Easy Nutritious Dog Food Recipes

 I have experimented with numerous recipes for my dogs, but I have chosen seven of them (one for every day of the week) that I feel are best for them, and THE COOK.  These recipes are easy to make, only require one pot or pan; so they do not take a lot of time and energy to prepare or clean up.  They are also nutritious, offer a variety of foods, and my dogs love them.  Additionally, if you follow the instructions below, you will only have to cook for your pooch one week out of each month. What more can a dog lover want?  Please read all instructions below before you go to my recipe page.  THANKS!

Shopping For Your Dogs

If you cook at all at home, you should already have everything you need to cook these recipes.  You will need a good food processor to prepare these for your small dog.  I use fresh organically grown fruits and veggies in these recipes.  Search out you options for organic foods in your area. Some areas have community co-ops where you can purchase many organically grown seasonal veggies.  Many health food stores and larger grocery stores stock organic fruits and veggies in their produce section.  If you can not find them in your area, ask your grocer to get them for you, or seek on-line vendors. Try very hard to find meats that are lean and free from antibiotics and steroids, and purchase free range poultry.  My grocer stocks the organic broths I use in my recipes.  If you can not get them, you can purchase them on-line by various vendors.  I have included some on-line organic vendors on my Links page. Organics are more expensive than regular foods, but its hard to put a price tag on health and vitality!  If your pocket book will not allow you to purchase organic foods, or you just can not get them in your area; then purchase regular fresh fruits and veggies. 

When it is time to cook for your dog, you will have to purchase many fresh fruits, vegetables and meats that can ruin quickly even in your refrigerator.  My husband and I enjoy nearly the same foods as our dogs.  When I cook for my dogs, my family enjoys the same menu (just differently prepared). For example: When I cook my dogs the pork chop and yam bake, I usually grill my human family pork chops and add a baked sweet potato, fresh peas, and buttered cabbage on the side.   This way, we can buy a large package of the meats (less per pound in most meat markets), and we utilize all the fresh veggies needed for each doggie recipe before they ruin. If you do not like a particular item in one of these recipes (my husband and I do not like liver, but our dogs love it), just use the items you like and substitute what you do not for your family.  For example: When it is time to cook the liver dinner for my dogs, I fix my human family a beef or chicken entrée.  I serve it on a bed of pasta, with green beans, Italian squash, and baked pear with cottage cheese for desert (most of the ingredients in on my dogs recipe).  Just plan your human recipes around your dogs when its time to cook for your pooch. You will need to purchase a large box of freezer bags before you start cooking. Please purchase a very good quality NATURAL vitamin/mineral supplement for your dog.  The brand I buy is simply mixed in my dogs food.  It provides 16 vitamins, 15 minerals, 23 amino acids, 9 enzymes, 4 essential fatty acids, and joint support supplements.

Getting Started

Before you start, you need to adjust the recipes so each will feed your dog(s) for 4 to 5 days (you may have to adjust for awhile before you can get it just right).  Prepare a different recipe each day for 7 days.  Feed the first meal fresh from the food processor, divide the rest in daily portions, and freeze.   After the first week, you will have at least a month supply of food in your freezer.  Feed your dog(s) a different frozen recipe every day until you have only one of each recipe left in the freezer, then begin the cooking process again.  You will still feed the newly cooked portion to your dog fresh from the processor.  Make sure to place the newly cooked packages under the older one left in your freezer, so the older one will be fed first the next week.  This way, you only have to cook for your pooch one week out of the month, you will always have at least a week of food in the freezer (just in case you can't cook that week), and your dog(s) gets non-frozen foods for a solid week out of the month.

Please read the instructions below BEFORE you attempt to cook these for your precious companion. 

Preparation, Cooking, Storage, and Serving Directions

            All ingredients should be organic if at all possible!  All the meats, fruits, and vegetables should be FRESH or fresh frozen.  You might as well purchase a very good canned dog food if you use any canned items in these recipes!   Start with a very sanitary kitchen.   Use a non-porous cutting board that can be washed and then sanitized in your dish washer or cleaned with a good antibacterial soap.  Clean and cut your fruits/vegetables first, remove them from your preparation area, and then clean and prepare your meats for cooking.  If your vegetables and fruits are NOT organic, you must wash and then peel them (this looses some of the nutritional value, but you will not be giving your dog as many chemicals).  If they are organic, just wash them well in fresh water with a clean vegetable scrubber.  Trim any excess fat or skin from your meats and wash all meats thoroughly before using. I serve my dogs a different recipe each day of the week for variety and nutrition.  You can substitute the meats, vegetables, and fruits in these recipes.  For example; if you do not  have fresh peas, you can substitute green beans.  If you can not get venison, you can substitute another red meat. Two things to remember: 1. Mix fruits/vegetables with different color combinations i.e. a green with an orange, a yellow with a dark green, etc. 2. Use a variety. Do not use the same few veggies or meats over and over.    The fruits/vegetables in these recipes should not be overcooked.  Most should still be a somewhat crisp when processing (they are only cooked a little for blanching because of freezing).  Do not add spices, onions, mushrooms, or peppers to these recipes. Some spices and food items are not good for dogs.  I add yogurt or cheese when serving my dogs' food because they are still growing and need the extra protein and calcium.  Some dogs are lactose intolerant.  Delete the dairy, if your dog exhibits any digestive disturbances.  If your dog is currently eating a commercial dog food, gradually change him/her over to home cooked meals.  Depending on your dog's size, divide each recipe in only one day's ration.  Place each ration in a vacuum sealed bag (freezer bag will do, but remove any excess air) and mark with name of recipe and date prepared. Place in your freezer as soon as the portions are warm to the touch after processing.  Take out each daily ration and thaw in your refrigerator overnight or place in a warm water bath until thawed before serving (do not microwave).  I divide my dogs' daily ration in half and feed in the morning and in the evening. All portions should be served with a good NATURAL vitamin/mineral supplement per your dogs weight, age, and manufacturers recommendations. 

What To Do When You Are Away From Home

Many people have asked me how I feed my dogs if we go on vacation or if something happens and I can not cook a recipe when its time.  First, I pack my dogs for a trip just like I do myself.  When we are away from home, I carry a couple of their frozen recipes with us in a small cooler of ice (they will stay fresh for a few days).  I pack some freezer bags, small food processor, plastic bowls, a rubber spatula, their supplements, and a small bottle of antibacterial soap for cleanup.  My dogs also eat out occasionally just like I do!  I dont feed them ANY junk foods, but I dont eat them either!   I love a good cafeteria, or buffet!  I can get what I want, and still get my dogs a meal to go.  I will get them a small entrée of baked chicken, roast beef, or turkey.  Then I add some fresh broccoli, carrots and celery sticks from the salad bar (steamed veggies will also do), and maybe rice or baked potato. When I get back from the restaurant, I get out the food processor and process my dogs dinner.  A child's plate is usually inexpensive and that is all it takes to feed my dogs for a couple of days (just keep the leftovers in a freezer bag in the ice filled cooler).  Then the question of what happens if I cannot cook for them when it is time?   I always leave at least 7 different dog food packages in the freezer at all times.  If something unexpected comes up when it is time to cook, I will have at least a whole week before my dogs run out of food.  If there comes a time where I am unable to cook for them when they run out of food, I will just have to rely on my husband to do the honors!  I keep these recipes and instructions with my human recipes just in case I am unable to fix them myself.  My husband can read directions, use a knife, turn on the stove, brown meat, set a timer, and turn on a food processor.  That is really all it takes to successfully cook these recipes!

Click on the Recipe link at the top of this page to view my doggy tested recipes.  Please email me if you have any questions or commits.  THANKS!

More Doggie Recipes for Variety and Treats are Coming Soon!