Don't Assume That All Pet Stores Carry The Best Dog Food Brands!

Today it is no wonder pet owners are overwhelmed by what the best dog food and diets are for their best friend. Their is a vast amount of information available regarding the best dog food brands and what is considered a healthy diet for dogs. With Veterinarians, Breeders and Universities all disagreeing on what is the healthiest diet for dogs, most will agree that an All Natural and Holistic diet is best. While we can't possibly cover every aspect of feeding on this page, we will do our best to provide the basics. Whether you are considering feeding dry dog food, canned, raw or homecooked; our goal is to furnish you with enough information that will hopefully aid in your decision process.

There are considerations when determining the best dog food diet for your furry famiy member, yet if you care about your best friend, you must never sacrifice his nutrition. Time, convenience and cost are the three determining factors for most pet diets. It's important that consumers realize that many pet stores and especially the large chains, DON'T automatically carry the best dog food.

It is our experience that the smaller pet stores actually carry some of the absolute best brands of all natural, holistic meat based foods. Once armed with the knowledge of what to look for on the label, pet owners can then compare for themselves the best foods available.

Dogs live longer, healthier lives with less visits to the Veterinarian when fed a wholesome and natural diet.

Fancy Advertising Vs The Truth

According to the Department of Agriculture, companies that make claims that their brands are "premium", "super premium", "ultra premium" or "gourmet" are not required by law to contain higher quality ingredients or adhere to higher nutritional standards than any other products claiming to be complete and balanced.

This means that pet owners must read the ingredient label and determine for themselves if the product truly is what it claims to be.

Raw Dog Food - The Best Dog Food And A Brand All Its Own

Understand that raw feeding isn't necessarily the same as the B.A.R.F. diet. Although very similar, the B.A.R.F. diet includes feeding the bones in the diet whereas Raw feeding is often boneless meat with added vegetables and other supplements. It is our belief that a raw diet in either form when done correctly, is the healthiest the best dog food and diet that you can feed your dog. We also believe that raw meat alone without a healthy supply of fruits, vegetables and other supplements IS NOT a healthy diet for dogs.

Remember, wild animals hunt and kill their food. They consume their prey and immediately eat the organs, muscle and bones which all provide vital nutrients because the food is fresh. The reason that supplements must be added is because the meat is not fresh (freshly killed prey). Before attempting a raw diet, dog and cat owners must first educate themselves about the importance of balancing the raw meat with other ingredients including supplements.

The biggest question and debate regarding raw dog food is the "Bacteria" factor. Nature designed dogs with a much shorter digestive tract than humans along with a very acidic stomach. Most holistic Veterinarians and Advocates of a raw diet deem that the natural design of the canine gastro intestinal tract and stomach make it extremely difficult for harmful bacteria to live. Unlike dogs, human beings have a much greater chance of Salmonella or E. coli poisening.

Although a raw diet is the absolute best for many dogs, other dogs might not do well on it. Our suggestion would then be to feed a high quality reputable Top Of The Line Dog Food since raw is not an option.

If you are considering feeding the B.A.R.F. diet, this is an excellent source to Learn More About The BARF Diet.

If considering a Raw Dog Food Diet, we suggest reading Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs And Cats. The book includes recipes and supplements needed in the diet.

*Note: Dr. Pitcairn's Book recommends including regular amounts of grains in your dog's diet. Read more about grains below.

Keep in mind that there are several manufacturers that provide an already prepared and nutritionally balanced raw dog food diet making it a healthy and convenient option for dog and owner.

What About Grains?

Many Veterinarians and established breeders question the need for grains in the canine diet. Oats, rice, barley, wheat, corn and soy are primarily made of complex carbohydrates. Very little grains are included in the diet of any wild animal, including dogs and cats.

Although they provide little nutrional value, these carbohydrates provide energy. We don't believe that limited amounts are neither beneficial or harmful. On the other hand, many manufacturers would like pet owners to believe that grains (carbs) are excellent sources of protein. They are not! Dogs and cats should receive their protein from a high quality meat source.

Follow These Tips Regarding Grains:

•  AVOID any dry dog food that lists any grain as the primary ingredient.
•  AVOID any dog food that lists more than one source of grain in the first three-four ingredients. Again, dogs and cats should get their protein from meat, NOT GRAIN!

We include very little grain in our own dogs daily diet, except for occasional bouts of soft stool, we might add a little whole grain brown rice to their food until we notice a firmer stool. It is our hope that by understanding a little about grains in a canine diet, you can make an educated decision for yourself.

Home Cooking For Your Dog

Like raw dog food diets, a home cooked dog food diet must also include vegetables and supplements. Once the meat is cooked, it loses all its nutrients. Steamed vegetables and supplemental vitamins and minerals should be added back to make up for the lost nutrients. We recommend the following book which includes a few nice recipes and will guide you through the process of home cooking the best dog food for your furry friend: Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs And Cats

A Guide To The Best Dog Food Brands

Whether dry dog food or canned, use the following tips to guide you towards the best dog food for your pet:

•  Meat MUST always be the primary and first ingredient on the label.
•  The source of the meat should be clear (example: lamb or lamb meal, never lamb by-products).
•  Avoid Preservatives such as BHT, BHA or Ethoxyquin.
•  Citric Acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) are "natural" and acceptable preservatives.
•  Avoid foods containing wheat, corn, soy, artificial flavoring, coloring, or by-products.
•  Look for Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids included in the ingredients for a healthy skin and coat.
•  Guar gum is a food thickener and considered a "natural" ingredient. It is derived from the ground endosperm of the guar plant and primarily grows in middle eastern countries.
•  Look for foods that offer a blend of fruits and vegetables to provide natural antioxidents.
•  There are some excellent alternative diets to a "Raw Dog Food Diet" that offer all natural, holistic meat based diets. Look for manufacturers of all natural raw (frozen) as well as canned products.

Vegetarian Diets Are NOT Recommended

There are many debates on whether or not a dog is considered to be an "omnivore" which survives on both plants and animals or a "carnivore" which needs meat to survive.

Wolves are the ancestors to the modern and domesticated dog of today and they mainly hunt deer, moose and elk to feed upon. After killing their prey, they consume the organs, muscles and bones for the necessary vitamins and nutrients their body needs. They eat the stomach lining of their prey, but avoid the contents of the stomach completely.

While a dog can exist on either form of diet, again, meat must always be included in your dog's diet for him to thrive like his ancestors thrive as wolves. This is infact the way nature intended it to be. Since humans domesticated the dog, it is our job to include in his diet the nutritional balance necessary for him to flourish.

It can not be repeated enough that your dog's diet and feeding the best dog food possible are the foundation for the quality of your dog's life.

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