The Dog’s Table: 120+ Easy Real-Food Recipes for Happier, Healthier Pups—from Eggs Benedog to Seafood Pawella (BenBella Books, December 2025) is not just a cookbook—it’s a rethinking of what it means to feed our dogs well. Authors Joelle Jay, a dog chef and content creator behind TheCedLife, and R. A. Young, a longevity researcher, combine humor, culinary creativity, and serious science to show why fresh, whole foods can transform canine health. The book blends playful “doggy dining” experiences with rigorously researched balanced meals, all formulated with a proprietary nutrition calculator after analyzing thousands of studies on canine nutrition and health.
The Dog’s Table grew out of your social media presence with TheCedLife. Can you tell us about the moment you realized this playful project could evolve into a book with real impact?
Our audience started asking for a cookbook pretty early on (just a few videos in!), but we were skeptical. Would people really want a dog cookbook? We settled on preselling the eBook before writing it to make sure that we didn’t waste too much time. Within a few weeks we sold over 1,000 copies with an audience less than 10 percent of what it is today. This quickly ended the debate. We published it, and even though there were only treat-style recipes, it was well received. Because the demand exceeded our expectations, it was really the point where we realized that we could make a big impact both for pet owners and dogs.
The majority of recipes we’ve seen online are nutritionally lacking, while others are so complicated that they are only accessible to a very small group of people. For our first traditionally published book, we wanted to create something that people could use every day—simple, rooted in science, and fun to make.
The front section of the book has recipes that can be made with six ingredients or less; ingredients that are available from most grocery stores. We cover basic meals, super nutritious meals (balanced to AAFCO [Association of American Feed Control Officials] standards, so you can tell your vet, though we are skeptical that AAFCO applies to freshly cooked food), weight loss meals, senior diets, and much more. Of course, we have fun stuff too, like Tirawoofsu (Tiramisu for dogs) and Lapawgna (lasagna for dogs).
Our book website is dogstable.com. We write on Substack under Precious Kitchen. We also have our own products at preciouscreatures.co. We make natural DIY food mixes and doggy “seasonings” to help pup owners elevate their homemade food.
Many of your earliest videos went viral with millions of views. How did that sudden attention shape your perspective on what dog owners were looking for?
When a video goes viral, the comments come pouring in. It gives you a good idea of what people are thinking. We noticed right away that people were confused about what dogs can and can’t eat. A lot of them want to feed their dogs better, but don’t know how, or they’re worried it will hurt their dog. This is a common sentiment among dog owners, and we realized we could help.
You describe kibble as a “convenience food” for dogs, much like fast food for humans. What do you see as the biggest myths about commercial dog food that you want to debunk?
The biggest myth is that it’s the healthiest choice because it’s “vet- or industry-approved.” Dogs love to eat, just like people. But while their humans are eating steaks, pies, and pastas, dogs are relegated to eating processed bland food. Just smell dog food and tell us if you think it’s tasty.
Most dog food today is made through a process called extrusion. For the machines to work, it has to be at least 40 percent carbohydrates. It’s pressurized and heated, which destroys many nutrients and is the reason there is a long list of synthetic vitamins and inorganic minerals on any dog food ingredient list. It’s not ideal for any animal. Dogs are considered to be facultative carnivores, meaning they thrive on animal products but can digest some plant matter. Some dog breeds actually digest carbs very poorly and it’s why we believe some breeds are living shorter lives than ever. Ultimately, kibble is made for convenience and a long shelf life. There are contexts in which we agree that kibble makes sense, like when you have to feed 500 dogs at a shelter. It’s not a necessary product to have in a regular household. For optimal health and well-being, there is nothing better than real food.
You’ve emphasized analyzing thousands of scientific papers and even creating your own nutrition calculator. Can you walk us through that process, and why you felt existing tools weren’t accurate enough?
There has been a crisis in science over the last few decades, where a lot of research is not reproducible, even for people. Dog research is likely even less reliable. So, the only way to form a strong opinion is to read lots and lots of papers comparing their methods, results, and conclusions. Some of the most influential vets in this space actually don’t do this. There are even multiple instances of researchers using faulty studies to support claims of food toxicity. We’ve covered this in our newsletter.
Unfortunately, it’s part of the broader issue that we are facing with information today. We take our responsibility to our audience seriously. If we put out a claim or stance on something, know that it is thoroughly researched.
The need for our own nutrition calculator was the same. We found far too many mistakes in the leading software that most people use to formulate their dog foods. It’s mostly a data problem. AAFCO has requirements for some nutrients that are not required for people (because it’s assumed that everyone gets enough). But where does the data for these calculators come from? Mostly from the USDA database that’s based on human requirements. So, in other words, the software that we audited did not have correct values for some key nutrients in fresh foods. The logic to create this software is easy. The tough part is finding the right data. Since we use and write the software ourselves, we are constantly updating and checking the values.
Longevity research is central to your approach. How do findings from human longevity science inform the way you designed recipes for dogs? How do you make that leap from human to canine?
Biologists have been using animal models for research in human health for a long time. So, we actually know more about animal longevity than we do human longevity. A number of interventions are consistent across species, from glucose-lowering drugs to rapamycin (an immunosuppressant medicine).
Some people fear feeding dogs “real food” because of balance, safety, or digestion. What reassurances or strategies does The Dog’s Table offer for beginners who feel intimidated?
Going back to our research on thousands of studies, the studies show that dogs eating non-balanced homemade foods do not show signs of deficiency. This research was actually done by a subsidiary of Mars. On top of that, most of the longest-lived dogs in history all ate whole food, homemade diets. So, the science and the anecdotes match up.
The very idea of “balance” only came along less than 100 years ago after someone invented dog food. When dogs eat the same thing every day, they then have to get all of their essential nutrients met through that one source.
But when an animal eats a varied diet (like dogs have for over 10,000 years with us before there was commercial dog food) most of the issues with balance naturally go away. After all, how often do you think of balance, down to every micronutrient, for your own diet? We probably should be thinking of it more often, but the point is that it shouldn’t be as big of a deal as it’s made out to be for dogs.
If you look at the difference between human and dog nutrient requirements, there is a lot of overlap. We won’t go too deep into the details, but there are only a handful of things to watch out for, and you won’t have any issues.
How do you address skeptics, including veterinarians, who warn against homemade diets?
Wouldn’t it be weird if someone advised you against eating a whole food diet, and instead, recommend you eat packaged food every day?
Veterinarians aren’t taught that much about dog nutrition in school. Think of all the different animals they have to care for that have vastly different diets, conditions, and medical needs. It’s unreasonable to expect them to be your dog’s nutritionist, too. It’s simplest for them to follow protocol and recommend kibble. We switched Edith from kibble to homemade food the day she came home from the shelter. Her transformation was amazing to watch. Her digestion immediately improved. Weeks later, her coat began to shine and her eyes sparkled! She looked like a totally different pup. Now she has boundless energy and glows from the inside out.
For dog owners with limited time, which section of the book do you recommend they start with: Basics, Balanced Meals, or Supermeals?
Start with the Basics! These recipes use under six ingredients. But really, any recipe can work for someone with limited time if you meal prep. Take just an hour a week (or month, if you have the freezer space) and make a big batch of food at once. Portion it out and store it in the freezer. Simply defrost before feeding.
Joelle, you write about how Cedric’s early stomach troubles pushed you toward cooking fresh food despite your initial hesitations. By the way, this is how I came to a whole food approach as well for my dogs in the early 2000s and I’ve never looked back. What was the turning point where you decided kibble wasn’t the answer?
I decided to put away the kibble and start making Cedric’s food after watching him devour his first boiled egg. From there, every new piece of information I learned and every meal I cooked for him just further cemented the fact that we would never touch kibble again. His coat is beautiful, he’s in great shape, his teeth are white, and the stomach troubles are a distant memory. Edith is glowing, too. I see the results of their fresh-food diet every day.
Can you please address cost? I know I have saved thousands of dollars over the years from fewer veterinary visits. What do you tell people who say this approach is too expensive?
Home cooking is not the fastest or cheapest, especially if you choose to use top-quality ingredients. You can find some great deals at places like Costco and Walmart, especially for proteins. People often criticize cheap meat, but even the lowest grade meat sold for human consumption is going to be superior to, and far better regulated than, the byproducts used in most dog food.
So, shop at whatever price point works for you and know that you’re improving your dog’s quality of life.
R. A., you share candidly about your family’s health history and your journey into longevity science. How has that personal background influenced your commitment to real food for dogs?
I’ve read thousands of studies on longevity science and canine health, and the central theme is that health can be improved, and longevity can be increased. People are starting to wake up to this fact. For dogs, the scientific rigor and quality of researchers is worse than those working on human health. We covered mistakes by prominent vets in our newsletter and wrote about poor research standards in our book. Because of the lack of quality voices in this field, we are making our best effort to lead the dialogue in this space.
You argue that the very concept of “dog food” is only about 100 years old. What do you think is lost when people forget that dogs historically ate whole foods alongside humans?
Humans have an amazing ability to suspend disbelief. It’s how we are able to get engrossed in movies and TV shows, and also one of the reasons why we are so creative. The counterpoint to this ability is that we are also easily fooled by good storytelling. Food manufacturers are amazing storytellers. These stories make us forget our connection to nature, and when we forget our connection to nature, we forget our connection to real food. Today, most people think hot dogs, fries, and chips are real food, just like they think balls of dough in a bag is real food for dogs.
What role do you see this book playing in shifting cultural attitudes about what’s “normal” to feed dogs?
There are a few attitudes towards dog food that we hope to change with our content and book. One is that dog food is disgusting. Dog food shouldn’t be gross. It’s only that way because of how commercial dog food is made. With fresh ingredients, it can be just as appealing as our own food. The other attitude is that it’s extremely complicated to make dog food. This is not the case either, but it’s perpetuated by many vets and dog nutritionists. Dog food manufacturers don’t have any incentive to make you think that you can do it yourself. The good news is that it’s far from rocket science. If you can cook a simple meal for yourself, you can make your dog’s food.
With rising obesity and chronic disease in dogs, what change would you most like to see in the veterinary or pet food industries in the next decade?
Sending dog owners home with recipes and grocery lists instead of bags of prescription kibble. We already see a shift to whole food-based nutrition happening as more people want better for their dogs and are doing their own research. Also, better options for those who really need the convenience of prepared or packaged food.
Do you envision The Dog’s Table as the beginning of a broader movement—cookbooks, products, or advocacy—toward fresh feeding for dogs?
We joined the growing movement of people who want better food and healthier lifestyles for themselves and their families, including their pets. When we started feeding Cedric homemade food, we couldn’t find a good resource to help guide us. The Dog’s Table is exactly the tool we needed back then. We hope that it inspires and makes it simple for more people to feed their dogs real food.
For readers who may be skeptical, what’s the one thing you’d like them to try from the book that could change their perspective on feeding real food?
Pick a recipe that looks the most delicious to you and make it for your dog. Have fun with it. Seeing the enjoyment they get from eating a meal you made for them should be enough to change your mind.
Thank you—all four of you—for the time, love, and effort you have put into this book to bring health and vitality to our canine families. The best of luck with your book, and give Cedric and Edith a kiss from us. I think we will try the Ciopuppino first!
