Cooking up dog food

[DianaB]

It would be my luck that I'd make all that food and Reuger would turn up his nose. He is sooo very picky!!! I guess that Mollee, our airdale, would be happy. She always gets what ever Reuger won't eat!

[judy]

I didn't actually want to cook for them Janet! Opening up a can is so easy, but Gracie Leigh had giardia and then the vet said she probably had some kind of worms too. Mandy started me on cooking for them and I find that it's easy on Gracie's stomach.

I also found that it's so much easier than I thought it would be, or I'd be trying canned food again.

Don't think Max didn't try to turn his nose up at this new recipe this morning! He did eat it though finally.

[Marilyn]

I cook for our dogs, but I kinda cheat. I cook up a big pot of rice using chicken and/or beef broth instead of water. I put this in the refrigerator and when time to feed, combine it with leftover scraps of chicken/turkey, whatever we have to make about 1/3 cup, warm it in the microwave and mix in about 1/4 cup of Diamond Lamb and Rice kibble. I divide it about 1/3 for Zoe, 2/3 for Chase. I don't know if it's totally nutritionally balanced, but I started doing this to transition them back to kibble when they all got sick this summer and we had them on chicken and rice per the vet. We never finished transitioning them. They love it, and seem to be doing very well, so I figure they are okay.

[judy]

It probably is very balanced. I was thinking of adding kibble because that's a complete, balanced diet for dogs on it's own.

[Marilyn]

Judy, are you still cooking for your dogs? Mine started turning their nose up at the mixture I've been making. They don't want the kibble any more and were picking it out. Last night I made a big pot of chicken and dumplings using boneless chicken breasts and thigh fillets, for us and the dogs to eat. I always thicken the broth in my chicken and dumplings with flour, so last night and today, they got cooked white rice with chopped chicken and the gravy from the chicken and dumplings mixed in. They loved this, but I know it's not balanced. Do you have any problems getting them to eat the mixture with the vegetables? I had thought of checking on YorkieTalk about recipes for dog food, but there is so much on there and I have so little time to do very much research. I trust what you are doing. Please let me know if it is still working. Do you chop up the peas and carrots or mix them in right out of the bag?

[Gina]

I wish I could cook for Gucci, poor thing is on the L/D diet and I see that somedays she doesn't want to eat. I guess its the same boring nibbles over and over. But it keeps her healthy.

[Janet]

I think she still is cooking for her babies. I hate cooking so much that the only way I would cook for mine is if I HAD to. I hope that never happens, but if they needed it, I sure would cook.

[judy]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

Judy, are you still cooking for your dogs? Mine started turning their nose up at the mixture I've been making. They don't want the kibble any more and were picking it out. Last night I made a big pot of chicken and dumplings using boneless chicken breasts and thigh fillets, for us and the dogs to eat. I always thicken the broth in my chicken and dumplings with flour, so last night and today, they got cooked white rice with chopped chicken and the gravy from the chicken and dumplings mixed in. They loved this, but I know it's not balanced. Do you have any problems getting them to eat the mixture with the vegetables? I had thought of checking on YorkieTalk about recipes for dog food, but there is so much on there and I have so little time to do very much research. I trust what you are doing. Please let me know if it is still working. Do you chop up the peas and carrots or mix them in right out of the bag?

Sorry I didn't answer this sooner Marilyn. I wasn't home yesterday.

I actually just stopped cooking for mine. Gracie Leigh's stomach seems to be much stronger and I'd love to get them on kibble soon. She's 10 months old, and won't need wet food anymore after her first year. Of course,they won't eat the canned food mixed with kibble that I'm giving them now. I figure that if they get hungry enough, they'll eat it. I left a bowl of kibble out all day yesterday and somebody ate about 1/4 of it.

I think your recipe is fine as long as you add some veggies to it. I just take 2 packages of frozen peas and carrots and one package of frozen, chopped spinach and throw them into the pot. I mix it once they soften a bit and cook it until the water reaches a boil again. I don't cut the veggies.

Another way I get them to eat veggies is that they are all they get from what is on my plate when they come begging. They never get my meat, only a little bit of potato or pasta and my steamed veggies. They think people food is asparagus and green beans.

I also mix flax seed oil (made for dogs) into their food. I think you're supposed to add some other supplements, but I never did.
This is Mandy's recipe, and I trust her. If you go on YT, you get too much info. I just ended up confused.