What's the difference between AAFCO feeding-trial and nutrient-profile substantiation?

Nutrient-profile substantiation verifies that the formulated recipe’s laboratory-analyzed nutrient panel matches AAFCO’s minimum / maximum requirements for each life stage. Feeding-trial substantiation requires the brand to feed the recipe to real dogs over a defined period (typically 6 months minimum) under AAFCO’s feeding-trial protocol, measuring health markers, body composition, blood chemistry, and stool quality to demonstrate nutritional adequacy in vivo. Feeding-trial substantiation is considered the higher AAFCO bar because it captures real-world bioavailability and metabolizability factors that nutrient-profile analysis alone can miss. JustFoodForDogs uses feeding-trial substantiation for the Beef & Russet Potato recipe. Most commercial pet food (including A Pup Above) uses nutrient-profile substantiation only.

Where can I buy JustFoodForDogs in person?

JustFoodForDogs is widely available at PetSmart locations nationwide (refrigerated case in the front of most stores), at the brand’s own JFFD Kitchens retail locations (currently in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and other markets — locations with on-site fresh food production where you can watch the food being prepared), and through the brand’s official DTC website with subscription home delivery. For owners specifically wanting to see the food being made on-site, JFFD Kitchens locations offer that transparency — structurally unique in the pet food retail landscape. A Pup Above is primarily DTC with expanding independent pet retailer availability.

A Pup Above vs JustFoodForDogs: Which Is Better for Your Dog?

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The short answer: Effectively tied at A/90 vs A/90 on the v15 rubric. Both are A-tier gently-cooked human-grade dog food brands. A Pup Above leads with sous-vide cooking method, beef bone broth, and stew-like wet format. JustFoodForDogs leads with AAFCO feeding-trial substantiation (the higher AAFCO bar requiring actual feeding studies vs nutrient-profile-only formulation), broader retail availability via PetSmart and the brand’s own JFFD Kitchens (retail locations with on-site fresh food production), and longer brand track record. Pick on cooking method, retail-channel preference, and AAFCO-substantiation depth.

The scores

A Pup Above Texas Beef Stew Sous-Vide: A (90/100) — Beef, Beef Liver, Russet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Beef Bone Broth.

JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato Recipe: A (90/100) — Ground Beef, Russet Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Carrots.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two products:

A Pup Above: Beef, Beef Liver, Russet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Beef Bone Broth

JustFoodForDogs: Ground Beef, Russet Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Carrots

Both products earn effectively the same v15 score, but the ingredient lineups tell different stories about how they got there — that is where the actual pick decision lives.

Where A Pup Above pulls ahead

Sous-vide cooking method + beef bone broth: A Pup Above uses sous-vide cooking at low temperature in vacuum-sealed bags, preserving more thermolabile vitamins than oven baking. JustFoodForDogs uses low-temperature batch cooking (specific method varies by recipe). A Pup Above also includes beef bone broth at #5 for natural collagen and additional moisture; JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato includes ground beef + russet potatoes + sweet potatoes + green beans + carrots + sunflower oil + beef liver + green peas + apples + omega marine microalgae oil but doesn’t include named bone broth. Shop on Amazon →

Stew-like wet format with visible whole-food vegetables: A Pup Above Texas Beef Stew is a chunky stew where owners visually confirm whole-food ingredient presence. JustFoodForDogs uses a more homogeneous cooked-meat-and-vegetable mash format. For owners who value visual confirmation of whole-food ingredients (a real differentiator for some owners), A Pup Above’s stew format is structurally aligned.

Omega marine microalgae oil for direct EPA + DHA (algae-derived): Wait — actually JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato includes Omega Marine Microalgae Oil for direct EPA + DHA omega-3, which A Pup Above doesn’t include (A Pup Above uses safflower oil — high-omega-6 with no direct omega-3 source). This is a structural advantage for JustFoodForDogs — rephrasing this section: A Pup Above’s structural advantage is the sous-vide cooking method (lowest-temperature subcategory) and beef-bone-broth-collagen inclusion specifically.

Where JustFoodForDogs holds its own

AAFCO feeding-trial substantiation (higher AAFCO bar): JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato is AAFCO-substantiated via actual feeding-trial studies — the higher AAFCO bar requiring real-world dog feeding studies that demonstrate nutritional adequacy in vivo. A Pup Above is AAFCO-substantiated via nutrient-profile-only formulation — the lower bar that verifies the formulated nutrient panel matches AAFCO requirements but doesn’t require actual feeding studies. For owners specifically prioritizing the higher AAFCO substantiation tier (feeding trials are considered the gold standard), JustFoodForDogs is the structural pick. Shop on Amazon →

Omega marine microalgae oil for direct EPA + DHA + retail availability via PetSmart: JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato includes Omega Marine Microalgae Oil for direct EPA + DHA omega-3 (algae-derived, vegan-source). A Pup Above uses safflower oil (high-omega-6 with no direct omega-3). For dogs with inflammatory conditions or owners specifically prioritizing direct marine omega-3 in the recipe, JustFoodForDogs is structurally aligned. JustFoodForDogs is also widely available at PetSmart and at the brand’s own JFFD Kitchens (retail locations with on-site fresh food production); A Pup Above is DTC-first with expanding independent retail availability.

Longer brand track record + JFFD Kitchens veterinary-integration model: JustFoodForDogs has been operating since 2010 with longer brand track record and an integrated veterinary-channel distribution model (Veterinary Support Diets line for prescription feeding, multiple vet-clinic partnerships, and the JFFD Kitchens retail locations with on-site freshly-made food). A Pup Above is a younger brand with primarily DTC distribution. For owners specifically prioritizing brand-track-record longevity and vet-clinic integration, JustFoodForDogs is the structural pick.

The bottom line

Effectively tied at A/90 vs A/90 — the pick comes down to cooking-method philosophy, AAFCO-substantiation tier, and retail-channel preference. Pick A Pup Above for sous-vide cooking method (lowest-temperature subcategory of gently-cooked), beef bone broth at #5 for natural collagen, and stew-like wet format with visible whole-food vegetables. Pick JustFoodForDogs for AAFCO feeding-trial substantiation (higher AAFCO bar), Omega Marine Microalgae Oil for direct EPA + DHA omega-3 (A Pup Above uses safflower oil with no direct omega-3 source), broader retail availability via PetSmart and JFFD Kitchens locations, and longer brand track record with integrated veterinary-channel distribution.