You want to spoil your pooch with hearty homemade dog food, but you don’t have a lot of time. Making your dog his own food doesn’t have to take forever and it will save you money in the long run. Plus, you’ll know exactly what you’re feeding her.
Kat Scicluna, a licensed canine and equine massage therapist and animal wrangler, tries to avoid all the fake additives and flavorings found in a lot of store-bought dog food. “I strongly feel that those products mess with not only their health and life process, but also their temperament,” she says. “By making homemade dog good, I can control what is going into their bodies. The joy of making their meals both healthy and delicious makes me feel that I am giving my animals their very best life.”
Sarah Lukemire, who documents her dog recipes at Lola the Pitty, makes her own homemade dog food because her pets have sensitivities and allergies to certain foods. “I began making homemade dog food a few years ago. It’s almost as if my dogs know when I’m making them a treat. They patiently watch from start to finish!” Scicluna agrees, and says that cooking for her dogs is a great bonding experience!
Don’t know where to start? Here are five easy homemade dog food recipes you can make in around 30 minutes.
- Chicken and Wild Rice Dog Treats
All you need is a mixing bowl and muffin tin to make these chicken and wild rice dog treats from Lola the Pitty. They combine wild rice, diced chicken, rice flour, fresh parsley and an egg for a healthy snack that cooks up in 25 minutes. When your dogs have had their fill, you can store the treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about three to five days. Make sure your dog sitter knows where you keep these treats so they can reward your pup’s good behavior without upsetting their stomach!
- Homemade Raw Dog Food
In 30 minutes, Running to the Kitchen shows you how to make raw dog food patties to last you all week long. This recipe includes fresh produce, chicken livers, eggs, yogurt, ground beef, flaxseed and olive oil (deep down, every pet parent wants her dog to eat healthier than she does). Chop up the fruit and veggies in your food processor, then combine the mixture with the proteins. Form the mix into patties, then you can freeze and store them.
- Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Feeding Big has an easy recipe to make your pup his own peanut butter treats. This protein-rich recipe uses oil, eggs, peanut butter, vanilla, flour, cornmeal and oats. Simply roll out the dough, cut it with cookie cutters (ideally bone-shaped ones) and then bake on a cookie sheet for 20 minutes to a crispy crunch your dog will love.
- Chicken Mash
If your pup is prone to gas, whip up this mash from Everyday Root. This recipe is as simple as it is soothing: All you need is boiled chicken, white rice and water. Once you’ve cooked everything, just shred the chicken into the rice and add some water. Everyday Root has some great ideas for add-ins, too, like pumpkin and yogurt.
- Homemade Dog Treats
Using simple, healthy ingredients, these homemade dog treats from Add a Pinch will soon be your dog’s favorite. Dog treats are cheaper and easier to make at home than you might think — you only need half an hour and a cookie sheet. To make this doggie dough, you need oats, salt, beef broth and an egg. Knead it, roll it, cut it out, and bake the treats.
Remember, when making homemade dog food, have a designated pot or pan just for her! “I would add that anyone who cooks for their pets should have one cooking vessel designated just for them.” Scicluna uses a wok. “It’s their wok and their wok only.”
Want more? Check out these 17 Tasty Dog Treats Your Pup Will Beg For!
Stephanie Glover is the author and photographer behind A Grande Life. When she doesn’t have her camera in her hands, you’ll find her with a cup of coffee.
