Only 50 years ago, most dogs ate table scraps. Twenty-five years ago, cereal companies starting producing commercially prepared pet food to sell in supermarkets and agricultural feed stores. Today, grocery stores dedicate an entire aisle to food made specifically for pets.

There are dry premium foods, convenient semi-moist packets, gourmet diets, and specialty foods for puppies, adult dogs, older dogs, and, of course, overweight dogs. Most commercially prepared dog foods are made from a fixed formula of ingredients that will provide your dog with a balanced diet. But there is another way to make sure your dog eats properly — fixing her meals and treats yourself.