Homemade Dog Food: How to Make Dog Food at Home

Making homemade meals can benefit dogs with food allergies, sensitive stomachs, general health issues, or special gastrointestinal requirements. Making their food in your home kitchen is also a great way to treat your furry friend to home cooking. While many healthy dogs thrive on commercial dog food, there are potential benefits to homemade dog food, including controlling the overall taste, variety, and quality of your dog's diet.

Homemade pet food allows dog owners to replace “filler” ingredients found in kibble with whole foods and control whether their pets get their carbohydrates from wheat, corn, rice, or another source. Homemade dog food allows for a tailored meal explicitly designed for your pet and their nutritional needs.

Always consult your veterinarian or pet nutritionist to get informed about protein requirements, potential supplements, and other aspects of your dog’s health before beginning a homemade diet, especially if you’re interested in a raw-food diet.

You can use almost any variety of cooked boneless meat to craft homemade dog food recipes. For better digestion, seek out meat with a fat content of 20 percent or less. Some of the most popular variations of homemade dog food include:

1. 1. Beef dog food: Use ground beef or finely diced beef to craft a protein-packed meal for your dog. Learn the differences between ground chuck and ground beef.
2. 2. Chicken dog food: Shredded chicken breasts, chicken livers, and ground chicken make for a nutritious pet food base. Learn how to cook chicken breasts.
3. 3. Pork dog food: This lean meat is a common ingredient in homemade and store-bought dog food in its ground or diced form. For the best digestion, choose lean ground pork over fattier cuts. (Save those as special dog treats.)
4. 4. Turkey dog food: Shredded, diced, or ground turkey is an excellent poultry option for pet food.
5. 5. Lamb dog food: This lean and nutritious option is an excellent alternative to beef or pork.
6. 6. Vegetarian dog food: For vegetarian or vegan households, make vegetable-based dog food with ingredients like squash, zucchini, and broccoli, along with meat-free protein sources like cooked pinto, black, garbanzo, and kidney beans, as well as a protein supplement to ensure that your dog receives all of the fuel they need.

While each dog has unique dietary requirements based on size, age, and breed, a balance of 50 percent protein, 25 percent grains, and 25 percent vegetables is a good starting point for pet food. Any batch of homemade food should contain ample protein and a balance of fat, calcium, healthy carbs, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Here’s how to make your own batch:

1. 1. Select the ground meat base. The first step in crafting homemade dog food is selecting your ground meat base. Choose fresh, human-grade meat with less than 20 percent fat, or opt for ground organ meat from a reliable source. Other viable protein supplements include cooked fish and eggs, xylitol-free peanut butter, fish oil, finely ground eggshells, and cooked beans.
2. 2. Choose the vegetables. Next, select veggies rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, peas, green beans, butternut squash, and beets are all great options. Include small amounts of dog-safe fruits, such as blueberries and cranberries. For a nutritional boost, steam the vegetables and cut them into small pieces (or purée them in a food processor) before adding them to the dog food.
3. 3. Add whole grains. Grains are an essential source of carbohydrates for dogs. Try cooked whole grains like wheat berries or barley. If your dog requires a gluten-free diet, they may tolerate brown rice, oatmeal, or grain-free quinoa.
4. 4. Cook the dog food. In a large pot, Dutch oven, or slow cooker, heat a small amount of olive oil or coconut oil over medium-high heat and brown the meat. Then, stir in the cooked grains and steamed vegetables. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the food to cool completely before adding any supplements. Store cooked dog food in the refrigerator for up to one week.
5. 5. Feed your dog. The amount of food your dog needs depends on their size, lifestyle, age, and other factors. Consult your veterinarian or pet nutritionist if you’re unsure how much to feed your dog. As a general rule, the serving size for a portion of homemade dog food should equal two to three percent of an adult dog’s body weight.

Making vet-approved homemade dog food that satisfies all of your dogs’ nutritional needs may be intimidating at first. Use these tips to guide you:

1. 1. Avoid toxic foods. Read up on the basics of dog nutrition, including which “human foods” can be toxic to dogs before making DIY dog food. While certain toxic foods—like chocolate—are famous, other lesser-known toxic dog foods include onions, garlic, chives, spinach, leeks, tomatoes, grapes, chard, raisins, avocado, nuts, and some dairy products.
2. 2. Always cook starchy vegetables. Your dog can eat some raw foods, like blueberries and apples, but others require cooking. Always cook starchy vegetables, like squash, beets, sweet potatoes, and frozen peas, before incorporating them into the food to aid your dog’s digestion. This same rule applies to beans and grains.
3. 3. Incorporate a supplement. To ensure your homemade dog food contains all of the nutrients your dog needs to thrive, your vet or canine nutritionist may recommend adding a powdered supplement to your dog’s food.
4. 4. Store it properly. Once you’ve crafted a big batch of dog food, store the excess food in the refrigerator or freezer. When stored in the fridge, the food will keep well for four to seven days, depending on the type of protein used in the dish. For longer-term storage, portion individual servings of food into freezer-safe containers and store them in the freezer for up to two months. When you’re ready to serve your pooch, allow the food to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Your dream of having a dog who understands words like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and—crucially— “no” is just a MasterClass Annual Membership away. The only things you’ll need to train up a well-behaved pup are your laptop, a big bag of treats, and our exclusive instructional videos from superstar animal trainer Brandon McMillan.