BETTER NUTRITION MEANS MORE YEARS WITH YOUR DOG Planning for success... Planning ahead will make your journey into homemade dog food easier and more fun. Making sure you have the right utensils and ingredients before you start will save time and trouble. These topics cover the basics of starting to cook for your fur family, if there is anything else you would like to know, please feel free to reach out to us! Contact Us
GETTING STARTED Equip Your Kitchen
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT
Food Scale
Measuring Cup
Measuring Spoons
Large Mixing Bowl
Meat Thermometer, Spatula, & Spoon
Stewing Pot NICE TO HAVE
Meat Grinder
Crockpot
Colander
Large Mixer Plan Your Grocery Trip
HOW MUCH TO BUY
Grains Generally, carbohydrates expand with cooking, (about double) but don't worry about getting too much - you can use leftovers in your own meals!
Potatoes Potatoes don't change much in weight during cooking. So you can allow just a bit extra beyond the amount specified for any losses due to the paring of bad spots.
Meat To start with, we recommend purchasing about twice the cooked weight your recipe requires. If your recipe calls for 16oz, then get 2 lbs of raw meat. Meats shrink to about 50% of the original weight after cooking depending on the cut.
Cook the Main Ingredients
COOK MEAT - BEFORE WEIGHING
Fry If your meat is already ground you may find frying to be fast. Be sure it is cooked thoroughly.
Bake to 170 degrees Baking is easy, just place meat in a shallow dish then cover with foil to preserve moisture.
Stewing Pot or Crockpot Using a crockpot is convenient. Just add water and check periodically. When the meat falls apart it is easy for mixing.
Once Cooked, Shred or Grind Whether you bake, fry, or boil, be sure to grind or shred the meat into small pieces so that the ingredients will mix thoroughly.
COOK CARBOHYDRATES - BEFORE WEIGHING
Grains Follow the cooking directions on your package of grains or pasta. Except do NOT add salt or oil to the boiling water.
Potatoes For potatoes just cut into cubes then boil. Be sure to peel Russets. Thin-skinned potatoes can be used without peeling. Do not overcook, mushy potatoes are hard to stir.
Mix the Recipe
Mixing Steps
Gather Before Mixing Gather all of your utensils and previously cooked meats, cooked carbohydrates, oils, and nutrients before beginning.
Weigh Meat Weigh cooked ingredients on a food scale. See the directions in your EZ Meal Planner.
Add Nutrient Powder Begin mixing by adding the nutrient powder to the meat, mix thoroughly before adding other ingredients. This will ensure that every meal has all the nutrients your dog needs.
Add Oils & Thoroughly Mix Add both the Soybean Oil and the Omega 3 Oil and then mix again. Again, even distribution matters.
Weigh Carbohydrate Lastly, weigh and add whichever carbohydrate you have selected.
Mix in Thoroughly And of course, mix again until all ingredients are evenly mixed. YUM!
Store the Completed Food
STORE FOOD
Choose Storage Containers Select containers for storage before you do the mixing, so you can package immediately. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Label and Package When freezing your meals, be sure to label them so you are always using the oldest ones first. Keep in the freezer for up to 4 weeks.
Transition to New Food
GENTLE TRANSITION TO NEW FOOD We recommend a gentle transition whenever the diet is changed to avoid digestive upsets.
The best way to do this is by mixing the old food with the new, each time increasing the amount of new.
If you notice softer than normal stool go back to the previous ratios for another 2-3 days.
By the end of the week, you may be using entirely the new food, but it's ok if your dog needs longer.
IF YOUR DOG'S PALATE IS SENSITIVE
Transition Steps for Sensitive Palates - Add 1/4 of the specified amount of nutrients & omega3 for 3-5 daysAdd 1/2 of the specified amount of nutrients & omega3 for the next 3-5 daysAdd 3/4 of the specified amount of nutrients & omega3 for the next 3-5 daysAdd the full specified amount going forward
Most dogs love their Hearthstone Homemade meals immediately, but some dogs, especially small dogs, need a gradual approach.
Condiment Ideas Similarly, small dogs may eat better with small amounts of condiments. (See the directions in your Starter Kit)
