A dogs food.

[Dixie Hound]

Okay, I put this here because we have been talking alot about schutzhund, protection and weight pulling. So, I guessed more people would see it and be able to help me.

So, what I am woundering about, is can a dogs diet increase his drive, or proformance, muscle and build, or even things like endurance and stamina.

Okay, we all know about the "pet store" dog foods, it is what I have always feed my dogs and I would guess that it is what most people feed there dogs. But, what about a "human food"<--sorry lack of better word> Diet?

Is there any one here that feeds there dog, chicken necks, fruit, veggys, red meat, pork? Can you feed your dog these things, and if you can, how do you feed them it and what food do you put with what food?

So can any one give me some pros and cons on dog foods? What would be a better way to go?

Thanks.

Dave.

[paramount]

To answer the question regarding the effects of diet on a dog, just think about yourself. When you eat healthier you feel more energetic and less restrained. Thinking is less clouded, you have greater stamina to perform physical work, and you are much more comfortable. On top of that you also have less propensity to get sick, shorten downtime from exetion, etc. The same applies to your dog.

Not all kibbles are equal. There are a ton of people here who would contend that switching their dog from an alright diet to a premium kibble (less fillers, better nutrition value, etc.) has tremendous benefits. I believe it does make a great difference. There are also people who feed their dogs a raw meat plan. From what I've seen, this diet also works quite well and it is a personal choice whether to feed kibble or raw, there isn't a wrong decision. The bottom line is to research whatever diet you stick with so you can provide your dog with great nutrition. There are a ton of threads if you search on a specific kibble or on the raw meat diet.

[IceyBlueSibes]

I agree with paramount. I plan on feeding a RAW diet when I'm out on my own. It can become quite pricey. I really have no knowledge on this type of feeding, but there are quite a few people here who do. You should get a response soon.

Good luck!

[Schwe]

I agree with paramount.

Some things to add...

When feeding a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet, you must be sure to not olny feed your dog meat, but make sure the meat is human grade, from healthy animals. Also, you have to make sure that the diet is balanced and has all of the essential components a dog needs in it. BARF is too much work for me. I'm too busy to prepare a meal every day, or spend a few hours a week making a large batch to be rationed out throughout the week. I also am afraid of giving too much of one thing, or too little of another. So, I stick with a super premium kibble that I know has everything my dog needs in it. I feed Solid Gold Wolf King.

About Solid Gold Pet Food:

Solid Gold specializes in the development of "non-allergenic" products, which work together to enhance total health, boost up the immune system and protect against disease. They always use wholesome USDA Choice lamb and beef meal, USDA grade I and II grains, and healthful monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils.

Solid Gold never uses chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin, which may be related to some diseases in pets. They never use wheat, corn or soy, which are often genetically modified and common allergens for dogs, causing them to have uncomfortable skin disorders, chew incessantly at their feet or suffer from chronic problems such as ear infections. They never add animal or poultry fat to our products, as these are saturated fats that may contribute to heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Solid Gold is also an industry leader in the use of revolutionary foil "barrier" packaging for all their dry food products, which means they don't have to use chemical preservatives or flavor enhancers. Barrier packaging keeps food fresher for longer, maintains palatability and helps to sustain the potency of valuable vitamins and other nutrients, which may deplete over time with conventional paper bags.

Source: http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/Solid_...n_p/140013.htm

The ingredients in the Wolf King are excellent:

Bison | Salmon Meal | Brown Rice | Millet | Cracked Pearled Barley | Oatmeal | Rice Bran | Canola Oil | Flaxseed Oil | Garlic | Amaranth | Blueberries | Yucca Schidigera Extract | Taurine | Carotene | Choline Chloride | Vitamin E Supplement | Iron Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | Copper Proteinate | Manganese Proteinate | Potassium Iodide | Thiamine Mononitrate | Ascorbic Acid | Vitamin A Supplement | Biotin | Calcium Panthothenate | Selenomethionine | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Riboflavin | Vitamin D Supplement | Folic Acid

This is a flyer with more info on Wolf King kibble:
http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/2133wolf_king2.jpg

Once in a while I add some things to Sophie's kibble for variety. Lately I have been adding some Jack Mackeral to her kibble at night. The Omega-3 fatty acids in it help make her coat nice and healthy and shiny. Sometimes I substitute a meal (AM or PM) with some raw. I give her a raw leg of lamb to eat. She eats the meat off of it, and then chews the bone. She usually doesn't eat the whole bone and gets bored about half way through. I throw it out after she loses interest. When I run out of lamb I will go to the butcher and buy some chicken backs. If we are having turkey for dinner, I give her the raw turkey neck.

She also loves fruits and vegetables. I give her bananas, apples, oranges, tomatoes, lettuce (yes, she eats lettuce!), watermelon, etc. She also gets raw eggs, cottage cheese and yogurt on ocassion.

It is important to never give your dog cooked bones. The process of heating them up and then cooling causes the bone to weaken and splinter. These splinters can get lodged in your dog's throat or intestines, requiring surgery to remove them before they puncture the intestinal wall and cause septic shock and death.

[Dixie Hound]

Okay great guys, all very good info. I have a few more questions though if I may.

1)At what age should I start a BARF type diet?

2)Has anyone here ever hurd of putting your dogs on vitamins? Can a dog beafit from extra vitamin C or D ext.ext.?

3)Do people put there dogs on testosterone boosters, or steroids?

I guess this all goes along with diet.

Dave.

[Schwe]

I think "testosterone boosters," steroids, creatine, etc. is should never be given to a dog.

You can start feeding a dog a BARF diet from puppyhood, but you must be careful about feeding appropriate foods and making sure they have a balanced diet. You can prepare your own food or buy pre-mixed raw foods from companies like K9 Kraving and OMA's Pride.

With BARF people sometimes add supplements to their dogs' food to make sure it is getting all of the essential nutrients necessary. However, I believe that if you are feeding quality kibble then there is no need to supplement your food, because the kibble should contain all of the necessary components of a healthy diet.

[Barrett]

You might read up on premium kibble such as Innova and Innova Evo. The Evo is very high in protien and claims to be the closest thing to a raw diet. I feed my dogs regular Innova. I have seen an improvement in their coat and muscle tone in the two months I have started this diet. Bailey's coat is bunny soft and Lucy has great muscle tone! Read up on it and see if you want to go that route. Innova is hard to find in some areas and is pretty expensive compared to petstore brands.

[doberkim]

ive fed raw to my animals for almost three years now. beef, pork, turkey, chicken, fish, lamb, rabbit, you name it, they eat it....

more later, time to go shop

[Pippinislove]

Originally Posted by Dixie Hound

Okay great guys, all very good info. I have a few more questions though if I may.

1)At what age should I start a BARF type diet?

2)Has anyone here ever hurd of putting your dogs on vitamins? Can a dog beafit from extra vitamin C or D ext.ext.?

3)Do people put there dogs on testosterone boosters, or steroids?

I guess this all goes along with diet.

Dave.

1. You can start as soon as the pup can chew it up and eat it. Dogs that are pregnant or nursing and are on a proper raw diet are said to throw healthier, stronger, puppies.

2. Anything in excess can cause harm. Vitamins can only help if they are at the required amount needed, and if you are feeding a 100% balanced diet there is no need.

3. I've never heard of people putting their dogs on steriods, but I'm sure it has been done. Just like with people, it shouldn't be done for perfomance's sake, and would be unhealthy.

As for the original topic, yes it is possible to feet human food to a dog. It's called a raw diet, where the dog gets raw meat for his daily meals. It's not an easy thing to do and has to be done properly and you need to do a lot of research before implementing it. If done incorrectly, a raw diet can cause a lot of problems.

Raw is overall healthier. The food is raw, meaning more nutrients. The food is also human grade, and fresh. Free of rot, disease, etc. It is also easier to adjust for a dog that needs more of a certain vitamin, and raw is digested easier and faster than kibble. I have heard dogs fed raw are less likely to bloat (food doesn't stay in their stomachs and expand like kibble does), and the have smaller poops. A raw diet includes bones, RMBs (raw meaty bones) such as raw chicken legs or necks. Chewing on the RMBs helps clean teeth, and a lot of raw fed dogs never need to have their teeth cleaned. Also, kibble has grains. A dog has no nutritional need for grains, and they can be detrimental to a dog's health (a lot of dogs have allergies to grains).

Food can, and does, affect performance and a dog's capabilities. A dog needs protein to build muscle, obviously, and needs fats for energy. If you were to eat nothing but twinkies, you wouldn't feel very healthy and you wouldn't be healthy, but if you ate a balanced diet full of healthy, high vitamin food and the proper amount of carbs, fats, and proteins, you'd feel and look better. It's the same with dogs. Dogs that are working dogs are often fed high quality kibble or a raw diet to help increase performance.