Our Essential Nutrient Mix is designed for dog parents who want the flexibility to cook from scratch — whether using their own recipes or ours. Just add it to a homemade meal made with protein, vegetables, fruit, and optional grains, and you've got something balanced. We also have 50+ nutritionist-balanced recipes that use the Nutrient Mix, so it's easy to get started even without your own recipe.

Our Meal Mixes take it a step further as an all-in-one solution — they already include the Essential Nutrient Mix plus dehydrated vegetables, fruits, and other wholesome ingredients. Just add your protein, water, and oil for a quick, balanced meal with minimal prep.

If you already have your own recipes or want the most flexibility → the Essential Nutrient Mix is for you.

If you're looking for the easiest way to start home cooking → the Meal Mixes are a great place to begin.

When prepared exactly as directed, our Meal Mixes and recipes made with our Essential Nutrient Mix are formulated to create complete and balanced homemade meals. If you modify the recipes or use the products on their own without the recommended ingredients, they may no longer meet complete and balanced nutritional standards on their own 

If you'd like to make changes to a recipe and still want it to be complete and balanced, our Recipe Review Consultation is a great way to get that confirmed by our nutritionist.  https://dogchild.co/products/homemade-dog-food-recipe-review-by-certified-canine-nutritionist

For a complete and balanced meal, use ground chicken, turkey, or beef (10% fat), lamb (20% fat), or pork (14% fat). Our cod and egg recipe with Organic Oats and Berries is also balanced.

To ensure your meal is complete and balanced, you add Omega Oil when cooking with ground chicken and turkey, and Olive Oil when cooking with ground lamb and beef & cod/fish.

After adding in your protein, water and oil, let the meal cool before serving. If you pre-made your meal mix and stored it in the fridge or freezer, let it thaw and come to room temperature before serving. When ready, simply scoop the appropriate portion based on the serving guidelines on the package and serve.

If you're using your own recipes, add 1 tbsp (8g or 0.28 oz) of Essential Nutrient Mix to 1 cup (200g or 7 oz) of homemade meals that include proteins, veggies, fruits, and optional grains.

If you'd like extra peace of mind that your specific recipe is balanced, our Recipe Review Consultation is a great way to have it confirmed by our nutritionist.  https://dogchild.co/collections/dog-nutrition-consults

Small bag (0.55 lb / 250g): makes about 6.25 kg (≈14 lbs) of homemade food

Large bag (2.2 lb / 1,000g): makes about 25 kg (≈56 lbs) of homemade food

How long a bag lasts depends on your dog's size and how much homemade food you're feeding.

Small Bag (0.55 lb / 250g) — $25

• Under 20 lbs: Lasts about 4 months | ~$0.21/day
• 20–35 lbs: Lasts about 2 months | ~$0.42/day
• 35–70 lbs: Lasts about 1 month | ~$0.83/day
• 70–90 lbs: Lasts about 3–4 weeks | ~$1.00/day
• 90+ lbs: Lasts about 2 weeks | ~$1.79/day

Large Bag (2.2 lb / 1 kg) — $75
The large bag lasts approximately 4 times longer and offers the best value.

• Under 20 lbs: Lasts about 16 months | ~$0.16/day
• 20–35 lbs: Lasts about 8 months | ~$0.31/day
• 35–70 lbs: Lasts about 4 months | ~$0.63/day
• 70–90 lbs: Lasts about 3 months | ~$0.83/day
• 90+ lbs: Lasts about 2 months | ~$1.25/day

Costs are approximate and will vary based on current pricing and your dog's daily food intake.

The .55 lb (small) bag contains approximately 31 tablespoons (94 teaspoons).

The 2.2 lb (large) bag contains approximately 124 tablespoons (376 teaspoons).

You can store your cooked meals in the fridge for 2-3 days or the freezer for 60 days.

Store your Meal Mix or Essential Nutrient Mix in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. After opening, keep it sealed in the original bag or an airtight container to help maintain freshness. There's no need to refrigerate the dry mix. Avoid exposing it to heat, humidity, or prolonged sunlight, as this can reduce its shelf life.

We actually have a puppy-specific mix. We recommend using Chef's Puppy Complete from My Pet Grocer along with our Puppy Guide.

Puppy Mix: https://go.dogchild.co/puppy

Puppy Guide: https://dogchild.co/products/the-puppy-parents-home-cooking-guide-1

Free puppy recipe to get started: https://dogchild.co/blogs/recipes/homemade-puppy-food-recipe

It depends on the condition and how it's being managed, so we'd recommend booking a consultation with our nutritionist rather than guessing. She'll create a custom recipe tailored to your dog's specific needs, working alongside your veterinarian. https://dogchild.co/collections/dog-nutrition-consults

It depends entirely on what your dog is allergic to. If you're unsure, we recommend booking a consultation with our dog nutritionist to help identify safe ingredients and create a personalized plan. https://dogchild.co/collections/dog-nutrition-consults

Yes — our products are formulated for adult dogs of all sizes, from small breeds to large breeds. Simply follow the feeding guidelines based on your dog's weight and adjust portions as needed for their age and activity level.

That said, toy and giant breeds do have some unique feeding requirements — things like calorie density, joint support, and growth rate can differ quite a bit at either end of the size spectrum. Our cookbook includes specialized recipes designed for different breed sizes and life stages, so it's easy to find meals that fit your dog's specific needs: https://dogchild.co/products/homemade-dog-food-cookbook

When feeding your Dog Child twice a day, we recommend the following:

Under 20 lbs - 1 Bag

20-35 lbs - 2 Bags

35-70 lbs - 3 Bags

70- 90 lbs - 4-5 Bags

To create a balanced meal with our Meal Mix, you'll want to add cooked ground meat, oil, and water as directed. Our products are formulated specifically for cooked, home-cooked meals. You're welcome to feed raw instead if you prefer, but in that case we can't guarantee the meal is balanced

The amount of homemade food your dog needs depends on their weight, age, activity level, metabolism, and the ingredients in the recipe. Just like people, two dogs of the same size can have very different calorie needs. The recipe itself also matters. For example, a recipe made with skinless chicken breast will contain fewer calories than one made with regular ground beef, so the feeding amount will be different.

 For general feeding guidelines, see page 3 of our free Home Cooking Guide: https://dogchild.co/pages/how-to-make-home-cooked-dog-food If you'd like exact feeding amounts based on the calories in your recipe, our Homemade Dog Food Calculator (included with The Dog Parent's Guide to Home Cooking) calculates personalized feeding recommendations for your dog.

The right amount depends on your dog's weight, age, activity level, metabolism, and the ingredients in the recipe itself. Just like people, two dogs of the same size can have very different calorie needs — and the recipe matters too. For example, a recipe made with skinless chicken breast will contain fewer calories than one made with regular ground beef, so the feeding amount will differ between the two.

All of our recipes, both in the cookbook and online, come with general feeding amounts to start from. But since every dog is different, it's really up to you to monitor how your dog is doing — are they still acting hungry after meals, losing weight, or can you feel their ribs a bit too easily? Adjust the amount up or down based on what you're seeing.

For general feeding guidelines, check out page 3 of our free Home Cooking Guide: https://dogchild.co/pages/how-to-make-home-cooked-dog-food

Our Meal Mix must always be prepared with protein and water before feeding — it's not meant to be sprinkled directly onto kibble on its own. Since the mix is formulated to provide a full day's worth of vitamins and minerals for a fully home-cooked meal, adding it unprepared as a kibble topper would make the vitamin content too concentrated for the amount of food your dog is actually eating.

Once properly prepared with protein and water, you're welcome to use it as a topper alongside your dog's current food — any amount of fresh food added this way can make a positive difference in your dog's health.

We encourage you to mix up your proteins. Rotating proteins adds variety to your dog's diet, helps prevent them from getting bored with the same flavor, and can make them less picky over time. It's also a nice way to introduce different nutrient profiles into their diet, since each protein source brings its own balance of amino acids and micronutrients.

That said, if your dog has a clear preference for one protein, you're welcome to stick with it. Just keep in mind that if you're using your own recipes, staying with one protein long-term means it's especially important that the recipe is properly balanced, since you won't get the natural variety that rotating proteins can offer.

If you ever want a second opinion on your rotation or your dog's specific recipe, our Recipe Review Consultation is a great way to make sure everything is balanced. https://dogchild.co/collections/dog-nutrition-consults

No. Do not add the Essential Nutrients to the Dog Child Meal Mixes. Our Meal Mixes already have the optimal amount of Essential Nutrients Mix in them. Adding more would unbalance the nutrients and could affect your dog's health.

Yes — our recipes and mix are formulated to meet AAFCO Adult Maintenance Standards when followed as directed.

Our Meal Mixes come in two flavors: Organic Oat & Berries and Mixed Veggie.

We’re currently updating our pricing comparisons to reflect the most accurate costs for Canadian dog parents. Please stay tuned while we refresh this information.

We’re currently updating our pricing comparisons to reflect the most accurate costs for American dog parents. Please stay tuned while we refresh this information.

The Dog Parent's Guide to Home Cooking is your step-by-step foundation for feeding homemade dog food. It teaches you how to build balanced meals, understand your dog's nutritional needs, and confidently create your own recipes — and it includes our Homemade Dog Food Calculator to help you balance everything as you go.

The Only Homemade Dog Food Cookbook You'll Ever Need takes it further with 50 ready-to-make, nutritionist-balanced recipes. Each one includes both a whole food version and an option using our Essential Nutrient Mix, so you can pick whichever approach fits your routine.

Many dog parents love having both — the Guide teaches you the "why," while the Cookbook makes everyday meal prep simple.

Get the bundle here: https://dogchild.co/products/the-complete-homemade-dog-food-collection-beginner-s-guide-50-meal-recipe-cookbook

You can access the Homemade Dog Food Calculator right here: https://dogchild.co/pages/homemade-dog-food-calculator 🐾

The calculator is an comes with The Dog Parent's Guide to Home Cooking — just log in using the same email address you used at checkout and you're in.

Don't have the Guide yet? You can grab it here: https://dogchild.co/products/the-dog-parent-s-guide-to-home-cooking, and the calculator will be waiting for you the moment you do. 💛

You can find our free Home Cooking Guide here: https://dogchild.co/pages/how-to-make-home-cooked-dog-food

It's a great starting point. If you're ready to go all in, we highly recommend picking up The Dog Parent's Guide to Home Cooking along with the Homemade Dog Food Calculator — it gives you exact ratios, portions, and recipes so you can cook with real confidence.

👉 https://dogchild.co/products/the-dog-parent-s-guide-to-home-cooking

We ship across Canada and the U.S.

We currently ship our physical products to Canada and the United States only. Our digital products, including our guides and cookbooks, are available worldwide and can be purchased and downloaded instantly.

We ship from both Canada and the USA to get your order to you as quickly as possible.

For Nutrient & Meal Mixes

• USA: $5 shipping, or free shipping on orders over $50
• Canada: $5 shipping, or free shipping on orders over $75

For Cookbooks & Guides

• Printed guides and cookbooks: Free shipping within the USA, $5 to Canada.
• Digital Guides: Available Worldwide

Return Policy

We accept returns on unopened bags within 30 days of purchase. A 10% restocking fee and $5 return shipping cost apply. Refunds are issued to your original payment method (excluding shipping) once the return is received and verified.

Guides: All sales of print-on-demand and digital guides are final and non-refundable.

How to Return:
Contact our support team at woof@dogchild.co within 30 days for return instructions. Package the unopened bag securely in its original packaging.

We accept, Paypal, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Shopify Pay.

If your bank charges an international or foreign transaction fee, that's applied by your card issuer on their end — it's not something Dog Child charges or controls, even though it may appear alongside our name on your statement. This happens because we're based in Canada, but it's something we're actively working to change.

If you'd like to stop your shipment, please email us as soon as possible at woof@dogchild.co, and we'll do our very best to help. Unfortunately, once an order has been processed, it isn't always possible for us to stop or cancel it. Be sure to include your order number in your email so we can assist you as quickly as possible.

Most dogs transition to homemade food without any issues, but some picky eaters may need a little time to adjust. We recommend transitioning gradually over 7–10 days by mixing in increasing amounts of the homemade food with your dog's current food. If your dog is still hesitant, try warming the food slightly, adding a splash of low-sodium onion free bone broth, or mixing in something your dog genuinely loves, like sardines or kefir.

You can also try a simple food preference test — offering a few different options separately to see what actually excites your dog — to help figure out what works best. Many dogs simply need a few meals to get used to the new texture and smell. 

Unfortunately, we're unable to accept returns or offer refunds on opened bags due to safety and quality standards. If your dog isn't loving it yet, here are a few things that often help: 

● Introduce it gradually by mixing a small amount into their current food and slowly increasing it over several days. 

● Try mixing it with something extra tasty like a little canned fish, kefir, or cooked ground meat. 

● Serve it slightly warmed, as this can make it more appealing by enhancing the aroma.

Katie McCaul is a canine nutritionist and qualified veterinary nurse (VN) with years of clinical experience in animal health and nutrition. She holds a BSc in Animal Behaviour and Physiology and a Diploma in Naturopathy specializing in Nutrition (DipNat ANutR).

Katie specializes in formulating balanced homemade diets for dogs, combining evidence-based nutrition with practical, real-world feeding strategies for dog parents. She works with both healthy dogs and those with specific dietary needs, often in collaboration with veterinarians, and helps ensure recipes are designed to support healthy growth, long-term wellness, and nutritional balance.

Our Meal Mixes and Essential Nutrient Mix are formulated by a team of animal nutritionists and veterinarians to provide complete and balanced nutrition when prepared as directed. Every ingredient is carefully selected with a specific nutritional purpose.

Our recipes are developed by our nutritionist, Katie, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Nutrition and is also a veterinary nurse. Each recipe is carefully formulated to work with our products and support balanced homemade feeding.

You can access the full nutritional breakdown and details here: Nutritional Guide

To pause your subscription, log into your Dog Child account. Go to “Manage Subscriptions.” From there, you can pause, skip, edit or cancel your subscription. If you need additional help, email us at woof@dogchild.co

To change your delivery address, log in to your account here. Go to "Manage Account," you will see "Delivery Addresses." From there, you can edit your address. If your package has already shipped, email us at woof@dogchild.co, and we will see if we can reroute the shipment.

We have fulfillment facilities in both Canada and the US, allowing us to ship efficiently to customers in both countries.

The Dog Bowl
Website
984 Dundas St W. Toronto, ON M6J 1W6

Our Legal Name is:
The Animals Kitchen

Located at:
333 Bay Street, Unit 2400
Toronto ON, M5H2T6, Canada