Food for Thought: Quick Tips for a Healthy Canine Diet
by Heather Morris, CPDT-KA
As a trainer, I often get asked about what kind of food I feed my dogs. I feel that is a loaded question for me. Not only am I a certified dog trainer, but I’m also a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America so food is my other passion. As you can imagine, I pull out all the stops when it comes to meal time for my pups. There are quite possibly times when my Dals eat better than I do. So the short answer to this question is I feed a diet that is based on the ancestral diet, or more commonly referred to as the RAW diet or the BARF diet (Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). If you are unfamiliar with these terms, just think what would a wolf eat? After all, dogs are descendants of wolves, right?
Don’t worry! I’m not about to suggest that everyone feed their dog this way as it’s a huge commitment and should be well thought out before deciding to take the plunge. However, I am going to suggest that you take the time to read the label on all food and treats you give your dog. We count calories, watch fat intake, and analyze ingredient lists on food labels before deciding to buy a certain product. So why shouldn’t we do the same thing for our canine family members? Today’s dog owner has no problem spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars on dog daycare, midday walks, training, grooming, etc. Why should nutrition be an afterthought?
So before you buy your next bag of food or pick up a special treat for Fido, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
Ingredients listed on a food label are listed in order of amount by weight. The first ingredient listed will be the most prevalent with the last ingredient being minimally present. Ideally, you want the first few ingredients to be named animal proteins such as chicken, lamb, venison, herring, etc. Meals should also be named, example chicken meal, fish meal.
Animal proteins are much healthier for dogs than their counterpart vegetable proteins such as corn, wheat, and soy. Vegetable proteins are often used in dog food because these ingredients are cheaper for pet food manufacturers. Instead look for whole grains such as quinoa, oats, barley, brown rice, millet, etc. Note that most RAW diets exclude grains from their menu (which is another topic for a different day).
Look for foods that contain whole fruits and vegetables. Fresh food ingredients have essential vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes that are essential for maintaining bodily health.
Of course local organic ingredients are desirable as they are good for our dogs and promote sustainability, a plus for the planet.
Avoid foods that contain added sweeteners, colors, and artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin). Artificial preservatives have been linked to cancer. Choose natural preservatives such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and rosemary extract instead. The color is just for us, do you honestly think dogs care what color their food is after seeing the stuff they put in their mouth?
Look for foods that readily provide manufacturer contact information incase you have more specific questions. You should be able to locate an address, phone number, and website on the bag. Reputable manufactures aren’t trying to hide anything!
These are just a few tips to help you become an educated consumer. Obviously, the topic of canine nutrition has much more depth then this and there are many great resources that you may want to reference to learn more. One of my personal favorites include, The Whole Dog Journal which is a monthly publication that covers dog care and training. It’s simply a must have for any dog owner!
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Heather Morris, CPDT-KA is the owner of Spot On Training, LLC and lives on Capitol Hill with her two Dalmatians. Spot On Training offers private training sessions, puppy class, FREE puppy play, phone consultations, and mini series targeted on specific behaviors. To learn more visit "http://www.spotondogtrainingdc.com"