As dog owners, we are responsible for our furry friends' health and well-being, and what they eat plays a key role in that. Our dogs, like us, want to consume food that is both healthy and tasty! As the old adage goes, "You Are What You Eat," and this also applies to pets.

A healthy dog diet, like a healthy human diet, is devoid of pollutants, pesticides, carcinogens, fillers, and processed foods. Unfortunately, much of the commercial pet food on the market today contains toxic substances that might affect your dog's health. As more people learned this, the idea of making homemade dog food grew in popularity.

Cooking homemade food for your dog may appear to be a daunting task, a striking contrast to simply dumping a cup of dried dog food into your dog's dish, but it is well worth it. If your dog has allergies, itchy skin, or any other health issues, a homemade diet can be extremely beneficial—not only physiologically, but also emotionally and behaviorally. After only a few weeks on a homemade diet, I've seen dogs transform from grouchy couch potatoes who turned up their noses at every meal to joyful, excited, energetic, and lively dogs who anxiously await dinnertime. Equally vital is that you meet one of their most basic needs: appropriate nourishment.

This book is intended to teach you the fundamentals of cooking for your dog. If I could persuade you of one thing, it would be that you don't have to take it all or nothing. If you start small, perhaps by preparing one or two meals each week, you will soon discover that cooking for your dog is simple, enjoyable, and extremely gratifying.