| What is the secret to feeding your dog so that he can | | | | simply eat food. Just like you and me. |
| reap the benefits of longevity and quality of life? Do | | | | A typical meal (fed twice daily) for my dogs might |
| you want to maximize the time that you and your | | | | consist of cottage cheese, brown rice and boiled or |
| family can spend with your dog? I have a personal | | | | baked chicken or turkey breast. Mid-day, they are fed |
| theory of food for dogs which I will share with you. It | | | | snacks of crisp carrots, apples and dehydrated |
| may challenge your everyday thinking about how you | | | | chicken jerky, turkey or other high quality treats made |
| feed your little friend. | | | | from reputable sources in the USA. Our dogs also |
| Dogs and man have cohabitated for many years, | | | | enjoy small bits of avocados, melons and even |
| most likely beginning to follow and help in the hunt and | | | | blueberries. If you are unsure which fruits or |
| later resting together by fire and possibly in caves. | | | | vegetables are safe for dogs to eat, there are many |
| Dogs most likely were fed scraps and some of the | | | | guides available on the internet listing certain foods to |
| same food that our early ancestors ate and shared | | | | avoid such as mushrooms, certain nuts, grapes, raisins, |
| with them. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating | | | | etc., and of course chocolate. |
| feeding your dog table scraps or even prepared | | | | Although I don't subscribe to the raw food diet, I know |
| human food which we eat. | | | | that many do, and don't have anything to say negative |
| What I would like you to consider is the leap that was | | | | about it, other than I only occasionally feed raw meat. |
| made from dogs sharing real food with man to the | | | | Dogs definitely enjoy the trimmings from a steak (prior |
| tinned meat which we designate as "dog food". | | | | to seasoning) and a little raw ground round added to |
| Sometime during the 50's, canned dog food came into | | | | their plate. |
| being. Prior to this, for thousands of years, canines | | | | In your quest to give your dog real "food", don't |
| simply ate "food". | | | | mistake that for food which is seasoned and cooked |
| Much has been made about the dead, diseased and | | | | for the human palate. Many common herbs and spices |
| dying meat which is put into much of commercial | | | | can cause serious digestive problems in dogs and |
| canned food and how most commercial dry dog food | | | | allergic reactions. While you can start with many of the |
| is laden with pure animal fat to entice dogs to eat it. If | | | | same ingredients for your own dishes, foods for |
| you are feeding your dog either canned food or dry | | | | canines should be unseasoned and not cooked in |
| food from a supermarket shelf, I suggest you think | | | | sauces or other flavorings. |
| about whether this is the right thing to do for your dog. | | | | Do you think if you ate the same canned mixed meat |
| Would you want to eat the same mixed meat from a | | | | every day, twice a day for years, that you would live |
| tin can every meal? How about dried kibble made | | | | a healthy and long life? Do you think that your |
| mostly from grain that dogs are not supposed to have, | | | | nutritional needs would be met and that your |
| then drenched in fat? But he's a dog, you say. Yes, he | | | | resistance to disease would be optimal? What about |
| is an animal. And animals should eat food. | | | | your zest for life? |
| Now, there are many very good brands of dry dog | | | | Now that you know why my 17 year-old dog is |
| food and some canned as well, mostly available at | | | | constantly mistaken for a dog of 6 years, I hope I've |
| veterinarians and better pet stores. In fact, I do | | | | challenged you to start thinking about your dog like the |
| supplement my dogs' diets with a very comprehensive | | | | animal that he is (and you are!) and feed him what he |
| high-grade dry food. But for the most part, my dogs | | | | really wants... Food! |