YOUR DOG'S NUTRITION

We have the prerogative of knowingly eating what's bad for us sometimes. Our dogs however have only us to rely on us as the "Caring Hands" that feed them all the time. We would say one general parameter to go by in choosing a pet food, is asking a trusted pet professional what they feed their dogs. The qualifier however is then ask them if they know if it has bi-products, corn, or chemicals in it? If you get the blank stare or "uh I dunno"; then discard the answer. It is truly amazing how few breeders and other pet professionals know, or care to know. about what they feed their pets, and recommend to their clients. To maintain optimum health and stamina, is to enhance the receptivity to, and retention of our training programs, and to avoid behavioral problems related to hypersensitivity to additives, allergies, their associated stress, and or deficiencies related to diet. In fact a healthy dog is even more resistant to attracting ticks and fleas!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT PETS AND PET FOOD

DEFINITION:

Webster defines dogs and cats as "carnivorous domesticated animals". In other words, they are mainly meat eaters. In nature, it is not likely that dogs or cats will devour a corncob or dig for soybeans! Your pet has a short digestive tract designed for a meat-based diet with complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

There is however somewhat of a debate as to whether in fact dogs are omnivores (meat and vegetable eaters) vs. carnivores which hinges upon your definition of those terms. Needless to say they are not vegetarians as you will never see a "herd of dogs" grazing by the roadside. From this stems a variety of controversial diets ranging everywhere from "B.A.R.F", (yes doesn't it sound appetizing?) This stands for bones and raw food); to highly touted fresh home cooking, (yes dear tonight it's fast food for us because I'm busy cooking for Rover!)~ and even custom designed diets from herbologists, fresh baked all natural, (hard to find), to not fresh but baked with preservatives, commercial all natural, so called premium commercial foods, (usually laden with bi-products, corn, chemicals, massive, and we daze say misleading, ad campaigns), to commercial lower quality non fixed formula, with chemicals preservatives and artificial coloring agents, ( as if dogs were really concerned with shape, or if they could even see color, care about it)! To the bottom of the line vegetable, bi-product and filler based so called bargain brands at half the price, of which you feed more than twice the amount, and take up any additional savings with trips to the Vet office, not to mention a lower quality of life, and decreased longevity for our dogs. Undoubtedly if you are reading this you certainly care more than to feed those last types. Upon request we can supply you with a comparison of ingredients of the most popular national brands that you will find shocking.

In fact entire books are written on nutrition, and in the upcoming book version of "Never. Never :;..Hit Your Dog "; you can expect a lot more on nutrition there, as well as some suggested reading.

EXPLANATION OF PET FOOD LABELS: 

The percentage; of ingredients is NOT listed on pet food labels- The first three ingredients represent the highest volume of total ingredients. The ingredients are listed in descending order. When a label lists corn, wheat or soybean as one or all of the first three ingredients, you are feeding your pet a vegetable-based diet. For the sake of your pet, please read and understand the labels on pet food. Additionally there is a seem1ing fixation on thinking, "well my dog food has 2% more protein than your food. "' Rather than percentages, it is the digestibility that counts, as determined by the source of the nutrients, and the method of
preparation/cooking.

ADDITIVES:

Most pet foods contain chemical preservatives, coloring and artificial flavors. Since pets eat the same food every day it seems only prudent not to constantly expose your pets to additives. In fact it is said the average size dog will eat approximately twenty six pounds of DHT and BHA preservatives on a food like this in his often times carcinogenicly shortened lifetime.

BY-PRODUCTS VERSUS MEAT:

By-products are always what they say they are: Garbage unfit and unlawful for human consumption No wonder the big food conglomerates own most of the dog food companies. Why throw it away when you can sell it?

FEEDING GUIDELINES:

Please note how many cups you must feed the dog. This is what determines how much the cost to feed your dog is...regardless of what you paid for the bag of dog food. You can't just go by the label anyway, due to different metabolisms and rates of activity, as well as climate. It is the cost per feeding that counts.

CANNED PET FOOD:

Carefully read the labels on the can. "Moisture' (water) content may be '45 high as 80% ($1.25 for a can of water is a lot of money). The protein level and fat content is often very low, coming from about 20% by-products and vegetable filler like corn, corncobs, etc... Ash and magnesium content is often very high (harmful for cats)..

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

PROTEIN:

Protein is needed to build strong, healthy bones. muscle and skin Proteins are classed as digestible (from meat, certain vegetable proteins) and indigestible (high protein
content, but the proteins can't be used by the body, such as in by-products). A mixture of digestible animal and vegetable proteins are needed for proper development. For example shoe leather is 100% protein that is 100% indigestible- So would you want to feed your dog 26% protein that is maybe half digestible, or 22% protein that is almost 100% digestible? Just do the math.

FAT:

Fats are needed for a glossy coat and supple skin. Fats are also used as a calorie source. If a food doesn't have enough calories provided by fats, then the animal has to use calories from the proteins. If this happens, the proteins cannot be used to build healthy bone and muscle. Omega 3 fatty acids are preferred for assimilation.

MEAL:

Meal just means dehydrated weight. For example, if a food contains poultry as its main ingredient, then it means that poultry was weighed before it was dehydrated. If a food contains poultry meal as its main ingredient, then it means that the poultry was weighed after it was dehydrated. This means that there is more digestible protein per serving!

PRESERVATIVES:

To be able to stay on the shelf, foods have to be preserved in some way. There are two ways of preserving dry food...with chemicals or with vitamins. Chemical preservatives include BHT, BHA, and ETHOXYQUIN. All are known carcinogens, and the later with a chemical content similar to that of Agent Orange defoliant used during the Viet Nam War, as well as in the manufacturing of artificial rubber for tires! The so-called premium food you are feeding could be as much as a year and a half old! Natural (vitamin) preservatives include TOCOPHEROLS (Vitamin E) and ASCORBYL PALMITATE (Vitamin C), anti oxidants, typically providing a shelf life of about six months. Even if you feed a natural food. those sold in stores may have been on the shelf for months.

BY-PRODUCTS:

By-products are the leftovers! After all the other useful parts of an animal have been used. For example, poultry by-products are the heads, beaks, feet, feathers. etc. of the bird. Think about if for a second. If your pet happened to catch a bird, what are the last parts that would be eaten? Also, by-products although very high in protein content are primarily indigestible proteins and do not contribute to your pets' health. In short, by-products are everything you and I would not eat.

FILLERS:

Corn, ground cornhusks or cobs. Corn's ratio of tyrosine (an amino acid that blocks out the production tryptophan - the messenger helping to carry serotonin (the feel good chemical) to the brain. is unusually high. In other words the presence of corn in the diet can have a domino effect on behavior!

ANIMAL PROTEIN:

Saving the most disgusting for last-Well how can I put this delicately? Let me just say if you don't want your pet eating like Hannibal Lecter........ enough said?