That makes life a lot easier. You just shop for the same things every week.

I like easy. There are plenty of things that keep our minds occupied without creating any more. And your dog's diet is too important not to take seriously.

First, is this quality food? It's unlikely to be as the quality food will go for the more lucrative human market. So the next question is, is the quality acceptable? Go by the look, the smell and what your dog thinks. A healthy dog will generally not eat bad food (except for commercial food with it's appetite stimulants and other 'disguises').

The next question is, does the food have a high fat content disguised by beetroot juice (yes, it does happen)? You can tell by the slightly odd colour and by how greasy it is.

Next, is the food balanced? When learning how to make homemade dog food, this is crucial. Feeding your dog one type of food is unlikely to provide him with all the nutrients essential for a healthy dog.

And the final important question to ask is, does the food contain preservatives? Preservatives that are used in dog food and pet food generally don't bear thinking about. They are not the less harmful ones considered acceptable (by some) for human consumption. They are the real nasties - ethoxyquin, formaldehyde and worse.

Taking all these points into consideration, you may find it preferable to make your own dog food from scratch. That is, to buy each ingredient individually, so you can see the quality, and mix them all together for that all important balance.

However you work out how to make homemade dog food, your dog will be much happier and much healthier as a result. Although it's unlikely that you will spend more in terms of money on a homemade diet, you will in all probability, spend more time, certainly initially as you get your head around it.