Bindi Teaching ch7

 

CHAPTER 7.

WHAT’S FOR DINNER THEN?

URBAN DIET

One of the main points of discussion in breed forums, rescue groups or any dog web site is what to feed your dog.  I am not going to dive into the clouded depths of canine cuisine in this book. There are camps of people who advocate raw meat, bones and offal only, there are grain free advocates, there are vegetarian prophets,  massive corporate brand businesses pushing complete dog foods and I guess out there is someone somewhere feeding their pooches a gluten free lactose intolerant vegan diet with supplements all blended in a crystal bowl..   

I say feed your pup appropriately to the breed and with sensitivity to their dietary responses. It is your responsibility to feed yourself and your dependents a healthy diet.  Your dog is a dependent.

 Simple check. Sloppy unformed poops, not good. 

For my dogs there have been various diet solutions, My Great Danes loved asparagus as treats but my Shepherd hated it.  Raw bones were consumed by all my dogs with vigorous gusto and to no negative effect, but my Bindi, well she reacts to any red meat or bone like its rocket fuel and she goes energy spinning, back yard racing, guard dog berserk for a whole day after she has eaten any raw mammalian meat morsel.  She will eat fish not prawns and is ambivalent to shellfish. 

We give greenlip mussel concentrate for good joint health and I’m a bit of a fan of cold pressed grain free kibble mixed with raw poultry for my Bindi to keep her healthy, shiny coated bright eyed and calm. 

For your pooch, look to its breed experts for the quantity to feed, supply pup with age appropriate digestible food and portion size, pup will let you know what it likes to eat when hungry.  For treats or as a filler to the main meal include whatever raw vegetables your pooch likes.  Carrots seem to be universally in favour but broccoli and cauliflower stalks are some vegetable off-cuts that pup may enjoy chewing.  

I also recommend that using part of the food you would portion for pup’s dinner is great for use as training treats. If kibble is part of your pooch’s diet then this is a very convenient way to provide training treats through the day without adding to the total calories consumed. 

There is the tendency to feed as recommended and then add training treats on walks or at training sessions without thinking they are food, that sort of thing will add to the weight of the pup.  Just a thought for you to consider, if you are growing a surprisingly chubby pup.....

Treats should probably not include nuts as so many nuts are bad for dogs.  Peanuts are fine but they are legumes not nuts. Pure Peanut Butter, without palm oil, xylitol or sugars, is an amazing treat.  I smear it inside empty old marrow bones for some quiet time or into toys like kong to enrich the days when we don’t go out for walks. 

Hopefully I don’t need to tell you to keep all chocolate products well away from dogs.  Dogs can’t process or excrete the toxicity and it builds up in the pooch and will be fatal.  No not even a little bit of chocolate.  I wouldn’t even listen to the white chocolate argument. 

There is always carob... Carob is perfectly safe for every dog if you can’t resist giving your pup a chocolatey sugar hit.  Though the last thing my Bindi needs is more energy.