While your dog no doubt basks in the deliciousness of the food you provide, sometimes a little extra TLC is necessary. If you find yourself with some extra time on your hands, treat your dog to a home-cooked meal they're sure to appreciate because, let's face it: Who can resist a home-cooked meal from Mom's kitchen? There are loads of homemade dog food recipes for small dogs available at your fingertips. Go one step further and tailor these recipes to fit your little one's specific tastes. Does your dog favor turkey over chicken? Then make a simple swap. The point of making your pup’s food is to show them that you care.

Mama’s Meatloaf

What do meat lovers love? Meatloaf. Dogs go crazy for this tried and true comfort food, too. Compacted meat and veggies? What's not to love! When grappling with homemade dog food recipes for small dogs, consider a hearty meatloaf, and sit back while your dog dives into a delicious meal made with lots o' love. As you shop for ingredients, feel free to use whichever type of meat is on sale so your new dog food-making venture fits well within your budget. Ideally, a nutritious dog diet consists of 1/3 protein and 2/3 grain or vegetable. Keep this in mind when preparing homemade dog food recipes for small dogs.

Here's what you'll need:

• 3 quarter cups of grated veggies (avoid onions, chives and garlic)
• 2lbs of ground beef or turkey (leaner=better)
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups of old fashioned oat meal
• 1/2 cup of cottage cheese
• ground flax seeds

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together and transfer mixture into a loaf pan. Bake for one hour.

Simple enough, huh? Even the most inexperienced chef in the kitchen can whip up this treat for their pup. For efficiency, cook up a big batch and freeze to keep fresh for up to 3 months. For added convenience, fill a cupcake pan with the mixture for single servings.

TexMex for Pups

You’re not the only one who enjoys a bowl of chili on a cold day. A bowl of chili for your small dog packs tons of protein and vegetables so it covers all the bases of a nutritious and delicious meal. Add this to your list of homemade dog food recipes for small dogs.

You’ll need:

• 4 sliced chicken breasts
• 1 cup of drained black beans
• 1 cup of drained kidney beans
• 1 cup of diced carrots
• 1/2 cup of tomato paste
• 4 cups of chicken broth

Cook chicken in a non-stick skillet on medium-high heat until it is no longer pink. Then, add the cooked chicken, beans, carrots, tomato paste and chicken broth into a pot cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Allow mixture to cool and then serve and refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days.

If you're looking for the perfect treat for your small dog, we suggest jerky treats. They are healthy, dog's LOVE them, and they super easy to break down into really small pieces. Check them out here.

Rocky Kanaka

Rocky Kanaka is an entrepreneur, pet rescue advocate and dog dad to a rescue boxer named Flip, a blind Cane Corso called Kobe, and a terrier mix named Zoey. He's also a pet chef and owner of The Dog Bakery, which specializes in dog birthday cakes and fresh baked dog treats. His three dogs can't get enough of the dog cakes and treats!

Lorna Ladd

Lorna Paxton Ladd is a passionate dog lover and enthusiast of The Dog Bakery. She loves spoiling her 3 rescue dogs with dog cakes and jerky. A 15 year veteran in the pet industry, her aim is to educate pet parents on the best recipes, products, tips and tricks to optimize the human/canine bond. Her favorite product at The Dog Bakery are the customizable dog birthday cakes.