Overview

The Beginner’s Guide to Homemade Dog Food

 

  • Seven Core Lessons
  • Price: FREE

 

Raw ground beef in a clear glass bowl, close-up view.
Green asparagus spears in a white mesh produce bag against a teal background.

What You Will Learn

Making homemade dog food doesn’t need to be complicated. This guide introduces the most important parts of feeding fresh, from basic nutrient needs to meal structure, fats, calcium, variety, and avoiding common mistakes. Whether you're preparing full meals or just adding fresh food to the bowl, these lessons give you the confidence to make informed choices.

Explore the Lessons

  • Lesson 1: Nutrients 101

    Learn the essential nutrients dogs need, how nutrition guidelines work, and why understanding these basics is the foundation of feeding homemade food.
    Go to Lesson
  • Lesson 2: Balanced Meals

    See how proteins, organs, veggies, fats, and calcium come together, and learn what “balanced” really means when preparing homemade food for your dog.
    Go to Lesson
  • Lesson 3: Variety & Moderation

    Learn how rotating proteins, veggies, and add-ins supports balance over time, and how moderation keeps homemade feeding safe and sustainable.


    Go to Lesson
  • Lesson 4: Calcium Basics

    Understand why calcium is essential in homemade diets, how to provide it safely, and the basics of mineral balance using simple, accessible ingredients.

    Go to Lesson
  • Lesson 5: Organs & Essential Components

    Discover why organ meats matter, how they contribute to nutrient balance, and simple ways to include them safely and in moderation.

    Go to Lesson
  • Lesson 6: Healthy Fats & Fatty Acids

    Learn why fats are important, what omega-3s do, and how to choose whole food sources that support your dog’s overall nutritional needs.

    Go to Lesson
  • Lesson 7: Supplements & Preventing Deficiencies

    See when supplements may help, how to avoid common nutrient gaps, and why a combination of whole foods and simple add-ins often works best.

    Go to Lesson

How to Use the Guide

The lessons in this guide are designed to be read in order. Each topic builds on the one before it, helping you understand nutrients first, then meal structure, then the ingredients and components that support a balanced homemade diet. Start with Lesson 1 and work your way through — by the end, you'll have a solid, beginner-friendly understanding of how homemade dog food works and how to approach it safely.

Pile of orange carrots with green leafy tops on a wooden cutting board.
Black and white Border Collie looking up with tongue out, on a gray surface.

Related Resources

Faq's

Safe Ingredient List

Kitchen Tools

Nutrient Guide

Visit our Nutrient Guides to understand each key nutrient dogs need and practical ways to support them in homemade diets.