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Corporations love to convince us that what they would like to sell us is superior to what we can come up with on our own. So I've been thinking about commercial dog food. It's convenient. The recording in my head plays, "no table food", just as programmed. I want to question that practice, so how about a discussion on feeding our dogs what we eat, altered as need be. Not a raw diet, just dog meals sort of based on what is being prepared for the humans, taking into account canine nutrition needs...and assuming the humans are eating a healthy diet. Include raw bones for dental care.
We don't eat pellets or bagged nuggets, (although low-carb pasta came close in taste ) and manage our nutritional needs just fine. The current wisdom is to to avoid processed food. Why not dogs, too?
My dog can have some of what we're eating, given that it's of a nutritous, whole food variety...he doesn't get sweets, or greasy things, or the handful of processed foods we make for ourselves. But veggies, meats, sure. However, he gets them in his bowl, at his feeding time...and at our discretion. Not by begging at the table. When we got him, it was obvious that begging behavior had paid off for him in the past and gotten him table scraps at his discretion. No more. He also eats commercially prepared dog food. His "people food" is a treat when there is extra.
My dog LOVEs her dog food and just barely likes human food. So why change? It would be kinda
worriesome for me that she was getting a balanced diet with our foods...JMO.
Never a bone for any of ours, not after 2 episodes w/pancreatitis and 2 trips to ER. We learned our lesson, pricey too. Peas, carrots, rice, chicken seem to be very much appreciated. But daily diet is dry food and milkbone for treats. An occasional crust of my toast, bagel or english muffin (the part that isn't buttered) does seem to be a bonus for them. Just scrape the tarter from the teeth to prevent gum disease.
The best thing they love is .... attention! And if it happens to involve people food, well, then it is a jackpot!
I'd rather my dog eat natural, real human food than bagged kibble that's been so processed that the expiration date is 5 years from now! Let's be realistic, even the premium kibbles are heavily processed to meet import requirements (think Orijen, Acana, Ziwi Peak) and to have a longer shelf life. But, it's convenient and most people don't cook for their human kids (or themselves for that matter), never mind pets! I think when we're told to not feed human foods it means food products. Most humans don't eat food, but rather products made to look and taste like foods. Nothing wrong with giving your dog fresh, real food on a regular basis!
I cook for my three and add a little kibble as a topping. I wouldn't add the topping but my youngest goes directly to the cupboard begging for kibble after eating his home cooked meal...if that's not a kick in the butt!
My dog delights in eating garbage, loves nothing more than to try to eat litter people leave in the street on his walks, and we have had to lock our trash up in the basement since he became a part of our household. Pretty sure he's not offended by or going to turn his nose up at commercial kibble.
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) and manage our nutritional needs just fine. The current wisdom is to to avoid processed food. Why not dogs, too?
