About Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Homemade Dog Food Recipes was founded on a simple belief: every dog deserves access to fresh, nutritionally complete meals made from whole food ingredients. We're dedicated to making homemade feeding accessible, safe, and scientifically sound for dog owners who want to take control of their pet's nutrition without needing advanced degrees in animal nutrition.

Our Mission

The commercial pet food industry has made tremendous strides in convenience and consistency, but many dogs thrive when fed fresh, minimally processed foods tailored to their individual needs. Our mission is to bridge the gap between commercial convenience and homemade quality by providing research-backed recipes, practical feeding guides, and honest information that empowers owners to make informed decisions.

We believe homemade feeding should be evidence-based, not driven by trends or fear-based marketing. Every recipe we publish meets AAFCO nutritional standards for complete and balanced canine diets. We work exclusively with certified canine nutritionists and veterinary nutrition specialists who understand both the science of nutrition and the practical realities of home food preparation.

Too many homemade feeding resources provide incomplete recipes that create nutritional deficiencies over time, or they promote extreme dietary philosophies without scientific support. We reject both approaches. Our content is grounded in peer-reviewed research, clinical experience, and evidence-based veterinary nutrition principles. We acknowledge uncertainties honestly and update our guidance as new research emerges.

Meet Our Team

Amanda Brooks

Canine Nutritionist

Amanda Brooks holds certifications in canine nutrition from the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians and has over 12 years of hands-on experience formulating homemade diets for dogs with diverse needs. She began her career in veterinary clinical nutrition, working directly with veterinary nutritionists to develop therapeutic diets for dogs with kidney disease, diabetes, and food allergies. Amanda transitioned to consulting work in 2018, helping individual dog owners design and implement homemade feeding programs. She has personally guided over 3,000 dogs through the transition from commercial to homemade diets and specializes in troubleshooting digestive issues, managing food sensitivities, and creating recipes for dogs with multiple health conditions. Amanda lives in Portland, Oregon with her two German Shepherds who have been exclusively homemade-fed for eight years.

Derek Sullivan

Performance Dog Nutrition Specialist

Derek Sullivan brings 15 years of specialized experience in performance and working dog nutrition. He holds a bachelor's degree in animal science from Colorado State University and completed advanced coursework in companion animal nutrition. Derek worked for seven years as a nutrition consultant for police K9 units, search and rescue teams, and competitive dog sport athletes, optimizing diets for dogs performing demanding physical and cognitive work. His expertise includes energy metabolism, recovery nutrition, and adapting feeding strategies for extreme activity levels and environmental conditions. Derek has formulated diets for dogs competing at national and international levels in agility, dock diving, protection sports, and field trials. He's particularly known for his work in preventing and managing exercise-related health issues through nutritional intervention. Derek currently operates a private consulting practice in Denver, Colorado, working with performance dog handlers and breeders of working lines.

Graham Whitmore

Senior Canine Diet Consultant

Graham Whitmore has consulted on canine nutrition and food safety for over 18 years, with particular expertise in ingredient safety, toxicology, and quality control for homemade feeding programs. He earned his master's degree in animal nutrition from the University of California, Davis, and spent a decade working in pet food manufacturing quality assurance before transitioning to consulting. Graham has developed safety protocols and ingredient sourcing guidelines used by commercial fresh food preparation services and works closely with veterinary toxicologists to stay current on emerging food safety concerns. His deep understanding of nutrient bioavailability, food-drug interactions, and breed-specific nutritional requirements makes him invaluable for complex cases. Graham has been featured as a food safety expert in veterinary continuing education programs and has published articles on canine nutrition in professional journals. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and three Border Collies who serve as enthusiastic recipe taste-testers.

Our Editorial Standards

Every recipe and article published on Homemade Dog Food Recipes undergoes rigorous review to ensure accuracy, safety, and nutritional completeness. All recipes are formulated or reviewed by at least one certified canine nutritionist and analyzed using professional nutrition software to verify they meet or exceed AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.

We clearly distinguish between evidence-based recommendations supported by peer-reviewed research and practical suggestions based on clinical experience. When scientific consensus doesn't exist on a topic, we present multiple perspectives and acknowledge the limitations of available evidence. We never make absolute claims about homemade feeding curing diseases or preventing all health problems—nutrition is one important factor among many influencing canine health.

Our team maintains ongoing education through veterinary nutrition conferences, scientific literature review, and collaboration with board-certified veterinary nutritionists. We update content regularly as new research emerges and correct any errors promptly when identified. Transparency and intellectual honesty guide all our work.

We maintain strict editorial independence. We do not accept payment from supplement companies, ingredient suppliers, or pet food manufacturers in exchange for recommendations. Product suggestions are based solely on nutritional merit, quality, and value. When we recommend specific brands or products, it's because our experts genuinely use and trust them, not because of financial relationships.

Why Homemade Feeding Matters

Homemade feeding isn't right for every dog or every owner, but when implemented correctly, it offers unique advantages. Fresh food diets provide superior nutrient bioavailability compared to heavily processed kibbles. Whole food ingredients contain beneficial phytonutrients, enzymes, and compounds lost during high-heat processing. The higher moisture content of fresh foods supports hydration, kidney health, and satiety.

Perhaps most importantly, homemade feeding allows complete customization for individual dogs. You can adjust protein sources for dogs with allergies, modify fat content for dogs prone to pancreatitis, increase caloric density for working dogs, or create low-phosphorus recipes for dogs with kidney disease. This level of individualization is impossible with commercial foods.

Homemade feeding also provides peace of mind. You know exactly what your dog consumes—no mystery ingredients, no recalls affecting your pet's meals, no wondering about ingredient quality or sourcing. For many owners, the ability to see, smell, and verify the freshness of every ingredient provides reassurance that's worth the additional time and effort.

We recognize homemade feeding requires commitment. It takes time, planning, and attention to detail. It costs more than budget kibble and requires learning basic nutritional principles. Our goal is to make that commitment as manageable as possible by providing clear recipes, practical preparation tips, and ongoing support through comprehensive educational content.

Whether you're completely replacing commercial food or supplementing with fresh meals a few times weekly, we're here to help you feed your dog with confidence, backed by science and guided by experts who genuinely care about canine nutrition and welfare.