ChefPaw Fresh Dog Food Maker: Vet Review

Preparing pet food at home provides a healthy alternative to commercially available options. However, the process of pet food preparation can be daunting without a fresh dog food maker. There are multiple steps involved and many factors to consider, such as:

• How do I find a recipe that fits my pet’s life stage (puppy or kitten, adult, senior)?
• How do I get the right food consistency (not too hard or too soft and mushy)?
• Is the food balanced with the correct nutrients, vitamins and minerals?
• Is the food safe for my pet?  Is it cooked at the right temperature to eliminate dangerous pathogens (like Salmonella and E.coli bacteria)?
• Will my pet enjoy the food?

Enter ChefPaw™ by Innovet Pet Products®, a new fresh dog food maker that provides a convenient, cost-effective and time-saving solution, eliminating the guesswork of preparing pet food at home.  

A ChefPaw™ spokesperson claims that this tool is “the greatest advancement in pet nutrition in the last 20 years”, according to a recent YouTube video.

Let’s dive in and see if the ChewPaw™ lives up to the hype.

Meet the ChefPaw™ Dog Food Maker

ChefPaw™ is a fresh food appliance designed specifically for pet owners. It incorporates a scale for weighing ingredients, blade for mixing the ingredients together and a heating element for cooking, into one convenient package. It’s perfect for those with a demanding lifestyle seeking a healthy alternative to commercial pet food brands yet not wanting to devote an entire day to making pet food.   

It is immediately apparent from the moment the ChefPaw™ appliance is unpacked that this is not your grandma’s crockpot. With its sleek design & sturdy build, this high-end piece of equipment would be at home on the countertop of any modern and sophisticated kitchen.

Along with the ChefPaw™ pet food appliance, a dedicated web-based app allows you to save pet profiles, browse and add recipes, choose how much food you want to be in each batch, and view step-by-step instructions. You can even create meal plans and grocery lists.

An Inside Look at the ChefPaw™ Dog Food Maker

Unboxing the ChewPaw™ dog food maker was simple and straightforward, taking about 10 minutes. The appliance takes up about the same amount of counter space as a large blender.

The ChefPaw™ Dog Food Maker Quick Start Guide & User Manual is included, and a Quickstart Guide is also available within the web-based app.  

The Setup Process

Overall, minimal setup is required before you are ready to become a pet chef and create your first batch of pet food.

I do have a couple of quick notes. After reviewing the manual and safety notices, I read the Cooking Quick Start (on page 3 of the User Manual).  

I had some difficulty with Step 1: TURN ON because I was initially unable to locate the ON/OFF switch! I discovered it is on the underside of the appliance. Look for a sticker on the side indicating “Power Button Located Below”

Another instruction in Step I that proved challenging was ensuring that the blade was properly secured to the bowl. Since the blade was pre-installed, I assumed that this was the case. I also assumed that the blade seal ring was pre-installed (see section 8.6 Blade Assembly on page 18).

I also noted that extremely firm, consistent pressure was required to remove the lid.

How the ChefPaw™ Performs in Everyday Use

Recipes and Instructions: A variety of dog and cat food recipes are included with the web-based app. While most instructions were thorough, some details were missing. For example, one recipe incorporating apples did not specify the size of the slices and if peeled or unpeeled.

It took some digging to determine how to adjust the cook time, but eventually I located this in the User Manual under 8.3 Touchable Icons (p. 18).

Cooking: Food was cooked evenly and thoroughly. The process can be a bit noisy (think vacuum cleaner). Steam will be released, so position the appliance away from heat-sensitive areas.

My first meal experience was positive. My dog, Spruce, was fascinated by the entire preparation process and anxious to sample the finished product. He loves it! With continued use, he still does fantastic, no stomach upset and bowel movements remain completely normal.

From a veterinary nutritional standpoint, ChefPaw™ helps pet parents maintain consistency in portion size and ingredient control, two key factors in balanced feeding. Combined with the recipes in the app that exceed AAFCO standards, it helps ensure nutritional completeness at home.

Cleaning: The ChefPaw™ is fairly easy to clean, either by hand or in a dishwasher; there’s even a self-cleaning mode. Some ingredients left marks inside the mixing bowl, which required more intense cleaning effort.

The Cost of Convenience

The ChefPaw™ costs between $349 (certified pre-owned) and $549 and includes a 2 year warranty.

Pros and Cons 

Pros:

• attractive, modern design
• built-in scale
• allows individual ingredient selection
• simplifies home-prepared pet meals
• includes 50 recipes meeting or exceeding AAFCO (American Association of  

Feed Control Officials) standards

Cons:

• instructions can seem randomly organized at first glance
• recipe details are vague for some ingredients 
• customer support only available on weekdays 

Final recommendation, Is ChefPaw™ worth It? 

ChefPaw™ brings modern, innovative technology to home prepared dog food, transforming a previously tricky and sticky process into a cleaner, faster, smarter one.

Is it worth the investment for pet parents committed to fresh feeding who want a dedicated tool to make it easier, cleaner, and more consistent? Absolutely. 

Best for:

• Dog and cat pet parents seeking convenient, fresh, homemade meals 
• Households moving away from processed kibble
• Individuals with a 1-5 small pets or 1-2 large pets
• Dogs with a sensitive palate (picky pets)
• Individuals desiring to be selective about pet food ingredients (e.g. organic, locally sourced, specific proteins, carbohydrates and fats)

Not ideal for:

• Tiny kitchens or minimal counter space
• Individuals with many pets
• People travelling frequently