THE BOYS: MIKO & HANK: My babies, my buddies, my fan club. Together with their Papa, Andy, we are a food-driven family! We live to eat, and thankfully, I love to cook.

Hank, THE ORIGINAL (!) a handsome gentleman of a chocolate lab, is 10. He’s the first dog I’ve ever had. Hank used to belong to friends of mine, but their lifestyle changed when their family expanded to include a toddler and a baby, and they felt that Hank just wasn’t getting enough attention. Although I had no experience with dogs, I jumped at the chance to get Hank (then 4 yrs old) – I just thought he was the most mellow, gentle, and just plain cool dog. He wasn’t into fetching, chasing things, he was content with long walks, long naps, and eating. My kinda guy. He has been my rock, and has seen me through my single years and the relationships therein (no small feat!) and has gracefully gone along with any new plans of mine, such as buying a cottage, moving to the ‘burbs with my husband Andy, the loss of my father…and the most challenging for Hank of all, adding another dog into the mix last summer!

Miko is my “little bum”. He just turned three, and he’s still a lean, muscular ball of energy. He’s also a rescue of sorts, we just got him one year ago – not from physically abusive homes, but from two homes that couldn’t care for him properly. There was a bit of a training curve there, he could not understand what a leash was for! He stole our hearts within a couple of days, for he is just the sweetest little guy, always eager to give kisses and to hang out with you. He is simply fascinated with every little thing that I do.

My three boys, Andy, Hank and Miko make me smile every day. I feel very lucky to have them in my life and the least I can do is try to make a good home for everyone. They are all members of my family, my Wolfpack (!), and I don’t like our meals to come from boxes, bags or cans. Food wasn’t meant to be manufactured and manipulated so much; not only is it lacking in nutritional benefits, it just doesn’t taste as good and satisfy our souls the way a thoughtfully prepared homemade meal does.

My Philosophies on Home Cooking for Dogs:

I began this home cooking for dogs journey a couple of years ago when Hank took ill, and his arthritis was crippling him, resulting in chronic pain. The vet was quick to try to prescribe a lifetime prescription for Meds, and also to tell me not to expect Hank to ever run alongside me on my bike ever again. I was sad & scared and reluctant to give my dog drugs. (I’m not a fan of heartworm and other vaccines for dogs). I was working with a wonderful casting agent at the time, Sue, a brave and big-hearted rescuer of small dogs. She not-so-gently told me to forget what the vet said and to try home cooking for Hank and to include extra glucosamine in his diet. A simple suggestion, but bells went off in my head. Like, hello, earth to Jen… you are into cooking healthy food, the latest food/nutrition topics, you work out regularly, why on earth wouldn’t you think the same principles that apply to your own health, apply to your dog’s? I got cookin’ for Hank and the rest is history.

Hank still loves our bike rides.

Please feel free to contact me – I would love to hear from you! Emails can be sent to mydogsbreakfast [at] gmail [dot] com. If you have a specific question regarding a recipe, please comment on the post. Cheers, Jen