Why it’s important to get to know where your dog food comes from.

As dog owners, we spend so much time researching the best groomers, trainers, toys and accessories for our dogs. But one of the most important decisions we make every single day is often the one we research the least and that is “what goes into their food bowl”.

Today's pet food market is crowded with clever marketing, flashy packaging and big promises. Many of the largest brands are owned by multinational companies, making it difficult to know where ingredients are actually sourced, how the food is made, or who is making the decisions about what goes into it.

That's why it's worth taking the time to educate yourself.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the pet food industry is that a higher price automatically means higher quality. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Expensive packaging, clever marketing and premium branding don't necessarily reflect what's inside the bag, especially with kibble. Some foods with premium price tags still rely heavily on highly processed ingredients, fillers or long ingredient lists that many pet owners don't fully understand.

The reality is that most of us were never taught how to read a dog food label. We often look at the picture on the front of the packet or words like "natural", "premium" or "complete and balanced" without knowing what those claims actually mean. Learning to read the ingredient list, understanding where the protein comes from, recognising the difference between whole-food ingredients and highly processed alternatives, and knowing who manufactures the food can help you make far more informed decisions.

Understanding where your dog's food comes from, who makes it, how it's prepared and what ingredients are being used gives you confidence that you're making the best decision for your dog's long-term health. After all, nutrition plays a huge role in everything from skin and coat health to digestion, energy levels, immune function and overall wellbeing.

When you know the people behind the food, there's a level of transparency and accountability that's difficult to find with many mass-produced brands.

That's one of the reasons we love Jack & Chelo.

Jack & Chelo is proudly 100% Tasmanian owned and made, using ethically sourced Tasmanian meat and seafood to create fresh, gourmet meals for dogs across Australia.

What makes them different isn't just the quality of the ingredients, it's the philosophy behind the business.

When you support a local Australian business, you're also supporting:

• Australian farmers and producers.

• Locally sourced, premium-quality meat and seafood.

• Meals prepared under Australia's strict food production standards.

• A business whose reputation depends on every meal they produce.

• A team that genuinely cares about the dogs eating their food—not overseas shareholders focused on cutting costs or maximising profits.

Rather than relying on inexpensive fillers and heavily processed ingredients, Jack & Chelo focuses on real food, carefully prepared using chef techniques to lock in flavour and nutrition.

Founded by chef Esther in 2019 for her own beloved dogs, Jack and Chelo, the business has grown steadily, but its values remain exactly the same.

Every meal is still prepared in their commercial kitchen in Hobart by a small, passionate team who genuinely love what they do. They know many of their customers by name, personally pack every order and remain deeply involved in every part of the business.

Their philosophy is beautifully simple:

If the food isn't good enough for their own dogs, it isn't good enough for yours.

That commitment to quality is one of the reasons so many Australian dog owners continue to make the switch.

Below you'll see exactly where their ingredients come from, along with a few behind-the-scenes photos of the team preparing meals in their Hobart kitchen.

If you'd like to learn more, have questions about the meals or simply want advice on getting started, you can reach out directly to Esther herself at contact@jackandchelo.com.au, she still personally responds to customer emails.

And if you'd like to give Jack & Chelo a try, use the code MYCAVOODLE20 to receive $20 off your first order over $60.