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How and Why to Cook Your Dog’s Food
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JL: You teach workshops on preparing healthy food for both humans and canines. Do you find a connection between the two? BL: Dogs are pack animals; there’s a social process to food with wild dogs. When you’re sitting at the table and not sharing with your dog, there’s a disconnect. Our dogs want to be part of a pack and have the social connection of eating together. I just think it makes a lot of sense. JL: Dog food has gone from table scraps to commercial kibble to feeding natural food and becoming more involved in the process. How have you experienced this in your work? BL: Nowadays, people want the experience of making their own food, including meals for their pets. In my workshops, people are coming in who are less concerned with the nutrition specifics and just want to make their dog a really nice meal. I got into this because my dog was sick, so it’s cool to see people with healthy dogs who just want to do this differently now. And they’re finding that it’s enjoyable, ethical and feels good. |
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This article first appeared in The Bark, Issue 64, Apr/May 2011
Photograph by Jennifer May
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I totally agree with making homemade dog food. I do this now and I make dog cookies and turned it into a business. I feel better about my choice each time I read another article about the benefits of homemade food for dogs. I feel Great when I look at my dogs and know that I am doing the best for them. Thank you for writing about this subject.
I LOVE THIS ARTICLE! I have been cooking and advocating homemade pet food for over 20 years! The dogs and other animals I have raised are healthy and disease free! I have also been able to reverse Irritable Bowel Disease in my Samoyed by using home cooked food!
Like the article pointed out. It really isn't difficult...its just like cooking for another family member!
I find this article to be super informative and jam packed with great info! Thanks
Warmly,
Wendy
www.natural-pet-essentials.com
info@natural-pet-essentials.com
We have a purebred Maltese named Gracie (as a family pet, not a show dog). Around 6 or 7 years old, she became very feeble and overweight. She got to the point when she had a hard time moving around. The vet said her knees and back were very weak and developing arthritis. Then we noticed these awful skin lesions, which the vet said were allergies. We tried every commercial "organic" dog food we could find, nothing worked. On a whim, we cooked some food for her. We use brown rice, potatoes, peas, carrots, and boiled chicken. We also switched to carrots instead of store doggy treats. It completely changed her! She lost a lot of weight and even began to build some muscle. She's also much more active, it's like she's a puppy again even though she's about to turn 10. Best thing we ever did. :)
I want to get another Maltese puppy, but I'm gonna raise it on home cooked food from the start and save it from a lot of pain. :)
I have a 14 year old Chihuahua beagle, Beans. She has been overweight most of her life and the past year she has not had a desire to go out for a walk, that's how feeble she has been. I changed her diet to a combination of veggies and cooked meat with barley or brown rice (and 3 other dogs too) and after 2 weeks, she's jogging for 10 minutes again. She is still winded after a walk but she can jump curbs once again!! I plan to slowly increase the pace of the exercise and we'll see if she can regain her endurance again.
People don't know how important healthy food are. I have 12 years old Golden Terrier and I always prepare him homemade food. Do you know dogs can live 27 years! Please don't give them commercial food. There are lots of healthy homemade food recipes here http://www.makeusknow.com/categories/animals&pets/what-can-dogs-eat-vs-w... , please prepare them healthy food.