Feeding a pet has become rather complex lately. Some choose all natural diets, raw food (meat/bones), human food diets, regular off-the-shelf dog food, and some use a combination all their own. I guess it depends on your interpretation of what you feel is the best food for your dog. And it also depends on which company has sold you! Feeding a dog should not be difficult, but society and advertising have turned it into a difficult thing to do. We have trusted them to tell us the correct information and they have run with it! Creating a billion dollar industry created on telling us what to buy and not necessarily what is best.
WOW! I have learned SO much these past years!
I have been searching the web and "talking" to people about feeding a natural raw diet. I never thought those words would come out of my mouth! I initially thought the raw diet was totally disgusting! EWWWWWW! How can someone feed that stuff to dogs? Won't they get sick? I have attempted to start the raw food diet over the past week. This is what I can report so far:
1. Windsor really likes raw chicken wings, rabbit and ribs!
2. He hasn't been "using the bathroom" as much.
3. He seems calmer, I guess more content would be the best description.
And he is so much more loving and snuggly!
4. He doesn't care for raw liver!
Puppies and Raw Food
The idea of that just gave me the creeps until I started actually researching it. Animals in the wild feed babies raw food. It's not like momma fox makes a trip to the local grocery store to get a bag of puppy chow, ya know? So why is it different for domestic puppies? It isn't! The large dog food companies would like us to believe that as would many veteranarians that were sent to school on grants provided by the same industries that tell us what to feed our dogs. But hey, don't believe me, read for yourself. I have listed a link to a Natural Feeding discussion group that may interest you and help you learn more, as I am.
Doggie Treats
I don't buy the dog treats or biscuits in the store, even the 'premium' brand selections. I make my own. I usually give a raw carrot, apple, or potatoe to Windsor to chew on. Raw veggies are crunchy and will not put unnecessary weight on him, and let's not forget they're probably healthier, too! As you can see on the right, he likes his carrots! What a clown!
Listed below are some links that are full of information on foods and feeding. Inside the kibble ingredient link are lisitngs for most major dog food companies. Also there are a few for doggie recipes. Most recipes are combinations of the same ingredients and you can mix and match to create your own recipes to see what suits your dog (if cooking is your thing). Just remember NO CHOCOLATE, NO EXCESSIVE RAW GARLIC, NO ONIONS and NO SUGAR.
**In case you're not aware, Miniature Schnauzers don't have sharp taste buds and will try just about anything you give them (or don't give them!). So have fun and give some recipes a try!
If you care to "beef" up (pun) on this subject, the following books have been recommended by people already on the diet. I have finally received them and read Billinghurst's book from cover to cover! It is that good and makes sense. Surely, if you are concerned about your pet's diet, you'll appreciate this book also.
*Grow Your Pups with Bones by Dr. Ian Billinghurst
*Give Your Dog A Bone by Dr. Ian Billinghurst
*The Ultimate Diet: Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats by Kymythy Schultz
I have searched all the links on my dog food supply links and found both books at DOGWISE for a reasonable price.
