This is an oldie, but it still get’s a lot of traffic and fresh comments weekly.
Please Note: Take a minute to read through the comments, there are some great suggestions, tips, and warnings when it comes to making your own dog food. This is something I’m new to, my dogs are loving it but just know that you’ll likely need to supplement with dry dog food (or add in specific nutrients to the food) for the various needs they may have.
I’ve been really enjoying my new-found love for DIY projects lately, specifically when it comes to cutting costs on everyday products. It’s been fun to investigate what we can do to save money outside of clipping coupons and scouring the deals. Not that deal hunting and coupons aren’t an incredible way to save – but learning to make things from scratch is fun and in some cases can be much cheaper! The catch is though that you are going ot be investing more time. With that said, clipping coupons and deal hunting can also be very time consuming. The main benefit I’m seeing is that you know what is going into the products you’re using such as the Homemade Laundry Detergent and the Homemade Dishwasher Detergent. There are no surprises this way.
With that said, dog food is a big expense in our household. We have a Border Collie and an Australian Shepherd, while I wouldn’t consider them large dogs they are very active dogs and eat twice a day. Our Australian Shepherd (collie mix) has a very sensitive stomach and we’ve tried many different brands of dog food, some of the specialty ones are upwards of $40 a bag! When I was visiting with my husband’s aunt over the holidays we began chatting about this issue and she said very matter-of-factly “Why aren’t you making your own food for him?” Ummmm….that’s a great question, I have no idea! So I came home eager to try out this recipe and test it on the dogs. It’s a HUGE hit, they both licked their bowls clean. I hope your pups enjoy it too.
Ingredients:
- 1lb Ground Beef (Chicken, Turkey, etc)
- 2 Cups Brown Rice (you can use other grains such as Barley or Oats too)
- 5 Cups of Water (I used 2 cups Beef Broth 3 Cups of water, but just because I had it on hand)
- 1 Package Frozen Veggies (Fresh would be better!)
Kalaia'kea' Villa via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 7:36 pm
any for cat food?
Harmony January 3, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Please do not try to make food for your cat at home unless you get a specific recipe from a veterinary nutritionist. Cats are obligate carnivores and have special dietary needs. Now, if you ground up mice in a blender and fed that to your cat, you might be OK ;^)
Anonymous March 20, 2013 at 2:21 pm
it says dog food
Anonymous April 17, 2013 at 5:04 am
I think Harmony was replying to Kalaia “kea” Villa
The Frugal Find via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 7:37 pm
I haven’t tried that one yet, but I’ll add it to my list! Good idea
Angela Baldwin Bowers via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 7:38 pm
How did the price compare to regular dog food? cheaper, more expensive, the same? Do they need more or less of homemade food?
The Frugal Find via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 7:39 pm
I plan to break down the cost soon, but they definitely needed less of the homemade food. That was my experience at least.
Myrab51 December 26, 2012 at 5:42 pm
For us, it works out about the same for homemade dog food as it does for store bought. Where it does save us $ is in medicine. Our retriever used to get a lot of ear infections and itchy skin and paws. A couple of weeks after we switched, it all cleared up. One tip I came across that I don’t see here is to give them a scoop of plain yogurt to the side. It gives them a few extra nutrients, and they generally love it.
Joanie Rogers January 3, 2013 at 5:19 pm
@myrab51, I have lab/beagle mixes who hace itchy skin, and one has had an ear infection. Did you completely replace their dry food with this recipe? Or supplement it?
Renita January 13, 2013 at 9:41 am
I have a 15 year old cocker spaniel who also had constantly itchy skin, chronic ear infections and a sensitive stomach. I’ve fed her homemade food (cooked barley, veggies and meat) exclusively since the poison dog food scare. She no longer has tummy trouble, rarely itches or has ear infections. She’s quite healthy, not just for her age
, I also give her an oil supplement (fish and plant oils) from GNC. Speak with your vet about supplements and the food, my vet says it’s fine as long as there is more meat in the mix than the other ingredients.
gloria May 17, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Dear Joanie,
My dog had problem with his skin and ears and I found out that he is allergic to yeast and other things, so it is an food allergy . I started feeding him 4 health dog food and no more itching. I also have to add that the vet fails to tell you this because they make money that way. He would give me a steroid and antibiotics and three months later he would be itching again. My groomer was the one to tell me about the yeast and allergies. They get a yeast infection in their ears a lot. I had to do something my poor baby was constantly itching and scratching (poor baby). How uncomfortable for them. He was Benadryl all the time. Now I can truly say that he does not itch and we both are so happy. Hope this helps you out.
Scotti O. February 10, 2013 at 4:29 am
My mom’s dog and now my dogs are all experiencing recurring ear infections. The prescription ear medicine is $24 and doesn’t seem to ever clear it all the way. We have tried everything and it dawned on us finally that perhaps it is their food! We used to feed them high end food but dropped to pedigree a few months ago and their issues started just a few weeks after that! Thanks for your feedback! Hoping this will help our pooches too!
Anonymous April 27, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Use barley instead of the rice. It will help the ear infections.
Barbs Fortin March 20, 2013 at 5:28 pm
I have a 9yo Golden SWervice Dog. She also has has ear problems and itching, licking and biting. On a hunch I checked out this site. I am going right now to make some. Thanks so much!
Angela Baldwin Bowers via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Thats great! I’m excited to try it out
The Frugal Find via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 7:41 pm
I think it was about $4 total for my ingredients and it makes (18) 1/2 cup servings. Remember this is filling with the brown rice, some breeds need this because of their activity level while others may not.
Katy January 3, 2012 at 7:50 pm
Cat food is possible but since cats are carnivores naturally they cant process all the rice and veggies as well so home made cat food I dont think would be as cost effective since it would be all or mostly meat
Crystal March 31, 2013 at 12:37 pm
It may not be cost effective when compared only to the price of commercial cat food, but as you said cat’s cannot process rice & grains yet look at the main ingredients in almost all cat foods. There is generally at least three different types of corn/grain meals etc.
I think I am going to give homemade cat and dog food a try.
(I picked up a home made cat food vitamin supplement with taurine powder…. etc. in it, because I do know that cat’s have more complex dietary requirements.)
But as for the cost benefit, she is a small cat, and I think the benefit in her health and wellness will be worth the extra cost. Especially because she has a very sensitive stomach and I have yet to find a bagged food that doesn’t make her throw up on a daily basis.
Jessie Redding January 3, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Thank you! This is amazing and I WILL be trying this! Yay! I have a fussy dog who will NOT keep weight on
Losing every day. However, I just wanted to say – be careful with that beef broth – even the ‘low sodium’ is likely wayyy too much sodium for dogs and sodium is EXTREMELY bad for dogs. I’d like to sub in some broth for flavor, but only if I can find no sodium.
Julia January 3, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Very good point Jessie, I figured that was the case after I dumped it in. I seriously doubt it needs the broth anyways. Hope your dog enjoys the food and starts to gain weight poor thing
Jessica Kanson January 4, 2012 at 12:34 pm
You’re right about the sodium. I make my own broths at home and use those. I never add salt or anything unless I am cooking something for us human family members and we need a little flavor
wendy van hees January 4, 2012 at 3:26 pm
We had a beloved dog that could not eat packaged dog food so I always made his food for him . Instead of the packaged beef broth I would collect bones from meals and boil / strain them and freeze the liquid for making the dog food . I even made broth from veggies that were a lil to “on the edge for freshness” for my taste . Its another good way to get “all you can” from your grocery purchases .
Cary January 4, 2012 at 7:25 pm
I love your description “on the edge of freshness” I will be sure to use that one! I think this whole discussion boils down too no one has the secret recipe for making dogs live forever. Very similar to all of the debates about Atkins diets in humans. It just makes sense to me that God designed dogs to eat real food and it’s not rocket science just common sense.
Harmony January 4, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Nope, not rocket science, but science nonetheless. Rickets, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and others are real nutritional diseases that used to be a lot more prevalent before commercial dog diets. It’s especially sad when these diseases affect well-loved dogs with owners who didn’t do their homework.
Cary January 5, 2012 at 9:17 am
@Harmony: Common sense beats confusing people with big words any day of the week. True scientists attempt to communicate sound facts as opposed to fear mongerers who use big words to scare people into submission.
I am sure you did not intend to imply that anyone here did not “do their homework” – anyone who takes the time to read through these threads and compose a response is being diligent in their thoughts and ought to be respected.
By the way another respondant mentioned glucosamine which is one of the most abundant amino sugars. It is found in shellfish, animal bones and bone marrow. God did design our earth to supply all of our needs. If you and your animal follow common sense and eat a variety of foods, you and your animal will get the nutrients you need.
sue March 21, 2013 at 9:59 am
just don’t use onions while making your broth, not good for dogs
Roxy December 12, 2012 at 6:42 pm
I had a dog that just wouldn’t gain weight. It got so bad that I was embarrassed to take her out because I was afraid people would think I was starving her. I had multiple vets check her out. After thousands of dollars, full blood panels, urinalysis, etc. I had a very healthy dog who was way too skinny. I tried all kinds of food and supplements. What finally worked was satin balls. Just google the recipe. Within a couple of weeks I noticed a tremendous change. I fed her satin balls as a supplement for about 3 months. 6 years later, she is still perfect! Good luck!
Krista Meletiou January 3, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Did you try it?
Cary January 4, 2012 at 3:01 pm
That’s not as silly as it sounds. When we got our black lab two years ago, I researched what to feed her. The basic ratio is 1/3 carb, 1/3 protein, 1/3 vegetable. That happens to be exactly the ratio that nutritionists recommend for people! All of the advice I read sounded very similar to proper nutrition for people. So… if what I’m making for dinner is a relatively healthy meal (I don’t add salt on a regular basis), I arrange to give the dog the parts of the meat we won’t eat – they love cartilage, giblets, etc that we won’t eat but are still very nutritious – also, there is usually some vegetable and carb that the kids wouldn’t/didn’t finish. If I need more vegetable, I grate a carrot. For more carb, we always have the ends of loaves of bread extra. Just in case I’m missing a nutrient, and for when I’m lazy, I supplement with store bought dog food every now and then. When you have it around, a clove of garlic a day is good for them, and I gave her the fish oil supplements that were a money-maker at Rite-Aid last year. Brewers yeast also adds b vitamins to the mix.
There are lots of nutritious things that we waste as a family that can easily be given to the dog. I try to spend less time thinking about how to feed the dog nutritiously than I do the kids:)
angela March 17, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Please, no garlic for dogs! They are in the same family of onions, and both are carcinogenic for canines. After losing my precious golden to a particularly vicious cancer…my vet and I discussed all kinds of things that could have made her vulnerable. Unfortunately it was most likely genetic and nothing we’d fed her but, she was my best of friends and I had to know if I’d contributed to this heart breaking loss.
Now I’ve a golden/flatcoast retreiver mix; she gets no food (homemade or store bought) that I haven’t discussed with our vet. They are both a blessing, the vet…and my Sunshine (on all my rainy days) is a gorgous, healthy and brilliant dog. Quoting one of my favorite authors, Trixie Koontz, “Life is Bliss”.
Cary March 26, 2013 at 8:05 am
I have heard differing views on garlic for dogs. The onion thing is well proven – it makes them sick but I have not found any studies specifically on the garlic, they just state that garlic has similar properties to onion. I have heard many benefits of garlic though including antimicrobial properites, digestive benefits, and (most importantly for me since I don’t do pesticides) aparently there is some evidence that the garlic will repel ticks and fleas. (maybe vampires too but we won’t go there…) We have never had a problem with fleas but I can’t say the same for ticks. I don’t know for sure that the garlic is the factor and I don’t give garlic every day – just when I crush a clove for the family meal, I give the dog the part that’s left in the press. There has to be a balance and I am erring on the side of some garlic instead of pesticides.
Anonymous May 15, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Hey Cary, thanks a lot. I’m really learning a lot from these threads. I got two new pets and these comments here are really going to help me as well as my pets
Renea January 3, 2012 at 8:00 pm
I’ve been making my own dog food for a year for my snorkie. When we got her, she refused all dry dog food, and would lick off the canned stuff from the dry when I mixed it together. I started researching dog food and found a lot of disgusting info about factory dog food. I’m glad we make our own now. You will want to do a little research on vitamins though. I haven’t bothered much with adding vitamins, but I do add ground eggshells (calcium is important) and fish oil to her food. For my dogs weight (10 pounds), I give her 1 tsp eggshells per pound of food, and 1 capsule of fish oil per pound of food. You want to research the ratio (I can’t remember the websites I used), because either overdoing it or underdoing it can cause problems.
Btw, for me, it’s cheaper to feed my dog like this. I get my plain rice mostly free, eggshells are free, veggies can be had pretty cheap with coupons, and I get meat on sale. Today I got pork loin for $1.29 lb for her, and I also do chicken legs and thighs for $1 – $1.29 lb.
Julia January 3, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Thanks Renea, I was reading about the need for the added nutrients today too. Good thing is that there are many ways to add these into the recipe.
Renea January 3, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Oh, for those worried about sodium, I don’t even bother with broth unless I have homemade that I’m not planning to use. I actually cook my meat and rice separate (the rice is cooked in plain water), and just mix it together with the veggies at the end. It doesn’t hold together as well in scoops, but I wrap mine in Saran two portions at a time, so it doesn’t matter to me. The rice gets the smell and oils from the meat, so my dog eats it all up with no complaints.
JoAnn Goss via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 8:05 pm
I would check with my vet first. I have a great dane and 2 goldens and our dog food contains glucosamine, chondroitin and l-carnitine, and omega 3s and 6s. I also give them supplements. As for how it compares in cost it would depend on what you’re already feeding. Blue Buffalo is premium and is around $51 a bag versus Walmart food which is probably $15 a bag? So it really depends, giant breeds definitely need the glucosamine and chondroitin for their hips
Anonymous March 21, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Yes. But you also need to look at the quality you are feeding. Walmart food is so low quality you might as well grind up the bag it’s in and feed it to the dog. There’s more nutrition that way. Where as blue buffalo is extremely high quality. This diet puts your pup on high quality close to what nature intended for them. Kibble food has only been around 50 years. This diet is basically what people were feeding their dogs before that.
The Frugal Find via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Great point JoAnn, def. check with your vet first
JoAnn Goss via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 8:13 pm
yeah, I know when my great dane puppy was sick and wouldn’t eat the vet actually recommended brown rice and chicken to get him to eat, so I know those things are great. I add various vegs and fruits to their food and treats. But the vet might be able to give some pointers if there’s any kind of supplements to add for your particular breed. The recipe above seems pretty much complete other than the supplements. It’s so confusing sometimes! lol I wonder how much rice I would go through with my monster! Oh my! (he has some cartilage issues so we’re upping the gluco, chondroitin and hyluronic acid). Fish oil and a scrambled egg once a week helps with skin and a shiny coat
Renea Mason Pomeroy via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 8:14 pm
I’ve been feeding my dog a homemade diet for a year, and you do want to research it, but not all vets are on board, so many will tell you not to do it. My research has led me to believe it’s healthier as long as you are careful. You can also use human vitamins and supplements if you research the dosage and add it to homemade food. Dog food is full of disgusting junk, and it actually can lead to health issues and skin problems. Until the 1950′s or 60′s, dogs weren’t fed dog food. It came about due to kennels and dog breeders needing a fast way to feed many dogs at a time. Dog food companies subsidize veterinary schools, which is why veterinarians graduate believing manufactured dog food is best. That’s what they are taught. If you think about it, it’s not natural for dogs to eat a grain based diet (which is the first ingredient listed in dept. store food). It stands to reason that if wholesome and natural is better than processed for humans, than it’s better for dogs too. It’s just important to research ratios and supplements thoroughly, and not give dogs people junk food.
The Frugal Find via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 8:20 pm
JoAnn, thanks for reminding me! I meant to add that you could toss in an egg or two for added protein.
The Frugal Find via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Renea, it looks like we need a Food Inc. movie for pet food too. I find it so sad how far we’ve come to the point that now we need to be retaught what is in fact *real* food and what is good for us and what isn’t. Thanks for sharing.
JoAnn Goss via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Fortunately my vet is one of those who is like “I could sell you THIS for $40 or you can go to the drugstore/Walmart and buy this for $5″ (like the gluco, I don’t buy “dog” supplements anymore, that picture of that dog on a bottle is sure expensive!) She’s the one that told me to do the rice/chicken mix for a while. She’s cautious of the raw diet (I brought that up once, upon finding my goldens were getting hot spots and I thought they had a food allergy) . They’ve now grown out of that thank goodness. This post makes me think tho to research the homemade foods again tho. Even all the new dog foods are promoting the new “whole food” thing. It’s just getting the right fat/protein ratio and vitamins right for your particular breed. I”m sure it could be broken down and figured out tho.
It’s gotta be “do-able” tho because I’m hearing about this more and more.
Jessie Bollen Redding via Facebook January 3, 2012 at 9:12 pm
It’s also important to know a little bit about their different nutritional needs- for example sodium is TERRIBLE for dogs. Toxic to an extent – which is why I will leave the broth out – unless I can find some with *no* sodium. Non-fatty meats like chicken (or others if they are boiled), along with rice and veggies are *THE* basic veterinarian recipe recommended -and that’s right out of the mouths of the specialists at my work.
Harmony January 3, 2012 at 9:47 pm
As a vet, let me comment that while I don’t think “processed” or “manufactured” diets are necessarily better than those made from fresh ingredients at home, one should not be too cavalier about making food for dogs and cats. Dog food that you buy, whether canned or kibble form, should have a statement on it that AAFCO standards have been met, and this means all essential nutrients are included. If you don’t know what you’re doing with home-cooked dog food, you can easily have inadequate or excessive levels of minerals and vitamins. Just adding a pet or human multivitamin does not make it balanced.
In particular, it’s not safe to feed puppies (especially large-breed) a home-cooked diet that has not been balanced by a nutritionist. For optimal growth and to avoid developmental joint disease, they need particular ratios of calcium to phosphorus and appropriate protein and and fat content. Some tools that can help create a balanced diet are http://www.balanceit.com and http://www.petdiets.com. Another caution: If you have a balanced dog food recipe, don’t switch up ingredients from it (using different vegetables and such). And please don’t feed your dog (or cat!) onions or garlic.
Just wanted to add these words of caution–not trying to discourage anyone who is looking for the best nutrition they can afford for their pet! From my experience it does not seem typically the case that a home-cooked diet is cheaper to make than the average decent dog food, but Julia, you are the person to find out for us! I wish you and your dogs the best.
Harmony January 3, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Also, a quote from Scott Campbell, veterinarian at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Nutrition Support Service:
“I’m not aware of a suitable book for providing complete and balanced home-cooked diet recipes for dogs and cats. If [owners] are unwilling to incur the expense of formulating a diet that will be suitable for the rest of the animal’s life (though it would be best to having it reassessed every year or two), perhaps they would be best served by feeding a commercial diet that is already complete and balanced. Complete and balanced home-cooked diets are generally more expensive to make than feeding a commercial diet, once you add the required supplements. This is particularly true for large dogs. Owners that believe that they can save money by feeding a home-cooked diet are likely mistaken, unless they have access to inexpensive ingredient sources that the rest of us do not.”
Faith April 14, 2013 at 7:30 pm
I absolutely agree. If we cannot provide the following ingredients, as the manufacturers do, in our beloved pet’s food, then we should be shot, or at least reported to the SPCA:
Anticaking agents
Antigelling agents
Antimicrobial agents
Color additives
Condiments
Curing agents
Drying agents
Emulsifiers
Flavor enhancers
Flavoring agents
Grinding agents
Humectants
Leavening agents
Lubricants
Palatants
Pelleting agents and binders
Petroleum derivatives
pH control agents
Preservatives
Seasonings
Spices
Stabilizers
Sweeteners
Texturizers
Thickeners
And I didn’t even mention the carcinogenic properties of some of these ingredients … many of which are more commonly used in the manufacture of plastic and pesticides.
Yes, much better to feed commercial pet food … my a**!
Sasha May 4, 2013 at 4:46 pm
@Faith, I completely agree with you!
Donna Frano May 12, 2013 at 3:36 pm
AMEN Faith! Amen and well said.
slr January 4, 2012 at 5:33 am
What about their teeth? My vet always makes a big deal that my dogs are eating a hard food for the teeth. Does anyone know if this could cause teeth problems?
sara n January 4, 2012 at 10:55 am
I think your vet is behind in the times. When your dog throws up do they throw up little chewed pieces or full pieces of kibble? Dogs dont really chew kibble.. there isnt really any benefit to their teeth from this. I would recommend an occasional bully stick or a deer or elk antler for them.
Cary March 26, 2013 at 6:58 pm
I have heard that raw meat is good for their teeth. Something to do with the enzymes in the meat as they chew it. I’d be careful with that though – there is such a chance of food borne bacteria. (Maybe that’s what the garlic helps with…)
grammy January 4, 2012 at 8:06 am
i keep a container in the freezer for meat scraps to use in dog food. the little bits you have left after you bake a whole chicken or turkey? they really add up and our dogs love homemade better than store bought. if you factor in that you are using scraps that you would have thrown away, it is a lot cheaper.
Cheryl Nakao via Facebook January 4, 2012 at 9:57 am
Jessie is right… that said if you switch to chicken (bone-in split breasts are cheaper than lean ground beef), and just boil the chicken to cook it, you can use the cooking liquid from the chicken rather than rather expensive tetra pak broths.
sara n January 4, 2012 at 10:53 am
Great recipe but yes the amount of food even varies from brand to brand (crap food like iams or beneful compared to something like canidae). It also varies greatly from wet to kibble to dehydrated etc. It also varies greatly on your dogs activity level. You will also notice the difference in poo. Cheap food = much more poo then good or homemade stuff. I feed a mix of different foods.
Nannette January 4, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Although fresh ingredients are best and this, as a fresh-prepared meal, is far better than many packaged dog diets out there, it is far from a complete meal that meats the nutritional requirements of your dog. Depending on breed/size there are different requirements … where’s the Omega fatty acids and the vitamin E to support them? What about joints? Dogs requirements vary so much from humans, and so much by the need of the breed (or size of the dog). I commend those who want to and do prepare fresh meals for their dogs, but this isn’t nutritionally adequate. Unfortunately and I’d hate to see good intentions go bad.
Beth Janikowski January 4, 2012 at 4:55 pm
I feed an all raw diet, balanced for my Great Dane and Doberman and it does not include rice. Those usually aren’t very good for dogs. Please do your research before feeding rice and vegetables to your dog. Feel free to email with any questions about the raw diet. Also, when they eat raw, there is less poop!!!
Tracy January 4, 2012 at 8:54 pm
The Whole Dog Journal is a wonderful source of this kind of info. It’s not free because it has no ads. You can pay 20.00 I think for a subscription and access to archives online. That may sound like a lot to the frugal lot, but there is so much good info that the knowledge has saved me a lot on vet bills, and opened my eyes to a lot of scary things as well.
Nannette January 5, 2012 at 1:22 am
It took me just shy of 100 hours to formulate one recipe for one dog, a cocker spaniel. ONE recipe … No variations. If I was to vary her protein sources, thus her amino acid profile, which I strongly believe build a healthy body, I had to start from scratch again. I have/had resources that other don’t. As much as I’m not the biggest fan of AAFCO, at least there are studies about what dogs need … There isn’t on a non-formulated diet such as this. Good intentions aren’t always good decisions. Ask your bet how many hours of nutrition education they have. Ask them of its large or small animal, livestock or companion. I have five canines …. Not bovines. I have a pig too … That sleeps on a down comforter … That’s a can of nutritional worms!! Not every prepared
Food is awful. Not every family/dog can do raw. But trust me, trust me, the good intentions of the misinformed will not end with positive results. Sadly. I’m also not the biggest fan of the whole dog journal …. I’ve seen to much …. But it is a good resource
For the average pet owner to understand, compare and decode
Canine nutrition. I’ve saved three dogs with fresh-prepared and/or raw
Diets …. (excuse typos, thumbing from the iPhone)
Cary January 5, 2012 at 9:27 am
Wow, if only people would spend this much time and energy on raising our kids well. You obviously love and care for your animals and I appreciate that you are able and willing to invest that much. I don’t have priorities for that as I am raising the next generation and after all the dog is a dog. Thank you Julia for the thought-provoking discussion.
Nannette January 5, 2012 at 9:44 am
My child does not suffer. No living creature should. If this is how I choose to care for my dogs, can you imagine how well-loved my child is? It’s sad that you appear to have such little regard for living creatures, but when I make a commitment to something I give it my all. Nothing is “just” something … not my dogs, not my pig, not my marriage, not my child, not my job, NOTHING.
My child will also learn priorities from the abundance of love that is available in his home for everything that lives in it. He will learn how to give his all in everything he does to those that trust in him. Those “just dogs” are our family.
People who dare to regard things as less than should not have the privilege of receiving their unconditional love.
Cary January 5, 2012 at 11:28 am
I am sorry, I did not mean that you don’t take care of your kids. You are absolutely correct. We all have to redeem the time wisely. I meant only to comment on the generic “they” who don’t feel the urgency to invest in their children that way. My appologies.
Heather January 8, 2012 at 11:40 pm
Wow Nanette, you really took that out of context. You need to chill out. Not everyone can be as perfect as you.
Amanda Tellez via Facebook January 8, 2012 at 7:46 pm
I made the dog food and my dogs loved it! Thanks for the recipe!!! I also added an egg to top of there bowls
jackie February 7, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Just came across this recipe and thought I would share- I spoke with my vet today about my plans to start making my own dog food. He was thrilled and shared some insight. There’s really not too many restrictions as long as you aren’t giving them any harmful foods (onions, garlic, corn, grapes…). He just recommended a protein (chicken, beef, turkey), lots of veggies, pasta/rice, with every meal. However, he also said I should mix in half a children’s flinstone vitamin to each meal! This way you don’t have to worry about them missing any nutrients. Hope this helps!
lori March 5, 2013 at 5:13 am
Jackie…
is that a 1/2 flinstone vitamin to the recipe posted above?
and… i LOVE the idea of saving scraps in the freezer ! i am always trimming my chicken/meat/fish! i cant imagine that is you but this in bulk . . it’s got to be cheaper than a 60$ for a 28lb bag of evo!
one more question: ive read conflicting reports about brown rice vs. white rice. whats best for dogs… anyone?
Boxer dude March 15, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Lori, brown rice is better for all of us.
… This thread is GREAT, we’ve been planning to start our dogs(4 Boxers & 1 Toy Poodle)on homefood. We plan this Sunday to cook for the week, It looks like all the ingredients we’ve chosen are about right on target.
Anonymous March 25, 2013 at 12:06 pm
this is a pretty standard dog food recipe.I suppose growing up on a farm I naturally was instilled with a pretty healthy knowledge of well, health for our animals.I have always known that our dog food was much better than the store bought crap regardless of how many people promote or how overpriced it is.I generally follow the rule of thumb that if I am grossed out by something (ie. dry chunks of tasteless protein,fat and,vitamins) that my dog feels the same.I would rather have a steak than a dehydrated pellet of protein from a steak….I like seeing the city folks lean more towards self reliance than buying into the idea that you should purchase ready made items.The broth as was said is not the best idea due to sodium.Oninons and garlic of course,raisins,olives,chocolate,spinach,appleseeds,etc…these are all things a responsible dog owner should already know are bad news.In fact I would say if you own a dog and arent aware of the foods that can be poisonous to dogs you are not a very prepared or caring dog owner.I love my child and I can tell you immediately without a doubt what she should and should not eat.Thats called parenting but,buying a dog and having almost no knowledge of their dietary needs is accepted because you can walk in a store and buy a big ol bag of “somebody did it for me”.The thing is thats a horrible way to go about managing the life of an animal.I think this and articles like it should be EVERYWHERE just because reading the comments below makes abundantly clear that most people really dont know the basic nutritional needs of the animals Im sure they love.My dogs are spoiled because they get ALOT of leftovers from my freshly butchered rabbits and chickens along with alot of fresh veggies from the garden and all the rawhide a dog could dream of which is another reason I commend this article.Most of my friends think “homemade food is easy for you,you live on a farm”.Yes Ill admit I shun people for buying their food instead of at least producing some of it but at the same time buying premade dogfood is even one step further down the ladder of cheaply made inferior food sources.I believe everything you can do yourself,you should do yourself because paying someone to do it for you will ALWAYS result in cutting corners you probably wouldnt have.I tell my wife this about my truck “I love my truck more than any other person could dream of so who is goona take better care of it me or some bubba whos just there for a paycheck? Make no mistake even the most earthy packaging in the world cannot hide that dog food companies are “just there for a paycheck” so who should be trusted more with their health and nutrition? Lets revolutionize the dog food industry and make our own so that the only way they can make any money is by producing a product thats even better than the one you would make yourself!!! This should be the American ideal “Ill give you my hard earned money if you can do it better than me”.I make my own fuel(37 cents/gal),built my own house(60,000 including 13acres it sits on),farm my own food(180lbs of meat a year just from my rabbits),produce my own water and power,work for myself and,I am happier than I ever imagined possible.DIY is a lifestyle!
S. Lewis April 13, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Could you mentor me, cause everything you just said hit home to me. I am researching right now to become a better owner/family member to my German shepard mix I rescued about five yrs ago. She is family and cooking for her would be a pleasure cause I have to like you to cook for you. If you have any suggestions please pass them along to a just getting started DIYer.
Einit April 16, 2013 at 7:13 am
It’s all ways a good idea to give your dogs a good multi-vitamin too. We give them Pet Naturals of Vermont chewable multi’s and they love taking their vitamins. I cook for my guys as well and it’s a good idea to add a few teaspoons of bone meal powder to any recipe. It gives them the additional calcium they need and keeps the husband from eating the “dog food”. We keep chickens and fresh eggs are a delicious and nutritious treat for the dogs. We feed the eggs raw and encourage them to eat the shell as well. Our big pit/pyrenees mix love to eat the shells. Plain yogurt is a wonderful and healthy snack for the pups as well. Farms used to feed dogs whole foods. Fresh milk and eggs and whole foods from the kitchen. My grandparents in Spain were farmers and I remember the dogs would get whole grain bread, milk, vegetables and various meats. Their dogs were incredibly healthy and never suffered from the issues that our dogs in modern America did. Dog’s, like us should be interested in whole, delicious, healthy foods. Not rendered down lips and assholes, dried to a hard kibble and sprayed with preservatives and fat to make it more palatable. If you wouldn’t eat it, I don’t think your dog should be expected to either.
Melanie Barrier April 29, 2013 at 7:03 pm
I left the corn out since some of mine have grain issues. I added a large cane of pure pumpkin. Make sure rice is from California due to arsnic in producing it and none from China. I added water to the ones that tend to get bladder stones and to there’s added cranberry capsule per dish as well as brobiotics to each dish.
Mary Jo See May 4, 2013 at 4:38 am
I learned how to give my dogs a balanced diet of homemade food out of necessity when my husband and I lost our jobs and our home 5 years ago. I was determined our girls would not suffer because of it. But you can’t buy dog food with foodstamps. We expanded our garden, got some chickens and I learned to make dog biscuits. Then I decided the biscuits would be the perfect way to add supplements to their diet. Due to the lessons in frugality I learned and the benefits I observed, I have never returned to my old habits. They are both 14 years old now and remain active and healthy.
Sasha May 4, 2013 at 4:59 pm
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=makingcatfood
This link is for a site that I have been reading about cats. Full of great info.
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/dr-karen-becker.aspx
This link is good source for healthy alternatives for dogs and cats.
Hope this helps those who have more questions.
Rubanova May 7, 2013 at 1:12 am
Please do your research before submitting anything or cooking anything homemade to substitute for your dogs dry food. #1 issues in dogs come from pet owners feeding them homemade food without doing proper research. Most store beef/chicken broths contain onions as the base of the broth, which will poison your dog! Also, they are full of salt, which is dangerous for dogs. Corn as a veggie is a don’t! Replace with sweet potato, carrots, celery and even greens like kale. Your homemade recipe MUST be supplemented with calcium, omega 3s and much more! Without that, your dog will run into deficiencies in about 2 months and have fragile bones prone to breakage. DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Deepmala May 15, 2013 at 10:50 pm
This is really wonderful. Thanks everybody for those valuable comments.