Here’s our recipe, lean ground beef, brown rice, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, celery, and bell peppers. With their meal we also give vitamins and supplements, some food toppers too like salmon skin. Been using this recipe for nearly 5 years now with all three of our Aussiedoodles, from our 4 year old to my wife’s family’s 3 year old and my parents’ 2 year old. Portion wise we make enough to last at least a couple weeks, package and freeze most of it and thaw out/fridge enough food for a day or two.

i have been cooking for my dogs for 5 years… ground meat( chicken/ turkey/ beef mixed with egg), liver, heart, veggie( mainly sweet potatoes or what i cook the day), sometimes i add white rice. i give them bone everyday as well.

Plain protein is always a good idea. I will occasionally just cook up ground turkey with peas and carrots. Also, I sometimes just cook up chicken breast, chicken thighs or I will roast a whole chicken and feed my pupps that over the weekend. Avoid brown rice as it’s too hard on their digestive system. Fromms kibble with grain OR Hills Science diet are kibble recommendations.

We went to Dr Marty’s Natures Blend freeze dried a few years ago. It’s a little pricey but he loves it and hasn’t been to vet for any tummy issues since the switch.

I’d really recommend talking to your vet about any homemade food ideas that sound good to you, just to make sure it covers all nutritional needs, and they would be an excellent source for supplement recommendations to add to any homemade food. My personal preference is mixing half homemade, half mid to high range kibble (nutrisource element is my favorite kibble, recommended to me by my breeder, but it really is best to check with your vet!) for the homemade portion, mine is a bit difficult to explain measurements but I can give an idea of ingredients? My local mom and pop pet shop sells ground meats in freezer cases that combines regular meat plus organ meat, etc, and I switch up proteins (usually turkey, duck, lamb, rabbit, venison, beef— I have another dog that’s allergic to chicken so I skip that). The protein makes up a bulk of the recipe, about 80-85% I think? I use this bag of freeze-dried greens that I rehydrate, I don’t remember the brand but it has things like bell peppers and turmeric and other beneficial, nutrient rich greens. I used to blend fresh veggies but it was hard to get the balance and it was very time consuming. I add a little packet of pumpkin puree, the kind I get usually has something else in it like flax seed or turmeric for added benefits, it’s something I pick up at the pet store, and I add a bit of raw goat milk. Occasionally I add something like dried minnows for the oils. That is what works for me and my boy, I highly encourage you to talk to a vet! They’re great for info, and even better if there’s a vet nutritionist

We make our pups own food, it was the best thing we ever did. They have less issues overall and we had to do it for allergy reasons. We use a site recommended by a pet food nutritionist our vet sent us too. It’s free and you list the ingredients you would like to use and you fill in your dogs info (age, weight, breed, sexual preference and pronouns- sorry the last two are not needed just got off a 20 hour shift) But anyway it will kick out recommended portions and calories for you similar to what I attached. Our dog needs an additive because of a kidney issue and this worked wonders .

https://preview.redd.it/8k88fchucmte1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65906677d8a0b13d2d6a9e9070e4323782b900fb

The site is balanceit.com

I would STRONGLY recommend against just making your own food from an online recipe (or recipes suggested by people in the comments here). dog nutrition is COMPLICATED - it’s not like with humans where you just make sure to include some carbs, veggies, fruit, protein, dairy. there are studies that show basically all dog food recipes on the internet have nutrient deficiencies that over time can do serious harm to your dog.

you should consult with a vet that is board certified in dog nutrition if you want to make your own food. https://www.acvim.org/about-acvim/acvn-redirect

and here’s a great resource from a vet’s Youtube channel: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NLb_VpRVj6Q

but truthfully, most people find that it is WAY more work than they expected and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with just buying a WSAVA compliant kibble like Purina Pro Plan, Hills, Eukanuba, Iams, or Royal Canin. I know it FEELS better to give them a colorful plate with ingredients you can see, but there’s no evidence it’s actually healthier for them (and tons of evidence it actually does harm when people follow recipes made up by people on the internet).

There’s not a ton of research on raw diets yet; and cooking your own dog food is complex with a lot of room for error. Even with a good vet approved raw diet, so much can go go wrong still

WSAVA diets are recommended because of the investment that they put into the research surrounding their diets. (But WSAVA themselves don’t actually recommend any brand directly as an FYI; but the big 5 constantly thrown around here do foot the proof if you request no questions asked, other companies are very hesitant and just say “yes we’re WSAVA compliant just trust us”)

Honestly dogs don’t care if they eat “boring cereal” every day; you can add fun toppers if you insist on a variety added. Don’t fall for the promotional words like “Human-grade” there’s not metric to say somethings human grade or not

Also as an aside; my friends vet who helped her create a raw food diet for her dog strongly discouraged farmers dog because there is a scary correlation with their diet and pancreatitis and there’s some people’s dogs who got pretty sick on their food. Just as a caution.

I second u/ushinawareta’s comment. PLEASE consult a professional before doing this if you are determined to do it.

A much safer alternative is feeding a WSAVA approved dog food and supplementing with fresh foods. My boy gets all sorts of dog-safe berries, fruits, veggies, plain yogurt and plain meats, but his base nutritional needs are still met by kibble.

We tried Farmers Dog but it quickly became too expensive to feed a grown golden, let alone the two we now have. I did their topper for a while but that also seemed pretty costly for what it is.

We now make our own topper and use Pro Plan as the bulk of their food. The topper makes us feel like we are giving them someone they enjoy but honestly, the boys would eat a bag of shredded cardboard and be happy about it.

To cut down on cooking time, I ended up going raw. Initially it was just the meat but eventually I also stopped cooking veggies as well. I know raw can be controversial but you don't have to go full raw to save time. Much like we can eat a rare steak or medium hamburger, dogs can easily eat only seared or lightly cooked meat. As for veggies/fruits, I blend them raw into a smoothie mixture, then measure out individual portions. This saves so much time compared to when I had to cook everything. The only two things I still cook for my dog are bone broth and also if I give him some [sweet] potato.

To save money, I got a chest freezer and started buying meat and seafood in bulk. I also try to combine my dog's meal planning with my own. As an example, when I buy pork shoulder for myself, I'll also get some for my dog. As for veggies/fruits, I don't buy separate produce for my dog anymore. I buy veggies/fruits for me and save a portion for my dog. Simplifying my shopping list to just common shared groceries instead of having a human list and a dog list has helped me save both money and time overall.

One thing I do want to mention is that you will occasionally have to choose between saving money or saving time, so it will be helpful if you think about your priority in advance. One time I bought a bunch of chicken quarters because they were on sale. Who doesn't want to save money, right? But I had to spend time cutting them into thighs and drumsticks. Then I had to portion everything out and refreeze most of it. Then I had to do some extra cleaning in my kitchen because chicken bits went flying as I was chopping up the bones. For me, the few dollars I saved were not worth the time I spent dealing with the chicken. However, for someone else, they would happily trade their time to save that money.

Personally, I would ditch the rice. Also, the bluberries, but definitely the rice.
What you need to add are liver (10 parts meat to 1 part liver) and kelp (for trace minerals. Normally, eggs would get you that, but here we are). I'd go with 1/2 tsp per meal for dogs of that weight.
In the world of vegetables, I feed a lot of green beans, chard, spinach and kale.
You are also going to need some calcium. You could consider a tbsp of yogurt to each meal.

I stock up on bulk meat when it's inexpensive. Mainly look to shop at restaurant supply shops and bulk places like Costco. I buy big bags of jasmine or basmati rice. Meat and veggies can be frozen and used later. When I make the food, I make a ton and freeze in meal prep containers.

Edit: I was doing this for 3 dogs between 55-90 lbs

Crock pot

You might search for “dog food cookbook” to get complete and balanced recipes. Winging it can lead to deficiencies of critical nutrients and potentially fatal overdoses.

We do raw and build on Smithfield pork loins from Costco currently running $2.19/lb. We grind it with a Meat! Your Maker .5hp and it rips thru the loin like its nothing. Huge reduction in prep time. We dont use spinach (it has oxalates that can damage kidneys) but instead use Costco frozen Normandy Mix (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots) which we steam and grind with organs, oysters, and supplements. Dogs have zero requirement for carbs so we dont use rice or other fillers.

We vacuum pack the meat and the other mix then freeze them. We portion every two or three weeks into to-go 12oz containers along with a water packed sardine, a tablespoon of canned pumpkin and she gets a soft-boiled egg with the shell with breakfast. And she gets a complete chicken wing, turkey neck, etc for her raw meaty bone.

If you continue cooking, note that people warn that raw food with ground bone is still dangerous. Dont know how valid it is but cat people worried about bird flu have mentioned the risk of cooked bone shards.

Also, it is best practice to change their food slowly. If they have a gut biome optimized for fillers and then they suddenly switch the bulk to real meat, they will likely have tummy troubles. And youll learn what proteins dont work for them. My Belgian will happily eat turkey necks but the ground turkey from Costco is…. explosive.

Good luck!

be really, really careful. there is a LOT more that goes into dog nutrition than you think. you cannot just take and mix up random grains, veggies, and meats.

dogs need specific vitamins and minerals, in specific quantities. missing even ONE vital nutrient can cause something as drastic as your dog going permanently blind, or worse. many of these nutrients only come from organ meats, which depending on where you are, can be difficult to source on their own.

if you decide to go this route, i would recommend speaking with your vet first & looking into a vitamin powder. the brand missing link has a powder mix of all necessary vitamins and minerals that you can stir into homemade food, to make sure your pup is still getting the nutrients they need.

You need a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

No other tips that would be shared here are safe because making your own food requires professional guidance.

You need vet guidance. However in Jerusalem, they feed their dog whatever they are eating. As long as it is organic and not prepackaged. And the dogs there are strong and healthy and doing fine.

In fact over there the dogs dont have cancer or tumors like they do here from the dog food.

But you need a board certified nutritionist, Im just telling what people are already doing overseas, it is not meant to be advice for you, just knowledge of what is taking place around the world in light of your subject.

Please double and triple check to know what you're getting yourself into. This is super difficult and the health risks are high. You absolutely need support by a board certified veterinary nutritionist.

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It should be noted that dogs have evolved to eat our scraps. My great grandmother only fed her dogs scraps and boiled potatoes and they lived to be over 10.

Not advocating for this strategy lol. But in a pinch don't be stressing if you don't have coconut oil and just give them whatever you have that won't kill them.

The truth is; there are a lot of very high quality brands that would actually be better for your dog than what you could make. I looked into it and it just wasn’t worth it…

Please be careful storing rice for extended periods of time before serving. Rice can develop Bacillus cereus, which causes food poisoning. Not sure if refrigerating it would halt that or not.

Edit: forgot to say this looks amazing and you are an awesome dog parent

I do Mass batches portion and freeze, a months worth costs about 50$ 25 % to 30% ground beef medium 40% brown rice 25% Carrots and celery raw added when cooled 5% Rosemary, tumuric, fresh parsley, salmon oil.

Worked for my boxer who had terrible stomach issues.

Treats are frozen bananas, natural peanut butter, and the occasional cow feamer.

It looks like a meal any dog would love. Check on that rice refrigeration though that frickdom mentioned. It’s a killer!

I wonder if quinoa would be better than rice?? I read that all rice contains arsenic and heavy metals anyone??

I'm gonna be honest. I saw the sub this was posted in and then saw the first pic of the oven. I was absolutely terrified for a second.

Well... My dog's a big fan of heart, liver, and dried shrimp. Those are 't too expensive for meat where I come from.

You need to consult a board certified veterinary nutritionist to make sure your diet is balanced. In the US they can be found at https://acvn.org .

Raw is not recommended by any veterinary group as there are no proven health benefits but there are proven risks.

Check out https://secure.balanceit.com/ez/index.php?rotator=NewEz to make sure your dog is getting the nutrients they need.