I have a 47lb Lab/Border Collie, he's 21months and I am looking for a homemade recipe. He is very active and is walked 3-4 times a day, so he needs a good meal. He also has very dry skin, but a great coat. So if you know any other tips for his skin, that I could add in with his regular meals, I would appreciate it.

Some time ago I found a recipe for home-made diets - I've never tried it, so can't vouch for it!
All quantities are per 10k dog weight

Basic: for normal adult maintenance -
two-thirds cup uncooked rice, one third cup medium fat meat.
Meaty: for small dogs or large growing or very active dogs -
one third cup uncooked rice, two thirds meat.

Boil the rice and add to meat. When cool, add 6 tsp raw liver, and 1 tsp of bonemeal, corn oil, and iodised salt.

You can also add any vegetables (though not too much root veg), preferably raw and liquidised, that you like.

Hope this helps.

For his dry skin have you tried adding tuna in oil once or twice a week either mixed with his food or as a treat mine love it,

Hi A/124, what are you feeding him now? I can suggest a couple of books that do great homemade diets cos if you are planning to do it permanently you need to make sure he gets all the essential nutrients from a varied diet.
Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine,

I'd be interested in the title of those books please.

Thanks Zoe P

Hi Zoe/P one of them is called "Dr Pitcairns Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats" by Dr Richard Pitcairn & the other is "Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Pet Diet" by Kymythy Schultz. I find them both very good. Also "Give Your Dog a Bone" by Ian Billinghurst", which is about raw feeding as well.
Christine, Spain.

You might like to have a look here .
Lara x

Thanks Christine, thanks Lara! :)

...just to follow on from Christine's excellent suggestions. Ian Billinghurst, author of 'Give Your Dog a Bone', has a new book out now called 'The Barf Diet'. It is more condensed and gives recipes for preparing food in portions for storage in the freezer. He is very aware, in this new book, about people's fears in respect of feeding bones and suggests ways of feeding BARF without the fear. (This book also gives guidelines on feeding cats a natural diet.) I searched everywhere in the UK to get my copy - even emailed Ian Billinghurst. I eventually bought it on the net from a UK company. If anyone is interested, I can give you details.

Hi Liz,

I'd be very interested to get Dr B's new book - can you e-mail me with details?

Many thanks

Ruth

Hi Ruth,
Have emailed you with the information.
Liz

Hi,
What is the book's ISBN? Any bookshop should be able to order it with that. :)

I think that it is difficult to get in the UK because it is printed & published in Australia and of course it is quite new - published in 2001. I tried Amazon and other book sites with no joy. When I contacted Ian Billinghurst I was given only one contact in the UK. (Leigh - am I allowed to give the supplier's name on here?)
If you want to try searching for yourself, ISBN number is: 0 9585925 1 9
Alternatively, if you email me I'll be only too pleased to send you the details.

Hi Zoe
I have emailed you the information.
Liz