Beyond Kibble: Rethinking How We Nourish Our Dogs

When you walk into Doggee Club, you might notice something missing: kibble. Unlike big-box pet stores stocked with endless rows of dry dog food, Doggee Club offers a curated selection of food, treats, and chews in smaller bags. The options you’ll find at Doggee Club reflect the store’s mission to bring healthier, more natural options to our community of dogs and the people who care for them. Years of research into the ever-growing pet food industry, combined with personal experience, have shaped our belief in feeding fresher and better. 

In this article, we’ll explore how kibble became the norm, why we choose to spotlight alternatives (or thoughtful additions), and—most importantly—how to make informed decisions about what to feed your dog.

The Origins of Kibble

Would it surprise you to know that kibble has only been around for less than 200 years? The first dried dog biscuit was created in 1860 by an electrician named James Spratt. He was neither a nutritionist nor a veterinarian–just a clever salesman with a convenient idea for feeding pet dogs.

Spratt’s innovation eventually sparked what would become a multi-billion-dollar pet food industry rooted in his belief that kitchen scraps weren’t a reliable way to nourish dogs. He wasn’t entirely wrong—table scraps alone can fall short nutritionally—but here’s the catch: dogs weren’t designed to thrive on ultra-processed biscuits for life either. And here’s why.

What’s in Kibble?

On the surface, kibble seems like a smart, affordable solution. For around two dollars a day, it claims to provide complete nutrition. It’s easy to scoop and serve and it’s shelf-stable for over a year. Sounds ideal for a busy pet parent who just wants the best for their dog, right? Not so fast.

According to world-renowned veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker and coauthor Rodney Habib, kibble is considered an ultra-processed food which means it’s “made in factories, broken down from their whole or fresh form, and treated with thickeners, colors, glazes, palatants, and additives to extend shelf life.” [1] The raw ingredients are blended and cooked at extremely high temperatures in a process called extrusion. That process destroys many of the food’s natural nutrients, so pet food manufacturers must add synthetic vitamin and mineral premixes back in to meet basic nutritional standards.

Here’s the issue with that: the body doesn’t absorb synthetic nutrients the same way it responds to those found in real, whole foods. And the base ingredients of most kibble? They're not exactly what dogs were biologically built to thrive on.

As Dr. Karen Becker explains, “The average bag of grain-based food is often more than 50 percent carbs, largely from insulin-raising corn or potatoes.” Instead of using high-quality meat as the foundation of a carnivorous dog’s diet, many major pet food brands lean heavily on carbohydrates to cut costs—despite packaging that might show juicy cuts of filet mignon or chicken breasts front and center.

The promise of convenience and “complete nutrition” is tempting—and if you’ve relied on kibble thinking it was all your dog needed, you’re not alone.

Major pet food companies have spent decades promoting the idea that kibble provides all the nutrition a dog needs for life—so much so that this messaging has made its way into many veterinary practices.

As Dr. Karen Becker notes, “Vets who encourage people to feed dogs ‘pet food’ their whole lives argue that pet foods have been designed to meet nutritional needs.” And it’s true: regulatory bodies like the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) set standards to ensure pet foods meet basic nutritional guidelines.

But here’s an important question to ask: What other living species do we recommend eating the same processed food every day, for their entire lives?

Dr. Becker offers a compelling comparison: “Even ‘scientifically formulated’ infant formula, which nourishes millions of babies around the world every year, is replaced after several months with real foods that are less processed and more diverse.”

If variety and freshness matter in human nutrition, shouldn’t they matter for our pets, too?

If Not Kibble, Then What?

So if dried, carb-heavy biscuits aren’t the ideal answer—what is?

Research continues to support what many pet parents are beginning to realize: dogs thrive on fresh, minimally processed foods.Simply put, “Raw, unadulterated food is what dogs evolved eating, and they certainly haven’t lost this evolutionary adaptation in the last hundred years.”

Dr. Becker emphasizes that the same common-sense approach we take with our own diets—choosing fresh, whole foods over processed ones—can and should apply to our pets as well. The less processed, the better.

That doesn’t mean you need to run to the grocery store, stock up on raw meat, and toss the kibble overnight. Far from it. But it does mean we can stop feeling limited to one type of food and start getting curious about adding more variety to our dogs’ bowls.

Here are a few simple ways to begin feeding fresher—without the overwhelm:

1. Reclaim the (Healthy) Table Scraps
Not all scraps are bad! Skip the greasy pizza crust and seasoned meats but share some pieces of unseasoned raw or cooked whole foods that are safe for dogs. That broccoli stem you were about to toss? Chop it up and add it to your dog’s bowl. That slightly bruised strawberry no one wants? Your dog will probably love it. Small additions like these can add nutrients, support gut health, reduce food waste, and keep mealtime more interesting—all without costing a thing. Before sharing table scraps with your pup, please do your research and ensure that nothing toxic or hazardous is being fed to your dog. These include but are not limited to cooked bones, grapes, onions, and certain nuts. 

2. Add Minimally Processed Toppers
If you’re not ready to ditch kibble completely, no problem. You can start by mixing in air-dried, freeze-dried, or dehydrated toppers. These retain more nutrients than kibble but offer similar convenience and shelf life. Try reducing your dog’s kibble portion by 10% and replacing it with one of these minimally processed options. It’s an easy way to boost variety without overhauling everything at once.

3. Slowly Transition to Fresh Food
If you’ve done your research, talked with your vet, and feel ready to move away from kibble altogether, take it slow. Dogs who’ve been eating the same food for years may have sensitive digestion. Introduce a new, complete-and-balanced fresh food over 7 to 10 days, starting with small amounts and increasing gradually. Your dog’s gut (and you) will appreciate the smoother ride.

Ready to Try Something Fresher?
Feeding your dogs fresher doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Whether you’re curious about adding a few bites of variety to their bowl or ready to explore complete and balanced alternatives to kibble, Doggee Club is here to guide you through your options.

We’ve done the research, spoken to holistic vets, and checked third party sources that conduct unbiased evaluations (including audits of the ingredients and manufacturing process). Our store’s selection has been narrowed down to a handful of dog food brands that we trust and feed to our own dogs. They emphasize transparent ingredient sourcing, use humanely raised or wild-caught proteins along with organic produce, and rely on little to no synthetic vitamins. Every product we carry is selected with your dog’s health (and your real-life schedule) in mind.

Come in and chat with us. We’re always happy to help you find the right first step—for you and your pup.



[1] Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib, The Forever Dog (2021)