Okay, so my dog, Max, he’s a picky eater. I mean, really picky. It’s been a struggle to find something he consistently enjoys. I’ve tried so many different brands, wet food, dry food, you name it. Finally, I decided to try making my own dog food. I figured, why not? I can control the ingredients and make sure it’s all good stuff.
So, I started looking into recipes. I wanted something simple, healthy, and of course, something Max would actually eat. I stumbled upon this whole beef and barley idea. Seemed easy enough.
My First Attempt
I went to the grocery store and got some ground beef – not too lean, dogs need some fat, right? – and some pearled barley. I also grabbed some carrots and green beans, because veggies are good, even for dogs.
Back home, I got to work. First, I browned the beef in a big pot. I didn’t add any oil or seasoning, just plain beef. Once that was cooked, I scooped it out and set it aside.
Then, I tossed the barley into the same pot, along with some water. I followed the instructions on the barley package for cooking time. While the barley was simmering, I chopped up the carrots and green beans into little pieces – dog-bite size, I guess.
Once the barley was about halfway done, I threw in the veggies. Let that all cook together until the barley was soft and the veggies were tender. Finally, I added the beef back into the pot and mixed everything up.
I let it cool down completely – don’t want to burn Max’s tongue! – before giving him a small bowl.
The Verdict
He sniffed it…then he looked at me…then he sniffed it again. And then…he ate it! He actually ate it! I was so relieved. It wasn’t a huge, enthusiastic gobble, but he cleaned the bowl, which is a win in my book.
- Ground Beef: About 1 pound.
- Pearled Barley: 1 cup, uncooked.
- Carrots: 2 medium, chopped.
- Green Beans: About 1 cup, chopped.
- Water: Enough to cook the barley (check the package).
I’ve been making this beef and barley food for Max for a few weeks now. He’s still eating it, which is amazing. I sometimes switch up the veggies – sweet potatoes, peas, things like that. I also learned it’s a good idea to add a dog-specific vitamin supplement to make sure he’s getting all the nutrients he needs. I just mix that in after it’s cooled.
It’s definitely more work than just opening a bag of kibble, but seeing Max eat and knowing he’s getting good, wholesome food makes it totally worth it. Plus, it’s probably saving me money in the long run, compared to those fancy dog food brands!
