Feed Your Best Friend Better, Revised Edition: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs

by Rick Woodford

If you wouldn’t eat processed food, why feed it to your dog? From the acclaimed "Dog Food Dude," comes a revised and updated edition of his essential nutrition book for dogs.

Feed Your Best Friend Better is the only nutritional guide you’ll need, with helpful insight, charts, tips, and over 100 easy recipes for healthy dishes to help your best friend live a long and happy life. With even more recipes that will make any dog (and human) drool, this edited and expanded edition makes the transition to homemade dog food simple, with a wide range in options for the pickiest of dogs.

Using a combination of research and personal experience, Rick has used the same manuals veterinarians use when developing recipes to ensure everything about his food is whole, clean, and packed with nutrients. From nutritional value to portion sizes, each recipe uses a variety of herbs, spices, and organic ingredients to enable dogs to live better lives. With these meals, treats, and cookies, dogs will never miss commercial kibble.

In addition to over 100 recipes, other helpful chapters

240 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2021

Reviews

[Phoenix2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I've been searching for tips on healthy and appropriate diets for dogs and this book hits the mark! It not only has several and with a big variety, recipes, but also it has advice and info on behavior instructions and diet preferences. It was fun trying to pinpoint where my dog fits in, especially since he's a rescue that's hard to connect him to a breed. I would have loved, however, if this book had photos of the food in addition to those of the dogies.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very comprehensive guide to making your own dog food. It focuses on cooked meals so it won't be a great fit for those who want to feed their dogs raw. It's also very heavy on making recipes instead of just basic, healthy dog food. There's a whole chapter on recipes to make for yourself and your dog. I'm just not interested in making pancakes to share with my dog. The nutritional sections are where the book really shines, with really detailed info on what every amino acid, vitamin, mineral, etc. does and what foods dogs can and cannot eat (some may surprise you even if you think you know), and so on.

I do wish more vegetarian recipes were included. There were a couple but not for just basic dog food. The dog who held second place in the Guinness World Record for longest living dog was raised entirely on a simple homemade vegan diet and she lived to be 25, so I know it can be done (her owner talked about what she fed her in her book, Bramble; The dog who wanted to live forever). I would love to supplement my dog Moose's diet with way more homemade meals and I would like a lot of them to be vegetarian for ethical and cost reasons. It seems sad to buy a whole lot of ingredients like lamb to make homemade food for one animal at the expense of many others, especially as I know it can be done in a way that also meets Moose's needs.

That said, this is an excellent guide and covers a lot of ground that similar books don't. Well recommended.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very science heavy. It's probably more about the science of what you can and cannot feed your dog rather than recipes for you to cook up for your furry friend. Definitely informative, but almost overwhelmingly so. Lots to unpack, but also lots of great recipes for snack options, even if you aren't sure about completely transitioning your dog over to a homemade diet.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feed Your Best Friend Better by Rick Woodford is a must have for any dog owner. I have two dogs who both have very different nutritional needs. I have been watching my one dog slowly gain weight while the second dog is slowly losing weight. This cookbook has great nutritional information and I now better understand the nutritional and caloric needs of both of my dogs better. For example, I thought that our newly adopted dog was very active but in reality she is just active for her breed and we need to adjust her meals accordingly.

I loved how well organized this cookbook was and how there are a variety or recipes for all of the categories which include treats, cookies, meals, meal toppers, recipes for ailing dogs and even recipes for dogs and their humans to eat together. Additionally, there are gorgeous pictures throughout the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most well written dog food book I’ve ever read.

I started making dog food at home over ten years ago when my iggy wouldn’t eat. Soon after we found out she had cancer and home cooking blessed us with another 7 years together.

Later, I switched back to dry dog food after my vet noticed my greyhound was loosing weight.

The vet has always been pro dry (commercially produced) dog food and I thought they may be right with my retired racer. Now, very much in her senior years she doesn’t eat the dry food well.

I’ve added fresh and cooked veggies, and hubby sneaks in some meat, but I was looking for a better solution and the recipes this book are perfect. We now do a mix of homemade and commercial food and our dog is eating much better.

I highly recommend this book!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really good if you have an interest in making your dogs food. It covered everything you would possibly need for a healthy diet. I know people that think you can feed your dogs meat and vegetables and call it a good idea, but it's so much more than that and this book explains it in detail.
I would not want to switch over to feeding my dogs home cooked meals without owning and studying this book.
I do feed kibble but I feed one of the best qualities. This is also covered in the book!

Thank you so much, NetGalley!
Great book!

[Leilany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking at this book and others about cooking for your dog so imaging my surprise when I had the opportunity to get my hands on this book for its 10th anniversary. I like the info it provides, and look forward to doing some of the snacks, toppers, and main dishes. I like that many of the recipes include liver since my dog loves them. The recipes offer variety in ingredients, some needing few ingredients and others needing 8+. Overall, I am looking forward to preparing food for my dog and I'm even more excited to see his reaction to the food.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous cookbook!
Haven't fixed a meal yet that my 3 dogs don't love ❤️.
All three are more energetic, and their coats are softer and shine more now, too.
We've been working our way around these meals for about a month now. I'm pretty sure this has saved me some money (used to feed meals like Farmers Dog) as I get a lot of ingredients from Costco.
The oatmeal/egg + fruit breakfast is a big hit with my Treeing Walker Coonhound. She can't eat wheat.
The "special" meals at the back have come in handy for my Whippet, who has a heart murmur.
I just can't recommend this book enough!

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful resource for those wishing to make there pets food. I am a dog lover and enjoyed looking through the recipes provided. The recipes are easy to follow and although my dogs have special health needs I still found a few recipes my dogs can enjoy.

If you want recipes for your fur babies this is a great place to start.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this but i found it impossible to open. I even downloaded Adobe Digital Editions software but there was no way to sign in with NetGalley so it said I lacked ownership. I can’t penalize the author though so I’ll give it full stars.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best dog food recipe books I have ever read. I made a list of all of the foods that should never be given to dogs on a chalkboard in my kitchen, so everyone who keeps asking me can I feed this to your dogs, they can look at the chalkboard.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone looking to feed their fur babies better food. It is full of wonderful recommendations and recipes. The supplement list is helpful as well. This book helped me move our English bulldogs off of dry food and they are so much healthier since doing so.

[Ann T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an informative read and gave lots of ideas and recipes for the doggies in our life, the book is set out in a clear to read, fun manner.