Homemade dog food: How much to feed a dog per day basics!

Okay, folks, let's dive into my little experiment with homemade dog food. I've been thinking about this for a while, you know, wanting to give my furry buddy, Buster, the best possible grub. So, I finally took the plunge and here's how it went down.

First, I did some digging. I mean, you can't just throw a bunch of stuff in a bowl and call it dog food, right? I wanted to make sure I was getting the proportions right. And I found a lot of the same general guidelines about protein, carbs, and fats.

Figuring Out the Right Amount

The big question was, "How much?" I mean, Buster's a medium-sized dog, pretty active, but not, like, running marathons. Most of what I found from other people who have tried to feed dogs at home, is it depends on the dog's weight, activity level, and all that jazz.

So, I started with a basic formula I cobbled together from various sources: about 2-3% of Buster's ideal body weight in food per day. He's around 50 pounds, so that translated to roughly 1 to 1.5 pounds of food daily. I decided to split that into two meals, morning and evening.

The First Batch

My first attempt was... interesting. I went with a simple recipe: ground turkey, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and some mixed veggies (carrots, peas, and green beans). I cooked everything separately, then mixed it all together in a big bowl.

• Ground turkey: I browned this in a pan, making sure to drain off any excess fat.
• Brown rice: Cooked this according to the package directions.
• Sweet potatoes: I baked these until they were soft, then mashed them up.
• Mixed veggies: Steamed these until they were tender-crisp.

Honestly, it looked pretty good! I almost wanted to try some myself (but I didn't!).

Buster's Reaction

Buster's usually a pretty good eater, but he sniffed at the homemade food for a second before digging in. He gobbled it down pretty quickly, so I guess that's a good sign! I watched him closely for the next few days to see if he had any, um, digestive issues. Thankfully, everything seemed normal.

Adjusting and Tweaking

After a week, I checked Buster's weight. He hadn't gained or lost any significant amount, so I figured I was on the right track. I did notice he seemed a bit more energetic, which was a bonus!

I've been experimenting with different recipes since then, adding in things like chicken, ground beef, and different veggies. I also learned that it's important to add supplements to ensure Buster's getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals. I am still trying to figure out the supplements that will help his diet.

The Verdict (So Far)

It's been a few weeks now, and I'm pretty happy with the switch to homemade food. Buster seems to be thriving, his coat looks shinier, and he's got plenty of pep in his step. It's definitely more work than just scooping kibble out of a bag, but I feel good knowing exactly what he's eating.

I'm still learning, and I'm sure I'll continue to tweak things as I go. But for now, I'd say this homemade dog food experiment is a success!