If you want your dog to eat healthy, natural food, try making homemade kibble. Here’s my recipe and personal experience — step by step.
Why I Started Making My Own Dog Kibble
For years, I searched for a way to provide my dog with healthy, nutritious food — especially when traveling. Commercial kibble is often full of additives and preservatives, so I decided to make it myself. The result amazed me — my dog eats with joy, and I know exactly what ingredients go into his bowl.
Preparing the Meat and Vegetables
2 kg (4.4 lb) organ meats 1 kg (2.2 lb) fruit 1 kg (2.2 lb) vegetables
I started with about two kilograms of organ meats, finely chopped and lightly sautéed. Then I added the rest of the meat and cooked everything together until tender. For vegetables and fruit, I used what I had on hand: apples (sweet and firm), zucchini, sweet potatoes, carrots, and regular potatoes. Once everything was cooked, I strained the broth and set it aside — that nutrient-rich soup can later be added to meals.
Blending and Shaping the Mixture
I placed the cooked meat and vegetables in a blender, added a little of the reserved broth, and two ice cubes. The ice helps create a smooth, creamy texture and makes blending easier — much like preparing hummus. I blended everything into a fine pâté. Next, I lined a baking tray with parchment paper, spread the mixture evenly, and smoothed it out with a spoon. I trimmed the excess paper to make it easier to remove the kibble later.
Drying in the Oven
This process is similar to industrial production — the kibble isn’t baked but dried. I set the oven to the lowest temperature and placed the tray inside. Drying takes about 3–4 hours (depending on the oven and whether you use a fan), but patience is key — slow drying removes moisture and gives the kibble the proper crunchy texture.
When the kibble was completely dry, I stored it in a glass jar with a lid. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to one month, always ready to use — whether at home or on the road. My dog enjoys it just as much as freshly prepared meals.
Worth Every Minute
Making homemade dog kibble takes some time, but the result is worth every minute. I know exactly what my dog eats — only healthy, fresh ingredients with no chemicals or fillers. My advice to all dog owners: try it at least once. After that, it’s hard to go back to industrial food.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that food is medicine. By preparing your dog’s meals, you are not just feeding their body, but honoring their life. Explore our philosophy: Linktree Sasha Riess
You often hear the sentence: “My dog is on hypoallergenic food and everything is great.” And that can be true but only on the surface. The problem begins when hypoallergenic dog food is accepted as a permanent solution instead of temporary support. The goal is not for a dog to live with allergies forever.
What Is Hypoallergenic Dog Food Actually
Hypoallergenic food — most often hydrolyzed food — is industrially processed to such an extent that:
Proteins are broken down into amino acids.
The body no longer has to digest them, as the immune system does not recognize allergens.
Allergy symptoms disappear.
These processes are achieved through high pressure and extreme temperatures which break food down into its most basic components. The result is that the dog’s body can immediately use nutrients without effort, without reaction, and without inflammation. But that is not the same as healing.
Skin symptoms are the most common sign of allergies in dogs.
Why Symptoms Disappear but the Problem Remains
Both humans and dogs need about 93 percent macronutrients daily, which include proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals make up a small percentage. Vitamins are largely produced by the body itself, similar to hormones, while minerals must be provided through food.
Hypoallergenic food allows the dog to function without reactions, but at the same time:
It does not strengthen the digestive system.
It does not restore the natural ability to digest food.
It does not train the body to process proteins.
In other words, the body adapts to avoidance instead of solving the problem.
When Hypoallergenic Food Makes Sense
Hypoallergenic food can be useful:
As a temporary recovery phase.
In acute conditions or after strong allergic reactions.
While the body stabilizes.
But if a dog stays on this type of diet for years, it often means we have stopped looking for the real cause. Allergy is not the enemy — it is a signal.
A Symptom Is Not the Same as a Solution
If a dog is “doing great” on hypoallergenic food, it means the trigger has been removed but not the reason why the body reacted in the first place. The long-term goal of caring for a dog is not permanent avoidance but understanding:
Why the digestive system is not functioning properly.
Why the immune system is overreacting.
How to gradually restore the ability to digest food.
Hypoallergenic food is not bad. But it is not a final solution either.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that true health starts from within. We teach you how to understand your dog’s signals and provide care that heals, not just masks. Explore our philosophy: Linktree Sasha Riess
Shelters are meant to be places of hope, but for many, they are places of silent suffering. While we often talk about cold kennels and the lack of human contact, there is a quieter, more dangerous problem: the poor quality of dogs in shelters nutrition.
Very often, shelter food consists of expired kibble—stale, spoiled, and filled with chemicals. What the label calls “food” is often just industrial waste that the industry cannot sell to humans.
Poor Nutrition: The Invisible Source of Suffering
A shelter dog is already at the edge of its strength, battling anxiety and a weakened immune system. When we add low-quality food, the consequences are devastating:
Poor conditions and low-quality food further endanger dogs in shelters.
The System, Not the People
This is not an accusation against shelter workers. Shelters are overwhelmed and underfunded. When a truck of expired food arrives, it looks like salvation. But in reality, this food often contains mold and toxins that directly poison an already exhausted system.
What Can Be Changed?
Food is the foundation of survival. When a dog receives clean, nutritious food, it gains a chance to heal. While shelter problems cannot be fixed overnight, the conversation about the quality of what they eat must begin today.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that health starts from within. A dog’s coat and spirit are reflections of their nutrition. Learn more: Linktree Sasha Riess
From my years of working with dogs, persistent itching almost always points to an internal imbalance. When a dog eats only kibble, problems often arise in the microbiome — the colony of beneficial bacteria in the gut that keeps the immune system balanced.
Kibble, especially lower-quality brands, contains preservatives and heat-processed proteins that a dog’s body can’t fully digest. When the body doesn’t know what to do with these substances, the brain sends a signal: “Get it out!” The result appears on the skin — through itching, redness, and inflammation.
Allergies and Histamine: How Itching Starts
When an allergic reaction occurs, the body produces histamine — a compound that triggers itching and skin irritation. This means your dog’s body is reacting to something it can’t digest properly. The outcome: inflamed areas, flaky skin, paw licking, and constant scratching.
Allergies are actually a sign of a weakened immune system. They appear when the body can’t properly process food or toxins and tries to eliminate them through the skin, lungs, or kidneys.
Dietary changes and natural probiotics can help a dog struggling with persistent scratching.
Natural Nutrition to Reduce Itching
The first step is to change the diet. Introduce fresh, natural food — cooked or raw — with added probiotics and prebiotics to restore gut health. Avoid industrial kibble for a while and observe your dog’s skin and behavior.
Also, add flaxseed and pumpkin seeds — natural sources of omega fatty acids essential for healthy skin and coat. Grind them in a coffee grinder and sprinkle over meals. This supports skin regeneration and helps reduce itching naturally.
Itching Isn’t Just a Skin Problem
Constant scratching is rarely a skin issue — it’s usually a symptom of an internal imbalance. When a dog eats only kibble, its system gradually loses equilibrium.
A balanced diet, natural mineral support, and probiotic supplementation can restore harmony and help your dog live comfortably again — without the constant urge to scratch.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that beautiful skin and coat start from within. We teach you how to recognize the symptoms of internal imbalance and restore your dog’s natural glow. Explore our programs: Linktree Sasha Riess
A dog living in harmony with nature — calm, healthy, and free of stress — is the image of true well-being. Caring for a dog’s health and providing proper nutrition are essential foundations for a long, joyful life.
Dogs who share life with humans are not just companions — they absorb our emotions, our energy, and our stress. Understanding how nutrition, emotional awareness, and the owner’s inner balance affect the dog’s body is the key to preventing psychosomatic illnesses and maintaining vitality.
Why It’s Important to Watch Diet and Environment
Almost no wild animal suffers from cancer. But when a dog lives with humans, that changes — our emotions and our stress directly influence its body. The closer the dog is to us, the more it becomes a mirror of our inner state. That’s why diseases linked to stress and emotional imbalance appear more frequently in dogs who live tightly connected to humans.
Proper Nutrition and Its Effect on the Immune System
When a dog reaches six months of age and beyond, care should go beyond medical procedures like sterilization. True care means creating a safe and peaceful environment — one where stress does not poison the body. Dogs instinctively absorb and process their owners’ emotional tension in an attempt to protect them. This makes it crucial for us, as owners, to remain calm, aware, and emotionally present — because our state shapes their health.
Balanced nutrition is more than food—it is the foundation of your dog’s immunity and emotional stability.
The Connection Between Mind, Food, and Immunity
Balanced nutrition is not just about physical health — it’s also about emotional stability. Healthy meals rich in natural ingredients, consistent daily rhythms, and gentle human energy together strengthen the immune system and prevent disease.
Psychosomatic Effects of Chronic Stress
Chronic stress can lead to deep physiological changes in dogs, including psychosomatic conditions and even cancer-like illnesses. A dog is not merely a pet — it’s a sentient partner in our shared ecosystem. Its body reflects our emotions, our peace, and our turmoil.
Health Through Awareness and Nutrition
Preserving a dog’s health begins with proper nutrition and awareness of the shared space we create together. Wholesome food, regular walks, clean water, and emotional balance form the invisible structure of health and longevity.
The Owner’s Responsibility
Caring for a dog is both a physical and an emotional responsibility. To truly nurture health, one must understand how stress, food, and environment intertwine. When we become mindful of our own emotions, we protect not only ourselves — but also the being that trusts us most.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we view the dog as a whole. Our mission is to guide owners toward a deeper understanding of the link between nutrition, emotion, and physical health. Discover more: Linktree Sasha Riess
Dogs do not experience food and hunger the same way humans do. While owners often believe their dog is constantly hungry or enjoys food the way we enjoy our favorite meals, their relationship with food is entirely different. It is important to understand how dogs feel hunger and what food represents to them, because this changes how we feed them and how we interpret their signals.
How Dogs Actually Experience Hunger
For dogs, hunger has a completely different meaning than for humans. While humans associate hunger with taste, rituals, comfort, and emotions, dogs experience food functionally. Food is simply a source of energy that allows them to be capable, active, and ready for life.
In nature, dogs instinctively apply a natural rhythm similar to what we now call autophagy—a mild fasting period that helps the body regenerate. For wild dogs, hunger is not a tragedy; it is a vital part of their daily recovery cycle.
The „Manipulation“ of Love
Dogs often use food to “manipulate” their owners, but not out of bad intent. They intuitively understand that food is the strongest emotional point in our relationship. Because we express care, love, and connection through feeding, they use food-seeking behavior as a way to engage with us.
Do Dogs Truly Enjoy Food Like Humans Do?
Dogs do not enjoy food emotionally. We eat when we are sad, lonely, or stressed, assigning emotional meaning to every bite. Dogs do not do this. They eat to:
Maintain energy levels.
Support physical readiness.
Enable biological survival processes.
While a dog eats with enthusiasm, it is a response to a natural need, not a search for emotional satisfaction or comfort.
Dogs eat when biologically necessary, without emotional overeating.
When We Think the Dog Is Hungry, but It Isn’t
Owners often misinterpret „begging“ eyes or following them to the kitchen as starvation. In most cases, this is communication, habit, or a request for attention. This is why experienced handlers say: “A happy dog is a slightly hungry dog.” Mild hunger is natural, healthy, and part of their biological rhythm.
What Owners Should Know
Dogs feel hunger differently. For them, food is not an indulgence or an emotional outlet. It is energy, function, and a way to remain stable. By understanding this, we can avoid overfeeding and build a relationship based on true needs rather than misinterpreted emotions.
At Integrative and Holistic Grooming Education, we believe that every physical symptom is a message. Understanding these signals and addressing them through a holistic lens is at the heart of everything we teach. Learn more and join our community: Linktree Sasha Riess
