21 Best Homemade Dog Food Books (2024)

Dogs can benefit from a homemade diet whether they are healthy or they have special medical needs. Many pet parents avoid feeding home-cooked food, however, because they don’t know where to begin. If this describes you, these 21 best homemade dog food books are a great place to start.

These books will explain the advantages and disadvantages of feeding on a homemade diet, along with sharing some healthy recipes. They cover homemade dog food recipes for every age and breed of dog.

Just be sure to consult your veterinarian or a trained canine nutritionist before switching your dog to a homemade diet.

Your pet's unique nutritional needs depend on his:

• age
• weight
• activity level
• overall health condition

You can't just feed your dog a homemade diet that was created for “an average dog.” The truth is, there is no such thing as anaverage dog. Your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist will examine your dog and help you create a formula to ensure your dog is getting enough protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals in his diet.

If you've already figured out what your dog's nutritional needs are, it's time to look for the best homemade dog food books to assist you in creating the ultimate list of healthy, easy-to-make recipes for your canine companion.

9 Complete Homemade Dog Food Cooking Books

1. Homemade Healthy Dog Food Cookbook by Frank Marino

Containing dog food recipes good for 365 days of the year, it’s an excellent reference to begin if you are new to homemade dog food. For $15.97 (paperback), Homemade Healthy Dog Food Cookbook touches on a wide variety of homemade dog food recipes that will keep your dog happy and healthy with plenty of variety.

2. Dinner PAWsible: A Cookbook of Nutritious, Homemade Meals for Cats and Dogs by Cathy Alinovi and Susan Thixton

Written by one of the biggest names in the world of commercial dog food critics, this book is a must-have for anyone contemplating home cooking for their dog. As an added bonus, this thick 224-page book doesn’t only cover canine mealtime recipes, but Dinner PAWsible also includes recipes for your cat!

Dedicated to healthier feeding and cutting the cost of commercial pet food bills, this book should be a staple on any home feeder's shelf. Now you can see why this made the list of the best homemade dog food books.

3. HOMEMADE HEALTHY DOG FOOD: [2 in 1] Guide & Cookbook by Lena Carrol

Homemade Healthy Dog Food is a guide and a cookbook that can help you easily how to cook delicious meals for dogs. The meals here are safe, healthy, and easy to cook. It also has a Kindle edition.

Author Lena Carrol has had extensive experience caring for furry pets, growing up in a dog training and boarding school run by her parents. She loves helping dog owners have a stronger bond and a happier relationship with their pets.

4. Home Cooking for Your Dog: 75 Holistic Recipes for a Healthier Dog by Christine Filardi and Wayne Geltman

If you are interested in trying a new diet for your dog but aren’t sure what type of diet is right for you, this book is a great start. Including home-cooked holistic recipes as well as raw food options, this cookbook covers a little bit of everything.

With delicious photographs to ensure that your recipe is going to plan and easy-to-follow steps, Home Cooking for Your Dog has 160 pages of ideas to get you off on the right foot!

5. Cooking for Dogs: Nutrition Guide for Healthy Dogs – Easy, All-Natural Meal and Treat Recipes for Dogs of All Ages by Lou Jefferson

A simple and affordable homemade dog food recipe book, Jefferson offers 130 pages of delicious meal ideas and treat recipes too! If you are unsure of your cooking ability or just aren’t looking to spend too much time in the kitchen for your dog, this is the book you have been looking for. Plus, if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read Cooking for Dogs for free!

6. Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals by Lew Olson

Centered on a natural and nurturing diet, this recipe book covers everything you need to know about feeding your dog at home. Beginning with the specifics of canine nutrition, this book goes on to include recipes for puppies, adults, and senior dogs.

Not only does this best homemade dog food books include recipes for healthy dogs, it also touches on specialty recipes for dogs with various health conditions. Whether your pup has liver disease or cancer, you'll find helpful recipes in Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs.

7. Dinner for Dogs: 50 Home-Cooked Recipes for a Happy, Healthy Dog by Henrietta Morrison

If you’re a little worried about being able to balance home-cooked dog food ingredients, then this is the recipe book for you. With recipes tried and approved by veterinarian author Debra Eldredge, Dinner for Dogs offers balanced meal options for breakfast, dinner, and even special recovery meal choices!

8. Homemade Dog Treats and Homemade Dog Food by Brittany Boykin

This recipe book contains a little bit of everything, so whether you’re looking for treat recipes or meal recipes, you can get both in one book! With easy-to-follow steps for each recipe and tried and true ingredient combinations, Homemade Dog Treats and Homemade Dog Food is a sure hit with dogs everywhere!

9. Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes for a Healthier Dog by Arden Moore and Anne Davis

One of our favorite homemade dog food books, despite being 16 years old, Real Food for Dogs features only vet-approved home-cooked meal options. No matter what dietary concerns your dog may have, these recipes offer plenty of choices and nutritious meal options.

RELATED:20 Most Healthy Homemade Dog Food Recipes

7 Unique Homemade Dog Food Cooking Books

1. Feed Your Best Friend Better: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs by Rick Woodford

If you are interested in feeding your dog a healthier way, this homemade healthy dog food cooking book from Woodford is a great place to begin. With canine nutrition in mind, this book of 85 recipes covers everything from Puppy Pesto to Mutt Loaf to Gingerbread Mailmen!

No matter which recipe you choose from Feed Your Best Friend Better, you will find that everyone is optimized for your dog’s complete health. That's why this makes our list of the best homemade dog food books.

2. The Healthy Hound Cookbook by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

Another recipe book targeted at healthy eating, this book from Permenter and Bigley takes things a step further. The 125 recipes inside this home cooking compendium not only include grain-free options, but they also cover a paleo-eating option and some raw food recipes, too!

Whether you are looking for well-rounded dinners or just a quick biscuit recipe, you won’t be disappointed with what The Healthy Hound Cookbook has to offer. One of the best homemade dog food books, this one holds recipes for virtually any dog in any situation.

3. Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, Revised Edition: The Definitive Guide to Homemade Meals by Lew Olson and Christie Keith

Few people understand the work that goes into creating a well-balanced natural and raw meal for a dog. In this book, Keith and Olson cover both raw feeding and home-cooked dog food so that you have the option of offering your dog more variety in their meals. With 336 pages to read, Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs, Revised Edition is one of the larger nutrition books for dog parents. It even covers nutrition guidelines for specific health conditions.

4. Dog Food Love: Allergy-Free Recipes, Vegetarian Edition: Homemade Dog Food Guide Included by Elizabeth A. Patterson

While no dog is intended to eat a vegetarian diet, allergy issues sometimes leave few other options. Dog Food Love is full of recipes that focus on vegetarian meals that are well-balanced enough to nourish a dog with even the most sensitive allergies.

Again, it’s important to know that dogs are OMNIVORES. Following a strictly vegetarian diet without supervision from a veterinarian can be extremely dangerous for your dog.

5. Give Your Dog a Healthy Life: A Healthy Diet Guide for Dogs by Jimmy Hullet

If your reason for choosing home cooking is the result of wanting to provide your dog with more nutritious and healthier food, then Give Your Dog a Healthy Life is the right book for you. Not only does this book include some great and exceptionally beneficial recipes, but it also incorporates an easy-to-reference list of toxic ingredients.

6. Dog Food Love: Allergy-Free Recipes, Cooked Edition: Homemade Dog Food Guide Included by Elizabeth A. Patterson

If your dog struggles with allergies but you don’t feel safe taking on vegetarian recipes, this is a great alternative option. In this book, the same author offers 50 recipes for allergy-prone dogs that are chemical-free but also well-rounded.

Just one of the many dog food and treat recipe books that Patterson has to offer, Dog Food Love incorporates plenty of fresh ingredients as well as a supplement use guide. This is just one of the many reasons that it makes our list of the best homemade dog food books.

7. What's For Dinner, Dexter?: Cooking For Your Dog Using Chinese Medicine Theory by Judy Morgan D.V.M. and Tonya Wilhelm

If cooking for your dog is about more than just mealtime, then What's For Dinner, Dexter is worth investing in. With recipes designed to promote full body health using Chinese medicine theory, this book offers 50 options for simple home-cooked meals for your dog!

SIMILAR:20 Best Dog Books On Canine Health and Care

5 Homemade Dog Dessert & Treat Cooking Books

1. Cooking for Sugar: Spoiling Your Pup With Doglicious Homemade Treats by Rosalyn Acero

If your intention is to spoil your dog with plenty of homemade delicious treats, then Acero’s book is a great place to begin! With beautiful photographs and great cooking tips, this book is easy to follow and offers FULL nutritional details.

Whether you are looking to spoil your slightly overweight pup or simply spend time doing something fun for your dog, Cooking for Sugar is perfect for the job!

2. Healthy Homemade Dog Treats: More than 70 Simple & Delicious Treats for Your Furry Best Friend by Serena Faber-Nelson

If you want to continue your dog's healthy diet, you can also check out Healthy Homemade Dog Treats: More than 70 Simple & Delicious Treats for Your Furry Best Friend by Serena Faber-Nelson.

These treats are fun, delicious, and healthy. The ingredients used are also budget-friendly. They are easy to make, and your pup will for sure love them.

3. Easy Homemade Dog Treat Recipes: Fun Homemade Dog Treats for the Busy Pet Lover (Dog Training and Dog Care Series Book 2) by Vikk Simmons

If you have a busy schedule or just aren’t that talented in the kitchen, then Easy Homemade Dog Treat Recipes is the homemade dog treat book for you. Easy-to-follow recipes that take no time at all offer more than fifty delicious treat options for your spoiled pooch!

4. Doggy Desserts: 125 Homemade Treats for Happy, Healthy Dogs by Cheryl Gianfrancesco

Who doesn’t love a good homemade treat? With more than one hundred delicious doggy dessert recipes to choose from, Doggy Desserts will keep you busy for a while! From cookies to treat bars to muffins and frozen treats, there is nothing that this book doesn’t cover!

5. Three Dog Bakery Cookbook: Over 50 Recipes for All-Natural Treats for Your Dog
by Mark Beckloff and Dan Dye

From a well-known treat company, Three Dog Bakery, this homemade treat recipe book includes more than fifty delicious recipes! Written by a successful dog treat company, the recipes in Three Dog Bakery Cookbook are sure to be a big hit with your dog.

WATCH THIS: Basic Homemade Dog Food Recipe That's Easy To Make

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