|
|
|
Judge on "Greatest American Dog," CBS TV
 
Group: Special Guests
Last Login: 11/6/2008 2:47:36 PM
Posts: 63,
Visits: 40
|
|
| Nutrition is a cornerstone of good health throughout our dogs’ lives. From energetic puppy through maturity and old age, each stage requires us, as dedicated owners, to consider our dogs’ nutritional needs and make appropriate choices. Do you pay attention to the ingredients in your dog’s food and do you know how each ingredient benefits him? Did you put more thought into your dog’s diet when he was a rapidly growing puppy with specific requirements? What about your senior dogs? As they’ve slowed down and become less active, have you adjusted their diet accordingly? Tell us how you approached your feeding decisions.
----------
Allan Reznik
Editor-at-Large, Dog World & Dog Fancy
Editor-in-Chief, Dogs in Review
Dog Breed and Dog Show Expert on DogChannel
Judge on "Greatest American Dog," CBS TV
|
|
|
|
|
Supreme Being
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 5:42:43 PM
Posts: 573,
Visits: 570
|
|
Do you pay attention to the ingredients in your dog’s food and do you know how each ingredient benefits him?
Yes.
What about your senior dogs? As they’ve slowed down and become less active, have you adjusted their diet accordingly?
Yes, I feed Cookie different than I used to (I put her food on a raised platform so she won't have to bend down so far) and Cookie gets a chicken foot daily to help ease her arthritis.
Tell us how you approached your feeding decisions.
I used to feed my dogs really crappy foods like Pedigree because I didn't know any better. They did okay on the food, and I know that many dogs can live a long life even on really bad foods, but it's like you can live a decent life on junk food and fast food resturant food but it's not the best life you can live.
This year, I've done a little research on dog nutrition and have concluded that many of the top and "best" brands such as Purina, Iams, Science Diet are garbage as dog food.
Why? Well, I did not save all the articles I read, but I can give you a link that is very very helpful to explain my reason on this:
dogster.com/forums/Food_and_Nutrition/thread/518898
After a bit of research on the raw diet and talking to RAW diet feeding dog owners, I have also concluded that the raw diet is best. My German Shepherd is staying on a pretty good dog food and my Sheltie mix is getting RAW starting next week. Alas, I cannot afford to feed both of my dogs RAW.
~Tiffany, breeder-in-training
--------------------------------------------------
I'm the God-fearing, gun toting, flag waving conservative that the liberals warned you about.
Truth enlightens the mind, but won't always bring happiness to your heart.
colliequest.deviantart.com
My website is an introduction to the world of responsible dog breeding:
cookiemiller.tripod.com
|
|
|
|
|
Supreme Being
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: Yesterday @ 6:47:53 PM
Posts: 1,562,
Visits: 1,279
|
|
In the 20 years we owned, fosterd , raised dogs, and still own dogs, we have 1 feeding regime.
Puppy 12 weeks to 1 Year= 3x a day.
Adult Dog = 2x a day.
always as the same time....a healty snack in the middle.
Raw beef femur bones on the weekends.
But you have to consider....what ever snack you feed your dog thru out the day, the food you feed them in the evening needs to be subtracted.
Our Dogs are not spoiled,we're just well trained 
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Member
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 3/21/2009 2:04:19 PM
Posts: 212,
Visits: 328
|
|
| When our dogs reach the 'older' stage, we have always switched them to a food specially formulated for senior dogs. With our basset, she has done very well on Dr. Fosters & Smith Senior dry food. Along with a vitamin supplement that includes ingredients targeting arthritis, she has only minimally slowed down and is going strong. I started paying more attention to food ingredients over the last couple years. Sometimes it can be confusing with so many foods out there, and different dogs do better on different foods. I recently switched to Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry food for our other 2 dogs. From the food: Ideal for dogs with high activity levels, Wilderness provides the optimal balance of protein, fats and healthy complex carbohydrates. Made with high quality ingredients such as deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal and fish meal to supply the protein needed for your dog's active lifestyle. Sweet potatoes, oatmeal and potatoes provide healthy complex carbohydrates for lasting endurance. Wilderness is a sensible alternative to raw diets. I am curious as to what the best level of protein for a dog is. I know higher energy dogs can eat a food with a higher level because they burn it off. What is a basic guideline to follow? I've heard many different numbers.
Dogs Rule!!!   
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Member
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 8/28/2009 11:39:23 PM
Posts: 435,
Visits: 404
|
|
Do you pay attention to the ingredients in your dog’s food and do you know how each ingredient benefits him?
I don't pay attention to the ingredients because I think that each dog reacts differently to different foods. Not so much the ingredients. If you find a food that reacts good to your dog that is great! If you find one that is bad for your dog, find a new brand. I've seen people who has been on dog food that is considered "the worst" and for them, it is the best food for their dog while other people have been on "the best" and they didn't have good results. So when I buy food, I go by what my parents bought for the dogs at home and see how that effects my dog. If it isn't causing a problem, why bother changing it around? Leave what isn't a problem alone.
Did you put more thought into your dog’s diet when he was a rapidly growing puppy with specific requirements?
Yes, I made sure that when Sandy was a growing pup she got more meat and protein. I would chop up some chicken that my mom would cook and throw it into her dog food bowl. I gave her more "natural" food that we cooked for her then we did bought food. I always and will always believe that homemade is better then store bought. When you make it at home, you know "who touched" and how it was made and you don't have that worry of the food recalls that we hear so much about.
What about your senior dogs? As they’ve slowed down and become less active, have you adjusted their diet accordingly?
I don't believe in food for older dogs. I think that it is a gimmick to get you go believe something that isn't true. They are all the same food and processed the same way in the same factory. Unless ordered by a vet, I wouldn't change food. In fact, I would recommend feeding adding real food like chopped up carrots or chicken. Giving it more flavor so the dog will want to eat it. Dogs are dogs, food is food. If the food isn't giving your dog a problem, why mess around with it and switch?
----------- Sandy my 1 year old labrador-----------
|
|
|
|
|
Supreme Being
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 9/27/2009 9:37:09 AM
Posts: 653,
Visits: 278
|
|
| I've studied all things dog for most of my life (I'm 49) and I have a thing for nutrition, as I was a nurse for a number of years. Bubba is on a raw-based diet. He does not care for the consistency of raw meat, but LOVES the freeze-dried raw! His kibble is also raw-based. The vet was not familiar with this type of diet and was a bit skeptical about my method, but was SOLD at his last check-up. She says he's in perfect condition and pronounced him "healthy as a horse". He likes to snack on frozen or raw fruits and vegies and the treats I make.
|
|
|
|
|
Junior Member
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 2/6/2009 12:42:31 PM
Posts: 16,
Visits: 11
|
|
Do you pay attention to the ingredients in your dog’s food and do you know how each ingredient benefits him?
Yes I have to. Pippin would not be alive today if I had not learned about dog food ingredients.
Did you put more thought into your dog’s diet when he was a rapidly growing puppy with specific requirements?
I did. But more about the immune system and allergy vectors than growth.
What about your senior dogs? As they’ve slowed down and become less active, have you adjusted their diet accordingly?
My oldest Dog is 5 years old. No sign she's ready to be called senior. Will cross that bridge when I come to it.
Tell us how you approached your feeding decisions.
With a lot of study research and discussion with knowledgeable experts. A website called dogfoodoproject.com was very very instrumental in my learning.
|
|
|
|
|
Member
Group: Forum Member
Last Login: 7/5/2009 5:34:20 PM
Posts: 27,
Visits: 40
|
|
| Do you pay attention to the ingredients in your dog’s food and do you know how each ingredient benefits him? Yes, I read them very carefully and make sure there is only healthly stuff in it. Did you put more thought into your dog’s diet when he was a rapidly growing puppy with specific requirements? No I always put thought into my dog's food at any age. What about your senior dogs? As they’ve slowed down and become less active, have you adjusted their diet accordingly? well buddy is only six so she isn't a senior yet, we'll see what happens when we get there. I feed my GSD puppy a raw diet so it's healthly and natural. but with my other 6 yr. old GSD i feed her BilJac
"Raw food is the best food, for your dog!" ~ me
|
|
|
|