Everyone always asks me how I make my dog’s food, so I figured — why not make it a blog post?

This isn’t some rigid, scientifically formulated recipe.

It’s more of an intuitive style — kitchen witch style — based on learning what works for my dog over time.

It’s real food, real easy, and real flexible once you get the flow down.

✨ TL;DR: Quick Base Recipe

• 3 lbs ground beef
• 2 cups dry brown rice (put at the bottom, fully submerged)
• 2–3 cups water
• 1 whole sweet potato, cubed
• 1 bag frozen greens (spinach, broccoli, etc.)
• Optional add-ins: sardines (or olive oil), flaxseed, eggshell calcium, apple cider vinegar, blueberries, dog-safe herbs

Cook in Instant Pot on high pressure for 30 minutes.

Let it naturally decompress.

Cool fully before serving — we don’t want any burnt dog noses! 🐾

Mash it up, add your oils or sardines after cooking, portion and freeze.

My dog eats 1 cup per day alongside dry kibble.

Adjust based on your dog’s size, preferences, and tolerance!

✨ Quick Note Before We Get Into It:

This is just what I personally worked out for my dog!

You can check ChatGPT or do your own research if you want more in-depth nutrition breakdowns.

My dog is a 35-pound doodle and this is what fits into his routine right now:

• He gets one cup of this homemade food a day.
• He always has access to dry dog food too (for extra balance and crunch).
• In the mornings, he loves a little cottage cheese or sometimes a bit of scrambled egg with butter.
• All dogs are different.I personally can’t give him more than one cup of the homemade food at once —if I do, he gets bored of it or his belly gets upset.Keeping it to one small portion a day helps him keep his food down and keeps things exciting for him.

Every dog is going to tolerate fats, proteins, and variety differently —

so tune into your own pup’s vibe and adjust as needed!

🥩 Base Ingredients:

• 3 lbs ground beef (that’s what my dog prefers)
• 2 cups dry brown rice
• 2–3 cups water
• 1 whole sweet potato, cubed(Pro tip: buy frozen sweet potato cubes if you’re feeling lazy.)(Also covers beta-carotene for eye health — bonus!)
• 1 bag of frozen greens(Spinach, broccoli, or whatever’s on hand. Sometimes I toss in carrots too if I have them.)

🐟 Fats & Extras:

• 2 cans of sardines (preferably packed in olive oil)OR
• ¼ cup olive oil (depends how much fat your dog tolerates)
• Sprinkle of flaxseed (optional but great for omegas)
• Calcium powder made from dried eggshells (optional, but I like the mineral balance)
• Optional extras:
  • A splash of apple cider vinegar
  • A handful of blueberries
  • Dog-safe herbs like turmeric (with a pinch of black pepper for absorption), dill, or whatever you have on hand(There’s a full list of dog-safe herbs if you want to experiment.)

🍲 Cooking Instructions:

1. Toss the beef, rice, water, sweet potatoes, and frozen greens into your Instant Pot.
   • Pro tip: Layer the rice at the bottom so it’s fully submerged in water — this helps avoid weird sticky or dry spots.
2. Pressure cook for 30 minutes on high.
   • I let it naturally decompress instead of quick-releasing it. (It’s easier on the texture.)
   • You might find a different cooking time works better for your setup, but this timing works well for me whether the meat is frozen or defrosted.
   • (The brown rice I use usually needs at least 20–22 minutes minimum to cook through fully.)
3. After cooking, let the food cool down fully before serving —we don’t want any burnt dog noses!
4. Once cooled, mash it all up with a meat masher (or anything that’ll break it down easily).
5. Add your olive oil or sardines after cooking so you don’t burn off the good fats.
6. Mix in your flaxseed, calcium powder, and any optional extras.

❄️ Storage:

• Freeze into 1-cup portions using Souper Cubes (lifesaver).
• Once frozen, wrap individually in foil.
• Reheat straight from frozen:
  • Toaster oven: 350°F for 1 hour
  • Microwave: Remove foil, microwave about 2 minutes

🐾 Final Thoughts:

It’s all about learning your dog’s preferences.

Every dog is different — like my uncle’s dog, who honestly acts like he’s a breatharian half the time. 😂

Don’t put pressure on yourself to get it perfect immediately.

You’ll learn your dog over time and figure out what actually works for them.

For my dog, it’s extra beef with greens sneaked in.

If I try to save money by upping the rice too much, he just wastes it —

so this formula makes sure the food gets eaten and stays down without upsetting his belly.

Trust the process. Trust your pup.

Happy cooking! 🐶✨

-Ariel

Soft Life Pup Approved. 🐾