Do you really know what you're feeding your dog? If you buy the cheapest food out there your dog is getting less nutrients than they need.
There are some great chows and canned food on the market but they are very expensive.
I recently went in to Petco to buy my usual premium canned food.
In classic mind control subversion there were yellow labels on the shelves that declared new lower pricing when in fact the prices had gone up.
I was absolutely furious about the price increase.
In fact, I called over the manufacturer rep who happened to be in the store to talk to them about the increased pricing and the false labeling.
I had to laugh when the rep looked at me and said "that's why I make my own food".
I decided I had had enough.
I went to my local discount grocery to fix up my new food.
I have a friend who has a young dog that eats all raw but my standard poodle is older and he doesn't have the constitution for a completely raw diet.
What I ended up buying was following, Chicken thighs Beef liver Sweet potatoes carrots Black eyed peas Lentils Orzo Brown Rice Arborio Turnip greens Mustard greens Spinach Swiss chard Chicken gravy mix from the bin When I got home I began to stew the chicken thighs by putting them in a pot of simmering water with a lid.
Meanwhile I cut up sweet potatoes and carrots.
I also fired up my gas barbecue and quickly cooked beef liver.
I only cooked the liver for about one minute per side, I wanted it to be slightly rare.
As I was going about these cooking chores my standard poodle, Hershey, gazed lovingly from the floor.
When I walked in the house with the grilled liver and began slicing it up he suddenly became my best friend.
I, of course, threw him some choice pieces.
Once the chicken thighs were cooked through I put them on a cookie sheet to cool and dropped in the sweet potatoes and carrots.
I began cooking those at a medium heat, not at a fast boil.
While both were getting going I rinsed a good selection of the greens and because these greens are large (with the exception of spinach) I just plopped them into the pot letting them rest on top.
After about three or four minute whens the greens were wilted I took them out and put them on my cutting board.
After finally chopping the greens I checked the sweet potatoes and carrots.
I cook them until they are fork tender.
I don't like overcooking the food because I want to keep as many nutrients as I can.
When the sweet potatoes and carrots are done I take them out and then put in a combination of black eyed peas, lentils, arborio, etc.
As a convenience I use latex gloves when separating the chicken from the bone as it protects my hands from heat and grease.
I don't finely chop but rather keep the meat chunky - I have a big dog.
Once the rice and lentils and what not are cooked I strain them but I reserve the cooking water in a bigger bowl.
I use the cooking juices to make the gravy.
Where I shop you can buy chicken gravy and meat gravy in a powder form.
What I do is mix the powder with the cooking juices/water and make a gravy.
I mix all of the ingredients together (except the gravy) and thoroughly toss.
Sometimes I also add some olive oil (for the omega's) or some herring or sardines (again, for the oils) and ground flax if I have some.
I then spoon out the food into plastic containers with corresponding lids and then once I have everything in the containers I spoon in the gravy/juices.
This concoction goes perfect with their chow and they love their dinners.
What I have discovered is that in the hour-and-a-half or two hours it takes me to make this I get about two weeks of food.
It also costs me about half as much of a really good premium food.
The dogs love me for this and the cat is wowed by the liver I toss him.
As side note don't use onions as they're bad for dogs.
Try cooking for your dog to save money, help their health, and make every meal delicious.