To ensure homemade dog food is balanced, you must include a proper mix of protein (10-30%), carbohydrates (up to 50%), fiber (2-10%), and fats, along with essential vitamins and minerals. Consult a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist to tailor recipes to your dog's specific age and health needs. Always include a calcium source (like eggshells or bone meal) and consider using a vitamin/mineral supplement to prevent deficiencies.

How do I make sure my homemade dog food has all nutrients?

To ensure your homemade dog food has all nutrients, use vet-approved recipes or consult a veterinary nutritionist, incorporate diverse proteins, carbs, fats (like fish oil), calcium (eggshells), fiber (veggies), and always add a dog-specific vitamin/mineral supplement after cooking, rotating ingredients like meats and greens for variety, and weighing ingredients for accuracy. 

How do I know if my dog food is balanced?

You can determine if a pet food meets your pet's nutritional needs by looking at the nutritional adequacy statement on the label. If this statement includes the phrase “complete and balanced,” then the product is intended to be fed as a pet's sole diet and should be nutritionally balanced.

Do I need to add supplements to my homemade dog food?

You Will Need to Use Dog Supplements to Balance Meals

Homemade dog food supplements are often needed to ensure that the meals are balanced, particularly when it comes to vitamins and minerals.

What is the 7 7 7 rule for dogs?

The "7 7 7 rule" for dogs is a puppy socialization guideline, originally by Pat Hastings, suggesting exposing puppies to 7 different people, 7 different locations, and 7 different surfaces/objects/sounds/challenges (variations exist) by about 7 weeks old to build confidence, resilience, and prevent fear or anxiety as adults. Key experiences include meeting diverse individuals, visiting different places like a vet's office or friend's house, walking on various substrates (grass, tile, carpet), and encountering new objects and gentle challenges (like tunnels or boxes).
 

Using balance.it to formulate a home made dog food

How do I balance my dog's homemade food?

A basic recipe for dogs can include cooked chicken or lean beef, brown rice, and steamed vegetables such as carrots and green beans. For cats, a simple recipe could include cooked chicken or fish, with a small amount of brown rice or oatmeal.

What is the 95 rule for dog food?

The dog food 95% Rule (set by AAFCO for the FDA) means if a product name highlights an ingredient (e.g., "Chicken Dog Food"), that ingredient must make up at least 95% of the product by weight (excluding added water); if two ingredients are named ("Chicken & Liver"), they must total 95%, with the first listed being more abundant, while other rules cover "Dinner" (25%) or "With" (3%) claims. This helps consumers understand the primary components of their pet's food.
 

What should the first 5 ingredient be in dog food?

The top five ingredients in dog food should consist of a balance of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and fatty acids, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. First of all, a high-quality source of animal protein, such as fish, beef, or deboned chicken, should be the main ingredient.

What is the 25% rule in dog food?

The 25% Rule for dog food, set by AAFCO, means if a product name includes terms like "Dinner," "Entrée," "Formula," or "Platter" (e.g., "Chicken Dinner"), the named ingredients (like chicken) must make up at least 25% of the product by weight (excluding added water), but less than 95%. If multiple ingredients are listed (e.g., "Chicken and Rice Dinner"), their combined weight must reach 25%, with each individual ingredient making up at least 3%.
 

Why are vets against homemade dog food?

Unfortunately, too often, homemade food lacks key nutrients. When researchers from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine performed a nutritional evaluation of 200 homemade dog food recipes, they discovered that most were missing key nutrients.

What is the 10 10 10 rule for dogs?

The "10 10 10 Rule" for dogs primarily refers to a puppy potty training method: 10 minutes outside in the designated spot, allowing 10 feet of space to sniff and circle, and staying for 10 minutes of supervision to reward them if they go, otherwise bringing them back inside to a crate for 10-20 minutes before trying again. It can also relate to nutrition (treats < 10% of calories) or general training discipline, but the potty training version is the most common interpretation.

How to make the most nutritious homemade dog food?

Proper Nutrition in Homemade Dog Food

1. At least 10% protein, such as chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef.
2. Up to 50% carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta, and potatoes (also provides some fiber)
3. About 2.5-4.5% fiber, which can come from vegetables like peas, green beans, and carrots.

What is the 7 second rule for dogs?

The "7-second rule" for dogs is a simple test to see if pavement is too hot for their paws: press the back of your hand to the ground for seven seconds, and if it's too hot for you to hold comfortably, it's too hot for your dog's paw pads, which can easily burn on surfaces like asphalt, concrete, and even artificial turf. This helps prevent paw burns by prompting you to walk during cooler times (early morning/late evening) or stick to grass, as tarmac can get extremely hot even on moderately warm days.
 

What is the 2 1 rule for dogs?

“The 2:1 crate rule says that for every two hours a dog spends inside their crate, they should spend one hour out of the crate,” explains Lane. “For puppies, especially those still potty training, this is generally a good rule of thumb.

At what age is a dog not trainable?

This question is a common one, and the short answer is simple: a dog is never not trainable. While the popular saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" might make you think otherwise, the truth is that a dog's age has no bearing on its capacity to learn.

What three meats should dogs avoid?

While many meats are safe, focus on avoiding fatty processed meats (bacon, sausage, ham), bones (especially cooked), and raw meat/eggs, as these pose risks like pancreatitis, choking/internal damage, and bacterial infections (Salmonella, E. coli) for dogs, often due to high fat, salt, or pathogens. Onions/garlic are also toxic in meat seasonings.

How to know how much homemade dog food to feed per day?

Most foods recommend 2.5% of the dog's weight and then times 16 to get daily ounces. You look at your dog's condition to decide if they need more or less. I feed seven dogs homemade dog food and make it in weekly batches.

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