Homemade Dog Food Recipes

It started with scrambled eggs.  The mornings we made eggs for our own breakfast seemed Tommy’s most favorite mornings too.  Yes, he did get his normal dog food and kibble combo, but without fail, we’d hand over a small portion of our eggs to him.   We asked our vet if this was a food that was okay to give Tommy, and he laughed and said “…as long as you don’t mind cooking for him!”

Tommy has always been a finicky eater.  We have become concerned over time whether he’s getting enough nutrients.  No matter what foods we offered him – pet store foods, organic foods, expensive brands, supermarket foods, name-brands, no-name brands – most of the time he’d just walk away.  If he did eat, it was only one or two cans at best over a few days. This walk-away tactic didn’t mean he automatically get “human food”, we know that trick!  But days would pass and he’d bearly eat anything.  At 8 pounds, it didn’t take long for him to become too skinny.  We were at a loss of what to do — there aren’t many foods or even treats we didn’t try.

We were really concerned about him and finally looked into making his dog food.  We researched what nutrients, supplements, and types of food would be best for his health and well-being. We recall times over the past years when a vet recommended a bland diet of boiled hamburger or lamb and rice for a dog that was not feeling good.  If this is what is at times prescribed for an ill dog, maybe human food can be the foundation of a good dog food too.

Through our research we found the Dog Treat Recipes ebooks by Justin Bryce which includes over 400 Recipes of full meals, treats, and snacks!  Besides the dog food recipes, the author includes cooking tips, health tips, training ideas and other facts in a digital format at a very reasonable price.  The one recipe per page format makes for easy reading and the recipes are not hard to make.

Right after downloading the ebooks, we immediately looked through the pantry and decided we’d make a half batch of the PB Crunchies.

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Cookies

Quick and simple to make, we used the smallest cookie cutter we had and Voila! – we had about 3 dozen treats in less than 40 minutes!  They did smell good from the oven – but the test was in the tasting!  Tommy loved them!  Thank goodness – at last a protein-rich treat!  (We admit to trying these treats ourselves – and yes, they are good – a little dry for human’s – but tasty!)

Since downloading the Dog Treat Recipe ebooks, so far we’ve made Fin and Feather, and Nutri-Bars meals.  The Fin and Feather is a Tommy favorite with nutritious tuna fish, hard cooked eggs, peas, and whole wheat pasta.  The Nutri-Bars are a hit with beef liver, hamburger, and veggies over a little cottage cheese!  The wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and sea kelp mixed in assures us this meal is packed with nutrients!  We’re relieved that finally Tommy is eating regularly and we know exactly what is in his food.  We’re looking forward to making even more nutritous, tasty meals for our best friend and companion. Try these yourself!

Please note, that if your dog has eating issues, it is always best to talk with your veterinarian to determine if there are medical issues before starting on a new food regime.

To download Dog Treat Recipes by Justin Bryce click here!

Click here to shop for dog apparel

Southern Belle Blue Gingham Dress-Dog Apparel

Dog Life Jacket

This dog life jacket is comfortable and well designed. Our Snazzy Dog, Tommy, loves his life jacket and is comfortable in it for hours!  There are a number of features that the Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket has that we particularly like in comparison to the other life jackets we’ve tried.  This dog life jacket has reflective stripes for high visibility, D-ring for a leash, and for double security, latch closures under the neck and body, as well as, velcro closures.  The large grab-handle on the top of the jacket is a must for “Dog Overboard!” conditions.   There is floatation not only on the body, but also under the chin area which helps to keep your little one’s head above water!  This life jacket can take a beating.  Ours has been in use every summer for over three years and still looks new!

The Kyjen Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket is well designed and comfortable for our Snazzy Dog.  Read the customer reviews and you’ll see that it is an essential for your small dog’s safety while in or on the water.

P.S.  Tommy wears an X-Small and he is a Papillon that weighs 8.5 lbs.  You can find them in our store in the following sizes:

XX-Small Dog Life Jacket

X-Small Dog Life Jacket

Small Dog Life Jacket

Medium Dog Life Jacket

No matter what breed of small dog you own, doing some type of water activities is one of the best ways for you and your dog to spend time together. Whether he is swimming with you in your pool, playing along the edge of a beach or fetching a stick in a shallow creek, spending time in the water with your little guy(gal) is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors.

Make Safety #1

When you and your small dog are both paddling in the water, it is very important to think about safety as your number 1 rule. While many dogs can easily plunge into the water like a duck, some canines (and their owners) are a little apprehensive at first and need time to get used to the experience. It is wise to outfit your little one with a properly fitting small dog life jacket.

Below are 5 tips to ensure that both you and your dog can have a fun and safe time in the water.

1. Before your dog hits the water, make sure that he is healthy and in good condition. Consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns or doubt abouts his health or fitness level.

2. When taking your dog to the water for the first time, do it slowly and go by his pace. This is especially true if he is still a puppy. Never assume that he will naturally know how to swim and will automatically tread the water safely.

3. Pick a warm, shallow body of water (possibly a swimming pool), one that will be easy for your first-timer to maneuver through. Take him to the edge of the water and let him explore at his own comfort levels. Do not splash him or drag him to the water before you are absolutely sure that he’s ready. Give him a few minutes to get used to this new experience. Forcing your dog to go into the water before he is ready will just scare him off and lessen the chance of him trying again.

4. As he gets more curious, try taking him to the water by going in first and call him at the same time. Lure him with a treat or throw a toy into the water (making sure it is at a short distance and within his depth). Eventually, he will feel more confident about going further out, especially when he knows that you are having fun and nearby.

5. Before taking your dog to a large body of water, such as the ocean or a deep river, it would be wise to gear him up with a small dog life jacket. This is particularly important if he is still new to swimming and/or if he gets too excited while playing in the water. Make sure that the life jacket fits him properly and let him get used to having it on while swimming before going deeper into the water.

We were planning to attend a Pet Expo a 1/2 day’s drive from our home and little Tommy was coming with us. The expo was a 2-day event and we planned to attend 8 hours the first day and at least 4 hours the next day.  The hotel was not an issue, riding 4 hours in the car was not an issue, but it was clear our travel totebag was not a practical solution to hold Tommy for hours at a time as we attended the show.  The best solution  -  a dog stroller!  Why not?  He would be safe from grabbing hands if we zipped him in, he could see all around, would have plenty of fresh air, and could rest or sleep as he needed!

We decided to purchase the Kyjen Outward Hound Walk ‘n Roll  Dog Stroller.

A dog stroller can make shopping a breeze!

Outward Hound products have always met our standards and this dog stoller is lightweight (13 lbs) and compact (approximate size folded is 17.5″ W x 35″ L x 7.5″ H).  The Walk ‘n Roll is a pet stroller designed for small dogs (under 20 lbs) and the interior dimensions (19.5″ L x 10″ W x 12″ H) would be fine for our papillon.  Some small dogs might find this interior too confining so be sure to measure out this space to see how your little one will fit.

In our experience, this was the perfect stroller.  Tommy took to riding in it right away – he likes this dog stroller. It seems to us he really enjoys having us drive him around!  Our dog was able to relax in safety throughout the day, or be the social butterfly when he sat up and viewed the scenery!  We ended up tucking samples, leaflets, newsletters, and bottles of water in all the pouches and even in the dog stroller. We really don’t think we could have spent so much time at the expo without this handy Walk ‘n Roll.  This was a lifesaver and at a reasonable price!

Since then, we’ve used the dog stroller more often than we thought we would.  We simply toss the stroller into the trunk of the car and we’re off to the local rail trail, park, or touring the new town we’ve decided to visit.  This Walk ‘n Roll Dog Stroller is a safe haven for our dog to relax in, keep out of the sun, or just “chill” as we help him keep up with our weekend pace.  Thanks Kyjen!

Click here to view the Walk ‘n Roll Dog Stroller

Click here to view all dog strollers in our store