About a year ago, I noticed something wasn’t right with Tito.
He started aggressively licking his paws, and he seemed to lose interest in his food altogether. As any pet parent knows, when something changes with your fur baby, you notice. And you worry.
This wasn’t actually my first time making homemade dog food — I had done it for Tito his first year too. So when I started seeing the signs that something was off, I went right back to it. I’ve also had two previous dogs with heart conditions, and that experience taught me something I’ve never forgotten: I want to prioritize Tito and Stella’s nutrition as much as I possibly can. Food is medicine, and I take that seriously for the four-legged members of my family too.
That was a year ago. We haven’t looked back since.
Meet Tito and Stella
Before I get into the recipe, you have to know who I’m cooking for.
Tito is my Mini Goldendoodle. He’s 6 now, so he’s a little more laid back these days — a true couch potato at heart — but he still loves to play when the mood strikes. He is fiercely protective of me. I mean it when I say I am his momma, through and through.
Stella is our Cavapoo, and at 2 years old she is pure energy. Since we brought her home, Tito has actually become more active too — she’s been good for him in more ways than one. Stella is incredibly affectionate and she absolutely loves kids. Between the two of them, my house is never short on love or chaos in the best possible way.
These two are why I do this. Every batch I make is for them.
The Recipe
I try to balance protein, healthy grains, vegetables, and healthy fats in every batch. Here’s what goes into the crock pot:
- 1 package ground turkey
- 1 package ground chicken
- Spinach (protein)
- Carrots (vitamin A)
- Sweet potatoes (fiber)
- Butternut squash (fiber, potassium, vitamins)
- Brown rice (healthy starch — it soaks up the bone broth beautifully)
- Canned pumpkin (soothes the stomach)
- Fresh ginger (aids digestion, anti-inflammatory)
- Ground turmeric, activated with black pepper (supports healthy joints, anti-inflammatory)
- 1 container bone broth
- 5–7 scoops vitamin powder
- 5–7 squirts omega oil (for healthy skin and coat)
- 4–5 eggs (added toward the end)
- Fresh parsley, added after cooking (good for kidney health)
I cook everything in the crock pot, which makes the whole process simple — set it, let it do its thing, and come back to a kitchen that smells incredible. Once it’s done, I portion it into glass freezer containers. A batch typically lasts 2 to 3 weeks for both of them, depending on the size of the batch I make.
Has It Made a Difference?
Honestly — yes, in every way I hoped it would.
Tito’s weight has stabilized, and both of their coats are shiny and healthy. And maybe most importantly, they absolutely love it. There’s something special about watching your dogs get excited for dinner, knowing exactly what’s in that bowl and where it came from.
Let’s Talk Numbers
Here’s something that might surprise you — making homemade dog food is actually more affordable than I expected, especially compared to the fresh or raw dog food services you can order online.
Grocery prices vary, of course, but I typically spend around $25–$30 per batch. If that batch lasts two weeks with four servings a day between the two of them, it averages out to about $1 per day, per dog. Compare that to most online fresh pet food delivery services, which start around $5 a day per dog — and often use very similar ingredients to what I’m already putting in my crock pot.
Doing that math is honestly what convinced me to keep making my own. Why pay five times more for something I can make myself, with ingredients I trust, in my own kitchen?
Thinking About Trying This Yourself?
My biggest piece of advice — do your research, just like I did. Every dog is different, and you’ll start to learn what ingredients work best for your pup and what they genuinely enjoy eating. There’s a lot of great information out there about canine nutrition, and taking the time to understand it pays off in your dog’s health and happiness.
Start simple, watch how your dog responds, and adjust from there. That’s exactly how I got to where I am now.
This one isn’t about real estate or Tennessee living in the traditional sense — but it’s about home in a different way. Taking care of the family members who greet you at the door every single day, tails wagging, like you’ve been gone for years even if you just ran to the mailbox.
That’s what home means to me too.
Got a homemade pet recipe of your own? I’d love to hear about it — drop a comment or reach out at yourbethlife.com/contact.
— Beth (and Tito & Stella) 🐾