From Kibble to Kitchen: Feeding My Dog with Love

Let me start by saying: I absolutely adore my baby girl, my fur baby, my four-legged shadow - Miss Scarlett Pawhanson. She’s a beautiful, high-energy Blue Heeler mix I rescued at just 10 months old. She’s five now, and while she had a whole life before me, I like to think everything changed for the better once we found each other.

But her fifth birthday hit me harder than I expected. She’s technically not a puppy anymore (though she’ll always be one in my heart), and that milestone made me pause. I realized it was time to take a closer look at her diet and supplements.

We’ve always tried to give her the best food we could find — mostly retail and Chewy picks but since I spend so much time in the kitchen, I started wondering: Is there something I could be doing myself to support her health even more?

Naturally, I did what any self-respecting millennial would do: I dove headfirst into Google, YouTube, TikTok, and every online rabbit hole about dog nutrition.

One thing became clear quickly — tons of people swear by raw feeding. But for us, that just didn’t feel like the right fit. I needed something practical — something I could batch on Sunday nights and serve throughout the week.

Of course, before we dive in, full disclosure & disclaimer: I’m not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist—just a devoted dog mom sharing what’s worked for my pup. Always consult with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet or supplement routine, especially if they have specific health conditions or dietary needs.

Through my research, I learned that, just like humans, dogs need a well-rounded mix of:

• Proteins

• Carbohydrates (especially from grains and veggies)

• Fats (Omega-3, Omega-6, linoleic acid)

• Vitamins (A, D, E, K, and B-complex)

• Minerals (like calcium and phosphorus)

Armed with the basics, I sorted through so many recipes — tweaking and testing until I landed on one that worked for Scarlett’s tastes. (Let’s just say my girl is picky, especially when it comes to vegetables.)

At first, I worried I’d make all this food just for her to turn up her nose but to my surprise, she’s been eating it with more enthusiasm than I’ve ever seen her show for kibble. A total win.

I’m still just getting my feet wet in this homemade dog food journey, but I’m excited to share more as I go. If you’re into dog content or curious about what I’m feeding Miss Scarlett next, send me a message. I’d love to hear from you!