Category: Dog Food Idea

5 Reasons to Consider Switching to Homemade Dog Food

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As a dog guardian, we all want the best for our canine buddies. While the idea of switching to homemade dog food can be intimidating, it’s important to remember that feeding your dog a balanced, nutritious diet is crucial for their health and well-being.

Here are five reasons why you should consider making the switch to homemade dog food:

  1. Better quality ingredients: Homemade dog food allows you to control the quality and source of the ingredients you use. This means you can avoid additives, preservatives, and other potentially harmful substances commonly found in commercial dog food.
  2. Customizable meals: Homemade dog food allows you to tailor your dog’s meals to their specific needs, such as incorporating more protein, vitamins, or minerals. This can help address any dietary deficiencies or health issues that are unique to your dog.
  3. Improved digestion: Homemade dog food can be easier for your dog to digest, as it doesn’t contain as many fillers or artificial ingredients that can upset their stomach.
  4. Enhanced energy and vitality: Feeding your dog a nutritious homemade diet can improve their overall energy and vitality, leading to a happier and more active pet.
  5. A closer bond: Preparing homemade dog food for your pet is a great way to bond with them and show your love and care. It’s a chance to spend quality time with your canine friend and make them feel special.

Switching to homemade dog food may seem daunting, but with the right guidance and support, it can be a safe and rewarding experience. Consider consulting with a veterinarian or canine nutritionist, and start small by incorporating fresh ingredients into your dog’s diet. Your dog will thank you for it with a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Ceramic Slow Feeder Dog Bowl:
Available on Amazon

5 Benefits of Homemade Dog Food

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  1. Control Over Ingredients: When you make your own dog food at home, you have complete control over the quality and source of ingredients that you use. This means you can choose high-quality meats, vegetables, and grains while avoiding unhealthy fillers, preservatives, and artificial additives commonly found in commercial kibble.
  2. Nutritional Value: Homemade dog food allows you to tailor the diet to your dog’s specific needs, ensuring that they are getting the right balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they require for optimal health. Many commercial kibbles may not contain adequate nutrition, or may contain too much of certain ingredients that can be harmful to your dog’s health.
  3. Freshness: Homemade dog food is prepared fresh, meaning that the food is less likely to be contaminated with harmful bacteria or toxins. In contrast, commercial kibble can sit on store shelves for months, and may be made with low-quality ingredients that are not fit for human consumption.
  4. Variety: With homemade dog food, you can vary the ingredients and flavors, keeping your dog interested and engaged with their food. This can help prevent picky eating habits and encourage a healthy appetite.
  5. Health Benefits: Feeding your dog a homemade diet has been shown to offer a range of health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced risk of allergies, and better dental health. By providing your dog with a fresh, natural diet, you may be able to prevent or manage certain health conditions, and help them live a longer, healthier life.
Bullmastiff getting ready to eat healthy homemade dog food
Pet Cleaner Spray helps to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination after feeding raw dog food
Our Pet Cleaner Spray
Raw dog food can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can pose a risk to both the dog and the owner. Cleaning your dog with our Clean-n-Fresh Pet Cleaner Spray after feeding raw can help reduce the risk of bacterial contamination.

You’ve got this!

Switching to homemade dog food is a journey, not a destination. It’s important to stay consistent and committed to providing your dog with nutritious, home cooked meals. Keep up the great work, and your dog will thank you for it!

Watch more homemade dog food inspiration on our YouTube Channel!

Instant Pot Dog Food Idea #2: Brown Rice for Dogs

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Watch how to make perfectly cooked brown rice for your furry friend using an Instant Pot! Brown rice is an excellent source of nutrition for dogs, as it is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that can help keep your pup healthy and happy.

After making hard-boiled eggs in the Instant Pot for Ruger our Bullmastiff, I make brown rice for her using the leftover water that was used to cook the eggs. This is the easiest method to make brown rice without burning it on the stove or creating a mess with all the sputtering when using a rice cooker.

Tools:

Ingredients:

  • Brown Rice
  • Homemade Broth or Unsalted Broth (any flavor)
  • Water
  • Herbs (optional)
https://youtube.com/shorts/gYpZwCHHAhc

Instructions:

  1. Add 1-1/2 cups of your dog’s favorite broth to the leftover water.
    • If you don’t make hard-boiled eggs before making this recipe, then add 1 cup of water to the broth (for a total of 2-1/2 cups of liquid).
  2. Add 2 cups of uncooked brown rice.
  3. Add your dog’s favorite herbs.
    • We like adding turmeric, basil, ginger, and parsley.
  4. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
  5. Set Instant Pot to the Manual setting for 22 minutes.
  6. When done, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
  7. Remove the Instant Pot lid and fluff the rice.
  8. Serve as an additional flavoring to your dog’s meals.
    • NOTE: Rice is not a replacement for a dog’s main meal. I like to think of it as a garnish to my dog’s meals.
Keto Instant Pot Recipes

FOR YOU: Keto Instant Pot Recipes (for Humans)

If you’re interested in Keto recipes that you can make for yourself in the Instant Pot, click this link for a comprehensive startup guide that includes recipes using this time-saving kitchen tool.

Watch Me Make Homemade Dog Food Step-by-Step

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In this video, we’ll show you how to prepare a delicious and healthy homemade dog food dinner for your furry friend. Raw feeding has become increasingly popular among dog owners, as it can provide a host of benefits, including healthier skin and coat, improved digestion, and increased energy levels.

We’ll guide you through the process of the ingredients we use for your dog’s raw dog food meals, including a variety of meats, veggies, and supplements. Then, we’ll show you how to prepare and serve the meal in a safe and hygienic manner. See how we use our very own Clean-n-Fresh Pet Cleaner Spray to clean up after our Bullmastiff’s raw meals.

Watch as we serve this delicious healthy dog food meal to our Bullmastiff, who can’t get enough of this homemade dog food! Whether you’re looking to switch up your dog’s diet or simply want to learn more about raw dog feeding, we hope this video will inspire more dog lovers to add fresh foods to their dogs meals.

Our Pet Cleaner Spray

Feeding raw dog food can be messy, and it can leave residue on the floor, furniture, and other surfaces. Cleaning your dog with our Clean-n-Fresh Pet Cleaner Spray after feeding can help keep your home clean and hygienic.

Healthy K9 Dog Food Grocery Haul

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Picked up groceries for Ruger our Bullmastiff to make her healthy K9 dog food:

Healthy K9 Dog Food Grocery List

  • Beef Heart
  • Chicken Liver
  • Black Beans *No Salt Added*
  • Pinto Beans *No Salt Added*
  • Green Beans
  • Zucchini
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Red Cabbage
  • Mussels
  • Pork Loin
  • Silverside *Unbrined*

Looking for a slow feeder dog bowl for large breed dogs? We use a purple slow feeder that we bought on Amazon, and although it is not featured in this video, it is larger than the pink and turquoise slow feeder bowls that you will also see in some of our videos.

How to Make Pineapple Dehydrated Dog Treats

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Dehydrated pineapples are the best treats that you and your dog can enjoy! Ruger our Bullmastiff absolutely loves pineapples. But, we only serve these as extra special treats — I don’t make them often, and when I do, she doesn’t get more than half a slice a day. I’m probably guilty of eating these faster than she does! 😂

Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Place a non-stick tray at the bottom of the dehydrator to catch any juices that fall.
  2. Lay pineapple slices on the dehydrator trays
  3. Slide one tray into each slot of the dehydrator.
  4. Set temperature to 165 degrees.
  5. Set time to 7 hours.
  6. Remove the pineapples and enjoy with your canine buddy!

*Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you use the links to buy something, we may earn a commission. Mahalo for your support.

Top 10 Pet Food Companies in the World by Revenue

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What do you think about the top brands on the list of Top Pet Food Companies in the World as provided by PetfoodIndustry.com?

Keep in mind that this list includes the top brands by REVENUE; not by nutritional value. When I started to research the best dog food for puppies in preparation for bringing home our Bullmastiff puppy, I was surprised to learn that companies best known for candies, ice cream, cereal, and jams are leading the sales of pet food. 

As I continued my research into the best dog food, I learned how kibble came to be and understand the reason why kibble was developed. However, the progression with pet food is severely lacking when compared to how far we’ve come with human foods. Today, humans have organic and non-GMO foods. But, the majority of our pets are still being fed foods that have the nutritional value equivalent to fast food. 

I believe there are some regulations that prevent better pet foods from reaching the mass market. In California, you are not able to produce dog food or dog treats under a cottage food permit. Not only do you need to prepare the dog food or dog treat in a commercial kitchen (which requires rent and insurance costs), you may need up to three different licenses from state agencies depending on the ingredients of the dog food and whether you want to be able to label your product as organic. I know this because I operated a gourmet dog bakery for a short time in Humboldt County, California.

And, we all remember what happened when Morgan Spurlock experimented with eating solely fast food for one-month straight in his document, Super Size Me. I fear that the ill-effects he encountered with his health is the same thing happening to our pets when we feed them kibble for every meal for their entire life. How junk would it be if you only got fed pizza for every meal of your entire life?

If you’re still buying commercial food for your dog, then make sure you read this eye-opening report on Healthy-k9.com about the 9 worst dog foods. You’ll likely know some some or most of these products.

If you are interested in human grade ingredient pet food and would like a list of recommendations for healthy pet food, I encourage you to check out Susan Thixton’s listat her website, truthaboutpetfood.com. I am not paid to promote Ms. Thixton’s list and I have not purchased it as I feed my own raw dog recipes. However, if you are looking for a resource, I trust the information Ms. Thixton provides on pet food.

SOURCE:
“Top Pet Food Companies Current Data.” PetfoodIndustry.com, Accessed 10 February 2023, https://www.petfoodindustry.com/directories/211-top-pet-food-companies-current-data.

Dog Treat Recipe: Coconut Oil + Beetroot Powder Hearts

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Can dogs eat beets? Yes! In fact, beetroot powder has many nutritional benefits for dogs. Click the image above for our YouTube Short.

According to the American Kennel Club:  

“Beets are loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, including Vitamin C, potassium, folate, and magnesium. The skin contains betalain pigments, which have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. 

In moderation, as a snack or food topping, beets are beneficial to a dog’s skin and coat and their digestion. Your dog should be getting all the nutrients they need in their regular diet, so think of beets as a little something extra.”

Reinsen, Jan. “Can Dogs Eat Beets?” American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-beets/. Accessed 12 February 2023.

COCONUT OIL + BEETROOT POWDER DOG TREAT RECIPE

Ingredients:

Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil.
  2. Add 1/4 tsp. of beetroot powder to the melted coconut oil.
  3. Pour mixture into silicone molds for easy removal.
  4. Let it stand at room temperature to re-harden overnight.
  5. Remove from mold and serve to our dog!

Instant Pot Dog Food Idea #1: Hard-Boiled Eggs for Dogs

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Did you know that eggshell membranes are one of the best sources of nutrition for your dog? 

As shared in the video at the very bottom of this blog post by pet experts, Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib, eggshell membranes provide joint support for our dogs that helps with joint degeneration such as arthritis.

I don’t care for hard-boiled eggs, so I never bothered to learn how to make them.  But, I eventually tried to make them when my two kids, husband, and dog all wanted to eat them on a routine basis…but I always failed!  I always overcooked the eggs when trying to prepare them by stove. It didn’t matter if I boiled them for 6 minutes or 9 minutes, there was always a gray or green ring around the yolk.  I even undercooked them once, which everyone, except for our Bullmastiff, thought was gross.

Then, I was clued in by a friend who had invited us to Thanksgiving dinner last year. She had prepared deviled eggs and used the Instant Pot to hard boil the eggs!  Did you know that the Instant Pot could make perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs?  Knowing that eggshell membranes are an excellent addition to dog food, I was excited to try this new hack! 

I didn’t have an egg holder on-hand, but I did have our mesh steamer basket that I use when making homemade bone broth (post coming soon!)…so I gave it a shot.  While there are various methods recommended, like the 5-5-5 Method (5 minutes cooking in Instant Pot – 5 minutes naturally releasing pressure – 5 Minutes in an ice bath), the process below is what has worked best for me to produce thoroughly cooked hard-boiled eggs with no green or gray ring around the yolk:

Keto Instant Pot Recipes for You

If you’re interested in using the Instant Pot for Keto diet or Paleo diet recipes for you, click this link for a comprehensive startup guide that includes recipes using this time-saving kitchen tool.

DIRECTIONS FOR INSTANT POT HARD BOILED EGGS

Ingredients:

  • Chicken Eggs
  • Water
  • Ice

Tools:

Instructions:

  1. Pour 1 cup of water in Instant Pot 
  2. Place mesh steamer basket in Instant Pot
  3. Place up to 8 eggs in the mesh steamer basket 
  4. Cover Instant Pot with the lid and secure in closed position
  5. Make sure the knob is set to “Sealing”
  6. Push the “Egg” button and set to 4 minutes
  7. When the Instant Pot is done and beeps, turn knob to “Venting” (NOTE: Please use caution as there is very hot steam and water that sputters out of the vent.)
  8. Use a slotted spoon to immediately remove the eggs from the Instant Pot
  9. Place eggs in an ice bath for at least 5 minutes
  10. Enjoy!

**IMPORTANT: Try to retain as much of the eggshell membrane when cracking the eggs open so you can add it to your dog’s dog food, whether you feed raw or kibble.**

Watch Dr. Karen Becker and Rodney Habib explain why eggs are nutritious for your dog in this YouTube video:

How to use our Clean-n-Fresh Pet Cleaner Spray

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Pet Cleaner Spray

Our Clean-n-Fresh Pet Cleaner Spray is the perfect solution for keeping your pets clean and fresh between baths. The lightly-scented spray is great for cleaning dog faces after raw dog meals, dirty paws after stepping in mud, messy bottoms after an upset tummy, and as a dog refresher spray between washes. Made with broccoli seed oil and karanja oil, this cruelty-free product keeps your pet happy while they stay clean! Find it over at our online boutique: shop.brindlenfawn.com

DIRECTIONS:
Shake well before use. Spray pet cleaner on a cloth or paper towel then wipe down your pet where needed.

SUGGESTED USES:

  • On paws, after stepping in mud or anything dirty.
  • On bottom, after a bout of an upset stomach.
  • On muzzle, after feeding raw food.
  • On body, between washes.