In an earlier post, we discussed the idea of preparing dog food from scratch and what pet owners should keep in mind when sharing human food with their dogs. Continuing with that theme, I wanted to share a simple homemade dog food recipe along with a real-life example of how it was received by our very willing taste tester—our dog, Truman.
Truman is a four-year-old Border Collie mix that my family adopted from a local Humane Society here in Utah. Like many rescue dogs, he settled into family life very quickly—and perhaps a little too comfortably. Truman is undeniably spoiled. If it’s raining, he flat-out refuses to step off the porch. He sleeps stretched out on a cozy queen-sized bed (which also happens to be mine), and his nails are trimmed more regularly than my own. His daily activities include enthusiastically barking at our mail carrier and patrolling the edge of the family farm to chase deer back into the trees. In short, Truman lives a very good life.
When we first brought him home in 2014, I was determined to feed him only homemade dog food. I believed that cooking fresh meals was the healthiest option and wanted to do everything “right.” That plan lasted until the evening we attended puppy training class. Midway through the session, Truman became sick to his stomach and vomited—twice—right there on the training room floor. When I mentioned that he had been eating people food, the trainer gently cautioned me about fat content. Too much fat, especially in homemade meals, can quickly upset a dog’s digestive system. Thankfully, Truman bounced back by the next morning as if nothing had happened.
These days, Truman primarily eats commercial dog food—Pedigree, to be specific—but he also gets table scraps from time to time. I’ll admit I don’t always practice what I preach. While I know moderation is important, our family still slips him bits from the table. My sister isn’t much stricter with her Shih Tzu, Guinevere, who has essentially claimed her own seat at the kitchen table. Old habits die hard in dog-loving households.
With that said, here is the simple recipe I prepared for Truman:
Ingredients:
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Baked chicken breast
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Eggs
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Carrots
That afternoon, I happened to be cooking chicken fried rice for the family. Since the rice and vegetables were seasoned, I left them out of Truman’s portion. I started by cutting the baked chicken breast into small, bite-sized pieces. Next, I mixed in a cooked egg. The final addition was chopped carrots.
Truman knew immediately that the plate on the counter was meant for him. He stayed glued to my side throughout the entire preparation process and even tried to sneak a bite before I was finished. This was especially impressive considering he had already eaten twice that morning—once from his own bowl and once after helping himself to whatever the cat had left behind.
When I finally set the plate on the floor, Truman wasted no time devouring the chicken and egg. The carrots, however, were another story. He carefully nudged them around with his nose, clearly trying to avoid actually eating them. It was obvious that vegetables were not his favorite part of the meal. Truman has made it clear that he is not a vegetarian—meat is his priority.
Overall, there is nothing inherently wrong with sharing people food with your dog, provided it’s done responsibly. Ingredients should be simple, unseasoned, and low in fat, and portions should always be modest. Homemade meals and occasional table scraps can be a nice treat, but they should never replace a balanced diet designed specifically for your dog’s nutritional needs. As with most things in pet care, moderation is key.
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Happy Tails!
