Homemade Raw vs Get Joy: Is DIY Raw Dog Food Really Better?

Updated: July 2026 · Reviewed against verified nutrition sources and Get Joy product facts · See our vet & nutrition experts

Both homemade raw and Get Joy put real, minimally processed food in the bowl, and the appeal of doing it yourself is real: full control over every single ingredient. So the honest question is not which one wins in the abstract. It is what the food actually does for your dog once it is in the bowl, whether the nutrition is truly complete and balanced, and which approach fits your household. If your priority is balanced raw plus gut support without the guesswork or the food-safety risk, Get Joy is likely the better fit; if you specifically want total control of every ingredient and have the time and expertise to do it right, homemade raw can be a rewarding choice.

Here is what most homemade raw guides skip. The hard part of raw is not sourcing meat. It is getting the nutrition complete and balanced, keeping the food safe for your family, and doing it consistently for years. That is where Get Joy takes a different path: we start with the gut, because gut health is whole-body health, and we build our Belly Biotics blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics directly into every meal. You get the raw, and you get the science, without the spreadsheet.

What is the main difference between homemade raw and Get Joy?

The main difference is that homemade raw puts the entire job of balancing, sourcing, and safe-handling on you, while Get Joy hands you complete-and-balanced raw with gut support already built in. Homemade raw is owner-controlled from start to finish, which is its biggest strength and its biggest risk. Get Joy is formulated by a PhD animal and veterinary nutritionist, made in a USA SQF-certified facility, and third-party tested, so the balance and safety are handled before the food reaches your dog.

Put simply, homemade raw asks you to become the nutritionist, the butcher, and the food-safety manager. Get Joy asks you to scoop.

Homemade raw vs Get Joy at a glance

Here is the head-to-head on the factors dog parents ask about most.

Is homemade raw balanced and complete?

Not automatically, and that is the catch. Studies repeatedly find that DIY raw recipes fall short of a complete-and-balanced nutrient profile unless they are built by a qualified nutritionist and followed exactly. Common gaps include calcium and phosphorus balance, zinc, copper, vitamin D, and vitamin E, and small errors compound over months and years of feeding.

Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is formulated by a PhD animal and veterinary nutritionist and is complete and balanced for all life stages, including large-breed puppies, which is the toughest AAFCO standard to meet. You are not guessing at ratios or hoping your recipe covers every micronutrient. For the science behind why balance matters, a reputable overview from the veterinary nutrition team at Tufts Petfoodology is a good starting point.

Is homemade raw safe?

Homemade raw carries real safety tradeoffs because it has no kill step, so the responsibility falls entirely on your handling. Raw meat can carry Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, and without a validated step to reduce those pathogens, the risk extends to your kitchen surfaces, your hands, and everyone in the household, not just your dog.

Get Joy uses Competitive Inhibition instead, an FDA-approved natural kill step where beneficial probiotics claim the space and resources that harmful bacteria would need to survive. We do not use HPP, high heat, irradiation, or acidifiers, and we hold a max product temperature of 125°F, so nutrients and probiotics stay intact while the safety step does its job. If you do choose homemade raw, talk with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist first, especially for puppies, seniors, or dogs with health conditions, and follow strict food-safety handling every time.

Which is better for your dog's gut health?

Get Joy is the stronger choice for gut health because it builds a live pre-, pro-, and postbiotic system into every meal, while a homemade bowl only contains the biotics you add and correctly portion yourself. Our Belly Biotics blend delivers 3 billion CFU per pound across five probiotic strains, plus inulin as a prebiotic and a yeast culture postbiotic. It is a structural part of the recipe, not a sprinkle-on afterthought.

Why does this matter? Gut health supports far more than digestion. A balanced microbiome supports immune function, skin and coat, steady energy, and a healthy inflammatory response. Matching that at home means sourcing quality strains, storing them correctly so they stay alive, and dosing them consistently, which is a lot to get right meal after meal. Get Joy does that job in the same scoop. Start with Gut Health 101 and our guide to pre, pro, and postbiotics.

Is homemade raw cheaper?

Sometimes, yes. For owners with the time and know-how, buying meat, organ, and produce in bulk can lower the per-bowl cost, and there is no packaging or brand markup. That is a fair point in favor of homemade raw.

But the sticker price is not the whole cost. Add the hours spent sourcing, grinding, and portioning, the freezer space, the supplements needed to hit balance, and the occasional recipe that has to be tossed for safety, and the total cost of homemade raw climbs. Get Joy is also more efficient than it looks: because freeze-drying removes nearly all the moisture, about 1 lb of Get Joy equals roughly 4 lbs of fresh food, so a light bag goes a long way. New subscriptions start at 50% off the first order, then 10% ongoing, with free shipping over $75 and cancel anytime. If you want the full breakdown, read why freeze dried raw costs what it does.

When does homemade raw make sense?

Homemade raw makes sense when you have the time, the budget, and the expertise, and ideally a recipe built with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist. If you want full control over every ingredient, you enjoy the process, and you are willing to manage safe handling and supplementation carefully, homemade raw can be a rewarding way to feed. For most busy households that want balanced raw nutrition and real gut support without the risk and the labor, Get Joy delivers the same raw-first philosophy in a format that fits real life.

The final verdict: homemade raw or Get Joy?

Get Joy is the best choice for dog parents who want the benefits of raw plus balanced nutrition and a real gut-health system without the guesswork or the food-safety risk. Homemade raw is the better fit if total ingredient control is your top priority and you have the time and expertise to do it right.

Frequently asked questions

Is homemade raw better than Get Joy?

For most households, Get Joy has the edge because it is complete and balanced for all life stages, uses a natural kill step for safety, and builds a pre-, pro-, and postbiotic system into every meal. Homemade raw can work well if you have the time and expertise and use a nutritionist-built recipe.

Is homemade raw dog food complete and balanced?

Not on its own. Studies repeatedly find that DIY raw recipes fall short of a complete-and-balanced profile unless they are formulated by a qualified nutritionist and followed exactly. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw is formulated by a PhD nutritionist and complete and balanced for all life stages.

Is homemade raw safe to handle at home?

Homemade raw has no kill step, so raw meat can carry Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which raises handling risk for your whole household. Get Joy uses Competitive Inhibition, an FDA-approved natural kill step, so the safety step is handled before the food reaches you. Consult your vet before starting any raw diet.

Is homemade raw cheaper than Get Joy?

The per-bowl ingredient cost can be lower if you buy in bulk and have the time. Once you add labor, freezer space, supplements, and food-safety handling, the gap narrows. Get Joy also goes further than it looks, since about 1 lb equals roughly 4 lbs of fresh food.

Can I use Get Joy as a topper over homemade food?

Yes. Get Joy Freeze Dried Raw works as a complete meal, a topper over your dog's current food, or a training reward. Even a small daily scoop adds real raw nutrition and gut support.

Homemade raw details (balance risk, absence of a kill step, handling considerations) reflect widely published veterinary nutrition guidance as of July 2026; individual recipes vary, so consult your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist for your dog. Get Joy figures are from getjoyfood.com and internal product documentation. This article is for education and is not veterinary advice.