ABOUT FIDO’S BOWL

Helping Dog Owners Feed Homemade With Confidence

Fido’s Bowl was founded by Mary S., a dog owner who began cooking homemade dog food over a decade ago after experiencing major frustrations with commercial kibble. What started as a search for safer, higher-quality food for her own dogs eventually became a deep, research-driven commitment to canine nutrition — and the creation of a resource that now helps other dog owners do the same.

Where This All Began

More than 10 years ago, Mary began feeding fresh food after a series of upsetting experiences with commercial kibble. A major recall revealed the brand she trusted was being produced in a facility linked to contaminated products. That lack of transparency pushed her to look for smaller, “healthier” brands — but that solution didn’t last. Recipe changes, ingredient sourcing changes, and unexplained digestive issues made her realize something important:

She didn’t have control over what her dogs were truly eating.

And for the cost of high-end kibble, she believed she could feed something better.

So she started cooking.

The Turning Point: Understanding Her Dog’s Nutritional Needs

In the beginning, Mary used popular “all-in-one” homemade diet supplements meant to fill nutrient gaps. But when one of her dogs developed kidney issues, she examined every ingredient she was feeding — including the supplement.

She realized the one-size-fits-all supplement was giving her dog more of certain vitamins than she needed. Not toxic levels, but unnecessary amounts that her dog’s kidneys still had to process.

She knew there had to be a better, more personalized way.

That led her to learn how to balance her dogs’ meals herself.

Learning the Science Behind Homemade Feeding

At first, the online information was intimidating:

“Every meal must be perfectly balanced or you’ll harm your dog!”

“Homemade food is dangerous!”

But common sense — and real nutrition science — told a different story.

Just like humans and wild animals don’t eat perfectly balanced meals every single time, dogs can achieve nutritional balance through variety over time when meals are thoughtfully planned.

Mary committed to understanding the science properly. She completed the Pet Food Nutrition certification, is enrolled in the advanced course, took additional nutrition classes from qualified canine nutritionists, and invested in professional tools and software to analyze diets.

But the most important part of her education came from diving deeply into:

The NRC (National Research Council) nutrient guidelines

These guidelines became the foundation of every meal she creates — and now form the basis of what Fido’s Bowl uses as a guide and resource.

Why She Built Fido’s Bowl

As Mary refined her approach, people began asking her:

• “How do you do this?”
• “Isn’t homemade feeding complicated?”
• “Isn’t this expensive?”
• “How do you know you’re doing it right?”

Her answer was always the same:

“It’s not hard once you understand what your dog needs.”

She realized dog owners wanted to feed better—but were overwhelmed by misinformation, fear-based messaging, and complicated advice.

Mary built Fido’s Bowl to solve that problem.

This site exists to show dog owners that:

• Homemade food can be safe and balanced.
• Nutrients don’t have to come from processed kibble.
• With the right knowledge, you can build balanced meals at home.
• NRC-based feeding doesn’t require guesswork.
• Whole foods can support incredible longevity and health.

Her own Labrador Retrievers lived long, healthy lives (13 and 14 years old), staying lean and muscular well into their senior years — which she credits to consistent, thoughtfully balanced homemade meals. She now continues those balanced meals with the newest member of the family, her labrador Layla.

Our Approach to Nutrition

Every guide, lesson, and recipe on this website follows the same standards Mary uses at home:

✔ Evidence-Based Information

Grounded in NRC nutrient requirements and supported by reputable canine nutrition sources.

✔ Experience-Driven Guidance

More than a decade of hands-on feeding, problem-solving, and adapting homemade diets.

✔ Safe, Practical Steps

Clear instructions written for everyday dog owners — not professionals.

✔ Transparency

We clearly explain where information comes from and always encourage veterinary partnership.

✔ No Fear, No Extremes

Homemade feeding isn’t all-or-nothing; it’s about understanding nutrients and making educated choices.

A Note About Health & Safety

Fido’s Bowl is an educational resource, not a substitute for veterinary care. Fido's Bowl is designed to be a resource for those who want to make homemade meals for their dogs.

Every dog is unique, and nutrition needs vary based on age, health, weight, and lifestyle.

We encourage all homemade feeders to work with their veterinarian, especially when medical conditions exist.

Our role is to teach, simplify, and support — not to diagnose or direct.

Layla is our sweet rescue Yellow Lab who went from a tough beginning to living her best life filled with love, adventure, and homemade meals. She spends her days exploring the outdoors, napping in sunny spots, and enthusiastically taste-testing new recipes.

Meet Layla —

 Our Chief Taste Tester

See more about our policies

Disclaimer

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Medical Disclaimer

View our Medical Disclaimer to learn how our nutrition content should be used and when to consult your veterinarian.

Editorial Standards

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