Highly recommend by this lifelong dog owner I loved this book. It was a relief to read a dog food "cookbook" with well researched realistic advice. I have had several rescue dog with serious allergies and health issues. I've tried veterinarian diets, holistic diets, expensive ($$$) Veterinary Nutritionist guides home cooked diets, raw diets, the wolf diets, dehydrated food, UGG so many different diets ! Everyone of them has a spokes person telling you you need to get the perfect mix for your dog, while each is so different (ARGUH) each costing you more and more. Not this author, she researched, really researched deeply into dog food nutrition and shares what she learned. What I loved most was that she does not look for perfection but realistic choices. Included are recipes perhaps better for different stages of life and health. For daily feeding and those special occasions. Now lets talk about the adorable michelin star recipes for special meals. There are dogtails (beverages) to start their meals or for when hanging out at the park with friends. Some of the fun recipes we tried: Doggie donuts, Egg noodles, Bibimpup, Momma's bento Box, Apple and Carrot cake, Chia Seed Pawfait and Ciopuppino. Our dogs loved them all and we had fun making them. Frustrated after finding numerous mistakes with the online nutrition calculators online they designed their own.
"The Dog’s Table" is a comprehensive guide offering 120 healthy recipes for dogs made with natural, whole-food ingredients. Authored by Joelle Jay and R. A. Young, it emphasizes the benefits of homemade meals for enhancing dog health and longevity. The book includes simple one-pot meals, pup-friendly adaptations of popular dishes, festive foods, and low-carb desserts. It also provides tips on meal planning and essential nutrition guidelines for dogs of all ages. Overall, the guide aims to help dog owners feed their pets better, improving their overall well-being and happiness.
As a proud dog mom to several athletic canines and an advocate for raw feeding, I was eager to delve into this book. There’s a lot of information available, but not everything fully addresses dogs' dietary needs, particularly when it comes to preparing homemade meals. I was pleasantly surprised by how comprehensive this book is. Honestly, it's one of those reads that's definitely worth your time and money, as the information is straightforward, clear, and easy to digest. With a senior dog at home, I was especially keen on the recipes tailored for him, and I can't wait to give them a try.
I’ve also picked up some valuable insights along the way. Feeding raw has evolved significantly over the years, so I make it a point to stay informed by diving into the latest studies and continuing my education. I appreciate that the book covers both macro and micronutrients and offers useful substitutes I had been searching for. The layout is incredibly user-friendly, allowing me to easily refer back to it whenever I need. Plus, there are stunning photos accompanying these recipes, which add to the appeal.
Having raw fed my dogs for over 15 years, I truly believe that fresh food is the best route, especially for older dogs. My senior pup has been having some digestive issues, so I’ve been looking into alternative options. I'm excited to try a few recipes and am definitely considering adding the book to my collection! I hope you can get your hands on this gem!
Thank you, BenBella Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Although I was drawn to this book for the “real food” recipes, the first pages in the book were both interesting and enlightening. The introductory part of the book explained dog nutritional needs, and how they differ from humans. Do they require some nutrients in their diet or can they manufacture certain vitamins and nutrients within their bodies? How many calories does your dog require?
What do you need to ensure they don’t ingest? Onions, Xylitol, Macadamia nuts, grapes, raisins, chocolate, alcohol and caffeine.
The first section of recipes are for adult dogs. It contains Basics, Balanced Meals, and Supermeal. There are quite a few recipes and they are clearly written and photographed. Calorie counts are provided. One of the first recipes I’ll try is the Beef and Broccoli. (Maybe we’ll share in taste testing.) Or how about White Bean Chicken Chili? So many of the recipes sound like human meals and lots of others have cute names that aren’t obvious as to what’s in them, but photos and recipes show all of it.
Supermeals are a bit more involved and include up to 13 ingredients and they contain additional types of proteins, such as bison, duck, shrimp, and venison, and plant ingredients such as wheat germ and lentils. These recipes also look good enough to temp humans to eat them.
Recipes for Puppies and Mothers address the special nutritional needs of these temporary life stages. Also include are recipes for Athletes and Working Dogs that have needs for extra energy. Add in s recipes for specialty meals for “Foody Dogs.” Some recipes are more “American” style and others have an “Asian” style.
Recipes include everything from basic meals to specialty meals, snacks and desserts. I think any dog would be happy to get any of these delightful meals!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for access to an early version of this book.
“Many of us are used to feeding our dogs dry kibble from bags or wet food from cans, unaware that home-cooked dog food is actually quite easy to make.”
Over the past few years, I’ve started cooking more from scratch for my family, replacing store-bought foods with homemade versions—it’s been such a rewarding shift. So why wouldn’t I do the same for my dog, Winston?
I love that "The Dog’s Table" makes fresh feeding feel approachable for all types of dog owners. It offers realistic options for different levels of commitment, from those who want to supplement kibble with fresh meals (like me!) to those ready to fully dive in. My husband always says, “Wouldn’t it get old eating the same thing every day?”—and this book really drives home that dogs deserve variety too.
I appreciated the emphasis on dental hygiene, and I loved that the authors featured a pic of meal prep GOAT Souper Cubes—I use mine daily! The inclusion of oyster powder as a superfood source of zinc and selenium was also a highlight. I work in the oyster industry and always tell people about those nutrients, so it was great to see them featured for dogs.
A few recipes I’m excited to try:
Spup – As a Spam household, I couldn’t help but smile.
Ciopuppino – I often have extra oysters from work and never thought of sharing them with Winston!
The festive, thematic and seasonal recipes were such a fun touch, too.
Overall, this book is creative, science-informed, and surprisingly practical. It inspires you to think differently about your dog’s food while keeping it fun and flexible.
I was really impressed with this book and all the nutritional information in the beginning of the book. This book is full of recipes to keep your dog healthy and happy. It has everything from meals to desserts. Some of my favorite ones I will be trying are Pup English Breakfast, Howloween Dogiveled Eggs, Punkin Pie Jellies and Turkey Chili to name a few. The pictures of the dogs in the book as well as the food are both cute and would make any dogs mouth water. i especially liked the one with the doggie brunch. I recommend this book to any dog owner to keep their fur babies active and playful.
This is a gem of a cookbook and must-have for anyone who has or cares for dogs. There is a good mix of simple to more complex recipes. The ingredients were mostly staple pantry finds, with one or two things that I might have to start stocking just for this cookbook. I loved how the recipes were SOO creative - I.e., lapawgna, a dog-safe lasagna. I found the recipes and ingredients to be very accessible and easy to follow for a home cook. My labradoodle, Charlie, thanks you from the bottom of her heart. Thank you to the authors, NetGalley and BenBella Books for the opportunity to review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
This is the most comprehensive guide ever written for feeding dogs real food. Not only are the recipes easy to follow the pictures and design is also great.
I especially appreciated the front section where the authors dive into dog nutrition and make it really easy to understand. A great book all around.
The Dog's Table is an adorable cookbook filled with recipes for your dog. From everything from pawella to hot pawt, this has diverse, unique, and pup-approved recipes for meals and sweet treats for your best friend.
Now that I’ve read the entire cookbook I can’t wait to start cooking these recipes for my girls Brooklyn and Dolce! They’re little foodies and I’m sure they’ll love everything!