How are Marleybones' meals made?

We only use high quality, freshly prepared ingredients, which are sealed raw in their aseptic packaging and slow-cooked, reaching temperatures of over 100°c for just a few minutes. This method not only locks in essential nutrients, moisture and natural flavours, but also keeps our meals as fresh as possible without the need for preservatives or freezing. Marleybones is the easiest way to feed healthy!

Is Marleybones suitable for puppies?

All our meals have been specially formulated for all life stages, taking the issue out of having to switch your dog's food as they grow. Our quiz algorithm adjusts so that puppies between the ages of 2-12 months receive extra nutrition to ensure they grow strong and healthy!

Do I need to freeze the food?

One of the benefits of Marleybones meals, is that you don't need to clear your freezer of ice-cream and just need to store them in a cool, dry place. As a bonus, they take up much less space than traditional food, and they're easy to stack and store. At Marleybones, we are proud to offer pantry fresh meals that remain fresh for up to 18 months when stored in a cupboard. Unlike other products that use preservatives, additives, or other undesirable ingredients that compromise the nutritional balance of the food, our innovative packaging and cooking methods help us achieve a shelf-stable product without sacrificing quality.

Can I easily stop my subscription?

Marleybones subscription service is easy to manage. You can both push your delivery date or stop your subscription altogether. You're of course welcome back anytime.

What are the pros and cons of home-cooked dog food?

Home-cooked dog food gives you full control over ingredients, but getting the nutritional balance right is genuinely difficult without expert input. Studies show that the vast majority of home-cooked recipes found online are nutritionally incomplete, putting dogs at risk of deficiencies over time. It can be a good option, but only when formulated by a veterinary nutritionist and supplemented correctly.

Marleybones , Team

Jun 10, 2026

At a glance

Home-cooked dog food gives you complete ingredient transparency and suits dogs with multiple allergies or intolerances
Research published in the Journal of Nutritional Science found that over 95% of home-cooked dog food recipes are nutritionally incomplete
The most common deficiencies are calcium, zinc, copper, iodine, and vitamins D and E
Nutritional imbalances take months to show symptoms — by which point real damage can have occurred
A recipe formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist significantly reduces the risk of deficiency

Is home-cooked dog food actually better for your dog?

Home-cooked dog food is not automatically better than commercial food — it depends almost entirely on whether the recipe is nutritionally complete. The concept is appealing: you know every ingredient, you can avoid anything your dog reacts to, and you are cooking with real, recognisable food. Those are genuine advantages. But a dog's nutritional needs are far more complex than a human's, and getting the balance right without professional formulation is extremely hard.

Dogs need precise ratios of calcium to phosphorus, specific levels of trace minerals, and fat-soluble vitamins in forms their bodies can absorb. Miss one of those over weeks and months, and you get silent deficiencies that only show up as serious health problems later. That is not a reason to rule it out — it is a reason to approach it carefully.

Understanding what goes into a nutritionally sound dog diet is a good starting point. Dog food ingredients: a complete guide to nutrition and labels covers the key nutrients, what they do, and how to spot gaps in any food you are considering.

What are the real benefits of cooking for your dog?

There are four areas where home cooking genuinely delivers.

Ingredient control. You choose every item that goes into the bowl. For dogs with confirmed food allergies or multiple intolerances, this level of control is difficult to achieve with commercial foods. You can eliminate specific proteins or ingredients with certainty.

No processing by-products. Home-cooked food is not exposed to the high heat and pressure used in kibble manufacturing. High-heat processing can reduce certain heat-sensitive nutrients, including some B vitamins and antioxidants. Cooking at home, gently, preserves more of these.

Palatability. Most dogs find freshly cooked food more appealing than dry kibble. The aroma is stronger and the moisture content is higher, which matters for dogs who are reluctant eaters or who need encouragement to eat after illness.

Transparency. There are no ambiguous ingredient labels to decode, no percentages to scrutinise, and no

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About the author Marleybones , Team

Marleybones is a team of passionate dog lovers on a mission to transform the way we feed and care for our dogs. Every article we create is rooted in science-backed research, expert insight, and real-life experience - whether it's from our in-house team or trusted partners. We believe in a holistic approach to canine wellbeing, combining high-quality nutrition with behavioural support to help dogs thrive at every stage of life. Our content is designed to educate, empower, and support pet parents in making informed, confident choices for their four-legged family members.