When I launched this web series for pet lovers, I knew it would bring good things. But I had no idea how many good things and to what extent.

For example, my dog is now on a 100% homemade diet. And I owe this largely to the healthy dog food advocates I feature on these websites.

Each company we feature teaches me something. As I read though their business materials to create their promotional pages, I learn important lessons about their business and personal philosophies.

I take pride in featuring only companies that do right by our companion animals, and rejecting ones that treat them like commodities. As a result, we see here some incredibly talented, giving and thoughtful business owners. We have educated authors, talented artists, health-conscious bakers and so many more.

So, as I was constructing the pages for Dog Dish Diet and Lucky Dog Cuisine, it is no surprise that I learned a great deal about whole, homemade food for dogs.

When we talk about our own diets, it is self evident that fresh, wholesome foods are better for us than refined, processed factory foods. I have always been health conscious myself, but like so many pet parents, I was brainwashed into thinking that dogs needed commercially processed foods. Hear lines like, "Dogs need commercial food because it is specially formulated for them" enough times and you start to believe it.

But what did dogs do before they had this "specially formulated" food? Back in the day, they (or their ancestors) came up to our ancestors' campfires and ate what was being cooked on the fire. They foraged for wild prey, and nibbled on vegetation that was available in their area. They also ate entire animals, meaning they ate what their prey ate (vegetables, berries, etc.).

Flash forward to modern times, when the leading ingredients in many pet foods may include corn, wheat, and–take a deep breath–the rendered remains of euthanized dogs and cats. Believe it. If you have ever seen ingredients such as "animal digest" or "animal fat" beware. These could be from any kind of animal, including diseased farm animals or euthanized pets.

Cori's homemade diet now consists of the following types of foods: chicken, egg yolks, vegetables like broccoli, carrots, peas and zucchini, cottage cheese, apples, fish, olive oil, rice and potatoes. She also gets a multivitamin and a couple other supplements like glucosamine and omega-3.

Intuitively, which sounds better? The homemade route or the commercial food / animal digest route? Even most of the better commercial foods are still heavily processed. There are a few exceptions, for example Spot's Stew.

I know that feeding Cori homemade food is the right thing to do. And it's interesting, because over the last few weeks, I have had two independent comments on how good Cori's fur looked. The first person said she looked "so light and fluffy" -- even though I hadn't done anything to her fur. The second person said her fur looked so soft, she looked like she "just came from the beauty salon." Again, I hadn't done anything different except transition her diet to a healthy one.

Combine this with Cori's consistently good energy level, along with a small lump on her back that has now disappeared, and there is no question in my mind that homemade food is better than commercial.

Switching your dog to homemade will make your dog happy and healthy, which will probably make you happy as well.

Think it's hard to make a homemade diet for your dog? A good trick is to become more aware of what you are cooking for yourself. Are you making chicken? Save your dog a few pieces. Baking potatoes? Make an extra for your dog. Having some cottage cheese as a snack? Pull out a few ounces for your pup. You get the idea. When you go shopping, buy a little extra for your furbaby, along with some of the above ingredients I mention.

If you have questions, you can always refer to Dog Dish Diet, by Dr. Greg Martinez or Lucky Dog Cuisine--two of my biggest inspirations.

Here's to a happy and healthy life for you and your dog.