Read this first: talk to your vet before changing your dog's diet

Check with your vet before switching your dog to this or any homemade food, especially for puppies, seniors, and dogs with a health condition. Homemade diets are easy to get nutritionally wrong. Home-cooked meat, rice, and vegetables alone aren't complete, so the recipe needs a dog-specific vitamin and mineral supplement (or a formulation from a veterinary nutritionist).

πŸ– Turkey & Rice Bowl

This is the recipe we've been using for George. It's built around lean protein, digestible carbs, and vegetables β€” with a supplement to round it out into a complete meal.

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs Ground Turkey (lean)
  • 1.5 lbs Green Peas (frozen works great)
  • 3 cups Brown Rice (uncooked)
  • 33 grams Multivitamin Mix (dog-specific supplement)
  • ΒΌ cup Vegetable Oil
  • Small handful of Carrots, diced into tiny pieces

Instructions

  1. Cook the rice: Prepare the brown rice according to package directions. Set aside to cool.
  2. Brown the turkey: In a large pan or pot, cook the ground turkey over medium heat until fully cooked through, breaking it into small pieces.
  3. Add vegetables: Stir in the green peas and diced carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender.
  4. Combine: Mix the cooked rice into the turkey and vegetable mixture.
  5. Add supplements: Let the mixture cool slightly, then stir in the vegetable oil and multivitamin mix until evenly distributed.
  6. Store: Portion into containers and refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.

πŸ“ Important Notes

Always consult with your veterinarian before switching to homemade food. Nutritional needs vary by age, weight, and health conditions. The multivitamin supplement is essential to ensure your dog gets all necessary nutrients β€” never skip it.

πŸ“Š How Much to Feed

Corgis are food-driven and prone to obesity, and extra weight directly stresses their spine and joints β€” so portioning matters more with this breed than most. We weigh George's meals on a kitchen scale instead of scooping β€” grams are far more consistent than a loosely packed cup. George (an adult around 25–30 lb) gets 130 grams per meal, twice a day (about 260 grams total), and we adjust from there based on his body condition.

Feed to the body, not the bowl

These amounts are a starting point, not a rule. Do a monthly body-condition check β€” you should easily feel the ribs and see a waist from above β€” and adjust up or down. Puppies, seniors, and very active dogs all differ. Full method in Keeping Your Corgi Lean.

Rough starting amounts by weight

Adult corgi weightPer meal*Per day (2 meals)
~22–25 lb~110 g~220 g
~26–30 lb (like George)130 g260 g
~31–34 lb~150 g~300 g

*Starting points for this recipe, measured by weight β€” George gets 130 g per meal. Activity level and metabolism vary a lot, so confirm calorie needs with your vet and adjust to body condition.

Storage Tips

  • Refrigerate portions for up to 5 days
  • Freeze extra portions for up to 3 months
  • Thaw frozen portions in the refrigerator overnight
  • Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed

New to corgis, or want the bigger picture on feeding and health? Start with Keeping Your Corgi Lean and Care at Every Life Stage.