Homemade Dog Food Recipes : Guidelines & Recipe Categories
Homemade dog food recipes ensure that you know exactly what your dog is eating.
They are the most sure-fire way to feed your dog the healthiest food out there. And preparing their food can even be fun, especially when you see how excited your dog gets at chow time!
Below we will cover...
- Recipe categories and links to recipes
- General feeding guidelines
- Share YOUR favorite dog food recipe!
- Dog food recipes submitted by other visitors
Categories of Homemade Dog Food Recipes (links to actual recipes)
YOUR Dog Care Stories
Help visitors like you by sharing your advice related to this page...
- Dog Biscuits Recipe Ideas
- Dog Bone Recipes
- Dog Cookie Recipes
- Dog Weight Loss Recipes
- Easy Dog Treat Recipes
- Gourmet Dog Treat Recipes
- Healthy Dog Treat Recipes for Core Nutrition
- Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipes
- Recipe for Dog Treats (Misc.)
- Vegetarian Dog Food Recipes
- Dog Food Recipes Submitted by Other Visitors (you can share your's too!)
General Feeding Guidelines for Homemade Dog Food Recipes
Following are general guidelines about preparing your own dog food, but always consult with your holistic veterinarian before preparing any new recipes for your dog....
- Ingredients to avoid
- Protein and fat guidelines
- How much to feed
- Organic vs other ingredients
- Change your dog's food periodically
- Constantly reevaluate
Ingredients to Avoid
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The following ingredients are bad if not downright harmful to your dog. Stay away from them!
- Bacon or bacon drippings (too much fat)
- Ham (too much fat)
- Onion or onion powder
- Pepper
- Sugar and brown sugar
- Tomatoes (too acidic)
- ANY dairy products (plain yogurt is okay),
including:
- Cheese
- Milk
- Butter
- Chocolate - contains theobromine which can be lethal to dogs in large enough quantities (carob is okay)
Also note that fruit is okay, but too much of it can cause a loose stool.
Protein & Fat
A Note About Bouillon
Bouillon is generally a safe and healthy ingredient, but dogs with congestive heart disease should avoid bouillon due to its high salt content and, if advised by your vet, opt for a low sodium dog food diet instead.
AAFCO recommends that adult dogs eat an absolute minimum of
- 18% protein (22% for reproduction and growth)
- 5% fat (8% for reproduction and growth)
There is a direct correlation between protein and fat: the more fat in the diet, the more protein you need to add. So if you decide to add meat drippings or oil to your homemade dog food recipes to make the food taste better, add additional protein sources or supplements to make sure your dog stays nourished.
How Much to Feed
The total amount of each homemade dog food recipe will differ based on your dog’s size and activity level. Let their appetite and weight be the judge, but keep an eye on that belly!
In addition, you should only leave their meal out for about 20 minutes. Don’t let them snack on the leftovers throughout the day.
If your dog has a bit of a weight problem (or if you're not sure... 60 to 70% of owners of fat dogs don't know their dog is overweight!), see our Dog Weight Loss page for more information.
Only Use Organic Ingredients
There are tons of reasons why you should avoid most commercial ingredients and make sure that what you use is organic, not just "natural."
Our Natural Organic Dog Food Vs. Most Commercial Dog Food page evaluates the differences between "natural", "organic" and most commercial foods.
Mix It Up!
It can be easy to feed your dog the same meal from the same dog food recipes over and over. After all, we are all creatures of habit!
Keep in mind, though, that even the most well-rounded organic recipes can’t cover every nutritious aspect of every good food.
The moral of the story? Mix it up! Prepare a new recipe at least once per month, preferably more frequently.
Constantly Reevaluate
You should always monitor your dog’s health through observing their temperament, skin, coat and waste. If you notice anything strange, switch to other dog food recipes or organic commercial dog food immediately.
And it is always a safe bet to contact your holistic veterinarian before starting a new diet or introducing a new food.
What are YOUR Favorite
Homemade Dog Food Recipes?
Discover or create your own homemade dog food recipes? Share your favorite!
You can also scroll to the bottom of the page to see others' contributions. And be sure to check out our General Feeding Guidelines before preparing any food!
Homemade Dog Food Recipes from Other Visitors
Click below to see the recipes submitted by other visitors to this page... or scroll back to the top of the form above to submit your own!
Funny Bones Dog Treats Recipe
Ingredients 2-Cups Whole Wheat Flour 3-tbsp Ground Flaxseed 1-tsp Cinnamon 1/2-Cup Natural Peanut Butter 1-Medium Ripe Banana Mashed 2-Omega-3 Eggs...
Banana Surprise
Ingredients 1 cup coconut milk (unsweetened) 1/2 banana handful walnuts or 2 tbs. peanut butter (no sugar added) Instructions Blend all...
Peanut Honey Oat Balls
Ingredients 1 lb. jar Peanut butter (creamy or chunky) 1/4 cup honey 1/2 cup wheat or corn flour (preferrably wheat) 3/4 cup plain oats Instructions...
Basic Yeast Dog Treats
This recipe makes about 4 dozen 3 treats. Ingredients 3 1/2 cup all-purpose (or unbleached) flour 2 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup cornmeal 1/2 cup skim...
Carley and Roxy's Favorite Dog Recipe
Charley and Roxy are white labs that are very healthy. They each get two portions each day. I make large amounts and freeze in tupperware... INGREDIENTS...
BLOO's favourite (adapted from Ron's recipe)
Read recipe through its entirety first :-) 1 lb of cooked ground meat 2 cups of cooked brown rice Cook the following together in a pot and mash when...
Veggie Delight Dog Food Recipe
Grains: 2 cups uncooked brown rice 1 cup millet 2 cups long cook oats 1/2 cup ground flax seed do not cook Cook grains per instructions, put in large...
Peanut Butter Cookies for Dogs!
Ingredients 1 cup flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 cup peanut butter (natural, no sugar!) 1/2 cup milk (do NOT use soy) Instructions Preheat oven...
Ground Round Hound Dog Delight
Ingredients: 1-2 lb chub of ground round beef 1-2 lb package thin sliced beef 1-1/2 cup of broccoli (can sub green beans) 1-1/2 cup of carrots (can...
Cinnamon Apple Doggie Drops
Ingredients 1 lrg. apple 1/4 c. honey 1/2 c. water 1/2 c. cinnamon 1 c.oatmeal 1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour 1/8 c. whole wheat flour Instructions...
Buster's Breakfast
Buster is a 90lb. boxer... cooking for him is a real challenge! He loves this one. 1 large double chicken breast, including skin and bones 5 carrots...
Chicken and Rice
1 whole fresh organic chicken 2 cups of peas 2 cups of broccoli 3 3/4 cups of brown rice 8 1/2 cups of water 3 gloves garlic 1 tsp salt Cut chicken in...
Cinnamon's Tasty Treats
Ingredients 1. 1 cup whole wheat flour 2. 1tsp honey 3. 1 cup rolled oats 4. 1 egg 5. 1 cup water 6. food dye if you want Instructions Preheat oven...
chicken meatloaf
1 lb ground chicken or turkey 1- 16 oz can mixed vegetables 1/2 teaspoon garlic crushed 1 egg 1-1 1/2 cup bread crumbs 1 cup uncooked rice Preheat oven...
1/3 1/3 1/3 Daily Dog Food Recipe
Not rated yet
This recipe can be changed to different variations The following ingredient amounts are for a one cup daily serving ( small dog )... Ingredients 1....
Supper!
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Ingredients: - 5 lbs regular ground beef - 1 kilo mixed vegetables (no onion, broccoli (gas)) bag consists of green beans, corn, carrots & peas. -...
Heart Beat Health Dog Food Recipe
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This feeds two medium size dogs who also get protein snacks during the day as supplement. Ingredients - 1/4 lb ground beef heart (it's $1.79/lb versus...
Bonnie and Clyde's Favorite
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Ingredients 6 pieces of talapia (pan fried) 1 can of sliced carrots 1 can of diced potatos 1 can of green beans (no salt added) 2 cups cooked brown rice...
Chicken Veggie Oatmeal Homemade Dog Food Recipe
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4 lbs. Chicken Breasts 2 lbs. Quick Cook Oats 1 lb. Carrots 1 lb. Zucchini 1. Bake the chicken breasts. 2. Peel the carrots and the zucchini as well...
Aluminum free baking powder tip
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Health Tip for Baking: Always use aluminum-free baking powder (Aluminum is a highly toxic heavy metal linked to neuro-diseases and brain damage.) This...
Variable Basic Food
Not rated yet
Ingredients: 1) A little less than 1/3 cup meat ( pork/beef, beef chicken or 1-2 times per week organ meat cooked or frozen for 2 months ) 2) A little...
Parsnip's Parsnipless Feast
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1/2 cup brown rice (cooked) 1/3 cup green or brown lentils (cooked) 1/2 medium carrot (lightly cooked and large diced) 1/8 cup peas (cooked or not, doesn't...
Frozen Yogurt Pup Pops
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Many of our pups enjoy a frozen treat, but ice is too hard and can actually chip their teeth. Frozen yogurt provides a softer consistency which will not...
Carrot and Apple Dog Treats
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I just made up a batch of carrot and apple today. The dogs love them. Sorry to say, I do not measure ingredients, so all of my dog treats are slightly...
Vegan Okara Protein-Rich dog treats
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1/2 cup okara (a product leftover from making soymilk and tofu) 1/2 cup cooked soybeans with accompanying liquid 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons oil 2...
Peanut soy surprise
Not rated yet
Ingredients 1 1/2 cups (organic) brown rice 1 cup dried kidney beans 1/3 cup oatmeal 1/4 cup cracked wheat (bulgar wheat) Instructions Boil until rice...
Pooh Peanut Butter Treats
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Ingredients Dough #1: 4 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 1/3 cup water 1/3 cup Peanut butter 1 egg Dough #2 4 cups whole wheat flour 2/3...
Tiger's Finest Peanut Butter Chews
Not rated yet
Ingredients 1/3 cup sugar 1 3/4 cup flour 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup water 1 egg white 1 small splash vanilla 2 tablespoons peanut butter Instructions...
Peanut Butter Drops
Not rated yet
Ingredients 3/4 cup flour 1 egg 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon peanut butter 1/4 cup shortening 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup rolled oats 1/2 teaspoon...
Freeze 'r Burn (Meat flavored treats)
Not rated yet
Ingredients beef broth small piece Milkbone Puperoni stick plastic disposeable cup Instructions Place Milkbone flat in the bottom of cup with the...
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