Cost of Home Cooking??

The way I do it, it would be IMPOSSIBLE for them to "pick out" anything.  They don't digest the cellulose in veggies so you GOTTA mash them in order for them to get the nutrition out of them -- so either shred the meat or grind (or use some form of ground meat)

When you guys cook your meat, say for example ground beef, do you add the fat drippings from the meat to their food as well?

Understand that I don't cook the meat separately -- I literally add the raw ground beef to the broth and cook it IN the broth. 

the only way to then remove even part of the fat is to cool it and remove the fat that way (which wouldn't remove much of it).

So I calculate using the fat IN the meat.  If I think there is too much fat for safety/good use, then I buy a leaner ground beef.  I have to watch Billy's fat content because he's predisposed to pancreatitis.

So, no I don't try to remove fat after cooking.

I want to make a big point -- I DON'T fry or saute -- one of the reasons my dogs are so happy with what I fix is because it's not a bunch of separate things just served in the same bowl (that's human food).  What I fix is not able to be "picked over" -- you couldn't pick out a veggie or meat because it's all blended together.

So if you're grinding your own meat don't add any more fat than you want to use.  If you're buying ground meat -- watch the fat content on the label.

Even when I give them raw bones (which I simply parboilby plunging the chicken into boiling water for a few seconds,removing and then cool).  I remove the fatty chicken skin and general globs of fat BEFORE I prepare it for them.  dogs generally digest animal fat very well -- but if you have a dog with specific needs regarding fat the time to remove the fat is before you cook it, if that makes sense.

I'm going to ditto Callie on the cooking together deal.  I am more prone to use the food processor and puree first, but absolutely everything goes into the pot together.

I've found the cost to be less than canned but more than kibble.

Feeding 2 toy poodles, I would say home cooking for them saves me around 30% - 35% on their food costs - especially given that I was buying only the most natural, premium food (expensive) I could find for them before.

Add to that the fact that you also save more money in the long-term in the way of avoiding vet bills by having them on the healthiest possible diet.

I would never go back to store-bought dog food now.