We used to feed our dogs BARF... bones and raw food - especially raw chicken quarters but learned that although the bacteria on raw chicken does not hurt the dog, the dog sheds it and we have a family member with immune issues. Man did they have great teeth though. Then our blue heeler got old and sick and I started making dog food.... usually oatmeal cooked in broth, sometimes rice (cheapest in the store - they don’t care) carrots, sweet potatoes or pumpkin, canned peas, maybe some other grains if I have them on hand, the chicken or if it’s around the holidays and turkey is super cheap, turkey... I then freeze bags that will last two or three days.
I became lazy and now buy high quality dry food and mix it with pumpkin. They like it.
I also cook for my dog. Steam the meat in the rice steamer while cooking the grains in the bottom pot. I grow vegetables which I later either can or dehydrate for winter use.
On Fridays my dog is “Catholic”. I give her a can of Salmon or Mackerel.
I have to make my problem-cat homemade food. She’s allergic to grains and then developed struvite crystals. All the food for urinary issues are loaded with grains and all the grain-free food back then was high in phosphorus and magnesium.
Luckily she’s a good eater, so it hasn’t been a problem. I’m sure it’s lots cheaper than the grain-free food or the C/D prescription food, even after buying all the supplements to add to the meat.