Homemade Dog Food

This is not a bad basic recipe, but there are a few things not addressed. I have been making my own pet foods for several years now, and while the protein to carbohydrate ratio in this is not bad, there are no organ meats to provide added essential nutrients (I would throw in a couple of chicken hearts and livers), there is no calcium source (a couple of tums with calcium would do), and no table salt to add iodine. Also, dogs do not chew as humans do, and their bodies will not break down vegetable matter as well as ours can, so all vegetables should be well pureed so that your dog can get the maximum nutritional value from it. It should also be noted that while many well cooked, pureed veggies are fine for your dog, onions, raisins, garlic, grapes, and even tomatoes should be avoided, because they contain naturally occurring ingredients that can cause various health problems in your pet. I would also prefer to see a little more fat in this recipe for a normal weight dog, their bodies need more fat than ours do. My dog is on a 35% meat, 15% fat, 40% grain (always rice, corn and wheat are allergens) and about 10% vegetable matter diet, and he does very well. This recipe is good in principle, it just needs a few things added :)

My dog loved this! I made very few changes. Instead of mixed veggies I used a couple of carrots that I grated and a half a bag of frozen french cut green beans that I minced. I used 1/2 tsp garlic powder and added 1 tbsp milk. I boiled everything together uncovered until it nearly all the moisture was out. I also added about 1/2 cup of leftover shredded chicken from our dinner last night! I plan to make this often and change up the ingredients along with adding some bone meal.

I have a dachshund who has Cushing's and is also gluten intolerant so this is great due to the brown rice. I don't add the rosemary but do add a 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. turmeric since it is a natural anti-inflammatory. I agree with other reviewers, its a good idea to puree your veggies - also real important to give some natural uncooked bones for healthy teeth and gums.

I have to say that this is what I have been feeding my guys for about a year, and thankfully you are using a complex slow burning carbohydrate with the potential for a lower glycemic impact. My one guy was a rescue and he is diabetic and allergic to almost every dog food there is. I will say that the best veggies to use are chopped broccoli and various other chopped versions. If I know what will happen with my guys they will chuck the other veggies on the floor first then go back so I chop even the most basic veggies. Thanks for the great recipe. I never though to add the seasoning till now n they both love me more for the garlic

I have 4 Chihuahuas and have made this recipe for them since there was a problem with commercial dog food containing melamine from China so it has been a long time.. I had started with a high quality dog food but did not want to risk feeding my babies something that would hurt them. My four are 12,10 and two at 8 years old and they love this. For convenience I buy rolls of frozen ground turkey, bags of frozen peas and carrots, brown rice and all bran cereal. I make sure I cook the ground turkey thoroughly and I blend the peas and carrots plus the cooked ground turkey in my food processor. I cook the brown rice in my rice cooker and then mix the meat and veggie mix together with the brown rice and all bran cereal. They each have 1/3 cup for breakfast and 1/3 cup for dinner.When they finish they get one chunk of a dental dog food I buy at the vets to help clean the soft food off their teeth. I do add a small spoon of a nutritional supplement to their evening meal that supplies any possible missed nutrients plus glucosmine. They are thriving and love this mix. Currently I use three cups of rice to one pound of turkey but next time I plan on changing the ratio to two cups of rice to one pound of ground turkey.

Thank you! After much research, this is the recipe that I used to get started making dogfood for my two senior dogs. I have migrated to chicken - whole ones that I boil, debone, and grind. I cook the rice in the chicken broth, and the vegetables separately for longer than the package directions. When ready to assemble, I add canned pumpkin for fiber and yogurt for calcium. My dogs love it!

Woof! Dewoofsious!

Warning to anyone using this recipe to feed their dogs long-term (more than 3 months)...this contains no calcium and is deficient in many vitamins and minerals. If you want to cook for your pet long-term, find a veterinary nutritionist.

I think this is a great recipe. But I have a tip. If you own a pressure cooker you can take the chicken bones that the meat was deboned from and cook for about 45 minutes to 60 minutes in the pressure cooker with the broth water from the chicken you cooked until you can crush between you fingers. The bones will be really soft and put in blender and blend into a liquid. This way you get all the marrow and the calcium. Mix some of it in the dog food . gives great flavor too.

good basic recipe but I would omit the cauliflower and broccoli. causes horrible gastric upset in dogs (as in gas). I cook fresh ground turkey, add brown rice, cooked chopped carrots and a 1 TBS of plain yogurt and 2 TBS of cottage cheese. My vet told me that cottage cheese and yogurt are great for dogs with upset stomachs. Also adding a touch of canned plain pumpkin (not the kind with spices) to their diet is very good too. Canned pumpkin also helps with constipation!

I eat this almost every day and am healthy as a horse. All in the neighborhood are jealous that my owner feeds me this instead of that canned . Go make yourself something healthy, but keep feeding me this. I love it!

My senior pooch loves this recipe (with a few additions). She is a good eater, but has an allergy to beef that gives her seizures. She adores all of the beta carotene veggies... Pumpkin, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash... So I add a can of mashed sweet potatoes or pumpkin, blended veggies, and a teaspoon of garlic powder ground with a teaspoon of rosemary. I brown either ground turkey or chicken, use 1 cup brown rice and 1 cup oatmeal, 2 chicken bouillon cubes. But here's the kicker, I put that all in my slow cooker with the 6 cups of water, on low, before bed.... in the morning I turn it up to high for 1/2 hour or so and add two eggs and eggshells as described by other reviewers. Voila! Dog food for breakfast! I just have to keep my husband out of it. He he he

This recipe literally saved my chihuahua mix dog, he suffered from a uti and cost us over $500! He had been fed a high quality dry dog food - after r3searching diets-I chose this one. I put all three dogs on it (one was a senior dog) and within a week or so - the changes were amazing-Melvin was urinating without pain and our old dog was able to start cllimbing the stairs again without our help. My recipe goes like this :5 lbs cooked ground turkey, 5 lbs cooked, diced carrots, 4 cups brown rice, cooked. Mix all together-Lasts us about 5 days for all three dogs. I had to adjust amounts - more for the older, bigger dog and less for the two chihuahua mixes.. Substitue spinach, peas, broccoli, some oatmeal. Our vet was amazed at the difference - even though she was not sold on homedade dog food.

This recipe lacks calcium and vitamin D, both nutritional requirements for dogs. It is also deficient in canine vitamin E requirements. A dog's digestive tract is very short, and the vegetables in this recipe should be ground in order for the dog to get the full nutritional benefit of the vegetables. Current thinking in canine nutrition is similar to people, in that dogs also benefit from DHA, which is in their mother's milk. Fish and fish oil are good sources of this. I would add some safflower oil, for vitamin E to this recipe, and some salmon oil for omega 3 fats and DHA. Additionally, some sardines would provide vitamin D. Some cottage cheese and/or yogurt would provide calcium. Another option for calcium would be bone meal.

I think it is very smart, espescially when your dog dosent want to eat its own food! My dog Copper gobbeled it down in 5 seconds and injoyed it so much! Thank you red girl! P.s. my dog is a cockapoo so hes a little thing.Thanks, Yvonne.

This food lacks so many nutrients! There is no calcium, no fats, no minerals to speak of. This would be fine for a treat once in a while but as a daily food, it would leave your dogs malnourished and possibly lead to bone disorders.

This is a good basic pecipe to add to. First a lot of research has been made, since this recipe was written and reviewed, into the good/bad of garlic. It is fine for dogs. You just adding a small amount if you add it. I sprinkle a little on each meal.For calcium I give Cooper a spoonful of yogurt. He also gets 1 sardine per day. I use peas and carrots. For snacks he gets banana chips and plain popcorn. Also latest research.... Brown rice has more nutrients but it is not digestible in dogs so white rice is the better option because it is easily digested, just make sure you are cooking it very soft and dont drain rinse etc. Oh, and one more thing, do not use liver everyday. That is WAY to much iron. There is new research and tons of it. Use it.

This is a good recipe and a version of what I fed my dog. I used white rice, I use white and brown rice for the family as well. I didn't add the rosemary or other herbs but it's a great idea. My dobie lived 16 years and I'm convinced it was due to taking her off conventional dog food. I don't think y'all need to be such sticklers just get them off the company garbage. Like I said she lived to be 16 almost unheard of for a large Doberman Dog. Sabrina 1997 to May 22, 2013. I'm still grieving.

my dog loved this recipe...i cooked it twice as long as it said because the water needed to absorb into the rice...i too use different meats...turkey, chicken, or fish and for veggies my dog likes sweet potatoes, carrots, and his favorite is pumpkin...i did notice that when i tried peas , he picked them out and put them in a neat little pile beside his bowl..lol..i have been making homemade dog food for years with a recipe similar to this one, but this is so much easier...my vet recommended i add a tbsp of plain fat free yogurt or cottage cheese to make sure he gets the calcium he needs, so i add that to each serving right before i feed him...thanks for sharing your recipe

As with most people, I am getting more concerned with the quality of store bought food even if you buy high quality. I make something like this recipe for my dogs every week. I buy chicken legs on sale. Bake them, remove all meat. Make broth from bones and skin. Add finely chopped chicken meat, sweet potatoes and carrots to broth. Cook rice in broth. I give them half store bought food and half chicken and rice for each meal. The dogs love it and it is healthier than 100% store bought food. If I knew I could give them all the nutrients they needed in homemade food, I would totally eliminate store bought food and dog treats.

A couple people mentioned that they add garlic powder to the recipe, NEVER GIVE A DOG GARLIC! I CANT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. Onions too, even in powdered form they are extremely TOXIC... to dogs.

I made this for my Golden Retreiver and he loved it! I mix a few spoonsful into his dry food in the mornings, so he's not missing out on some of the missing nutrients like calcium. So one batch of this lasts for a long time. I freeze most of it in muffin tins so that I can defrost a little at a time. For his evening meals I squirt a capsule of fish oil over his dry food. This gives him a nice shiny healthy coat!

I love this recipe as a basic recipe. I've learned to use as lean as meat as possible. She (Leila, a chihuahua/dachsund mix), was vomiting solid hard kibble like chunks that reminded me of a piece of meat and fat. After realizing what it was, I stopped the cheap ground beef and am now buying the leaner beef or turkey. I vary the veggies just a bit too using green beans and carrots and sometimes spinach or other leafy greens. Blending them in the blender with a little water provides a minced texture that makes it easier for them to get the full nutritional value and digest. Then I add it to the meat and fiber; which I boil first. I also mix up the fiber by using brown rice and white mixed or lentils. Another idea for added protein is to add 2-3 eggs directly in the boiling water allowing them to cook the last few minutes. The only thing I'm really stuck on is getting enough calcium. The dark greens help a little, but I think she needs more. My cousin/veterinarian said to use calcium supplements. Anything for our canine companians right??? And that's my 2 cents....

Great basic recipe that I have been using for my German Shephards for years, who are tip top shape and very happy! I found that not only does it keep them pysically healthy but it also makes them calmer. My girl had anxiety that resumed with this homemade feeding protocole. I use this recipe as a foundation and try to vary the ingredients as often as possible. I slowcook it for a long time depending on the grain and veggies I use. I will sometimes add one or two of the following: yogourt, cottage cheese, sardines, lentils and fruits, such as pears, apples, peaches, bluberries and local beef hearts and liver, in small quantities. When upset tummies, I use white calrose rice as the grain, grated carrots and canned salmon or whitefish. I add bentonite clay and probiotics and it restores the tummy in no time without having to fast. I use local products as much as possible and try to use meat that is free range. I am thinking of starting to add a liquid children multi-vitamin, just to be on the safe side. All that I can say is that my babies are better fed than myself!!!

Good recipe. I started making my dogs food 4 years ago. I went the raw route. I like everyone's comments. I've done the research too. I finally invested in a powerful grinder. I wanted to stress the calcium that has to be added. The egg shells are great and I still add them when they eat beef etc when I can't grind the bones of most poltry and rabit. They all get raw meaty bones, fish oil, prozyme, kelp, and ester c. I very the ground vegetables. Cale and collard greens are high on the list. Carrots, apples, blueberries, cranberries, greenbeans. I also switch back and forth between brown rice and Quinoa. The toxic foods were already mentioned. Thanks.

My dog loves this recipe. I take the veggies and the drippings from the pan (from browning the ground turkey in a bit of olive oil) and puree them with roughly 2 egg shells per recipe (for calcium.) I cook the rice separately, and stir all the ingredients together in the end. I've done a ton of research, and as stated before, this is a great base. You could do this with beef, chicken, venison, or lamb as well.

I found this recipe 2 yrs ago & have modified it, now using frozen chicken breasts which are easier to cook than turkey plus is lower in fat. I eliminated cauliflower & broccoli, use only green beans & carrots. I make it with 2-3 pounds of chicken breasts, one cup brown rice and 20 oz. veggies, grinding cooked chicken & veggies in processor. Our vet recommended modifying the ratio for more meat and less grain. I freeze it in 2-cup bowls; each lasts about 4 days. I feed my 14-lb dog about 1/2 cup a day plus 1/2 cup kibbles. He was overweight 2 years ago & has lost down to a desirable weight for his size now. He loves this mix, turns up his nose at commercial canned food, so it must be good.

I make something similar to this, however, I use chicken livers instead. I boil the livers and chop them finely and use a rice steamer for the rice. Once the rice is done, I add in the frozen peas and carrots and let them warm through. I mix the liver, rice, veggies and broth together. Once cooled I put them in freezer bags and freeze until I need it for the pups. So easy.

I've never posted a recipe review, so it's pretty funny that my first one is a dog food recipe. I have to say, my dog absolutely loves this, and it cured what I think was an allergic reaction to multiple organic and regular types of dog food. My modifications: I've substituted ground beef for the turkey, and oats for the rice, and she likes both combos. I add 3 eggs, one egg shell very finely ground then strained (for calcium) and 3 Omega 3 tablets. I sometimes use peas and carrots, sometimes a large squirt of catsup and a very tiny sprinkle of garlic. She's so happy!

I think this is a really nice base recipe, but that tweaking it a little is a good idea. I stuck with the brown rice and ground turkey, but left out the rosemary, as I don't think it's necessary. For vegetables, I added diced sweet potatoes, which I boiled and then mashed afterward for easier consumption. For calcium, I added a couple spponfuls of fat-free, plain Greek yogurt. My 10 year old Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix went wild over this. You can also substitute the ground turkey for boiled chicken breast, which can be shredded after cooking.

My very fussy 12 yo shih tzu LOVED it and has had so much more energy. I add an egg and cottage cheese (for calcium) and then place in food processor as she has not many teeth left. I keep in fridge and warm to room temp before feeding. So thankful to find a palatable recipe for her. I change up the meat for variety and once a week include organ meats for the iron. I have been buying ridiculously expensive tin foods from my vet and still had to coax her to eat. Not with this food she willingly gobbles it up and is healthier then she has ever been and I am spending less. A win-win. Thank you for this recipe redgirl !!

This is a good base. I make it with different meat for each batch. Once I will use lean ground beef, another time I will some kind of fish (easy to research whats good for your pup) and then another time Ill use turkey or chicken. I also add fruit like blueberrys and apples I also add egg, spinach other fresh veggies I just don't use frozen produce much). All it takes is a bit of research to see what you should and shouldn't add to this great start! I can say since Ive started using this recipe, my dog who was on a special diet, still had skin problems, and was developing other allergies has completely started healing. Her skin is getting better her health issues are going away, small bumps and other things are all healing. I also fed a top brand pet food..so goes to show....good, all the way around!

Ok, so i cooked this recipe. I added some Natural omega-3 fish oil. I also added some dog vitamins to it to help balance it out and not have to feed it to him later in the day. I am using fresh zucchini and squash along with a banana. I put a tablespoon of peanut butter, and some peas in it. I added parsley to help with his breath. Just to comment on other posts, you should never add GARLIC of any kind to your dogs food, it is very bad for them and is a poison to them. It causes gastrointestinal problems, and red blood cell damage can occur as a result of feeding garlic to pets!

I made this for all four of my dogs and they loved it. It made a big hit with them. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.

Recipe looks good, in regards to some of the comments, garlic is a no no for dogs (along with onions, raisins, grapes and of course chocolate).

I love making dog food for my pets. I have used basically this recipe baked not boiled. However, I refuse to add garlic. Garlic is toxic to dogs as is onion. Give any dog enough garlic, especially on a daily basis, it will kill them. I give a prescription tablet for fleas from my vet to my dogs. My vet said the food is healthy and DO NOT EVER GIVE A DOG GARLIC! three stars because of the garlic

I just started making my Rat Terrier his dog food and he's been healthy ever since. I put a couple boneless chicken breasts, a lb of baby carrots in a slow cooker w/ a lot of water and cook all day. The last hour I add frozen green peas and brown and white rice. (No seasonings, herbs, or spices). When it's done it's like Chicken Stew. I freeze individual servings and remove from freezer daily. My dog loves it. It's easy for me too.

I have tried this recipe also I love it and my dog loves it. I feed him the raw and dry also. I changed a couple of things. I took 12 eggs blended them up with shell. I pureed two packs of mixed frozen vegetables. I also added some liver and gizzards which I pureed.I used lentils instead or rice its healthier. I added more ground meat i use 2 lbs of ground meat. I also added 2 cups of hulled hemp seed. Hemp seed is wonderful for humans and dogs.

I would change a few things because this is not really a balanced diet as it lacks calcium. I vary the protein source each week and add calcium, yogurt or cottage cheese, (or make sure your giving a good multi vitamin). I also add spinach and/or apples on occasion.

I have been feeding my dogs Homemade Dog Food for over 2 months, they just love it, my only concern is that they now have AWEFUL bad breath, what causes this, and what can I do. Should I be concerned that there may be something wrong with my dogs? Please help does anyone know why?

Just made this for my Great Dane and Chow puppies & they loved it!! They are currently passed out on the tile with full bellies:)) I've really been wanting to try something like this because they both have such sensitive stomachs.. So I was thrilled to find this recipe. So I made a double batch and it cost me around $8 for everything, it made about 16 cups and I will be only feeding them each 2 cups a day. So it should last me for 4 days. Let me stop there and let you all know how amazing that is considering the prices of dog food, if you get the good brands -I've tried them all and spent $$$$ on stuff that just didnt agree with my pups stomachs. Anyhow I did decide to change a few things, I used 2 lbs of ground turkey and 2cups of fresh carrots, squash, and peas mix, 6 lg eggs, and 4 cups of rice and the rosemary that the original recipe included, I did find that next time I will probably cook it all separate to save time and then combine them after. Thanks again for the recipe, definitely will be feeding my babies homemade food from now on!

My Airedale suffered from a full body yeast infection and was lethargic. I was using the Wellness brand dog food because my vet told me she was allergic to gluten. The new food didn't really work. I found this recipe and I have been making it for 6 weeks, Sophie is a new dog.

I just started making dog food because we tried to upgrade our dog food and he quite eatting and wouldn't eat his old brand. Was I happy when he ate and carried his empty dish around the house! I learned many good tips and will try roasting egg shells and grind them to a powder for calicum. I have not ground the veggies but will in the future. Who knew dogs have small intestines? Bone meal and punkin were good suggestions. I have been picking dandeline leaves and adding that in the pot. I did celery too and my husband wants to know why the dog is fed better then he is! Thank you for all the good tips. I have one for you, when I told my vet the dog spits out his pills she told me to wrap it in sandwish cheese and he won't even know he ate it. I doubted she was right but she was. the dog needs calicum cottage cheese and yogart will work for that but fish oil or vitimens will be wrapped and gobbled up for sure.

I was searching online for some home cooked healthy dog food. My Siberian Husky mix is now 13 years old, has bad hips (can't walk on tile anymore) and also has cancer. I was told she had 6 months to 1 year maybe longer depending on the tumor and how fast it grows/affects her. She is on a pain pill, anti inflammatory and also a liver supp. Up until about 5 months ago she was eating fine but then she would go days without eating the expensive holistic dog food I know she loves. So recently I started feeding her chicken, cheeseburgers, pizza, anything to get her to eat. This recipe gets her to eat without FAIL! She eats down the veggies too. I do think like other people have said that you can change it up a bit if you want to add egg shells or even a vitamin supp but this is a easy basic recipe that can be made in about 15 to 20 minutes.

I some times wonder what has happen to common sense in people. Most people do feed their dog dry food (kibble) which will include various vitamins and good nutrition. I know my little dog eats mostly kibble that contains all the nutrients he really needs. However, he does eat wet food each day and it's mostly what I cook for him. He is a small maltese and he doesn't eat much. He does not like the can foods on the market and many of the can/wet foods in stores, are junk. I think as long as you're feeding your dog a healthy kibble daily and topping with a little wet food such as this recipe, your dog will be fine. I don't add garlic, tomatoes, rosemary and the various spices when I cook foods for my dog.

This is the first time making food for my dogs. I have been using store bought food and this year they both have been breaking out pretty badly that I have been having to give them benadryl. My parents both suggested that I start making their food and I found this recipe to try. The only thing that I added to this recipe was some beaten eggs for the added calcium. I also used chicken livers instead of the ground turkey for the iron content. it is cooling right now and my dogs can't wait to try it; they have been following me around into the kitchen because they smell food. My husband even said that if the dogs won't at it that he would because it smelled good. I sure hope this works out much better for my dogs because I feel bad for them with all of the itchy bumps they have developed. All in all, this was a very easy recipe to make and smells very good. Right now it is a little soupy but I hope that as it cools some of the water will be absorbed.

I tasted this and it's delicious. No wonder my two dogs scarfed it down. I used my potato masher to break up the ground turkey in the liquid. I substituted rice milk for some of the water because the brand I buy has calcium in it. I also added eggs with omega-3 and ground the egg shells and added them. Next time I make it, I will vary the veggies as broccoli can irritate a dog's stomach. Broccoli is good for dogs as long as they don't eat very much at one time. I have read that broccoli should not be more than 10% of their daily food. I don't expect this one recipe to be all the nutrition my dogs need. But it is an easy recipe with lots of good nutrition. My two dogs are Bichons so this makes a lot of food for them. I put it in the freezer in small containers.

So far so good ! I have a question, what is the rosemary for ?

This is a great basic recipie and that is what I have been looking for to know portions to add of each ingredient! Since I have 2 dogs, one eating 4 C a day and the other eating 2 C a day, I tripled this recipe and froze what I would not use in 3 days. I also cook seperate and add Yams finely broken up. I also add just before feeding a scoop of Ultimate Canine Health Formula.

Everybody should read Louries comment... there is not enough in this to make it worth doing. think Whole Foods, Natural foods~I pressure cook the entire turkey, less visibal fat. and save the liver for later addition. Add squash as a filler, think barley to lower calories (also not digestable~~like corn the next day :).) fills them up. Pumpkin is a great. Like you think color. Dogs eat not only meat, but the inside of the intestines too!...

I just made this today for my Golden. The only thing I modified: I used white rice instead of brown because lately research has shown it's easier for dogs to digest. One other thing I do for my homemade dog recipes is I boil rice in water with a few beef bouillon cubes (low sodium) just for added flavor. I feel this recipe needed it because it seemed a little carb heavy. Either way, great recipe, and I add a hard boiled egg (with shell) per day. One thing-I doubled the recipe and somehow only got 12 cups...not sure how that happened.

I have been making this recipe in my crock pot. I will often put in chicken breasts or thighs...left over vegetables..brown rice.. Put all the ingredients in and let it cook all day with a bit of water. The rice turns soft. I always mix it with a high quality dry food to give them the nutrients. They love it and my chubby one has lost weight on it!

My Bichon will be 15 in a few months and was having trouble digesting his food. I've given him this recipe the last 2 weeks and he hasn't thrown up or had loose stool since. I think this recipe saved his life! Yay! I've also read and taken the advice tips from the comments section. Thanks for posting.

We ground up the Broccoli, carrots and cauliflower as well as used fresh not frozen and our dogs love it.

My Chihuahua is eating this food as I write this, and licking the dish clean. When I make this again I will double the meat - and I am actually thawing another pound of ground turkey now to cook separately and add to the original recipe. I might cut down the rice by a third or so. I also put mixed veggies in the blender and chopped them fine before adding them. He's a very picky eater, so I'm glad I found a basic recipe he likes. Thanks for posting.

This is the first time I have made this food for my beloved Border Collies. They love it. They have been on a holistic brand of food for many years until the price went through the roof. I am mixing this with the kibble and wow, it's chow down time. They lick the bowl clean.

I made this for Dolly our Mini Schnauzer and it is a keeper! I froze some meals to be heated up later and will alternate veggies and grains. I chopped all the veggies in the food processor. I also topped with a a half tsp of ground egg shells per serving. Thanks for the recipe!

Having rescued a very malnourished dog who does not like commercial dog food, I thought I would try to make my own. This was the first recipe I tried and she loves it. I do vary it depending on the ingredients I have on hand, and sometimes just make the rice and veggie mixture, then add canned chicken or poach a chicken breast in broth. Make a batch once a week and put into separate ziplock bags for easy use.

Dogs are not suppose to have Turkey it is bad for their stomachs. Using chicken in this recipe would be better..

I have added eggs and ground up the shells for the calcium but I am concerned about the other nutrients my dogs are missing. I switch out the meats, using hamburger, leftover chicken. chicken livers (they like this the best but I don't want to give them too much) as well as cheap canned tuna.

Thanks for this recipe...I have a 14 3/4 y/o black lab/chow mix who has started having health issues and after eating hard food all of her life is now refusing it...so I tried this...I did 2 chicken breasts (boneless), with carrots, sweet potato and brown rice. I let it cook till super tender and she loves it...

My dogs love this food! I sometimes add more veggies, whatever I have on hand. Sometimes I switch the meat and use chicken thighs which I cook and then remove the bones. I then add the thigh meat back into the broth, add the brown rice cooking again until the rice is done then stir in finely chopped veggies. My dogs are also supplemented with Greek yogurt daily, and raw beef marrow bones a few times a week for additional benefits. This recipe should not be the only food that a dog eats. They need a variety of things like we do.

I have a pom terrier mix who turned 3 yesterday :) I made this recipe right on time for his bday and he is a little bit overweight and I adore him and want to feed him fresh food plus he loves veggies and fruits!!! I give him 1/2 for breakfast and another 1/2 at dinner, and oh how he loves it. I followed the exact recipe and I think it will last 2 weeks which is great, I want to serve it fresh everyday. Bonus, pop each meal in the microwave for 16 seconds, my dog feels human :) Great recipe. Please add an easy and cheap recipe for treats please!!!

Wilbur loves it, I change lean meats from turkey to beef to kangaroo. Mixing grains incl brown rice to white to quinoa to barley, we also add in a soup mix that consists of lentils, split peas, barley. Carrot and Celery as well as other root veg added. I also add coconut oil at the end. Add it to his kibble. Going to try the eggshell in the oven for calcium. Thanks for recipe :)

My non finicky but older pit bulls loved it. They do have sensivite stomachs and being in their senior years, makes me want to spoil them even more. I used basic recipe 1st time, but the next time I used chicken livers and breasts. 2nd time was livers and ground turkey. It didn't matter what the meat, they just loved it. (hope they love me just as much!)

My dog likes it, but I used 2 cups brown rice for 3 lbs turkey, I fed her 1/2 cup in the morning 1/2 in the evening. I also give her a multi vitamin each day. She weighs 12 - 13 lbs.

I'm assuming the brown rice is already cooked? I want the proportions to be right. I bought some brown rice but it needs to be cooked longer than that.... So the rice is cooked but the ground turkey and veggies get cooked up in it?

I give my dogs veggies all day every day. Even onions.. My dogs LOVE onions. I DO NOT however give them carrots because I had one that was deathly allergic to carrots so much that the vet thought she had parvo and wanted to put her down. I refused to let him and thank god I did cause she lived to be happy and healthy after she got better. I never gave her carrots again, and I dont want to go through that again, so I will never give another one of my dogs Carrots.. Also, Garlic is GOOD for them. It keeps fleas off them and its good for their heart. I give my 50lb dogs each a 1/2 of a garlic clove once a week. No fleas. I think you should just trial and error to see what is good for your dogs.. My lola loves broccoli but my Buddy and Vivian do not. When Im chopping up broccoli for our dinner, she comes running and sits beside me and eats the whole pieces that I drop to her. I have NEVER given them meat though, so if I try this recipe I will be stepping out of my comfort zone. I definately want to try it though with all the pet deaths and sicknesses going on from treats that are coming from China. I want to know what my furbabies are eating..

I have two min. poodles, both have some food allergies and the younger one is a VERY picky eater. I've been going nuts trying to find foods that meet her allergy criteria that she will actually eat. Not any more. Both dogs really love this food. After a few days my dog usually gets bored with any food, but not this time. She really loves it and eats everything in her bowl. I do put a spoonful of full fat yogurt on their food as well and I do augment the homemade food with some commercial food as well.

The garlic is not harmful in right amount for your dog. It helps reduce parasites, inflammation and boost immune system. Someone asked about the Rosemary. It is in the herbal anti-inflammatory (Zyflammend) I give my dog, so it has anti-inflammatory properties. Adding the eggshells, yogurt and a little pumpkin can improve the nutrition of this great-tasting recipe (yes, I tried it). Although I was too lazy this time, boiling a whole chicken for added nutrition is also a good idea. Marcy loves her new food- and it cost less than ALPO canned food!

The dog loves this. I have made it three times. I have cut the liquid in it each time. 4 cups of water is enough.

my dogs love this! i change it up once in a while adding different meats and veggies.

I just made this dog food and let my dog try a little. She seems like and ate them all. Like some people said I did blend all the vegi. One of the reason is my dog is old she is almost 12. I am glad that I found this site and I think I will keep continue to made this dog food for my girl. Thank you!

My dog loves this recipe!!!! Eating this food is the highlight of her day. I use mixed vegetables (carrots, corn, peas). She digests this food perfectly and never gets tired of it. I store some of it in the freezer for later use.

I have a very fussy Poochon he loves tinned food but it made his breath & coat smell awful, he will eat raw meat but needs other nutrients. I found this recipe today & tried it straight away using chicken breast & stock, white rice, cauliflower leaves, green beans, peas & a touch of herbs, he absolutely loved it & kept going back to lick the bowl. I will keep making this now experimenting with different veg & meat & adding supplements. Never thought I'd see the day when Oscar would eat veg & enjoy them!!!

I made this for my 10 year old girl. She loved it! She spent as much time licking the dish clean as she did actually eating her meal. I will be feeding this all the time now due to more reports of harmful ingredients in more pet treats & food. Thank you for this great recipe!

I do mine just a little differently, but my dog is tired of it and he needs coaxing to eat. We boil chicken breast, when the chicken is almost done we throw in a bag of rice (brown or white) we mix canned sweet potatoes, peas and carrots. Everything is put through the food chopper and refrigerated.

This is a great, easy to cook recipe. Turkey is a favorite of his (and one of the only meats that doesn't upset his stomach), so I was very excited to see it as one of the main ingredients. I have a little 8lb yorkie, so I didn't include the veggies in the recipe, instead I mixed some jarred baby food veggies in with each serving. Obviously this isn't economical or necessary for large dogs though. I don't mean to add too many variations to an already wonderful recipe, but the 2nd time I made it, I used some chicken broth in place of the water to add a bit more flavor. Thank you to redgirl, this recipe has been very useful!

This is amazing! I have a little Chihuahua that has refused to eat dog food ever since I adopted her. The only thing she would ever eat was scraps from human food, or few select treats. I tried this out and SHE LOVES IT!!!! I have never seen her eat like this before and has so much more energy now! To anyone with a dog that is a finicky eater, I recommend trying this out!!!

Just food for thought: What dogs ate in the wild and what "nature" provided only needed to keep them alive long enough to reproduce. I doubt any of them lived to the old ages our pets manage. So much for the value of "natural" diets. Same goes for humans.

This is the first thing I could get my dog to really eat after an illness where she lost quite a bit of weight. She's a 5 lb Yorkie, NOW. Except I used a different veggie mix, as broccoli and cauliflower can build up toxicity in dogs, but maybe just raw. I used a drained can of VegAll, drained, after cooking while still hot.

I make a similar recipe to this, my dogs love it!!!!!

My 2 chihuahuas love this recipe. I add vitimans & a vet. recommended fish oil every day. Recipe calls for 2 cups of rice & I'm not sure if it means cooked or uncooked.

I have been making this recipe for almost a year and my dog loves it. We would waste so much money on store bought food that he wouldn't eat. He enjoys this food so much that he literally licks the bowl clean.

Ran out of dog food this afternoon so quickly googled homemade dog food. My dog just loved it!! It was easy and I know all the ingredients she just had. I did cook the veggies and then used the blender but wow ... she just cleaned the bowl like there was no tomorrow. HA She definitely loved people food!

this is a good basic recipe and feed my 14mth old choco lab this as his mai diet however i do add eggs in the shell blended with frozen blueberries and frozen spinach i use long grain white rice

My black lab/ golden mix has allergies and I decided to try a more natural approach to see if it would help. I use a pound of ground turkey, switch off between the white and brown rice and throw my veggies into the blender after cooking and before adding them to the mix. I mix her dry dog food with equal parts of the homemade and she loves it. Still gets her nutrients and crunch with a lot less scratching! Thanks for sharing!

So far so good, the only thing extra I added was some fish oil!

I'm basing my rating on ease of creation and how much my Jake likes it. I read some of the other comments and altered the recipe slightly by adding chicken stock right at the point where the water had all been absorbed so that it maintained the flavor of the stock without it evaporing off too much. I used some frozen mixed veggies that I boiled just to soften up and then chopped them in my little chopper so they weren't so bulky and would be easier to digest. Jake looks happier and seems perkier than with the crummy store bought canned food, although this is 3 times the cost. I'm happy knowing what he's eating and that he's happy to eat it.

Added ground beef, ground turkey an celery

Thank you for sharing. My vet as put my doggy on a basic homemade diet for a few days but I didn't think to ask the ratio! Thanks again! Jenny says, "Woof! Woof!" and gives it two paws up.

My dogs loved this! I wasn't sure about having large chunks of veggies, so I ground them up. I also ground up my senior dog's vitamins and added to the food. Wonderful recipe!

I think this is a great recipe for my dog.

Love this basic receipe. My girl loves peas and green beans.

This recipe is good base for home made dog food. It is is to tweak for the needs of different dogs or according to veterinarian recommendations. One thing that puzzled me was why the rosemary until I made it with out. It's to cover the odd smell of boiling meat. I also change around the meat and veggies.

I just used this recipie, but changed one thing, switched turkey for salmon. We have lots of salmon from last years catch that we needed to use up. My 2 blue pits , my chihuahua , and my cat scarfed it done like they were starving. In other words they LOVED it!! Thank you.

I made this for my girls tonight and they loved it!!! Licked the bowls clean.

my finicky miniature dachshund LOVES this recipe. thank you. this is a great base to start from and i look forward to learning more.

My pup absolutely loves this recipe! I certainly don't want to overfeed her, but she eats every bit I put in front of her. Obviously she loves it!