical to consider homemade food a solution for oldies who are developing dental problems. 

Believe it or not, even the best homemade food for Pugs has a few disadvantages. Let’s look at a few.

Related Reading: What Human Food Can Pugs Eat? A List Of The Safest Products For A Furry Gourmand.

Cons 

  1. Doesn’t Provide All the Necessary Nutrients: even the freshest cooked meal with a lot of great ingredients cannot provide all the necessary nutrients each pooch has to get daily. Hence, it is best to get a vitamin/mineral supplement to add to your hound’s home-prepared meals to make sure it stays healthy. It is the same with humans: very often two-legged are encouraged by their physicians to add a supplement to their diet to fill in the vitamin deficiency.
  2. Can Be Messy: more so if you have one sloppy eater in the house. Some mischievous wrinkle-faced canines like to play with their meal before they start eating it. Which means a lot of cleaning up for its poor pet parents. Sounds familiar? Then you might need to divide your hound’s portions into much smaller ones or switch to prepared store foods.
  3. Time-consuming: everybody has a busy schedule nowadays trying to provide for their families. The last thing any pet parent coming from a hard day at work wants to do is cook. So, if you work long hours and your schedule is not that flexible, your best option might be to just buy dry or wet dog food and just call it a day.
  4. Has a Shorter Expiration Date: even though you can refrigerate any leftover home-cooked food, it cannot be preserved for more than a week. In case it is over 7 days old, an owner needs to ditch it. 
homemade food for pugs
Homemade Food for Pugs

Curl-Up

When it comes to choosing whether to buy dog food or DIY meals, an owner has to take into consideration his/her budget, work schedule, and a puppy’s life stage to determine which option might fit better. Hopefully, the pros and cons list for both types of food is going to help you decide the route you want to take and which one of them will be most beneficial to your beloved friend as well!

Related Reading: List Of The 5 Best Dry Dog Food For Pugs

stuart and his dog

Family Dog Expert Author

Hi there! I’m Stuart, a devoted dog lover and family dog expert with over a decade of experience working with our furry companions. My passion for dogs drives me to share my knowledge and expertise, helping families build strong, loving bonds with their four-legged friends. When I’m not writing for SirDoggie, you’ll find me hiking, playing with my beautiful dog, or studying music.