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Home Pets The Woof
Gang The
WOOF Gang: Dog Food for Thought II

The
WOOF Gang: Dog Food for Thought II

Thursday, 03 December 2009 18:18
Jerry DeMarco

Here comes the
second part of my collection of helpful info on deciding the best diet for your
dog amid the often-confusing types and varieties out
there.

(Part I:
Dog Food for
Thought)

Some Facts when Considering a
Home-Prepared Diet

While raw and home-prepared diets can have
miraculous benefits in resolving a multitude of health problems, it is not a
decision to be taken lightly.  Do your homework; do research on the
internet and in the wealth of books available on the topic.

Laura Garber

The key to any homemade diet is variety.
Variety will ensure that your dog receives all the nutrients he needs over a
period of days and weeks.  Each and every meal need not be balanced and
complete; rather, balance over time must be achieved.  There must be a
variety of animal protein sources as well as a variety of animal parts (organs,
muscle), dairy, vegetables, fruits, and grains.  Note:  It is just as
important, by the way, that variety is exercised in any diet, as issues such as
food allergies can develop if the same diet is fed over the course of months and
years.

Looking for some alternatives?  If you’re concerned about a
choking hazard with raw bones (a rich calcium source), grind them up.
Defrost only what you need for each meal for guaranteed freshness.  If you
worry about bacteria in raw meat, you can cook the food instead.  But be
aware that dogs, with their shorter intestinal track, can tolerate bacteria that
would make us very sick.

For the ultimate in ease and convenience, there
are commercial raw diets now available, such as Nature’s Variety and Home Made 4
Life.  Still, if you’re not ready to embrace a completely homemade diet,
add fresh foods to the commercial diet you’re already feeding.

“Ancestral” Foods: Are All Proteins Created
Equal?

From the very beginning, dogs evolved by picking through
the human waste heap.  As dog breeds became specialized to assist humans
with their disparate jobs, the canine meal derived from human leftovers diverged
just as greatly.  While herding dogs were bred to work sheep, goats, and
cattle, coastal breeds assisted fishermen, and hunting dogs helped with hunting
various game.  It stands to reason, then, that the working canine would
feast on whatever was most available to his keeper.  So, when deciding upon
the optimal protein source for your dog, consider the job for which he was
bred.  Sight hounds will thrive on rabbit and venison, northern breeds on
fish and sweet potato, herding dogs on beef and lamb, retrievers on duck, and
Asian breeds on chicken and fish.

The Finicky
Eater

Little dogs are notoriously finicky eaters.  Further,
some dogs are just not big eaters and some breeds are lighter eaters than
others.  So a missed meal here or there should not be a great cause for
alarm if your dog is acting healthy otherwise. But, if he was once a good eater
and his behavior has suddenly changed, consult your vet.

If your dog’s a
chronically picky eater, typically it’s due to free-feeding.  When there is
always food available, the dog is never worried where his next meal is coming
from, so he might adopt a “wait and see” attitude with the hopes that some
better treats will be offered throughout the day.  Soft-hearted owners that
we are, we will worry that he’s not eating enough and offer him enticing
tidbits, just what he was hoping for.  By feeding your dog discrete meals,
putting the bowl down and then picking it up 15 minutes later, eaten or not, he
may learn to eat it when it’s available.

Improving the quality of your
dog’s diet and including variety may spur a renewed interest in eating.
Make sure that you are not overfeeding, as this might be a reason for skipped
meals.  Further, a sluggish diet may be the result of boredom.
Increase your dog’s exercise and play time, and include mental
stimulation.  More than a few dogs I know have shown greater interest in
their food when it was put in a puzzle toy like the Kong or the Tricky Treat
ball.  As a last resort, try pouring warm water or broth over your dog’s
food to see if that entices him.

A Healthful
Diet

Whether you opt for the ease of a dry food or the ultimate
in health with a raw diet, supplements are important. Add yogurt or cottage
cheese occasionally. Cook up some sweet potato or pumpkin or steam vegetables
like broccoli and carrots and add it into the dish.  And include an
essential fatty acid (omega 3s from an animal source like salmon) supplement as
well as a whole food vitamin supplement daily for optimum health.

Dog trainer Laura
Garber of Hoboken regards training as an exercise in building relationships
rather than obedience. She believes such an approach promises greater
understanding and symbiosis within our family packs. Laura works with private
clients in Hudson County and beyond. For information, go to myWoofGang.com or contact
her directly at

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