Cooking dog food yourself sounds like the best option you can offer your dog: fresh ingredients, complete control and the peace of mind of knowing exactly what ends up in the bowl. No wonder more and more dog owners are choosing it, whether for their attention to detail, due to an intolerance, or simply because they want to do something really good for their four-legged friend.
But what is often overlooked is that freshly cooked does not automatically mean balanced. A meal can look high-quality, smell delicious and fill your dog up. And yet, it can lack important nutrients for weeks and months. This is exactly where the most common mistakes happen, and this is exactly where we want to give you clarity.
In this guide, I will show you step by step what really matters when it comes to homemade dog food: which nutrients your dog needs every day, how a balanced ration is structured, which pitfalls you should avoid and how you can ultimately be sure that the meal actually provides your dog with complete nutrition. One question will guide us from start to finish.
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Why more and more people are cooking themselves
Cooking dog food yourself is on trend, and for good reason. You want to know exactly what ends up in the bowl. You want to meet your dog's needs. Or you simply feel that you are doing something especially good for your four-legged friend with freshly cooked ingredients.
From a nutritional medicine perspective, there is also nothing fundamentally against it. On the contrary: a professionally formulated ration can provide excellent nutrition for your dog. But this is exactly where the catch lies, which runs through this entire article: professionally formulated does not simply mean meat, rice and vegetables in the bowl.
The one question that matters
Experience from veterinary nutritional counseling and several studies show: Many homemade rations have significant nutrient gaps, although they look healthy and balanced at first glance (Stockman et al., 2013; Pedrinelli et al., 2019).
The crucial question therefore is not: "Are the ingredients high-quality?" But rather: "Does the ration meet the requirements for all important nutrients?" Remember this question. We will come back to it again and again.
What your dog really needs every day
A healthy, adult dog needs enough energy, protein, fat, minerals, trace elements and vitamins every day. Each nutrient has a clear role (National Research Council [NRC], 2006; FEDIAF, 2025).
- Proteins provide the building blocks for muscles, organs, skin, coat and numerous metabolic processes.
- Fats are energy providers and bring essential fatty acids that are important for skin, coat and immune system.
- Carbohydrates provide readily available energy and can help to balance the ration effectively.
In addition, there are minerals and trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, iodine, zinc, copper and manganese, as well as vitamins such as A, D and E. And this is exactly where the most common weaknesses of homemade rations lie.
How a balanced ration is structured
A balanced ration consists not only of meat, but of several components that complement each other. As a rough guideline for a healthy adult dog, a homemade ration can consist of the following building blocks:
- approx. 30 to 50 % animal protein sources
- approx. 20 to 40 % carbohydrate sources
- approx. 10 to 20 % vegetables
- individually adjusted fat sources
- requirement-appropriate mineral and vitamin supplements
Important: These are only guidelines. The actual requirements depend on body weight, activity, neutering status, age and health condition. A ration is therefore not automatically balanced just because it follows a certain ratio. What matters is the calculation of the nutrients contained (Freeman et al., 2011).
The most common pitfalls when cooking yourself
When homemade rations go wrong, it is usually not due to carelessness. Many dog owners mean well. The problems arise when a meal looks healthy, but is not calculated to meet the requirements.
Pitfall 1: Only meat in the bowl
Many think: Meat is natural, so it must be complete. Meat does indeed provide high-quality protein, amino acids, iron and B vitamins. But pure muscle meat has major nutritional gaps. Particularly critical is the very low calcium content combined with a high phosphorus content. Therefore, a predominantly meat-based diet can lead to an unfavorable calcium-phosphorus ratio (NRC, 2006).
Bello's Fact:
Pure muscle meat provides a lot of phosphorus, but hardly any calcium. That is exactly why a meat-heavy ration needs a targeted calcium source, otherwise bone metabolism can become unbalanced over time.
Calcium is essential for bone metabolism, muscle function, blood clotting and nerve function. In addition, muscle meat provides only small amounts of iodine, copper, manganese and vitamin D. A pure meat diet therefore cannot meet a dog's requirements.
Pitfall 2: Automatically assuming meat, rice and vegetables are balanced
The most popular pattern when cooking dog food yourself is: meat as a protein source, rice or potatoes as a carbohydrate source and some vegetables for the vitamins. That sounds reasonable and does cover part of the requirements. Nevertheless, studies of homemade rations repeatedly show that essential nutrients can be missing (Stockman et al., 2013; Pedrinelli et al., 2019).
Particularly critical are:
- Calcium
- Iodine
- Zinc
- Copper
- Manganese
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
The tricky thing: These deficiencies usually do not show up immediately. A dog can look healthy for months or years, although a chronic deficiency is developing. Even a large blood panel does not always detect such gaps early. A ration can therefore fill you up without fully nourishing you.
What role do carbohydrates play?
Hardly any topic is discussed so heatedly in dog nutrition as carbohydrates. It is often said: The dog is a carnivore, so it does not need carbohydrates. That is too simplistic.
Although the dog descended from the wolf, it has adapted greatly to life with humans. Genetic studies show that dogs have developed changes in starch metabolism compared to wolves and can make better use of plant-based starch (Axelsson et al., 2013). That is why the dog is often described as a carnivore-omnivore, i.e. a carnivore with a pronounced ability to utilize plant components.
Bello's Fact:
During domestication, dogs developed additional copies of the amylase gene compared to the wolf. This enzyme helps digest starch. Your dog can therefore make much better use of cooked carbohydrates than its wild ancestors (Axelsson et al., 2013).
Cooked carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice, oatmeal or millet provide readily available energy, fill you up well and are well tolerated by many dogs. They can help to make the energy supply balanced, so that protein does not have to be unnecessarily used as an energy source. For most healthy dogs, well-broken-down carbohydrate sources are therefore among the sensible components of a balanced ration.
How much protein does a dog really need?
Protein is one of the most important nutrients. It provides the building blocks for muscles, organs, skin, coat, enzymes and hormones. The impression quickly arises: The more meat, the healthier. But this is exactly where a widespread misconception begins.
The requirement is not determined by the maximum possible meat content, but by the actual requirement for amino acids and energy. If this is met, more meat brings no additional advantage. On the contrary: Very meat-rich rations often fall short on other building blocks, such as carbohydrates, fiber, certain fatty acids, minerals and trace elements.
The body also cannot store excess protein. It must be metabolized and excreted. It is more sensible to meet the energy requirement balanced over appropriate amounts of protein, easily digestible carbohydrates and high-quality fats. Healthy dog nutrition therefore does not pursue the goal of "as much as possible", but "the right amount".
In short: Today's dog is not a wolf
In nature, it is not about letting an animal live as healthy as possible to be 14 or 15 years old. Evolution favors fitness above all else during the reproductive phase. Our pet dogs, on the other hand, live under completely different conditions. They are meant to stay vital for as long as possible. That is why modern nutritional counseling is based on today's family dog and not on a romanticized idea of the wolf (Axelsson et al., 2013).
Supplements: the underestimated key
Many people want to provide their dogs with the most natural diet possible and are skeptical about supplements. However, when cooking at home, they are usually not an optional addition, but a central component of a balanced diet. The reason is simple: No single food contains all the nutrients in exactly the amounts your dog needs.
Whether a diet provides enough calcium, iodine, zinc, copper, vitamin D, or omega-3 fatty acids depends on the type of meat, fat content, carbohydrate source, selection of vegetables, and other ingredients. A diet with beef has a different nutrient profile than one with chicken or fish. That is why there is no universal supplement that is equally suitable for every home-cooked diet.
The following often need to be supplemented:
- Calcium: for a balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, for example through calcium carbonate or eggshell powder.
- Iodine: for normal thyroid function.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: to support skin, coat, and anti-inflammatory processes, for example from fish oil or algae oil.
- Vitamin D: one of the most critical nutrients in home-cooked diets (NRC, 2006).
- Trace elements: especially zinc, copper, and manganese, which can be too low in many simple diets.
This is why veterinary nutritionists recommend suitable supplement preparations. But beware: Ready-made supplements are usually based on average recipes. They compensate for many deficiencies, but do not take into account every combination of ingredients or every dog. A truly nutritionally complete diet can only be achieved with a professional diet calculation.
Important!
Never supplement based on guesswork. Too much calcium or vitamin D can be just as problematic as too little. If in doubt, have your diet calculated professionally or choose freshly cooked dog food, where the nutrients are already properly balanced.
Already perfectly balanced: HelloBello
This is exactly where many home-cooked diets reach their limits. Even with high-quality ingredients, the question remains whether the nutritional supply is truly complete. Without a diet calculation, this is difficult to assess reliably.
Modern concepts for freshly cooked dog food therefore go one step further: Supplementation is already taken into account during recipe development. Minerals, trace elements, and vitamins are specifically tailored to the ingredients used. This creates a nutritionally complete overall diet, not just a meal that is supplemented afterwards.
And this is where HelloBello becomes really practical. Our meals are made from freshly and gently cooked ingredients and are designed from the outset to include all the important nutrients, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and essential fatty acids. You don't have to calculate anything, weigh anything, supplement anything, or leave anything to chance.
Each diet is individually tailored to your dog, taking into account their age, weight, activity level, and special needs. This gives you the benefits of freshly cooked dog food combined with the assurance of a diet designed to provide complete nutrition. Freshly cooked, perfectly balanced, and delivered straight to your home.
FAQ: Cooking dog food yourself
Is home-cooked dog food healthy?
Yes, if the diet is nutritionally complete. Fresh ingredients alone are not enough. The key is that all the important nutrients, minerals, and vitamins are included in the right amounts.
What needs to be in home-cooked dog food?
An animal protein source, a carbohydrate source such as rice or potato, vegetables, a suitable fat source, and targeted supplements for calcium, iodine, vitamin D, omega-3, and trace elements.
Which nutrients are most commonly missing in home-cooked diets?
Especially calcium, iodine, zinc, copper, manganese, vitamin D, and vitamin E. These deficiencies often go unnoticed for a long time and should therefore not be compensated for based on guesswork.
Does my dog need carbohydrates?
For most healthy dogs, cooked carbohydrates can be beneficial. Dogs can utilize starch well. Rice, potatoes, oats, or millet provide readily available energy and help create a balanced diet.
How much meat does a dog need?
Not as much as possible, but as much as needed. More meat than necessary provides no additional benefit and can displace other important components such as minerals, fiber, or fatty acids.
Are supplements really necessary when cooking at home?
Generally, yes. No single food covers the entire nutritional requirement. Ideally, you should use a calculated supplement tailored to the recipe or choose a freshly cooked dog food that is already perfectly balanced.
Home-cooked is good. Nutritionally complete is better.
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Conclusion: Home cooking is possible, but please don't do it based on guesswork
Cooking dog food yourself can be an excellent way to feed your dog high-quality, personalized food. Fresh ingredients, gentle preparation, and a suitable recipe offer many benefits.
However, the key is: A diet consists of more than just meat, vegetables, and carbohydrates. It must also meet the requirements for vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and essential fatty acids. Balanced does not mean "as much meat as possible," but "exactly the nutrients your dog needs for a long, healthy life."
The modern pet dog is not a wolf. Whether you cook at home or choose freshly cooked dog food like HelloBello, the same question always matters in the end. Is the diet nutritionally complete? Because it is not what looks natural that makes a meal healthy. It is what provides your dog with complete nutrition day after day.
Dr. Eva Schmal-Filius
Sources:
Axelsson, E., Ratnakumar, A., Arendt, M.-L., Maqbool, K., Webster, M. T., Perloski, M., Liberg, O., Arnemo, J. M., Hedhammar, Å., & Lindblad-Toh, K. (2013). The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature, 495(7441), 360-364. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11837
European Pet Food Industry Federation. (2025). Nutritional guidelines for complete and complementary pet food for cats and dogs. FEDIAF.
Freeman, L., Becvarova, I., Cave, N., MacKay, C., Nguyen, P., Rama, B., Takashima, G., Tiffin, R., Tsjimoto, H., & van Beukelen, P. (2011). WSAVA nutritional assessment guidelines. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 52(7), 385-396. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2011.01079.x
National Research Council. (2006). Nutrient requirements of dogs and cats. National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10668
Pedrinelli, V., Zafalon, R. V. A., Rodrigues, R. B. A., Perini, M. P., Conti, R. M. C., Vendramini, T. H. A., de Carvalho Balieiro, J. C., & Brunetto, M. A. (2019). Concentrations of macronutrients, minerals and heavy metals in home-prepared diets for adult dogs and cats. Scientific Reports, 9, 13058. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49087-z
Stockman, J., Fascetti, A. J., Kass, P. H., & Larsen, J. A. (2013). Evaluation of recipes of home-prepared maintenance diets for dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 242(11), 1500-1505. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.242.11.1500
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