Master Chef For Dogs!

Food made at home is often healthier, more nutritious and tastier – the same can be said for homemade dog food. However, make sure your homemade variety contains a combination of protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium and essential fatty acids to ensure the food is nutritionally balanced to meet your pooch’s dietary needs. Below are some simple recipes to try. After your dogs have been eating home fare for a few weeks, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet for a check-up to ensure they’re not gaining or losing weight and that they’re thriving on their new diet. Happy cooking!    

Homemade Dog Food – http://skinnyms.com/

Ingredients: 1kg chicken thighs (skinless and boneless) 1 carrot, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup (frozen) green beans 1 apple (peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped) 1/2 cup peas (no salt added)

Directions: Rinse chicken, place in a large pot and cover with water. Add a steam basket to the top of the pot and add carrot slices, green beans, and apple pieces. Cover with a lid, bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a low-boil and cook until chicken is done and carrots are tender, approximately 35 minutes. Add peas and continue cooking just until heated through, approximately 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly then remove chicken and cut into small pieces or shred with a fork. Remove vegetables and apple pieces with a slotted spoon and add to a mixing bowl. Mash with a fork, potato masher, or mix in a food processor. Combine chicken and vegetable mixture. Discard remaining broth. After cooled, store in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze for later use.

Another recipe for Homemade Dog Food (with more ingredients) – see which one your dog prefers! – Barbara Laino, http://thebark.com/

This recipe feeds 2-3 large dogs for 7-10 days. Grind the following ingredients in a meat grinder. Alternate ingredients so the grinder does the mixing for you. For example, grind six necks, one carrot, a handful of pumpkin seeds, then six more necks and so on. Mix with a large spoon as you grind.

Meat: • 18kg of chicken neck without skins • 4.5kg of chicken hearts • 2-4kg of organic chicken livers • 2 cans of pink salmon (optional)

Vegetables: Can be interchanged with other vegetables and fruits (no grapes or onions). Dogs and cats usually do not like citrus. • 1-2kg carrots • 1/2 a bunch of red cabbage • 1 beetroot • 2 apples • 1/2 a bunch of spinach or other dark greens

Other ingredients: • 1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds Add a couple of the following items. Have these ready on hand as you are grinding and add a sprinkle here and there of each so you can thoroughly mix the batch of food. • 9-12 raw whole eggs (optional) • 2 000mg of vitamin C powder • 1/4 to 1/2 cup of kelp powder • 1/4 cup of tumeric powder • 1/2 to 1 cup of dried parsley • 1/2 to 1 cup of dried oregano • 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil • 1/4 cup of tahini • 1/4 cup of raw honey After grinding and mixing all ingredients thoroughly, keep the food in a sealed container in the refrigerator.  

Basic Dog Biscuits – www.cesarsway.com Ingredients

• 2½ cups whole wheat flour (substitute regular flour or oats if your dog is sensitive to wheat)
• 1 tsp. salt (or less)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. Beef or chicken broth/stock)
• ½ cup hot water
• Bacon or chicken broth, eggs, oats, liver powder, wheat germ, shredded cheese, bacon bits

  Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Dissolve stock in hot water.
3. Add remaining ingredients.
4. Knead dough until it forms a ball (approximately 3 minutes).
5. Roll dough until ½ inch thick.
6. Cut into slices or bone shapes (you can purchase a bone shaped cookie cutter to make shapes with).
7. Place dough pieces on lightly greased baking tray.
8. Cook for 30 minutes.

  4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Treats Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup mashed banana
• ¼ cup vegetable, chicken or beef stock
• Bone shaped cookie cutter / shape of your choice

  Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°.
2. Combine flour, peanut butter and mashed banana in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add stock and stir until mixed.
4. Knead dough until it forms a ball
5. Place dough ball on a flat service (with a sprinkle of flour if needed) and roll out evenly with a rolling pin. Dough should be about ½ a centimetre thick.
6. Use cookie cutter to cut the dough into desired shape and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Store in an airtight container.