At Pup Pup Foods we made it our mission to create and develop globally appealing pet treats and supplements which are sustainable, nutritious, multifunctional, and which don't cost the Earth! 

Our vision: Future Focused Green Protein.

Pup Pup’s production site is nestled in the idyllic foothills of the Wicklow Mountains in the Republic of Ireland. Just a short distance from the Dublin City Port and Dublin’s international cargo airport terminal, we are ideally situated for getting our products to market faster and more efficiently, and without a massive carbon footprint.

All our premium, grain-free recipes are multifunctional and packed full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and immune-boosting properties. No added sugars, artificial colours, fillers, or flavourings are used in our products. We source human-grade ingredients from local Irish producers as much as possible. 

If you scan the content labels, you will find whole, natural ingredients with names that you recognize, no lab-created additions, and no added sugars. We believe that all our ingredients should be 100% natural. If it’s good enough for you, it’s good enough for your Pup Pup.

Our products feature ingredients known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties: Turmeric, Ginger, & Cinnamon.

Other ingredients and their natural properties:

Sea Salt: Rich in minerals, Calcium, Potassium, Iron and Magnesium.

Chia Seeds: Rich in protein and good for digestion and high levels of Vitamin K.

Flax Seeds: Omega 3, Iron, fibre, B1 and protein.

Sunflower Seeds: Anti-inflammatory, rich in Vitamin E and Iron.

Pumpkin Seeds: Zinc, Vitamin K, Iron and protein.

Hemp Seeds: Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus

Chicory Root Powder: Prebiotic digestive aid containing inulin

Dandelion Root Powder: Digestive aid which supports the liver and kidneys, improves heart function and promotes healthy bowel movements.

Chamomile Powder: Promotes sleep, reduces anxiety, relieves itchy skin conditions and improves digestion by calming the gastrointestinal tract

Valerian Root Powder: Reduces anxiety caused by loud noises, transportation and separation. Supports regular sleep patterns, soothes muscular pains and spasms, and also acts as a digestive aid.

No added sugars, artificial colours, fillers or flavourings are used in our products. To preserve freshness, we do use a naturally occurring preservative, citric acid. This can be naturally found in fruits such as lemons and limes. The natural PH of the solution ensures freshness and prevents mould. This can be found in “Gut Pup'' and “Zen Pup”.

We proudly source sustainably farmed, quality ingredients produced locally wherever possible. The Cricket Hop Co. supplies us with ethically farmed human-grade crickets from Europe and Vietnam. The majority of our raw ingredients are sourced in Ireland but occasionally we have to source certain ingredients seasonally from other parts of Europe and beyond. 

There are roughly 11,100 whole crickets in your average 1kg bag of ground flour. Each 26g chew contains roughly 11-14 whole crickets, and one tablespoon (14.7g) of the Top Pup Meal Topper contains 6-11 whole crickets. 

Crickets are raised in large pens which replicate their natural environment and allow them the freedom to roam and hop around. Their environment includes a maze of egg cartons and branches to hide under and forage, with 24-hour access to clean drinking water and food. Our Crickets are fed on a natural agricultural by-product: the leaves of the cassava plant, which would otherwise have gone to waste. This further improves the environmental credentials of our crickets!

After the 10 cycles of shedding their exoskeleton at around five weeks, some crickets are kept for breeding, the rest have another week of feeding. They are then deprived of food for three days to clear their digestive tracts. They are then cleaned and placed in a freezing unit to become dormant before roasting, pressing and ground into powder. Every batch is thoroughly tested in a lab before being certified for human and pet consumption.

The welfare of our crickets is also of paramount importance to us. Though all insects do have a nervous system that consists of dendrites and ganglia, as far as the scientific community is concerned the jury is still out on if or how an insect can feel pain. Even so, scientists conclude that insects do not feel pain the way that we do. When we harvest the crickets, we place them into a chilling unit to make them dormant before the cleaning and drying process begins. This ensures that there is no stress or pain involved and is the most humane process possible. Further reading on this topic can be found here. 

https://www.crickethop.com/news/do-crickets-and-other-insects-feel-pain

It is no secret that the majority of global livestock is inhumanely raised and slaughtered. Poor feed and poor living conditions are major concerns for those who care about animal ethics and welfare.

Farming practices used to raise and feed livestock have taken a toll on our environment— whether it’s deforestation, drinking water contamination, or geeenhouse emissions, we know there has to be a better way to feed our pets.

A “sensitive stomach” is a term used to explain an inflammatory response in the gut. Acheta Domesticus (House cricket) is classified as a novel protein and considered by many vets to be hypoallergenic. This means that they are far less likely to cause a reaction and are suitable for dogs who suffer from allergies or have sensitivities to conventional protein sources such as beef, lamb, chicken and dairy. 

The term “hypoallergenic” cannot be fully applied, as some dogs have a shellfish allergy and so may have a reaction to crickets, which have similar genetic makeup as some crustaceans. 

Chitin is a valuable prebiotic fibre found in cricket exoskeletons and serves as a prebiotic digestive aid. 

Prebiotics are key to developing a healthy microbiome and improving gut flora bacteria, which improves a canine’s overall health and wellbeing. Cricket protein may serve the same purpose as a hydrolysed protein- a protein that is already partially broken down, so as not to spark a reaction in the digestive system, making them an anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy protein source.

It is always considered best practice to speak with your veterinary practitioner when introducing new foods into your pet’s diet, especially if your dog has had digestive issues in the past. 

Start by feeding your pet a small amount of chew or meal topper to make sure they do not have any reaction, then slowly add the Top Pup or other PupPup treats to your pup’s normal food. 

Due to the size of the chews and some of the ingredients we recommend you only feed your pup our products after four months of age. Puppies require a high calorie and high-fat diet, so it is best to keep them on a stable vet-recommended diet until they have fully developed. Some of the calming ingredients in our “Zen Pup'' are not recommended for puppies below four months either.