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This balanced homemade dog food recipe was formulated by Dr. Karen Becker & Rodney Habib, experts in dog nutrition. It is approved by my veterinarian and my dogs love it!
This is a balanced homemade dog food recipe that my veterinarian recommended to me a few years ago. I want my dogs to live long & healthy lives, so I make their food myself! I like knowing exactly what is in their food. It can get pricey, but hospital bills are even pricier. Healthy food = good health!
This recipe is completely balanced and my dogs LOVE it. They have super shiny coats, healthy teeth, and good breath!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
For health reasons obviously! But it’s also perfect for making in bulk, which makes it much more convenient.
You can make a large batch of this once or twice a month, keep it in the freezer, and thaw overnight as needed until you run out. I make about 11 pounds of food (uncooked) and it will last almost 3 weeks for my two small adult dogs (about 10 lbs each).
How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
Check with your veterinarian for how much food your dog needs per serving. My two dogs are about 10 lbs each, and it is generally recommended to feed between 2-3% of their total body weight daily. We feed them once in the morning, and once in the evening.
For example, Leeloo weighs 12 lbs and we feed her 2.5% of her body weight daily. To calculate this, multiply 0.025 by 12 to reach 0.3 lbs. Converting lbs to ounces, this equals 4.8 oz. Divided by 2, is 2.4 oz of food twice a day 🙂
Nutritional Info
This recipe has 40 calories per ounce. To see the original recipe posted on Youtube by Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib, click here. This video can provide more information on the nutritional value of all the ingredients in this recipe.
Cooked or Raw?
I gently cook the food for my dogs, but this is still a great recipe if your dog is on a raw diet.
If you choose to cook the food, do so without any oil on a nonstick pan on low heat. Be careful not to sear the meat- you want to gently cook it until it is just done. You can make patties, large chunks, or break it down into mince if you prefer.
I recommend using a stainless steel pan, but you need to know how to use it correctly so that the food does not stick and make a mess. To do this, heat your pan for at least 3 minutes. To test if it’s ready, splash a little water into it. If it sizzles and evaporates, it’s not ready to use. But if the water dances around the pan in little beads, it’s ready.
From that point, lower the heat as much as possible and wait a couple more minutes for the pan to cool down a little. Then add the food and gently cook it over low heat.
Ingredients:
- Very lean ground beef or poultry- This is the main source of protein and has to be lean since dogs have a high amino acid requirement. Compared to ground beef, ground chicken and turkey are lower in protein, iron, and zinc, so you’ll need to make up for it with extra beef liver.
- Hempseed– excellent source of essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6. This balances the fats. I buy mine from Sprouts or Costco but it is also available an Amazon here. You can use hempseed oil but be very careful with the heat if you are going to cook it. Hempseed oil becomes very unpleasant to dogs if exposed to high heat.
- Sardines – meets vitamin E & D requirements. You can also use cod liver oil. Use canned sardines in water, not oil.
- Ground ginger- packed with manganese, which supports connective tissue health. This benefits ligaments, tendons, joints, and muscles.
- Kelp powder- packed with iodine and is AMAZING for teeth and coat health! You can purchase the one I use here. I highly recommend this stuff- my dogs have great hair & teeth, and their breath NEVER stinks!
- Eggs & eggshells- eggs are a great source of folic acid and vitamin b12. The eggshells are totally edible and provide the calcium needed for adult dogs, but not puppies.
- Beef liver- provides copper, zinc, and iron. Sprouts sells them in frozen packages that are convenient to use- 4 individually wrapped 4 oz portions.
- Broccoli, red bell pepper, & spinach- veggies add antioxidants, phytonutrients, enzymes, and fiber.
- Leave out the spinach if you have a senior dog with kidney issues. Spinach is not good for dogs with kidney failure because of its oxalates and high sodium content, but this small amount is perfectly fine for healthy dogs.
How To Make It
(measurements and instructions provided in recipe card at the end of this post)
Begin by mixing together the ground beef (or chicken or turkey), eggs, kelp, ground ginger, hempseed, sardines, and pumpkin puree (if using). Sometimes I add pumpkin puree for digestive health, but it is not part of the original recipe.
Save half of the eggshells and set them aside.
Drain most of the water from the sardines before you add them in. Try to break them up as much as you can before mixing so that it is evenly distributed throughout the recipe. When it is well combined, set it aside.
Next, add the veggies, eggshells, and beef liver to a food processor and blend until everything is evenly chopped. You may need to do this in batches if your food processor is small.
I use a Hamilton Beach food processor! I love this one because it’s affordable and has a built in side scraper that can be used while the food processor is on.
Add the blended ingredients to the beef and mix until well combined.
How to Store
Portion out the food according to your dog’s daily food intake requirements. Remember that the uncooked food will be ok in the freezer for weeks, but only for a few days in the fridge. Portion accordingly. I do not like to keep cooked dog food in the fridge for more than 4 days.
If you’re going to consistently make this recipe, consider buying reusable freezer bags! I’ve had these for almost a year now and they’re still holding up great. Let’s try to reduce our plastic waste 🙂
The food is ready to serve raw, or you can gently cook it. Cook without any oil on a nonstick pan on low heat. Be careful not to sear the meat- you want to gently cook it until it is just done. You can make patties, large chunks, or break it down into mince if you prefer.
Meet Remy & Leeloo!
Here is a recent picture of our pups! Remy (left) and Leeloo (right) are mother and daughter. We adopted them in 2021 and we love them so much!
I fed this recipe to my previous dog Lucy, who passed away last year from kidney failure and arthritis. She was very old when she passed, but I am not sure exactly how old. I miss her so much.
It is so important to me to make sure I am feeding my dogs the best food possible. I have received SO many messages from readers saying that this recipe saved or improved their dog’s life, and that sincerely brings me so much joy!
Healthy Homemade Dog Treats
If you’re interested in making this recipe for you dog(s), consider making them some healthy treats too! I am working on adding more to the blog, but for now here is an easy one my dogs love dehydrated green-lipped mussels
Green-lipped mussels are packed with nutrients! They are particularly effective in relieving joint pain in dogs. My dogs are dachshund mixes, so I am constantly worried about their impending back and joint pain. They love these little fishy snacks and it gives me peace of mind to know it is helping to reduce inflammation! Read more about the benefits of green-lipped mussels here.
More dog food recipes
Balanced Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients
- 7 lbs 90% lean ground beef , or lean ground turkey or chicken
- 1.5 cup hempseeds, or 1/3 cup hempseed oil
- 16 oz canned sardines in water, or 4 tsp cod liver oil
- 4 tsp ground ginger
- 4 tsp kelp powder
- 8 eggs, pasture raised
- 4 egg shells
- 15 oz pumpkin puree, NOT pumpkin pie mix!
- 8 oz beef liver, 12 oz if using ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef
- 8 oz broccoli
- 8 oz spinach, omit if your dog has kidney issues
- 8 oz red bell pepper
Instructions
- Begin by mixing together the ground beef, eggs, kelp powder, ground ginger, hempseed, (or hempseed oil), sardines, and pumpkin puree (if using). Drain the water from the sardines before you add them in. Save half (4) of the eggshells and set them aside.
- Break up the sardines as much as you can so that it is evenly distributed when mixed.
- Next, process the veggies, eggshells, and beef liver. You may need to do this separately if your food processor can't fit everything. I process everything separately, except for the bell pepper and eggshells- I process those together. I use a Hamilton Beach food processor. I love this one because it has the side scrapers that can be used while the processor is on!
- Add the blended ingredients to the beef and mix until well combined.
- Portion out the food according to your dog's daily food intake requirements. The dog food will be good in the freezer for weeks, but only for a few days in the fridge. Portion accordingly. I do not like to keep cooked dog food in the fridge for more than 4 days.Reusable freezer bags are the way to go! Let's try to reduce plastic waste 🙂
- The food is ready to serve raw, or you can gently cook it. Cook without any oil on a nonstick pan on low heat. Do not try to sear the meat over high heat- you want to gently cook it until it is just done. Let it cool and store in an airtight container to hold in the fridge for up to 4 days. Serve cold, or slightly warmed for picky dogs!
Notes
- This will make 11-12 lbs of food
- If using hempseed oil, be extra careful not to cook with high heat. It will make the hempseed oil taste really bad to the dogs.
- This recipe is not suitable for puppies. Puppies have different nutrition requirements that are very important for early life stages.
- I am not a dog nutritionist. Please consult with a veterinarian or dog nutritionist to make sure this recipe is suitable for your dog’s nutritional needs.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you use sardines in olive oil instead of water if you rinse them off?
My 4 year old dog was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a year ago. The prognosis was grim. We opted not to amputate his leg or do chemo, and instead I switched his diet to this recipe. I also supplemented with turkey tail mushrooms, hekla lava, and symphytum officionale.
I’m happy to say that he’s still alive and well! His tumor has shrunk and he no longer limps or seems to have any pain at all. Just wanted to share in case anyone has dealt with something similar.
I started my dog on this recipe back in September(’25). I’ve only tried the beef protein, but my next half batch will be local ground chicken. So far, she loves the food! What other vegetables, nutritionally equivalent, can I use instead of the broccoli, bell pepper, and spinach? My girl errs on the side of gastrointestinal upset, and I want the vegetables to be kidney safe as well. Thanks so much!
Truly changed my dogs life and improved their skin, energy levels, and overall health. I decided to look for a recipe after being a freshpet user for my two chihuahuas and noticing skin issues and unrelenting allergies. All of their skin problems disappeared after a month eating this diet and they are so much more playful and at a healthy weight! We of course keep the base recipe but mix it up and add extras like blueberries and other veggies and shredded chicken.
Thanks for a receipt and a starting point to better feeding my beloved babies…every time I feed them I worry about the ingredients, even though I’ve gone to fresh food…I still see things in it that I question. So now I’m thinking because of their age (both just turned 14) and I has a skin allergy and getting an allergy shot every 3 months…that holistic feeding is the way to go. So again, THANK YOU for the 1st step in a better direction…
Has anyone calculated the nutritional information for the recipe?
I’ve been making homemade dog food for years, since my little Shih Tzu went into liver failure shortly after receiving his vaccines. I found recipes online and it worked well; his blood tests were normal the next vet visit. I also gave him a supplement of milk thistle. I currently have a tiny (5 lb) Shih Tzu Hospice foster. she was 15 when I got her and very lethargic and had been given only ground up kibble (she has only 1 tooth) to eat. I immediately gave her my homemade food — turkey or ground beef recipes–I made big batches and freeze in cool-whip containers) She gained 3 lbs. and is thriving at 16. She is blind and very hard of hearing and has arthritis, but runs like a puppy when I take her outside; and she leaps up the stairs to my home to get back inside after doing her job. She knows she gets a treat for pottying outside. Smart little stinker. I also cook a full meal for myself every day and make Molly a small portion without all the seasonings I use for me. Her favorite is pepper steak over rice or stroganoff meatballs and no-yolk noodles. She gets lactose-free ice cream for late night snack too.,
I love your story thanks for sharing…I am now looking into starting a holistic feeding for my 2 babies (Shih Tzu’s also, under 10 lbs), so any and all information WELCOMED. Congratulations on your success with your feeding!
This is such a helpful, well‑thought-out homemade dog food recipe! I really appreciate how you explained the ingredients: lean meat, hempseed, sardines, veggies and calcium from eggshells to make a complete, balanced meal instead of processed dog food. I also love the tip that it can be prepared in a big batch and frozen for convenience. I’m curious to try it for my dog, but I will check with my vet first to make sure the portion and diet suit him. Thanks for sharing this and giving pet owners a healthy, transparent option.
My dog has been on this recipe for a few weeks now but she seems to be hungry all the time and I’m feeding her a little over the suggested amount per her weight .. anyone have any advice on what to do about this
Really love this the way you mix protein, veggies, and healthy fats makes this recipe feel super balanced and homemade with purpose. Practical and nourishing!
Such a thoughtful and vet-approved recipe! I love how you’ve balanced protein, veggies, and healthy fats and made it easy to batch-cook. Really inspiring for anyone wanting to feed their pup homemade food with care.
Hello,
I just stumbled across this recipe. Just for clarification. Does your dog Leeloo have 4.8 oz of uncooked or cooked per day?
Just trying to get my measurements right.
Thanks,
Feanna
I love this recipe and so does my 13 year old Wheaten Terrier. The difference in her after 3 days of healthy home made dog food has been amazing. I have run into a problem though. Our Lola has had allergies her whole life and we are very careful with what she eats. She has been itching a lot since transitioning to homemade food. I am almost positive it’s the hemp seed. Can I substitute chia and flax seed for the hemp? Will these give the correct amount of nutrients? Thanks for any help you can give me.
I found the nutritional information. Love this recipe.
Can you send me the nutritional information? Or tell me how to find it?
I can’t find the nutritional info
Dear Stella…I have 2 questions about your homemade dog food recipe. 1. is this recipe good for young puppies too 2. do you wash or bake the egg shells before grinding them Thank you
Hi Karen! This recipe is not good for puppies. They have a higher calcium requirement so you’d need to add more calcium or give them supplements. They also need to eat more often, 3 times a day.
I lightly wash my eggshells before grinding them, but I’m not really sure if its necessary with pasture raised eggs which is what I always use.
Hello I’m wanting to make a smaller portion of this recipe just to see if my dog will actually eat it since she is picky and is having a yeast problem right now and am trying to get her gut and everything back on track so can you tell me how much of everything I will use to make about 3 pounds worth of lean beef or lean turkey
If you click on the link I provided to the original YouTube video for this recipe, you can make a small portion using 14 oz of beef. The rest of the ingredient amounts are in the video 🙂
Hi Stella, I’m reaching out because I have been cooking this food or making this food for my dog for the last few months, but she has an egg allergy and so I have not been using anything to replace the eggs which I feel like I definitely need to be doing and everything that I have looked up online to try to replace that is something that is already in the recipe so I was wondering if you had any input in what I could replace the eggs and eggshells with so that it will be balanced
hi Stellla,
I have made this recipe twice in an effort to get my dog back to health as he has continual ear infections. He is crazy about this recipe, but since he is about 75 lbs, I need to supplement with kibble or it’s a little too pricey. Thanks for passing this along. His ears are so, so much better. Not sure what is helping, but I’ll take anything right now!
Suzy from Denver
How do you Tailor this for a puppy?
First time making homemade. My labradoodle enjoyed being the taste tester. I’ve researched a bunch, and so many are way too simple with the ingredient list (lack of nutritional balance). I added a little turmeric and pepper as I had seen in a few other recipes.
My miniature poodle is a very picky eater. I have tried many different kibbles and she really wasn’t liking it and was also constipated. She loves this food and has not been constipated since she started eating it. Thank you from Coco and I.
This balanced homemade dog food recipe offers a nutritious, vet-approved option packed with lean protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals from ingredients like hempseed, sardines, and kelp powder. It supports coat health, digestion, and joint care, and is perfect for batch preparation and freezing. Food research labs (FRLs) contribute by validating nutritional balance, safety, and ingredient quality to optimize pet health. We help pet food businesses solve this at FRL. Happy to connect!
Hello from Australia,
I have made the recipe 3 times now for my Japanese Spitz dogs. I lightly cook and they love it!
Their coat is now so soft and they have even more energy. I highly recommend taking the time to make it.
Best ever!
Hello Stella
Love the recipe! How do the dogs get their grains with this recipe? I hear it’s bad to give dogs grain free diets would love your thoughts
The hemp seed is a great whole grain. Costco is a great value for it.
Throw everything in a pressure cooker and chop in a processor when cooked.
Can I cook the food slow at the low temperature and then freeze it? My schedule doesn’t allow for cooking slow for daily portions but I don’t want to jeopardize the ingredients.
spent about 5 hours prepping, meat grinding, and cooking this. Made just about 40 lbs or dog food. Packaged in 1 1/2 lb bags. My dogs loved this recipe. I did do beef, chicken, turkey, beef liver, chicken liver, chicken hearts, sardines, sweet potato, blueberries, pumpkin puree, spinach, broccoli, green beans, red pepper, hemp seed, chicken bone broth, apples, hemp seed, and rice. I use seaweed in their vitamins along with peptides, and pro biotics. My dogs went crazy for this concoction. Will definitely be making again.
I’m going to try your variations of recipes for my 2 babies…I love the added options in your recipe too. Thank you for the information…
What’s the calorie count on your recipe?
On your recipe, it doesn’t have a calorie count. Do you know the calorie count?
I can’t wait to make this for my dogs. Thank you for sharing!!! Can you give me an idea how much to feed a 75 pound and 100 pound German Shepherds with this recipe? The Veterinarian is against homemade feeding but I want to start cooking homemade for my dogs.
I just just made this one of my dogs gotten overweighs.
I mix turkey and lean ground beef, also on food processor added more frozen vegetables . Thanks will let you know how my overweight dog, from eating Sicadas for the last 2 months does.
Ok just made this one of my dogs gotten overweighs.
I mix turkey and lean ground beef, also on food processor added more frozen vegetables . Thanks will let you know how my overweight dog, from eating Sicadas for the last 2 months does.
I was wondering why you don’t cook or blanch veggies first? from what I understand. the nutrients arent easily available in the raw forms, it is better if they are broken down some? im about to start getting these ingredients to try this with my 2 pups!! can’t wait for them to actually WANT to eat!!!!
Your recipe is the 1st one I’ve seen that is very healthy. I make a similar recipe for my two dogs, 11 lbs and 14 lbs. I do add 4 T coconut oil, 10 capsules of salmon oil, 1 tsp turmeric, 2 tsp of ginger, 6 cups of black beans, carrots, green beans, and sweet potatoes instead of pumpkin. I make dehydrated beef heart, sardines, and sautéed chicken gizzards for treats. My dogs have heart issues, and one has seizures, rarely anymore. They are rescues and have far outlived any vet’s estimates. They are healthy and love the food.
I was wondering what the caloric count per pound of this recipe? Please adivse
I’m curious too. In the beginning of the article it says she uses the rule “2-3% body weight” but I find that to be deeply inaccurate as it doesn’t tell you how many calories you should feed, just how much weight.
I have made this recipe before with that calculation before I realized it was wrong.
Hello from New Zealand.
I made this dog food today. My 15 year old Belgium Shepherd loved it. I will be combining it with his usual kibble in decreasing amounts until he adjusts to it properly. He’s on serious arthritis meds and heart pills, I’m sure this will make the rest of life much more enjoyable.
Thank you
Noeleen
Thank you so much!
Hello—I haven’t made your dogfood recipe yet but it looks good. I have a question- my pup is allergic to chicken so not sure about eggs and eggshells— do you have an egg/ eggshell alternative? Thanks!
I started my dog on this a few weeks ago because of yeast problem she is having and I know they say kibble feeds yeast so I wanted her off of that and she is super picky but absolutely loves this recipe and seeing her happy enjoying her food brings me so much joy the only issue I’m having is she acts hungry not long after feeding her and I’m feeding her twice a day and 2 and 1/3 cups a day split in to two meals is what I’m suppose to be feeding her based off what’s online and her weight and I’m feeding her 3 cups a day so I’m feeding her a little over hat I’m suppose to but she is still acting hungry the only ingredient I haven’t added is kelp powder and I just ordered some but was wondering if that’s possibly why she’s still acting hungry because she is missing those vitamins and minerals if anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it
what can you use to replace the kelp powder?
I made a 2lb batch to test and my 15 year old beagle mix absolutely loved it! She’s not been eating well for several months now so it makes me so happy she’s eating! I’m afraid to give her too much though, don’t want to overdo it though. I used ground venison instead of ground beef.
I’m in tears watching my Brutus(boxer/mastiff) eat a whole bowl of this. He is so picky and getting him to eat has been a long battle. I’m so grateful for your informative article on this recipe. Ps:Pepper loves it too!
This recipe has literally saved my 10 year old chiuahuahs life. She’s has had all her teeth removed & was on a canned food diet recommenced by our vet. She started to refused the food and had serious bowl issues. The vet was certain it wasn’t the food. Thousands of dollars in vet bills to keep her from dying & I was told to put her to sleep. I just did not think we needed to go tat far. Found this recipe & offered it to her & she gobbled it up. She has done a complete 180. She’s full of life and energy. Gained some weight, her fur is thick and soft, and she’s so spunky again. The vet said it was not the food. (I think it was not because it’s bad food but not good for my dog). We found a new vet & she was shocked that this was the same dog based on the old vets notes. She loves the recipe.
Would beef heart be a good supplement along with liver? Just wondering because my butcher suggested.
as someone who is still researching diy dog food, I have learned the heart is considered a muscle and the liver an organ, so if you use heart, the recipe needs an increase in fats and decrease in muscle proteins. I am going to be making this recipe for my 2 dogs soon!! can’t wait for them to eat this 👍😁👍
what do you do if you have two picky Chihuahuas that will not touch anything that smells like any type of seafood at all even if it’s the oil, what can I substitute for in this recipe sardines for
Hi. For the Ginger, do we use fresh ground or ground ginger in the spice section?
Hi Laura, please use ground ginger powder from the spice section!
Hi I’m going to try this recipe for my 10lb chihuahua mix. I’m confused….do you recommend freezing the recipe in portions raw and then lightly cook before serving? And if I lightly cook before freezing am I decreasing the nutrients?
Your recipe doesn’t include any starchy carbs like rice or pastas. Is that ok in your opinion?
Hi Lynn, yes you have correctly understood my recommendation. Cooking food can reduce its nutritional value, but on the same hand it can become more bioavailable (easier for the body to absorb). This is why I recommend gently cooking it.
As mentioned in the post, this is not a recipe I formulated and I am not a canine nutritionist. This recipe is bulked up from a Rodney Habib & Dr. Karen Becker recipe, who are canine nutritionists. It was also recommended by my vet. Everyone has a different opinion on whether dogs need carbs- I don’t really have one since I’m not an expert, but my recommendation is to follow a vet and canine nutritionist you trust.
What I can say is that my dogs Leeloo and Remy are extremely healthy. Leeloo has been on this diet since she was 3 months old (with calcium supplements added), and Remy since she was 4. Remy is now 8, and people are always shocked at how young & healthy she looks at her age. I know 8 isn’t old, but it’s not very young for a dog either. Remy still looks young and has the energy of a young adult or puppy 🙂
Started using this receipe 2 months ago, both my miniature long hair dachshunds love love love it – thank you
My dog loves this food. As far as gently cooking, I have portioned my batch into bpa free bags and froze. Would I be able to gently cook this recipe by souse vide? Maybe at a temperature around 150 for 5 minutes? I would defrost the frozen food first and then cook. This would not have the temperature of the food go over 150, or whatever I chose. Souse vide allows you too keep a constant consistent temperature. All the juices would be retained in the bag .
Hi Jennifer, I think that would be ok but I highly recommend thawing the food in the fridge. Also, just make sure your portioned dog food is NOT vacuum sealed. That can put your dog at risk for botulism. Always remove frozen foods from vacuum sealed bags when thawing.
I am curious about vacuums sealing. Why are you afraid of botulism if vacuums sealed? I’m not arguing why, I just thought vacuums sealing was a good thing. Is there something I don’t know about botulism and vacuums sealing? Thank you for your time. Also looking forward to trying this recipe.
I’m definitely going to try this recipe. My vet said that I should add Balance It to any homemade recipe, because dogs require certain nutrient amounts. This recipe is nutritionally balanced as you stated, so I’m wondering what your thoughts are on this.
How many oz to feed a 65 pound dog?
What do you think about vacuum sealing these portions and then cooking via a sousvide cooker?
I’m afraid of botulism so I would not recommend that.
My 10 year old yorkie LOVES this recipe!
My Catahoula is 7 months and 61 lbs. I am not sure how to portion this per day.
No grains of any sort?? I thought complex carbohydrates were important!
I was just reading through this recipe, trying to move away from rice, and saw your question. The hemp seeds have carbohydrates, so does the pumpkin, and the vegetables. It’s controversial how much carbohydrate needs to be in a dog’s diet, but it’s not super high. I’m going to add some cooked garbanzo beans, too.
How many ounces should I feed my 18 pound dog everyday?
where the hell do you get kelp powder? asking because I’ve just been to 3 stores and online stores and can’t find it.
Hi Adam, I linked the kelp powder I use in this post. You can find it on Amazon here.
How many ounces does each of your dog eat everyday? I read that you said 2/3 two times a day. Does that mean each dog eats 10.6 oz daily? So together you have to prepare 21.2 oz daily to feed both of them?
Leeloo, one of her dogs weighs 12lb, she feeds her 2.5% of her weight. So 4.8oz divided by 2
Leeloo gets 2.4oz twice a day.
If you want to follow the same calculation
Take your dogs weight and multiply it by .02 or .025 then convert the lbs to oz.
I hope this helps !!! I made this and my dog loves it !
Thank you!
Hello Stella, I am soooo glad I found this recipe andas soon as I make it and serve it for a well I will give reveiw and will be showing it to my Vet for the sizing amount for my babies 😁 My question is do the sardined have skin & bones?? I give to all my furbabies boneless skinless sardines as a treat so I have that on hand.. Thank you for responding 😁
Hi Tina, the can of sardines I use have both skin and bones. The bones are very tiny, and they provide calcium. It is fine to use them 🙂 Looking forward to hearing what your vet says!
Stella….I am making your dog food recipe as we speak. Can I gently cook it before freezing or is it best to freeze raw and gently cook on the day I am going to serve it to my dog? Thank you.
You can cook before freezing if this works best for your schedule, however I do not recommend it. Cooking before freezing will slightly diminish some of the nutrients, and I know you want the best for your dog so this would kind of defeat the purpose of making a nutrient-packed recipe. But if freezing raw then gently cooking isn’t realistic for your lifestyle, then by all means go ahead and gently cook it before freezing 🙂
definitely 5 stars
I added fresh beef heart in substitute for 2lbs of meat, I also made a smaller batch and was wondering if my equations still deem it nutritionally appropriate for my dogs or if I should add or subtract anything.
2lbs beef heart
2.5lbs 93% lean ground beef
3tsp kelp powder
3tsp ground ginger
6oz pumpkin puree
2 3.5oz can sardines
4 eggs and 4 eggshells
4oz spinach
1/2 large red bell pepper
4oz broccoli florets
3/4 cup hemp hearts
4oz beef liver
mixed it all together and cooked slowly over medium low heat until it was just browned. my dogs are red nosed pitbull and Australian shepherd mix and they absolutely love your recipe I just want to be sure I am giving them all the nutrients they require or if I should add or take away anything. I really would appreciate your insights. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe, my babies love it.
wondering the same, my dog is only 11 pounds and 11-12 pounds of food would last over 1 month – plus we don’t have the room to store as much.
I have a red nose pitbull/Australian shepherd, too! Hes a beautiful boy, and just wonderful. We saved him from the pound. Glad to know yours love the recipe, I just found it tonight and am trying it this week.
Where do you purchase liver… I’m struggling to find.
Is there a Vons or Sprouts near you? Check the frozen section, and look for the bag that looks just like the picture provided in the above post. I know for sure these stores carry this exact one. You should also be able to find beef liver at any butcher shop.
the frozen meat section, unless you want to use chicken livers then it’s in the fresh meat department. hardly nobody carries fresh livers because they are not a hot item that’s sold. and winco is where you can find it for sure
How many pounds of dog food does this recipe yield?
Can I cook the dog food 🥘 in a crock pot?
My dogs are allergic to chicken so I do not use shells. Recommended alternatives please.
If someone wanted to add brown rice to the mix or another carb/grain. How would you suggest doing that?
I wouldn’t suggest adding it at all, but if you need to then I would do it separately.
the original recipe does not contain pumpkin. is this balanced?
Yes, this was mentioned. You do not have to use it.
I’m excited to finally find a well balanced dog food. Thank you
Hi is this a safe meal for a puppy my dog is 2 months old
Hi, this recipe was not formulated for puppies. Puppies will require more calcium, so you could feed them this recipe but you will need to supplement it with more calcium.
I love your recipe! Not only is it nutritionally balanced but easy to make. I would like to know if you have a guide on the amount to feed you dog, depending on size, activity level and age?
Hi Maureen, I do not have a guide but you generally want to feed your dog 2-3% of their body weight a day. Puppies require more food, adults eat less than puppies, and senior dogs require even less food.
This sounds good, but we have a dog that is allergic to chicken and beef. He’s already on Apoquel for his allergies so I would have to use turkey or just fish. We have 5 dogs, 3 Shelties, 1 German Shepherd and 1 mixed breed which is half German Shepherd and half Australian Cattle dog. The mixed breed is the one with the allergies.
How much are you feeding each dog per day? Thank you!
hello! my dog loves this recipe! it makes a good batch (23 days worth at 1 cup/day)
I do have 1 question, if I remove the sardines will that take any nutrients away from the food?
Hi Naomi! That is correct- if you remove any of the ingredients, it will take away from the nutrients formulated to make this a balanced recipe. If you prefer not to use sardines, you can always use cod liver oil in its place!
I heard that too much broccoli is bad for your dogs and you should be rotating out recipes. I love how you wrote out your recipe from start to finish I’m new to home cooking so still learning myself. are there any other recipes that you use?
Can I cook this before freezing?
Hi! You can cook it before freezing, but I don’t recommend doing that because it will further diminish some of the nutritional value.
my dogs love this food thank you so much. I was wondering if I could use salmon oil instead of cod liver oil I hear it is safer ?
my pup does not eat fish, can I leave the sardines out?
Is that one 6 oz can of sardines or 16 ounces?
Hi Kimberly, each can of the sardines I use are about 4 oz. You need a total of 16 oz, so I have 4 cans here.
What would be some alternatives for the vegetables? Just to give some variety of options? I did some research and found maybe carrots, celery, and green beans instead?
My little Yorkie loves this recipe. If I was to switch the meat protein to chicken or turkey how much more beef liver would I have to add. If using chicken or turkey can you still use hempseed’s or should you switch it with flaxseeds. I’m am new to making homemade food and I would love your input. Thank you
Has this been Vet approved? My Vet is always warning me against making my own dog food unless I use like BalanceIt supplement powder (the one my vet recommended) to avoid the dogs missing out on necessary nutrients they wouldn’t otherwise get from a homemade recipe diet. I’m just trying to find best options here because Unkibble is $120 a month for her and it has caused her some gut health issues, Farmers Dog or Ollie are out of my price range. She hates kibble, even the high end brands like Orijen, unless i’ve doctored it up with things she does like. I worry if I make her recipes like this she will be missing key nutrients and I wouldn’t know.
Hey Hannah – I’m not the blog owner, just another reader, but just came to say, that I actually brought this recipe into my vet and he really liked all the ingredients in it. He just said to make sure to use LEAN beef/chicken/turkey. He also liked that we give our dog a daily vitamin along with this meal (she’s 14 lbs mini poodle) so that way there is no question she is getting ALL the nutrients she needs. I also switch up the veggies in this and sometimes add carrots, peas, apples, sweet potatoe, etc. So you can even use the BalanceIt supplement sprinked on the recipe, but definitely talk to your vet first of course and see what they think. My dog sounds like yours…. SO picky, hates all kind of kibble…even the high quality brands, so after months and months of research on what to do, we stumbled on this recipe and she seems to love it!
Hi Nicole, how much of it (if you feed it cooked) do you give your dog? This is my first time cooking for my picky puppy, she has been picky her entire life (8 months ok) but I don’t know how much to feed her. She’s the same size as your dog. Thank you.
I seen same recipe on Dr. karen backers cookbook and thie is complete balance food
if you click on video link you’ll see this was developed by a veterinarian
I’m making this now, but curious if anyone else pre-cooked the liver, eggs, and ground meat? It seems to me if you cooked all of those mixed it might be easier than two mix and then cook in batches. Anyone tried that?
Never pree cooked but I have seen better fecal consistency when I feed her raw instead of cooking.
My little guy went nuts for this food and I couldn’t be more pleased. My friend is a canine nutritionist who works with professional fresh food companies as well as the FDA, and she though this recipe was fantastic. She said the only thought was that for maximum nutrient absorption, separate the egg whites and cook them before adding back in if leaving raw
hi. sort of elephant in room. is it better/healthier to feed it to the dog raw? seems like you allow for both eventualities both raw and cooked.
It depends who you ask! Some experts say raw is the best and others say it’s too risky. I choose to gently cook the food for my dogs but I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s better or healthier. Again, I am not an expert here so I can’t really give you a definitive answer. But I will say that you should be getting high quality beef especially if feeding raw.
Stella I am making this for the first time and was overwhelmed by the amount of beef to veggies! It cost me plenty with lean beef at 8.00 a pound, but I am wondering where are the carbs like rice, potatoes, oats that many other recipes call for! The few cups of veggies in your recipe shocked me, against the seven lbs. of meat! Junie and at one cup a day I only got 22 bags! Sadly surprised here as well!
Hi June, please do your own research to decide what is best for you and your dog. I am not a canine nutritionist, I’m just following the advice of my vet and some canine nutritionists who say dogs do not need carbohydrates in their diet. You’ll find that many “experts” disagree, but honestly I am just not comfortable speaking on this since I am not an expert. My dogs have been on this diet for years (with rotations in the protein source plus other healthy snacks), and their blood work always shows that their organs are functioning very well. Hope this helps!
June
..rice and potato’s are not good for your dog …only sweet potato’s are good and brown rice not white rice..Thats what the vet tells me ..just saying ..hope this helps out
I tried this recipe for my 25-lb. beagle/whippet mix and I’m shocked by how much he liked it! He is usually so fickle at mealtime and will turn his nose up at food, but he absolutely devours this. Plus I feel better feeding him homemade food. Thanks for posting this recipe and helping my picky eater!!
I would strongly emphasise using ORGANIC ingredients’, that way you eliminate unwanted chemicals, and toxins. You go through all the cost and effort of preparing your pets food, take the extra step to cook organic, it will make a big difference in protecting your pets health.
Is this recipe good for dogs of all life stages? Are there any supplements that should be added for puppy life stages or senior life stages?
This recipe as-is, is not suitable for puppies since they have a higher calcium requirement. You could either add another source of calcium to the recipe, or supplement their diet with snacks containing calcium.
I would also switch out spinach for carrots if you have a senior dog with kidney issues. Spinach is high in oxalates which is not good for kidney function (in dogs that already have kidney issues, not overall). Hope this helps!
Thank you! we will do carrots instead. they don’t have any known kidney issues but one almost 11 and the other will be 13 years old. I would rather be safe than sorry. We can also do some research to see if any powder supplements are needed for them.
Could you please tell me about the treats you give and what you sometimes add or remove from the recipe to keep them varied? One of my dogs has stopped eating them, so I’d like to make them a bit more appealing again
Hi Stella, I’ve just received results from a 5Strands test for my pup. Most of the ingredients in this recipe are on the ‘no significant intolerance’ list for her except the beef liver, which is ‘severe intolerance.’ Do you have a suggestion for a replacement? TIA
Hi Veronica, thank you for checking out my blog and leaving a comment! I’m sorry but I’m not sure I can be very helpful here. I am not a canine nutritionist and I definitely don’t want to give you bad info. I’d recommend finding out what it is about the beef liver that makes your pup intolerant to it, and looking for alternative ingredients that cover the copper, zinc, and iron requirements to replace it. Please ask your vet or consult with a canine nutritionist. I hope you can find a solution!
I have been using this recipe for a couple months now and my dog is absolutely in LOVE! She has a heart condition and epilepsy (both of which she takes medication for). After she started having a severe increase in seizure activity, I started looking for other options to take her off prescription cardiac food. The frequency of her seizures has reduced to 1/4 what they used to be and she has regained some of her pep. I wish I had found this recipe sooner.
It took some fine tuning to figure out what her serving size should be, but 45 grams twice a day is perfect for maintaining her 2.9 kg weight. 🙂
Hi Chelsea,
It always brings a smile to my face reading comments like this. Our dogs deserve the best, and I’m so happy your girl is doing better on this diet!
Hi Stella I have two questions if you could help me, I just started making this recipe for my two adult dogs and my two puppies, Is this recipe for puppies and adult dogs? and You mention pumpkin purée as optional, are you talking about regular Purée for the humans or purée For dogs?
Store bought canned pumpkin purée is totally fine, but make sure it’s not the “pumpkin pie” purée because that has a ton on sugar in it!
Hello, im wondering if I can use pork in this recipe.
I have used beef, turkey, pork, bison, venison, rabbit, lamb, and chicken in this recipe and have had no problems
Hi – Do you weigh the food after you cook (and minus any liquid in pan) or weigh raw and cook feed all?
Thx
Sorry, I answered my own question after fully reading your information!
Measure/portion out. Daily intake out raw, freeze (if needed), cook/discard the liquid/fat and cool before feeding;-)
Thx!
Hi how does one cook this on a stove top? Can we cook with some water to prevent burning?
I cook it on the stove without water or oil. I use a stainless steel pan and preheat it to make sure the food does not stick. Preheat for 3 minutes on medium high, then reduce to low and give it another 3-4 minutes for the temp to come down. Then add the food to the pan and gently cook it.
Do you have an idea on how the cost compares to if you were to go with a Farmers Dog or similar? I have a 90lb pup and curious if the cost savings are there to make it at home. Not the most important factor but still worth knowing.
I’m here for the exact reason. Saw a Farmers Dog Ad. Checked out their Website which comes out to be about $6 a Day X 30 days = $180 per dog. So I started to search for home recipe to see the cost. And I am here. I don’t think it would cost as much based on this recipe.
I just did the math on this actually. Comes to $62 for the 12lbs (not including the eggs because I have chickens).
Precisely why I was researching recipes – the one thing you can control by doing it at home is the additives and preservatives that are in anything that you would purchase pre-made. It does come out cheaper to do it at home but you do have to take into account that you are doing all of the work and the shopping so it probably comes out close-ish….but I still believe it would be less to do it yourself, plus the added benefits of not extras. Worth it in my opinion. I have a 43lb heeler mix and a Great Dane puppy so I’m concerned about over all Dane health for long term…and also our heeler mix will likely be competing in agility. We have lots of interest in nutrition with these two. I just need to figure out how to portion so they are getting enough calories.
When I compared the costs, farmers dog was only about $12 more per order. However, I made it using all organic ingredients which cost more and Farmers Dog is not organic. I bought everything at a regular supermarket but Costco sells regular ground turkey for 3.99lb so that would be much less expensive. My dog LOVES the homemade food. I still occasionally order Farmers Dog if I am running out of food and know I won’t have time to make it.
Can you slow cook dog raw mixed recipe first, then cool off and freeze? Or is it best to freeze raw?
Hi Jane, you can cook it before freezing but I do not recommend this as nutrients will be lost when frozen. Hope this helps!
I read ” Depending on the foods, Freezing foods doesn’t cause much loss of nutritional value. According to the experts, it actually may preserve nutrients when properly stored”
Also Ollie and Farmers Dog tells you to store in their food in the freezer because obviously i can’t keep all those packs in the fridge for the whole month. Thoughts and opinions?
Love this recipe and so does my furbaby! I’m wondering if I could substitute other veggies for the broccoli and/or peppers? And would it still be the same amount? Thanks for your input! 🙂
I have two senior dogs, and am definitely going to try this recipe! Both of my dogs love tomato, blackberries, blueberries, celery, cauliflower, carrot… really anything that’s safe for dogs to eat, they enjoy. Maybe try some of these suggestions- if you do, let me know if they enjoyed it 🙂
Tomatoes are toxic to dogs.
Ripe tomatoes are not poisonous for dogs as they’re non-toxic. However, green tomatoes can be poisonous if given in large quantities because they contain natural chemicals called solanine and tomatine. In line with this, make sure your dog doesn’t eat the stems or leaves of tomatoes either.
Food for thought – I’m writing this list up in response and also as i gather and research for my own dog’s needs.
I would confirm everything with a vet and or research for your Dogs particular needs, or special cooking instructions. For example – Sweet Potato is a great addition, but never give raw potatoes to you dog.
Veggies like Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage should be cooked appropriately and used sparingly as they can cause excess gas and stomach discomfort due to high fiber.
It goes without saying but i’ll say it anyways -Do not give your dog items that are cooked with seasonings and other ingredients that are unhealthy or even toxic to dogs, such as garlic or onions.
*Many dog food recipes fall short in certain nutrients, especially iron, copper, calcium, and zinc. Even ones created by Vets.
*Your pet needs protein (animal meat, seafood, dairy, or eggs), fat (from meat or oil) and carbohydrates (grains or vegetables). They also need calcium (from dairy or an ingredient such as egg shells), and essential fatty acids (from certain plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods).
This isn’t even taking into consideration dogs with health problems and need special diets.
*Pet Nutrition experts exist.
*Cook all animal products to kill bacteria that could make your furbaby sick. Cook grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest.
*If you want to insure you are have enough nutrients look into supplements. A good recipe should include specific supplement instructions. If you are unsure – follow up with a pet nutritionist.
My vet recommended Balance.It.com ‘s supplement powder additive.
Even we as humans need to take daily supplements and or vitamins to make up for what our diet is lacking, even those of us eating “healthy”. A lot of food on the market is lacking in nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
There is also the concern of Too Much of a good thing can be bad – If an animal already eats a balanced diet and receives excess portions of some vitamins and minerals, they could be harmful, according to the FDA and veterinarians.
Too much calcium for example can cause skeletal problems, especially in large-breed puppies; too much vitamin A can harm blood vessels and cause dehydration and joint pain. Excess vitamin D can prompt a dog to stop eating, harm bones, and cause muscles to atrophy
*Coconut Oil – Immune system, brain function, healthy coat & skin
*Blueberries – Antioxidant, Immune system & brain function
*Greek Yogurt plain – Probiotics, strengthen bones, immune system
*Pumpkin – Soothe upset stomach, fibre
*Turmeric – Anti-inflammatory, relieve joint pain, overall well being,
*Spinach – Vitamins A, C, K, Iron, antioxidant & overall health -is safe for healthy dogs in small amounts. However, this leafy green contains oxalates, which can lead to kidney stones and bladder stones in susceptible dogs if eaten in large quantities. It also has isothiocyanates, which can cause severe gastric irritation in large amounts.
*Carrots – Vitamins, dental & eye health
*Sweet potato – Antioxidant, energy, vison, digestion
*Broccoli – Vitamins, minerals, antioxidant, immune health – can cause flatulence
*Celery – High water content, high fibre, Vitamins A, B, C, K, folate, potassium, manganese – if giving as a raw snack – it must be de-stringed.
*Kale – Vitamins A, C, K, calcium, antioxidant & overall health
*Green Beans – Vitamins A, B6, C, K, protein, iron, calcium and fiber, dental health
*Chia seeds – Antioxidant, joints, healthy coat, omega-3
*Quinoa – Protein, amino acidds, fibre, minerals
*Salmon – Omega-3, healthy coat & skin, anti inflammatory
*Cauliflower – Fiber, antioxidants, Vitamins C, K, B6 , folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, choline, sulforaphane
*Bell Peppers – filled with Vitamins A, B6, E, Lutein, antioxidants and beta-carotene. Skin, Coat, eye health
*Zucchini – Fiber, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins A, C, B6, K
*Brussels Sprouts – ber, antioxidants, and vitamins A, B1, B6, C, and K. But beware that too many can cause flatulence and other stomach issues, like an upset stomach or diarrhea
*Cabbage – full of antioxidants and fiber, which helps your dog’s digestive system. It also contains folate, protein, potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, riboflavin, and vitamins A, B6, C, and K. However, cabbage can also cause increased flatulence.
*Mushrooms – Regular white mushrooms from the grocery store—when completely plain and washed—are safe for dogs. Dogs should also never eat any mushroom that you don’t buy from the store.
*Tomatoes – Vitamins A, C, immune health, Potassium and antioxidants. When fed in moderation, dogs can eat ripe tomatoes safely. The keyword is “ripe,” because young, green tomatoes can be harmful to dogs due the amount of tomatine they contain.
this recipe has greatly improved both of my dogs health. I have made 3 batches so far and I mix one handful of their old orijen kibble with this recipe as we are still transitioning. I have noticed many positive things ever since I started feeding them this recipe. I only wish I knew it was this easy years ago. Every animal deserves to eat healthy food that is not making them sick.
Hi Christina, thank you so much for leaving a comment. I will never get tired of hearing this! Thank you for prioritizing their health- I totally agree that every animal deserves healthy food! I know it can be challenging, so I’m glad you consider this recipe an easy solution. That was my goal!
I have 2 Akita’s that both one is 165, and the other is 120. both have had salmonella from Fresh Pet Food…which I have yet to be able to balance them out on. I almost lost my yougest because of it. I have tried making their food but it has been hard they are a little picky. I was wondering about eliminating the pumpkin and spinach….I had hear that squash can be used to replace pumpkin but what can be replace for spinach…..Tank is 7 and Luna had kidney issues because of the poisoning. And oh my gosh how much for these two would I have to make lol ?
I hear you! I’ve got a 65 pound Boxer and I just can’t see making 100% homemade. I try to do 50/50 which is certainly better than 100% kibble. My future dogs will be smaller, as I’ve aged out of Boxers, so I hope to get them to 100% homemade. Good luck with your babies!
It’s highly unlikely that your dog has kidney issues due to salmonella poisoning. Dogs have a natural resistance to salmonella because of their shorter gastrointestinal tract and highly acidic stomach, making it difficult for them to contract the infection. Most cases of salmonella in dogs occur in those with compromised immune systems or after consuming large amounts of contaminated meat with a high bacterial load. Even in severe cases, kidney damage is extremely rare. In humans, liver damage occurs in only 1% of all known salmonella cases worldwide.
Aloha! Can I sub out the red bells for carrots?
my dig can not have liver due to health reasons. can I just leave it out?
what about green beans carrots my mini weiner dog is allergic to eggs. he throws them up no matter how you fix it
maybe with a taurine supplement? others may know better than me. but it does have stuff like iron and other nutrients that dogs need as well
For example, a 6 month baby food chart in Kerala will have a different diet chart compared with a 6 month baby food chart in Kolkata .
Hi Stella, so I watched the original video, and I noticed that you multiplied most of the recipe by 8. Except for the hemp seeds. According to the oringal recipe it calls for 3 tbsp of hemp seeds, so when I do the math I get 24 tbsp which equals to 1.5 cups. But your recipe calls for 3/4 of a cup. I could be doing the math wrong. I’m sorry, a little confused. Could you please explain. Thank you!
If I’m cooking with Ground Turkey or Ground Chicken, do I cook the meat and?
I haven’t made the recipe yet, so I won’t give a rating, but from the research I’ve done it looks very healthy (no rice, no grains). My question is about the sardines: I have several cans of olive oil packed sardines, and I’m wondering if they’re ok to use if I drain and squeeze out the oil. My dog is a 10yo jack russell and she is not at all overweight. Wouldn’t a bit of olive oil be okay for her?
Also, I notice you don’t specify organic or grass fed meats, but I have to believe they are healthier for the dog. I found organic ground beef at Costco for about $8/lb, but it wasn’t grass fed. So my question is, which is more important: organic, or grass fed? My inclination is grass fed, but it’s much harder to find.
Thank you for a very helpful article and recipe!
Hi Melanie, thanks for leaving a comment!
First off I would like to clarify that I am not canine nutritionist, so I would strongly advise doing your own research and/or consulting with one. I’m happy to share what I know, but again I am not an expert!
I would not use sardines packed in olive oil. Olive oil is actually a great source of fat for dogs, but sardines are somewhat high in fat already.For this reason, it is not recommended to give dogs sardines in olive oil.
I use grass fed ground beef from Sprouts but I do not necessarily think it has to be grass fed or organic. Just make sure it is high quality ground meat- I would avoid anything that comes in a tube or highly processed from a large factory. Hope this helps!
Thank you for sharing, this is great! I am always looking for recipes for my furbaby. I wanted to know, since you don’t supplement this with kibble anymore, do you still feed your dogs 2/3 cup a meal?
Hello! I am excited to try out this recipe! I wanted to know if you could tell me if you measure
Out the serving for your dog when uncooked or after cooked ?
I was gonna vote gable jjim as my fave recipe, but my dogs love this recipe so much that my opinion doesn’t matter at this point. lol
Thanks to this recipe, my fur babies have been so much more energetic and happier over all. They have the smoother, softest, silkiest furs ever since I put them on this diet! And the pickiest one rushes to finish his bowl and begs for more.
This recipe is so versatile, even if I don’t have all the ingredients it still seems to taste great for my little one.
With portioning, I found that 2-3% of their body weight seems to keep them in a healthy weight category along with their regular exercise.
NGL, I’m tempted to grab me a bowl and season to try it myself. haha
Looking forward to trying more of your amazing recipes in the future.
I am going to try this for my obese dog. she has been on diet kibble for 3 years as suggested by the vet, and she is getting bigger. I think it’s time for real food. thanks for your site.
Hey Nique, My Vizsla was very much over weight so I put him on a diet. I used a crockpot to make his veggies and set it to low for the entire time. Never on high. He loves it. This is what I fed him for a few months and he lost from 91 pounds to 74 pounds and now he has so much more energy and looks so much healthier. Every now and then I’d add a little kibble and he got vitamins every day to cover anything else he needs. For snacks I gave him mini cucumbers and sometime small pieces of dehydrated sweet potatoes which I make for all my dogs.
Thank you for sharing this dog food recipe and introducing me to Dr. Becker and Rodney Habib. My dogs love it!! Thanks,
any suggestions on how to transition from kibble to this?
Hi Karen! Lots of resources I’ve found online say the best way to transition your dog’s food is to introduce/replace about 10% of their kibble with the new food on day one, 20% on day two, and so on until it has fully replaced their kibble by 100% on day 10. This way you can slowly transition them, monitoring negative effects along the way, if any.
Been looking for a better food recipe for my pup! Cant wait to start with this one! Such great details in your notes! I broke my ankles coming to your website from Instagram. Can’t wait to binge the rest of your recipes here. ☺️ thanks so much!
Finding quality homemade recipes has been on my mind for awhile. We have 3 dogs, 4 kittehs, 2 english lop bunnies & 2 gypsy horses…Love this SO much. We appreciate the tips and storage ideas too! Thank you! Respectfully, Niki
This recipe is how I was introduced to you! I cook for my not-so-long-ago adopted pup, and I needed a nutritious and delicious make in bulk recipe that was freezer and thaw-to-cook friendly. Love this! BUT now that I’m here, I am in a bit of trouble because I don’t even know where to start with all of this good looking food. Even the pics of the drinks have me ready. Thanks for sharing your gift.
So we have two dogs a min pin and a terrier. My min pin “Baby” has always struggled with food. Hates kibble and very picky about soft foods. This has been a game changer!! The smell of the food cooking gets my paw babies excited and they both love this recipe!! I’ve seen so much of a change in my min pins weight and health and I seriously can’t thank you enough for this recipe!
My baby girl loves this recipe and I enjoy making it for her! I never knew Sprouts had beef liver and I appreciate you pointing that out. My dog’s oncology team approves this recipe as well so that’s a huge plus and portioning it off was easy as I verified with the oncology team what my dog’s caloric intake is.
Thank you,
Thank you for sharing that. It’s reassuring to know multiple vets approve of this recipe.
I was struggling with my 4month old puppy that caught Parvo and with your recipe and the vet saved my puppy It’s the only food ill feed all my frenchies. They all love it.
Thank you so much for this awesome recipe. My two Cane Corso’s can’t get enough of their new homemade dog food these days.
You and your time are greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing. Please post more dog recipes anytime.
Wow! How much do you prep for both and how llong does it last?
I have a 2 yr old Cane who has bad allergies, environmental and food related. How much do you feed your Cane Corso’s of this recipe? I’m preparing now and so excited to give her some relief!
Dope recipe! My dog loves this. Thank you 🙏🏼
I was looking for a food recipe for my dog because his skin is always itchy and his teeth haven’t been looking too good. I’m so happy you posted this. I got so excited seeing it and sent it to my mom for her dogs. It made prepping food for my dog a lot less intimidating and I love it <3
Love this recipe for my 5 lbs morkie! Slight modifications for her as a picky eater but love the informational tidbits included in the batch.
I have been following Stellanspice for a while now and I am so grateful for this recipe! It has completely changed my dog’s life. I used to give them dry food and wanted to switch to homemade food because it would be cheaper than pre-made food, and I could monitor the quality of the ingredients. They used to never want to finish their food, but now mealtime is the best time for them! I make two batches because I have two dogs and it is the perfect meal prep amount. Their breath smells better, their nails are growing faster, and their poos have never looked so healthy. Thank you so much!
can I cook this in a pressure cooker or even a slow cooker? I would be at thr stove all day cooking batches in my skillet. I might consider leaving it raw in the future. baby steps 🙂
I cooked 10# under high pressure for 10 minutes. It cooked gently with some pink left in the middle. Just the way I wanted it.
I’ve cooked this in a pressure cooker no problem. The temps are lower than pan cooking….more gentle. Slight changes….keep hard boiled eggs in the fridge and add at the end. Raw eggs burn on the bottom of the pressure pot. Just toss the veggies, liver, and all the rest into the pot. Of course use the pot insert/wire thingie to keep stuff from laying right on the bottom. I add my ginger, hemp oil (when using beef), flax oil (when using chicken) and hard boiled eggs and shells after cooking. Blend it all together with an immersion blender and…boom dogfood. Freezing tips…after cooling weight out single servings into a plastic red dixie cup, place in freezer standing until frozen…squeeze frozen meals into a freezer bag. Hope this helps.
I am wo dering about the use of broccoli and spinach as I have heard these are harmful to dogs, not willing to take a chance on putting them into my dogs diet, hopi g peas carrots green beans can be an ok sub for veggies listed
I love all of your recipes, but this is my favorite recipe and I’m so grateful you shared it! My dog has never looked healthier with less hair shedding and her coat so soft and shiny!
Thanks again
My picky eater loves this food! I was intimidated to try this recipe but so happy I did. I made a smaller version of the recipe the first time around to make sure he liked it! Now I use this recipe plus the reusable bags!
Is this the only recipe you use or do you find it necessary to alternate between other raw meats?
Love that not only you give great food recipes but you also showed us how to make home made dog food which BKPets recognize on their IG page 👍👍👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
if this is baked in the oven, what temperature and for how long?
I spread it out over 3 cookie sheets and put it in the oven at 350 for 15-20 minutes. It came out mostly brown with some pink. I used the hemp seeds, and my dogs don’t have any qualms eating it when cooked this way as compared to doing multiple cooks in a skillet.
Great tips on instructions and order of ingredients. So simple to follow. Healthy for my dogs too!
Been following Stella for some time now and while all of her food is amazing, strangely, this dog food recipe is our family favorite. My dog had multiple major surgeries last year that both almost took his life. Since then we really wanted to focus on making sure we’re doing everything we can to ensure a healthy life for him. We make this in big batches and he LOVES being in the kitchen watching us prepare it for him. He loves this food so much and we feel great knowing what’s going into his little belly. His coat is so soft and shiny, his breath is fresh and he’s full of energy. Thanks so much for helping our best friend, Stella!
I found out from your page I was over cooking my dog food. My recipe was very similar toy yours but my hairless girl has tons of allergies to i tween it to fit her needs. However I sent you a message a month or so ago on your cooking process. I have mastered “gently “ cooked process. Me and my 3 pups thank you.
I started to feed my 14 year old corgi raw since 2018 when he was diagnosed with cancer. He was given a 6 month life expectancy after surgery and I just had to do everything possible to give him the best fighting chance. For the longest time I ordered from different companies but I was never satisfied. I have always thought about making my own food but was so intimidated… until I saw you make this recipe! I have been following this recipe for over 3 years now and my dog has never loved anything more. He is now coming up to being 5 years cancer free!!
I also recently adopted a 10 year old pit bull and transitioned her to this exact diet as well. She now gives a happy dance every meal time.
This recipe is so easy, everything can be found at your local store and it is the most cost effective raw diet I have ever had! Thank you Stella for sharing this. Cohen, Auora, and my wallet thank you!!
Do you have an idea on how the cost compares to if you were to go with a Farmers Dog or similar? I have a 90lb pup and curious if the cost savings are there to make it at home. Not the most important factor but still worth knowing.
Our pups love it!
I literally started making this for my puppy when I got her 4 months ago and she’s been hooked!!! Just recently Stella also posted a turkey version on her IG to switch it up for her babies and just as my dog started to get tired of it I tried it with turkey and she loves it!!! Her breath smells great and she’s a husky and her coat is super shiny and soft. Would definitely recommend. I also found everything I needed at sprouts except for the hemp hearts. Also sometimes they have sales on the sardines and that’s when I stock up. Great recipe!!!
I should also this recipe helps my baby go regularly. She licks the bowl clean everytime.
When we got our pup it was important that we started him off with good fresh food. We started using Ollie but found it so expensive until I found this recipe on IG and tried it out. So happy I did bc our pup loves it, he gained so much good weight and our vet has only praises for how he’s growing. Will be a staple in our home for many years!
Super excited to try this recipe for my babies (doggies) 😉 I found your IG when I saw this recipe/video on Instagram! Your recipes look amazing and I can’t wait to try some of them. The dog food recipe is exactly what I was looking for though! I do cook for them already but I’ve always supplemented with kibble for fear of them losing out on essentials! Thank you for sharing!
I was excited to make this for my non-food motivated, picky dog. She clears the bowl AND will now impatiently whine when she realizes that I’m preparing it — it speaks for itself. It’s the food that made me wonder if my dog needs a slow-feeder (not an exaggeration). I’m grateful you shared this recipe. Thanks, Stella 🫶
Such a healthy choice for my dogs.
pretty sure dogs are not supposed to have ginger.
Love this recipe and so do my pups! Definitely worth trying!
I started feeding my dog this food and she loves it! She used to have soft stools before in commercial dog foods but since eating this food her stools have gotten healthier and solid. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I have been making this recipe for four months for my fur-nephew. His coat is softer, he eats all of his food and he has put on the couple of pounds he had lost due to non-interest in eating. Oh and he seems to move with less pain!
Not going to lie, the first time took me about four hours to make a double batch. I have an extra set of hands now and we have it down to 1.5 hours.
We cook the food in a double boiler and use a Meater thermometer to watch the temp. The food seems to hold its moisture better for me this way.
Thank you for sharing this great recipe, Stella.
My pups loves this recipe! Made it exactly like the recipe states and they love it more than other recipes that we have tried. Will be sticking to this and rotating the proteins. I have been recommending this to other dog mommas out there.
We have been trying to find a simple yet healthy recipe to start our dogs on homemade food. Thanks for making everything so simple to follow.
I love all your recipes! I just got a puppy and will be using this recipe soon I can’t wait!!
Hi, I was wondering if you drain the water before or after you weigh out 16oz?
Through process of elimination I found out my pup Biscuit most likely has a poultry allergy. I immediately took to scouring the internet for help and found this recipe and was so thankful! I felt very confident that your recipe checked essentially every box.
After working with my vet we still felt that finding an alternative kibble and monitoring ingredients would be best especially since he’s still growing, but I am happy to provide him this as a high value treat/reward! I look forward to trying some recipes for myself as well. Thank you!
My Siberian Husky loves this recipe. Thanks for sharing,
Hello Stella, I came across this recipe early last year and my fur babies love it! Thanks for sharing such a great recipe.
could i cook this in my slow cooker? that’s what i’ve been doing for several months now. works out very well. i do use calcium carbonate instead of egg shells. and usually scramble my eggs and add after everything has cooked.
Did this for my Doberman puppy and have seen a difference in her coat, energy (yes puppies have a ton of energy but before she would get sluggish now she’s like ok I’m ready) her digestion. I would definitely recommend this recipe. And we’ve saved money as well.
Thank you so much for this recipe! My picky maltipoo puppy loves it 🙂
So I would just like to point out if you are cooking this and adding health necessary oils such as hemp oil and cod liver oil you need to add it after cooking don’t combine with the beef… you’ll just be paying for things going down the drain when removing the beef fat and the pups will miss out.
I love the detailed health benefits and thank you for this recipe!!!
my dog loves this recipe. struggling to determine how much to feed but I will work on that. however while making the recipe, I noticed the recipe instructions don’t include when to add the pumpkin and don’t mention it at all except for the ingredients list. want to make sure I add it correctly.
Hi Brooke! I was recently told by a K9 nutritionist that the recommended daily food intake should be 2-3% of your dog’s body weight.
As for the pumpkin, it is listed in the ingredients but I forgot to mention it in the instructions. I have updated it- thanks for bringing it to my attention! The pumpkin puree is not needed to make this a balanced recipe, I just add it sometimes for their digestive health. Hope that helps!
you are amazing thank you!
Thanks for this. To measure the food are you using a scale? Like are you weighting the fresser bags to know the right serving for your pups? I’ve been using 1 cup silicon soup container after I cook. I like your tip with freezing iit raw and cooking as needed.
This recipe is Australian cattle dog approved! Dusty loooooves his food and he gets one quail egg raw in addition and either cooked carrots 🥕 or 🍠 sweet potato as a side. Thank you for your amazing recipe. Kibble RIP 🪦
If I start my dog on this, should I do so by gradually adding some of this to the food I’m now using and gradually change the ratio until I’m only serving this great recipe? Or could I just make the change from current food to this recipe on day one?
I’m so excited to try this.
Hi Susan, I would gradually transition your dog to this diet over the period of a couple of weeks, especially if you’re going to feed it raw.. Use this as a topper to the food you’re currently feeding him/her to start, then slowly increase the amount of this recipe and decrease the amount of your current food until you know for sure your dog’s stomach is able to handle a completely change in their diet!
Hi Stella. I’m ready to start giving my mini poodle home made food, especially after reading your article 🙂 . Just today though I found out that Dr Becker has come up with a meal mix to add to cooked meat that has the correct type & amounts of minerals and vitamins. Using the meal mix would allow making my dogs home made food even easier but I do wonder if the taste would not be as good without the addition of other food sources/flavours.
I wonder, have you tried the meal mix?
Hi Rita, I have not tried the meal mix but now you’ve got me interested! I will look into it.
Stella, Here is the link to Dr. Beckers meal mix –
https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Mercola-Adult-Packets-Gluten/dp/B0839P8MM2/ref=asc_df_B0839P8MM2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=507628637756&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17109920625607266665&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011519&hvtargid=pla-1374547177832&psc=1&mcid=591c7757f0dc3a20896e5b550c40e62b&gclid=Cj0KCQiAz8GuBhCxARIsAOpzk8zEULrYNLMWl3m_WKsBQxDyjhNuKEgzGR9sigYCzvIl0NeVmZUOxLMaAhEjEALw_wcB
Hi stella ! Quick question , is this recipe high in protein ? I know if its too high it can cause certain issues . I just want to make sure before i feed them it . I have a 80 pound lab and 18 pound daschund ! Thank you so much !
Hi Jas, I do think this recipe is high in protein and it is my understanding that that is what dogs need (high amino acid requirement). That being said, I am not a pet nutritionist and I am not going to try to convince you of anything. I use this recipe because it was recommended by my holistic vet, and my dogs seem to be doing very well on it.
Fantastic recipe! Thanks so much for sharing, such a great choice of ingredients. How did you calculate intake requirements? 2-3% of total body weight seems most common. What’s the ratio of food categories?
No fish oil for daily EPA/DHA requirements? Super valuable. Although, it does make omega 6:omega 3 ratio (at least 2.6:1) really hard. I also want to add flax seed to help with bladder leakage, but that disrupts the ratio even more. The hemp seed addition does omega 6, but unsure how else to healthily increase it.
I have an 80lb labrador, so Vitamin D & E requirements are much higher. Any recommendations? Don’t want to add a load of sardines.
I’m a bit hesitant to include high oxalate ingredients like spinach/kale – is it worth the risk? I have a senior dog (13yo) so don’t want to tax her system.
I have a lab pup and wondering if you found answers regarding vitamin d and e.?
This blog post is a lifesaver. For years I thought about homemade meals for my dog but every recipe I’ve seen isn’t fully balanced and I’ve always been afraid of over or under feed. You’re the first post I’ve seen that isn’t trying to sell me a product and fully explains why each ingredient is important so thank you for that. You did say that this recipe doesn’t have all the calcium required. Now that you feed your pups only homemade food how do you complete their calcium intake?
Hi Sarah! So this recipe does have enough calcium required for adult dogs (which both my dogs are now), but not enough calcium for puppies. When Leeloo was a puppy, I gave her calcium supplements. There are other ways to get more calcium in for puppies as well if you prefer all natural ingredients!
Before people start getting all bent out of shape out recipes not being balanced, or not being a good meal for dogs. please watch this video series from an actual dog nutritionist.
A vet is not the best resource for dog Nutrition. Most vets nutritional training is fulfilled by the pet food industry in school teaching about synthetic nutrients.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1aRQuLPBnbXWx_RYLOruwkvb_voPILSU
Hope I am not asking a question you already answered, can I cook up the meat and then freeze it for a few months or do I need to freeze it raw and cook as needed?
Hi Tammy, I would freeze it raw and cook it as needed. Cooked meat doesn’t maintain its quality as well as raw meat when frozen, and I’d be concerned about the loss of nutritional value in the ingredients. You can keep this frozen for up to 3 months but I recommend no longer than 1 month. Hope that helps!
is it necessary to supplement with kibble? I have 4 dog babies, I feed them 2x a day. their weights are 7lbs, 13lbs,13.5lbs and 15.5lbs. the smaller ones I feed 1/4c 2x a day and the bigger dogs 1/3c 2x a day. the 2 smaller dods a considerably overweight. I’ve talked to my Vet in regards to this diet, he said to do my homework. he did say it was a good idea. can you help me with the amounts?
I can my own food and have canned fresh caught trout. can I add some of this to the recipe.?if so how much?
thank you so much,
Pamela
Hi Pamela, I don’t supplement with kibble anymore actually. I updated this in my blog post but forgot to update the recipe card, sorry about that. It is updated now!
I wish I could help you with the amounts to give your dogs but as stated in my post, I am not a pet nutritionist so I’m not qualified to answer these questions. If it helps, my dogs are about 10 lbs and I give them each a little more than 1/2 cup twice a day.
If you cook the food, do you freeze it raw and then cook the individual portions when you them, or cook it all and freeze?
Thank you for posting this excellent recipe. We have two darling Boston Terrier pups and we want them to live long and healthy lives. I would like to know your thoughts on stirring in the kelp powder and hemp seeds after cooking the whole recipe gently on low heat to preserve the nutrients.
Hi Colette! I think that’s totally fine, probably even better for your pups. You would just need to do some math to figure out how much at each feeding. If you get the kelp powder I recommended, it will actually tell you how much to give your dogs based on their weight. Also please remember that this recipe does not meet the calcium requirement for puppies, so you will need to give them supplements or add another ingredient with calcium. Hope that helps!
What kibble do you feed your dogs with this recipe?
Hi! I no longer supplement their food with kibble, but when I did we used Instinct 🙂
I’m super excited to try this recipe after seeing it on your Instagram. By any chance do you think I can microwave a portion of it before feeding to my dog after I’ve let it cool? Do you think you could also recommend how long I should microwave for?
Hi Sandy! I cook the food, let it cool, then store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and feed my dogs the cooked food as is (cold). There is usually no need to warm up food for your dogs unless they are picky, since warm food can be more appetizing to dogs. My dogs devour the food cold with no issues, but if you need to heat it up for your dog try 15 seconds in the microwave, and just make sure the food isn’t too hot for them. Hope this helps!
Love this recipe! It’s my go to! Thank you for sharing this 😍
I do have a few questions. I’ve tried it with Beef and Turkey, but was wondering how it would balance out with chicken or bison? Or even Venison and Rabbit? Or even Lamb?
Some of these proteins are a little bit higher protein to fat, which I try to stay between 93% – 97%.
Can I also incorporate the fats/veggie into an already ground raw frozen dog food, like Prey Model Raw, which already has the organ, bone, protein ratio to make it more like a barf recipe you have shared?
Does anyone here have any insight on whether I could feed this recipe to my cats?
Quality pet food has gotten so expensive, especially for my older cat who is allergic to fish and it is VERY difficult finding a cat food without a fish ingredient.
I would like to make one food for both my dog and my cats, and supplement each with the appropriate dry kibble for their individual nutritional needs.
I would talk to your vet about a recipe for your cats. There are a couple of vitamins that cat’s need that are not in commercial dog food or human food. I cook for my dogs, but not my cats because of this.
Hello! Thanks for this recipe! What’s the longest this batch can stay in the freezer before it goes bad? Could it be kept for up to maybe 3 months frozen? Thanks!
3 months is probably the maximum amount of time I would keep it in the freezer, personally. Technically I think it would be fine even longer, but quality will start to degrade. I’m most concerned about the diminishing nutritional value over that time.
My 16yr old boarder terrier cross is loving this she has arthritis though but still manages a small walk and is quite happy any further advise appreciated
I started making this when my 9 year old, 21lb dog got very sick with IMHA and vestibular dog disease. She’s always been a very picky eater and mealtime has been a smorgasbord of what can I give her to eat. No more, she eats this up 2x a day. I put the pumpkin on the side and add a tiny bit of oatmeal as she got so sick and lost so much weight. After about 3 months of steriods and feeding her this food, she’s back to our Lucy. While I’m not qualified to say, I feel this food has been a huge reason as to why she’s been able to get better ❤️🩹. I love this recipe. Thank you 🙏
Hi Kat, thank you so much for leaving a comment. This nearly brought tears to my eyes, I am so happy to heard that your Lucy is doing better!
Is there a rough estimate of how much one batch of this costs? Thank you!!
As of May 2023, it costs about $80 to make this amount.
I have a multi rescue dog home and am interested in trying your recipe. I go through 80lbs of kibble a week roughly $105. I saw that you have 2 small dogs and this recipe lasts you 2-3 weeks. What are the serving sizes per 10lb dog a day? Mine range from 13lbs up to 68lbs. So I can calculate a shopping list for my crew :).
This is too much protein, dogs are omnivores who coevolved besides and now have very similar digestive genes to humans.
Your recipe is not founded in science or medical nutrition. This is not a good diet for a dog.
It’s actually not my recipe. As stated above, this is a Dr. Karen Becker & Rodney Habib recipe, which was also recommended by my vet. I think I will trust the experts, thank you.
This looks like a good recipe for a dog.
As for the person saying this is too much protein, you cannot give a dog too much protein. That is ridiculous. The only reason we don’t feed dogs 100% protein is becasue of the cost. Oatmeal and vegetables and grains are not for the dogs’ health — that is a myth. That stuff is only for filler becasue it fills them up and it’s cheaper. a 100% meat diet is ideal but cost prohibitive.
I’ve been an RVT for 20+ years and was looking for some ideas for a good homemade diet for our dog, just to supplement with quality ingredients I can control. I will be doing 50/50 RX diet and homemade for now- thank you for posting this recipe! I’m a big fan of the increased protein, I have done much research on commercial diets, and although rx is my preference, all the grains, corn, etc is not ok with me!
Thank you for this recipe! I fell in love with the YouTube video you had linked for my two giant dogs because the only kibble we actually trusted enough for them to eat just skyrocketed in price and we were already spending extra to get multivitamins and probiotics into their diets. We knew there had to be another, healthier way. Amazingly, your recipe lasts my boys exactly one week, and we portion it out by their daily servings (calculated by our vet – one dog is 70 pounds, the other is 85, so they are slightly different portions), sealing it into mason jars. They LOVE it! We also end up with about 1/4 pound of the meat mixture leftover, so we make our own freezer treats for them, adding a 1/2 cup of plain rolled oats cooked in homemade beef bone broth and a mashed sweet potato to the mix. We then put the mixture into two silicone ice cube trays. No more commercial kibble and biscuits for us! And all this fresh food is working out to save us about $30/week. Best of all, our 4 year old daughter loves to help us make it, and we are proud to teach her how easy it is to feed our furry family homemade healthy meals ?
Hi Alena. Would you mind sharing how much you feed your 70 lb dog? Thanks!
Hi, do you think I could use other lean meats for this, like turkey? I try to rotate proteins but I’ve been using a meal completer which is costing me so much money.. been looking for some good DIY recipes that are truly balanced.
Hi Bethany, yes I have used ground turkey for this! Usually when I make it with turkey, I just add a bit more beef liver to make up for the iron. Hope this helps!
Is baking it at 325 (low heat) an option as well?
I’ve never tried this but I do not see why it wouldn’t work 🙂
My understanding is that cats are carnivorous and this recipie is for omnivores, not carnivores. Your cat would do better on a diet that is all meat.
Hi there. So I saw your comment, and I thought I’d respond. I do believe you can do a low bake method for this. Just put it on a sheet try and keep and eye on not over cooking it. But yes! If it’s easier for you to bake it, I think it’s fine. I’m not a pet nutritionist, but I am a chef. So I have food knowledge. I think it’s a great idea actually. Less mess. I think I might try it also!
How much should I feed a 70 pound dog?
Hi Bella, I think it would be better to ask your vet about this. I am not a pet nutritionist and I am just following the directions from my veterinarian. You can find more information about he macros/nutritional values of this recipe on Rodney Habib’s Youtube video that I linked in this blog post. Hope this helps!
We are looking at getting a puppy between 6-10 months old. Can we start them on this recipe as a puppy?
You can but I would definitely supplement it with some puppy kibble since they have very different dietary needs. I am currently feeding my 7 lb, 5 month old 1/4 cup of this food plus 1/4 cup of puppy kibble 2 times a day. This was what my vet recommended. Hope that helps!
Around how much does this recipe cost? Thanks
Thats difficult to say since we all have different sized dogs with different dietary needs, but for my two small dogs (about 7 lbs each) I spend roughly $70 every 3-4 weeks on their food. Hope that helps!
Most recipes I see call for carbs. I see this one doesn’t have things added like rice, pasta, or any form of carbs. Is this ok?
Hi Jass, I am not a dog nutritionist so I don’t really know the answer to this question. My own research shows that carbs are not a dietary requirement for dogs. I give my dogs this recipe because my vet recommended it. Hope that helps.
Is it equivalent exchange for hemp seed oil and hemp seeds?
No, they are not equal. The recipe says 8 tsp oil or 12 tbsp seeds
My dog’s name is Stella so I had to checkout your recipe when I saw the domain! So far my favorite combination of ingredients. My dog is older, and I was wondering if steaming the veggies for a little could make them easier to chew for her? Or will processing them be enough? Thanks again for sharing this!
Hi Mimi, thanks for your comment! I think if you break down the vegetables enough in the food processor, it should be fine for your dog to chew through. If you notice it’s still too difficult for her to chew, then yes I would recommend steaming them first 🙂
Thank you so much for posting this recipe. My dog started not eating his food for days because he lost interest even though they are very good brands for your dog. I gave it to him for the first time yesterday and I’m not kidding, he looked at me all night long, wagging his tail, smiling and showing appreciation. It was great to see he enjoyed eating again. Thank you so much
Oh my gosh Raquel that makes me so happy! I started using this recipe for my previous dog because of the same thing. She lost interest in her normal food so I started making my own, and she loved it so much. I’m glad your pup is eating again! Thank you so much for your comment <3
Hi Stella,
I was wondering how much the whole foodshop costs you roughly? My dog has stomach issues so she’s on a clean pre-made human grade food plan at the moment but it’s expensive, wondering if this is more cost effective for her?
Would love you advice 🙂
Hi Suzie, we shop at Sprouts and get their 93% lean grass fed ground beef. For this amount of food (about 11 lbs), we spend roughly $70-80.
I started using this recipe when my 1 year old female dog started having aversions to her regular food. I use it to supplement her dry food and needless to say, she and her big sister love it! I have done it with both lean chicken breasts and ground beef. I do cook it gently before serving. I do make it in big batches and freeze in about a 1 week portion so it stays fresh. I am so thankful that I found this recipe!! They have always had beautiful coats and teeth but I do see it is even softer and shinier. Their “potty time” has shown improvement as well. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Hello! I just found this recipe while looking for alternative foods for my mix breed. I’m excited to look at some of your other recipes too! I thought I should ask how much you thought I should feed him before I got started. He is 75 lb and not very active and we feed him twice a day, your opinion would be very helpful ^^
Could it be cooked before freezing it?
Yes you can cook it before freezing, but it is really important to properly cool the food before freezing it. Don’t put hot food in the freezer and don’t let it stay in the danger zone for longer than 2 hours. It helps to let it cool on the counter in a wide shallow bowl (cools faster) for about 30 minutes, then you can freeze it 🙂
I have 4 small dogs. Biggest is 15. Amd smallest is 7.
How much would you feed of this per day
Excellent recipe. I have 2 chihuahuas and they just love this recipe. They have more energy (they were turning into couch potatoes) and overall better health, coat, teeth and bowel movements. I’m not a fan of any bagged dogfood after seeing how it’s made and so much filler. I’d rather pay more for more nutrient rich food that is better for them and I know what’s in it. I will never feed powdered dog food with spray on flavor ever again. Thanks for the post and the easy step by step tuitorial !!!
You mention twice that it should only be gently cooked and not seared. Would you mind elaborating on why the dog meat shouldn’t be seared?
Hi J! Thank you for your question. My vet told me it was important not to cook the food too aggressively (like searing/browning) because too much heat will diminish the nutritional value of the vegetables. Gently cooking it at a low to medium heat is best for making sure the pups get all the essential vitamins and minerals that the vegetables provide. Hope that helps 🙂
My little 7lb chihuahua papillon mix suffers from occasional lameness in her legs. And this time it’s very painful for her. When her legs start to hurt she stops eating, and I don’t blame her because I wouldn’t want to eat that kibble cardboard either. It’s just convenient and I had no idea how to feed them a balanced raw diet if not the kibble. It breaks my heart to see her in pain and she needs to eat something so your recipe fell into my lap on my late night rabbit hole dog food search. After watching lots of videos and reading lots of recipes I finally got that “ahah!” when I came across yours. Got off early today just to get all the food shopping done, made up the batch and are currently freezing it all. Thank goodness I found kelp powder at my local health store. I mixed up a little of the raw mixture and coated it in her kibble and she finally ate! So excited to see her regain her strength and I know that the supplements she’s been missing will make her feel much better as well.
My question is about the meat. It’s very hard to find a reasonably priced 90%lean and 10%fat beef in store. I stopped at 3 different groceries in my local area until I settled on 8.99/lb (cheapest I could find). Costco sells the organic ground beef 3 packs and those are a 85/15 blend. What are your thoughts on using that ratio instead?
Hi Danica, your dog sounds like such a cute mix! To answer your question, I do not think anything less than 90% lean ground beef would be good for your dog (especially if they are overweight). What I’d recommend is using a mix of that Costco 85/15 blend and maybe finding a 93% lean blend of ground beef. I know Sprouts has some. That way you can save some money but still stick with the nutritional requirements for dogs. I hope this helps!
Do you have a calculation of macronutrients and calories per Kg?
This recipe contains 40 calories per ounce. I am not sure about the exact details for macronutrients, but you can get a better description of it on the original YouTube video that I linked in the beginning of this post 🙂
It is difficult to calculate the exact macro nutrients from the info here or in the original YouTube video. But this recipe is primarily made up of proteins, healthy fats and a low amount of fibrous carbohydrates. All in all a very healthy and delicious recipe for dogs. I can vouch for recipes with egg, beef or sardine in them as every dog I have ever fed absolutely loves these ingredients. Also, adding fish oils to kibble or recipes like this will make dogs so excited for meal time and provide healthy nutrients for their coats.
Is this receipt good for dogs with pancreitus issues?