If you’ve been on the hunt for a dog food brand that takes “human-grade” to a whole new level, Raised Right might already be on your radar. With a focus on transparency, whole-food ingredients, and recipes formulated by veterinarians, this family-owned company promises to feed your pup as thoughtfully as you feed the rest of your family. But does it actually live up to the hype—and more importantly, is it something your dog will actually eat?
In this review, we’re digging into everything you need to know about Raised Right dog food, from the ingredients and sourcing to how it worked for our pup. Let’s take a closer look at whether this fresh food brand is worth a spot in your dog’s bowl.
Raised Right works with veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker to formulate limited ingredient recipes that are high in protein and low in carbs. Most of their recipes have less than 2% carbs because they use ZERO high carb fillers like potato, rice, oats, yam, squash, pasta, barley, parsnips, corn, or wheat.
TL;DR: Quick Summary
Highlights
Looking for a quick overview of what makes this recipe stand out? Below are the key highlights of Raised Right —from high-quality ingredients to nutritional benefits you can feel good about feeding your dog.
Ingredient Quality Scorecard
The main ingredients (the protein and a fruit/veggie or two) vary slightly depending on the recipe. I used the Original Beef recipe for this ingredient scorecard to give you a basic overview of what to expect.
Note: Raised Right uses only whole food ingredients—no synthetic vitamins, fillers, or additives—so every nutrient comes from real food sources.
Nutrient Breakdown (Dry Matter Basis)
Understanding your dog’s food starts with knowing what’s inside — and how those nutrients stack up. This breakdown highlights the key nutritional values in Ollie’s recipe, including protein, fat, fiber, and carbs.
We’ve also included dry matter basis numbers to help you compare fresh food to kibble more accurately. Why? Because fresh food contains a lot of moisture, which can make it look like it has less nutrition on paper. By removing the water from the equation, the dry matter basis gives you a clearer, apples-to-apples comparison across all food types.
💡 Note: Dry matter values are calculated by removing moisture to better compare nutrition across food types.
Fat-to-Protein Ratio: ~40%
Caloric Density: 1298 kcal ME/kg
Real World Review
As much as I love studying labels and ingredient lists, the real test of any dog food happens at the bowl. And let me tell you—Freya was all in for this one.
We tried the four main Original Raised Right recipes (Beef, Turkey, Pork, and Chicken), along with the Turkey & Pumpkin Paté and the Pork & Pumpkin Paté. Let’s start with a quick look at the pros and cons. Then we’ll get into more detail.
Pros & Cons
What Freya Thinks...
Immediate interest.
Freya is funny when it comes to food. If it’s human food, she’ll eat it with no questions asked (and usually without even sniffing it first). With dog food, though, she’s suddenly a food critic that would put any of the Chopped judges to shame. Raised Right smells (and I imagine tastes) like human food because it’s made with human food, so Freya had no qualms about diving in.
In fact, she barely waited for me to get it all set up for pictures before she dove into the bowl. She’s usually really good about waiting, especially if we’re out on the deck. I take all of our pics there because a) the lighting is better, b)it’s prettier than my kitchen, and most importantly, c) Freya knows that she needs to wait before diving in because we’re doing photos. She’s such a good blog dog, isn’t she?
“Lick the bowl clean” yumminess
This is the true test of how Freya feels about food. She’s not typically an “eat it all at once” type of dog. She grazes throughout the day and almost always leaves a bite behind. I don’t know, maybe it’s her emergency backup bite just in case we suddenly turn into neglectful dog parents? Mind you, she’s spoiled beyond belief so she has no reason to worry about that.
Anyway, since I’m not tasting the food myself (there is A LOT I will do to give an unbiased review, but that is not one of them), I judge taste by how much Freya leaves behind. As you can see below, she licked the entire bowl clean. Granted, it was a smaller bowl (easier for taking pictures), but still.
Patés passed the test.
While the Original recipes are more stew-like (actually, a bit more like a cross between pate and stew, but still closer to stew), the Pumpkin Patés are soft and smooth—almost like a mousse. Freya LOVES pumpkin, so she devoured both without hesitation, and I appreciated that they’re just as clean and simple as the rest of the line.
What I Think...
Freya’s opinions matter most here in terms of taste and quality, but I do want to add a few more of my own thoughts on things that Freya doesn’t really think about. I’m a wordy person, so I bolded a few key points for all of you skimmers. 😀
First, and foremost, I love that all of their recipes are truly limited ingredient. Most recipes have between 8-10 ingredients, and all of them are things that you can easily pronounce. In all recipes, the protein source is the first ingredient.
Out of the other 7-9 ingredients, 2 or three are related to the protein. For example, if it’s a beef recipe, the first recipe is beef itself, then beef heart and liver also shows up in the top 4 ingredients.
I also like that Raised Right doesn’t try to offer every type of food under the sun. I’m not talking recipe variety. They offer plenty of that with 8 different recipes (4 original + 4 pate) for adult dogs, plus 4 different veterinary support recipes for dogs with kidney or pancreatic issues.
I’m talking more along the lines of how Raised Right basically offers ONE overall type of food: fresh, gently cooked frozen meals. They don’t have other options, like baked, freeze-dried, etc. So, if you’re looking for a mix of food types, you may be disappointed.
I feel like this means that they focus on doing one thing REALLY well. It also keeps things simpler when ordering. Plus, since the base recipe is similar throughout each of the offerings (the protein and a fruit or veggie are the only things that change), it also makes it easy to do a rotation diet without worrying about stomach issues.
Last, and probably least important, I rather like their packaging. Yes, you will need to make room in your freezer, still. All fresh food takes up freezer space. There’s no getting around that. But Raised Right’s packages are thinner depth-wise than a lot of competitors. They’re a bit wider and longer, but as far as depth goes, they’re not super thick, if that makes sense. It makes it easier to stack in the freezer or tuck behind other things (like ice-cream!).
Once you do take them out of the freezer to thaw, you have 6 days to use the food. So, you don’t have to rush to use it all up asap. That also makes it easier to plan ahead a bit (and free up freezer space). Depending on how much your dog eats, you can take out a few packages at a time and keep them in the fridge.
Final Verdict: Is Raised Right Worth It?
If you’re looking for a dog food that’s as close to home-cooked as it gets—without actually spending your Sundays batch-cooking chicken and carrots—Raised Right is absolutely worth considering. The brand checks nearly every box: ultra-clean ingredients, transparent safety testing, vet-developed recipes, and zero filler. And most importantly? Freya loved every single bite.
That said, it’s not the cheapest option, and it does require some fridge and freezer space. But for pet parents who prioritize quality over convenience—and have dogs with food sensitivities or health issues—it’s one of the cleanest, most transparent fresh food options out there.
Whether you’re searching for an everyday food that aligns with your whole-food values or a special diet for a pup with medical needs, Raised Right makes it clear what they stand for. And honestly? It’s refreshing to see a brand that doesn’t just talk about transparency—it actually lives it.
Raised Right works with veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker to formulate limited ingredient recipes that are high in protein and low in carbs. Most of their recipes have less than 2% carbs because they use ZERO high carb fillers like potato, rice, oats, yam, squash, pasta, barley, parsnips, corn, or wheat.
