How to Make Dog Food

Co-authored by Beatrice Tavakoli

Last Updated: December 16, 2024 References

Commercial dog foods are usually filled with a variety of preservatives and additives, and its difficult to know whether your dog is getting enough nutrients and enjoying her meals. Although making homemade dog food takes extra time, it gives you the satisfaction of knowing that your dog's meals are both healthy and tasty. Learn what nutrients dogs need to stay healthy and how to prepare daily meals two ways: cooked or raw.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Understanding Dog Nutrition

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1
Know what nutrients dogs need. A dogs digestive system is different from the human one and the balance of ingredients in homemade dog food needs to be tailored to the dogs special needs. When you cook for your dog, keep the following in mind:
- Dogs are carnivores, so at least half of a dog's diet should be composed of protein, which provides dogs with the nutrients and minerals they need to be strong and healthy.^{[1]
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  Research source} Chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and fish are all acceptable sources of protein for a dog. Dogs can also be fed eggs and vegetables that contain protein.
- Organ meat, such as liver and kidney, should only be given to your dog a few times a week.^{[2]
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- Dogs may also eat grains, root and green vegetables, as long as they are thoroughly cooked.^{[3]
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- Feeding dogs a vegetarian or vegan diet can hurt their digestive system, since it's tough for dogs to break down large amounts of vegetables.
- Supplement your dog's homemade meals with vitamins made for dogs, to make sure they get everything they need. Talk with your vet about supplements you can buy. Be especially careful to make sure your dog has enough calcium, or she may suffer bone injuries as she grows and ages. ^{[4]
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2
Decide whether to feed your dog raw or cooked meat. Some say that raw meat is better for dogs, since they aren't susceptible to the organisms that make humans sick from eating raw steak or chicken.^{[5]
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Research source} Other sources claim that cooked meat is a safer choice.
- A raw meat diet often also include bones, which provide dogs with necessary calcium and other nutrients.^{[6]
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- Conduct research to decide what type of meat you want to feed your dog. Ask your vet if you want more information on the subject.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Preparing Cooked Dog Food

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1
. You may use ground beef, chicken, lamb, turkey or any other type of meat your dog likes. Cook it by frying, boiling, baking, sauteing or otherwise heating it through.
- Add a small amount of organ meat to this recipe every other week, to ensure your dog gets the vitamins she needs.
- Olive oil is safe for dogs to eat, so feel free to use it to keep meat from sticking to your pots and pans.
- There is no need to season the meat with salt and pepper. Dogs don't have the same taste buds that humans do, and too many spices can upset their stomachs.
Use white or brown rice (brown rice may be helpful if your dog has digestive problems), oatmeal, barley or cooked pasta. Cook the starch a few minutes longer than you normally would to make it easier for your dog to digest.
3
. Use fresh or frozen fruit or vegetables, such as green beans, squash, broccoli, spinach, peas, carrots, bananas, or berries. Boil them until they're completely soft, then transfer them to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Dogs have trouble digesting vegetables, so it's important to make sure they're completely smooth before serving them to your dog.
- If you don't have the time or inclination to puree vegetables and fruits, you can substitute baby food or frozen pureed food. Just make sure it's sugar free.
Dogs need a lot of calcium to build healthy bones, so its important to add it to their daily diet. Prepare 1/2 teaspoon crushed eggshells or one teaspoon bone meal, which is available at pet stores.
Place the meat, starch, pureed vegetables, and calcium supplement in a large mixing bowl. Stir the mixture thoroughly, then divide the dog food into serving-sized portions. Place the portions you don't serve right away in airtight food storage containers and refrigerate them until serving time.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preparing Raw Dog Food

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1
Buy raw meat. Go to your grocery store or butcher and purchase one of the following types of raw meat. Buy it with the bone in, since uncooked bones are soft enough for your dog to chew and eat.
- Chicken without bones. Poultry bones are brittle, they can get stuck in the dogs throat and can therefore be very dangerous to eat for your pup.
- Pork meat, bones, head and tail.
- Cow meat (not bones, since they are too hard) or calf meat and calf bones.
- Lamb meat, bones and heads.
2
Prepare the extras. Raw meat can be supplemented with other flavorful sources of vitamins and minerals your dog needs to be healthy.
- Liver, heart, and tripe.
- Whole eggs.
- Tinned or whole fresh fish.
- Salmon oil.^{[7]
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  Beatrice Tavakoli
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  Expert Interview. 26 February 2021.}
3
Add greens, fruits, and vegetables. Dogs eating a raw food diet get almost everything they need from meat, but including some vegetables in their diet is a great way to add variety. Puree one or more of the following vegetables in the blender:
- Spinach, carrots, collards or parsnips.
- Apples, pears or other fruit your dog likes.
- Sweet potatoes.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Beatrice Tavakoli
  Professional Dog Trainer
  
  Expert Interview. 26 February 2021.}
- Don't include any ingredients that are dangerous for dogs, like chocolate, grapes, avocados, or grapeseed oil.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Beatrice Tavakoli
  Professional Dog Trainer
  
  Expert Interview. 26 February 2021.}
Fill your dog's bowl with the proper amount of food according to her weight. It should be composed of mostly raw meat with a few extras and a dollop of vegetables or fruit. Store leftover meat and other dog food in an airtight food container in the refrigerator.

How Do You Know How Much To Feed Your Dog?

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Question

What ingredients should you avoid in dog food?

Beatrice Tavakoli
Professional Dog Trainer
Beatrice Tavakoli is a Professional Dog Trainer and the Founder/Owner of TAKA Dog Walk in New Jersey. A lifetime dog lover and enthusiast, Beatrice is committed to providing animals with hands-on service dedicated to daily love, adventure, and socialization. As insured and bonded dog walkers, Beatrice, and her staff provide a multitude of services including doggie social hour, day hikes, training, puppy care, canine special events, in-home pet care, boarding, cat care, and customized dog walks.

Beatrice Tavakoli

Professional Dog Trainer

Expert Answer

Take the time to research what is detrimental to a dog. Some of the main ones are chocolate, grapes, avocado, and grapeseed oil. Amazingly enough, some commercial dog foods actually include grapeseed oil, but it's really damaging to a dog's liver.

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Can you feed a dog a grain-free diet?

Beatrice Tavakoli
Professional Dog Trainer
Beatrice Tavakoli is a Professional Dog Trainer and the Founder/Owner of TAKA Dog Walk in New Jersey. A lifetime dog lover and enthusiast, Beatrice is committed to providing animals with hands-on service dedicated to daily love, adventure, and socialization. As insured and bonded dog walkers, Beatrice, and her staff provide a multitude of services including doggie social hour, day hikes, training, puppy care, canine special events, in-home pet care, boarding, cat care, and customized dog walks.

Beatrice Tavakoli

Professional Dog Trainer

Expert Answer

Talk to your vet first, but it really depends on the dog. Some dogs don't do well digestively with a completely grain-free diet. Try adding sweet potatoes—it's a binding fiber that's really great for a dog's digestion.

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I'm am feeding my dog chicken & rice for his weak stomach. Is that good for him? Do I need to add anything for a supplement?

Community Answer

This is very good for him. You could add a dash of oil or an egg. Some yogurt is always a good idea as well.

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Check out How to Make Dog Treats for healthy homemade treats you can make to supplement your dog's meals.

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Don't introduce too many different foods to your dog at one time. The meals should be simple, and never spicy or greasy.

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Warnings

Avoid foods that may be harmful for your dog, including chocolate, dairy products, nuts, potatoes, raisins, grapes, onions, onion powder, rhubarb leaves, tomatoes, coffee or tea.

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If your dog has special dietary needs, talk to your veterinarian before feeding your dog homemade food.

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Be careful with nightshades like eggplants and bell peppers (potatoes and tomatoes are nightshades as well !). The dog is absolutely unable to digest them, they can be dangerous in any amount.^{[10]
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