Published by:Christopher Aust, Master Trainer Master-Dog-Training.com
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Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but this new year has taken off out of the gate and doesn't look like it is going to slow or even look back for that matter. Lots of things planned and it is pretty exciting. I'll give you a sneak peek. Last month, I was whining about how crappy and expensive all the dog gear seemed to be out there. Well, I had a boss many years back who always used to tell people, “Don't come to me complaining about something, come to me with a solution.” I decided to take Mr. Thornton's advice and do just that. So I decided to design my own leashes and collars. Now, I had a couple of things that were musts. One, the collars had to be adjustable to properly fit any breed of dog and be comfortable. Two, the gear had to be strong. I didn't want clips breaking, leashes snapping or fraying or handles breaking. In fact, I decided if I couldn't tow a car with them, they weren't strong enough. Do you really need a leash and collar strong enough to tow a car? While handy, probably not, but if I was going to make a leash and put my name on it, I wanted to be sure they stood up to whatever our dogs would put them through and be the last leash or collar you would ever have to buy. The final thing was cost. They had to be priced so anyone could afford them. Otherwise, I didn't meet the goal of the whole project. Well, we have managed to accomplish that as well. Additionally, they come in a wide variety of colors (more than you'll find in just about any pet store) and I managed to put in some foo-foo features. They will be ready to order by the middle of next month.
In a couple of weeks, we will be offering a free seminar to explain the series we will be holding and answer questions about the classes. I will get you all the date of the free class by next week. Believe me, you won't want to miss out on this!
Like I said last week, I don't sell the stuff myself and gave the wrong number. The correct number is 1-800-445-2969 and the distributor number is 1978203. Sorry about that guys.
cafepress.com/pawsforchange.12923344
Okay, that's it for now. I'm outta here! Cheers!
Christopher
Dog Chewing the Sofa? Puppy Eating Your Shoes? Or WORSE?
The other reason I like cooked food is the economics of it. It can be far cheaper than buying conventional dog foods and, because it is a natural diet with no fillers and preservatives, it means fewer vet bills as well. Additionally, it can be pretty fun. I mix it up because there are so many options the dog can have. It also allows me to use seasonal fruits and vegetables, which also keeps the cost down. First, we need to look at percentages and timing. Lets address timing first.
Personally, I feed my dogs once a day. Many people will say, "Oh, but they will get so hungry," and disagree with this. What I have found is that dogs (and I'm talking about the average companion dog and not a working dog here) will be fine with a single feeding a day just as their wild brethren do. We also have to remember that until about 100 years ago, most companion dogs were only fed once a day. They don't need "Super Sized" or numerous meals. I recommend putting dogs on an AM feeding. This will provide them with the nutrients and energy they need to make it through the day, without leaving them with full bellies when they go to sleep at night. Dogs, just like humans, who eat later in the evening, more often than not convert the food to fat. Never feed your dogs one hour prior to or after vigorous exercise. Doing so can lead to torsion or bloat.
You want your food mix to be approximately:
40% Protein
I use a couple of different things for protein in my dogs' food. Some examples are:
chicken Many people whose dogs are on cooked food will tell you the chicken should be the breast. Personally, I use boneless skinless thighs I get from the frozen section of the store. I used breasts at first and didn't see any difference when I switched to thighs other than the cost. Most of the time, I use canned white tuna in water. I get the other fishes occasionally when the price is right or whenever my neighbor goes salmon fishing. I prefer the white tuna because the dogs do.
As you saw, vegetables make up the highest percentage of the diet. They are extremely nutritious for the dogs providing many of the vitamins that are lacking in store bought food. Here is a list of choices:
Carrots My standards are green beans, spinach, carrots, peas, broccoli, apples, pears, zucchini, brussel sprouts and squash but flip flop it around depending upon the season and what's on sale. I like to keep the veggie mix about 60% greens but always try to include carrots, yellow squash and some apple or pear. There is really no hard rule on which ones to use, and I just go by what the dogs like and the season.
Grains have the smallest percentage and are really given as a way to help digestion. Unfortunately, in commercial foods, they often have the highest percentage of the content. This often leads to obesity. I use the following three things for the grain: Oatmeal (not the instant type) Long Grain Brown Rice Sweet Potatoes (not really a grain but serve the same purpose)
I am going to give you a recipe I use for my dogs. Keep in mind it is loose based on season and what's on sale. I will give you one if I am just using the standards, but don't be afraid to vary yours.
Thaw out, rinse and put in blender or food processor:
2 ten ounce boxes of spinach Next, chop two apples or pears and boil in four cups of water to soften for about three minutes. Throw in blender or food processor. Save the water. Now, chop five large carrots, or fifteen baby carrots (don't have to chop those) boil in saved water to soften, then, throw in the food processor. Puree all veggies so it is basically "lump free." Will look a little gross but don't worry. Put in a large mixing bowl. Boil three eggs, chop and put in with veggies. Boil three chicken thighs in the saved water. May have to do one or two at a time but need that water for the end so save it again. Let cool, then chop and put in bowl. Open three cans of tuna, drain, and place in mixing bowl. Measure out enough of the reserved water to make two cups (prepared) of either brown rice or oatmeal. You want to have a little extra water over what the recipe calls for as you want the rice/oatmeal to be a little over cooked to help the dogs digest it properly. When done and cooled, throw in the bowl. Add seven tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. It's great for digestion and the urinary tract. You can also add an equal amount of plain yogurt, which also helps with digestion. Mix all ingredients together and there you have it. This gives me a little over a week's worth of food. I usually measure out the dogs' portions and put them in the freezer and then just pull the next day's food out the night before. I do give the dogs some snacks occasionally in the evening. Mine love baby carrots that are straight out of the bag. For a dog with a soft mouth, you can boil them a little so they are soft, without being mushy. Then, place them in a container with water and keep them in the fridge. If they don't like carrots, you can try apples or pears. These are much better for them than dog biscuits. When you first start to feed them this "culinary masterpiece" they may look at you like you're on crack. Don't worry, they will adjust to the diet. If they refuse to eat it, then they simply don't eat that day. They won't starve themselves to death, so just stay firm.
500 mg Vitamin C I get them from Spot Organics and the brand is Azmira. You can order them by calling toll free 866-999-7768. They don't have them on their website so you have to call to order. They do have some great other products at their site, and it is worth taking a look. www.spotorganics.com I truly believe the Noni is a must. It has done so much for the health and energy level of my dogs (and me) I believe I would be remiss in not mentioning it in the article. I add two tablespoons to each feeding.
Cooked Food
$23.00 - Groceries
Commercial Food
$35.26 - Comm. Food
As a result, we have another cost consideration. Veterinary care. We all know that a dog that has a healthy diet and strong immune system is less likely to become sick, and, when they do get sick, the dog is better equipped to fight the illness. Any of you who have had to treat a dog for a serious illness like cancer, diabetes or other serious injury know not only how hard it is on the animal but also how expensive the vet bills can be for treatment. They can quickly run into the thousands of dollars. I think most people will agree the benefits of a cooked food diet far outweigh the drawbacks. Your dog will be healthier, happier and you will have a little extra cash jingling around in your pocket. Seems to be an easy choice for me.
~ Will Rogers ~ Mail Bag
Just wanted to say that I enjoyed your current newsletter (1/7/05) very much. Keep up the good work.
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