some basic homecooking info

brickM · #1 07-02-2009, 01:07 PM

Hi all,
It has been a while since I have been here. I have begun researching homecooking. I want to do this, but my trial run today has indicated it will be much more expensive than the current kibbles we are using. If it was a little bit more I would do a complete switch over. At any rate I am trying to figure how how much ( many cups or ounces) of homecooking I should use for a 69 pound dog and a 45 pound dog. I am getting from other boxer owners that mostly it depends on activity level ( can you say couch potato?). I know how much we feed them of kibble. I weighed ( unwatered kibble on a scale and it came up a pound less than the general recommended amount of homecooking, figuring water should be there once eaten) I went on the idea of 2 cups of HC food for the boy and 1 c for the girl each meal.( which if I figure correctly it is about 16 oz for the boy and 8 oz each meal/ twice a day) Both of the dogs could lose a few pounds. But I thought that might be a good jumping point. But I don't know. I just don't know how much to give them. At this point I am going to add a cup of HC food to a cup of kibble and see how they do. Am I guessing at a good amount? Is it too much or not enough? I have gone to many sites and read a several articles and the information can vary a great deal. I also went on the theory of 1/3 each of protein, carbs and vegs.
Any suggestions or direction would be GREATLY appreciated.

Brick

kayboxer · #2 07-02-2009, 03:07 PM

When I strictly homecooked I just added 1/4 to 1/2 cup more than I would have kibble. Kibble has no moisture to it and home cooking has lots of moisture to it. If you feed 1 cup kibble at a feeding, maybe try 1 1/4 cup homecooking. If they look as though they are gaining weight just cut back. To me, that was the easiest way to start. I also felt like it was a bit more money homecooking so what I decided to do was just cook meat and add it to the kibble at my evening meal.

brickM · #3 07-02-2009, 09:12 PM

I was hoping someone could tell me where they started. I seem to need a jumping point for some reason...I don't want to over feed but then I don't want to underfeed as well. I am sure once I start this I will be able to fine tune the amount....just knowing where to start always helps.

silly24boxer · #4 07-05-2009, 11:57 AM

If you are going to mix it all depends on what kind of dry food you are serving. If it is a good dry food they need less.

Example Gauge my 80lb boxer eats 3/4cup of orijen mixed with 1/2cup of home cooked for breakfast and dinner. I do feed him lunch also which is 1/2 of orijen. So he gets 2cups of orijen mixed with one cup of home cooked.

Or sometime he gets .5 cup orijen with 2 eggs mixed in, or sardines pkg in water, or 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese for breakfast.

Gauge is very active. We walk or bike 45mins in the am and pm.