What are you feeding your dog?

[brewer]

Update, FDA involved. Look at the the main ingredients. 

https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/New...613305.htm

[Minimalist]

To much protein is as bad for dogs as it is for humans, dogs that get little exercise should be on a medium protein diet, dogs that get plenty of exercise should be on high protein diets. Dogs are reliant on protein and fat because it is what their ancestors made their living on. Any good quality dog food with the right amount of protein and a high content of fat are what anyone should feed. I have show dogs as most of you know (rottweilers) and they do well on Pro plan Focus or Savor, both come in a variety of flavors so we mix them up to keep thing interesting. Feeding a dog grain is good for them just as it is good for humans to have roughage, it helps with cleaning their intestines. also feeding your dog once a day by their weight as recommended by the food manufacture keeps your dogs consistent in the time of day they need to poop, with water available 24/7. Over feeding is the number one problem with dogs, if you do not thinks so just look at all the fat dogs out there. Routine exercise and social time is also helpful for a dogs health and mindset. So dog foods with grains and veggies with the right amount of quality meat protein and fat is good for your dog unless they have an allergy to some ingredient/s. The most expensive foods are the ones the companies want you to buy, the best foods are the ones that your dog does well on and doesn't cost you an arm and a leg.

GC

I agree with this and it is rare that I agree with G-C about anything.  But a good rule of thumb is that if your dog's weight remains stable and his/her activity rate remains stable and the dog does not have diarrhea what you are feeding it is probably correct for that dog.  Watch out for bullshit advertising and as your dog ages adjust his/her food to account for decreased activity.  The last thing you ever want to do is let an older dog put on too much weight.  No good for their joints.

[Dom]

Everyone forgets that, in the wild, dogs eat the contents of the stomach and intestines of their prey also - mostly grain and veggies/greens. They also eat the bones, including fatty marrow.

When I was breeding and training police canines, I fed high protein or raw diets or a mix. These dogs were athletes and very active.

Now, that I have pets who are a bunch of lazy bums except for when they get the occasional "zoomies", I rotate all kinds of dog food. I started doing this because I have had several Great Danes now, and while I have been lucky with this so far, they are very prone to react with allergies and digestive disorders to changes in food. So, I feed my Danes all kinds of food from little on. Never had an issue, and never had a dog not be happy and excited about their food, whatever brand/composition it is that day.

When I was a kid, we had a Schnauzer. Mom cooked beef liver and rice for him every day. He lived to be 17 and was active to his last day. He occasionally ate a piece of carrot or cucumber.

I'm a lot more worried about treats - there seem to be all kinds of issues with them. I just feed raw bones or bully sticks now as treats. They last longer and seem healthier.

[Godscreated]

The best treat you can give a dog is beef bones and you can get them for a good price from the butcher. Boiling them for smaller and older dogs well help them. Never give them leather for a chew toy, it can get hung in the throat, swell and choke the dog and can cause issues in the gut. Dogs needing extra fat for the winter can use a good treat of uncooked pigs feet.

GC

[Minimalist]

Everyone forgets that, in the wild, dogs eat the contents of the stomach and intestines of their prey also - mostly grain and veggies/greens. They also eat the bones, including fatty marrow.

While true there is another side of that coin.  Dogs in the wild don't live very long.

Our Rescue has imported dogs from Korea and Mexico.  The one thing we have noted is that they tend to be younger...much younger...than a lot of the dogs we get from Arizona.  Our Mexican contact says that dogs living on the street do not live very long.  Our Korean contact says they do whatever they can to get them out of the meat farms ASAP. 

I daresay that dogs living in the wild do not have to worry much about developing osteoarthritis.

[Jackalope]

Your Mexican contact is no doubt correct. In 20+ years of travel there I can't recall seeing any street dogs of apparent age. I doubt very many of them live past 2.

[Godscreated]

Wild dogs, those that are like the wolf and fox have digestive systems that can handle raw meats and the rest of the raw parts of dead animals, they can even consume rotting meats that would gag a goat. Domesticated dogs do not have the same digestive system there wild ancestors do, feeding raw meats to them on a regular basis will cause health problems. Like I said in my previous post raw pigs feet make a good occasional treat for dogs who spend much of a cold winter outside because of the fat content and then they have the bones to chew. Sled dogs can be feed more uncooked fats during the winter for energy and it doesn't hurt them, for one they can digest it easily enough and two they will burn it off even if it is just to keep warm. When i want to bulk up a show dog for the fall shows I like to use uncooked fat, beef or pork, it gives them a healthy coat and builds weight that would other wise take longer to gain. My Rottweilers cut back on how much they eat during the summer, for one they are less active in the heat of the south and two being over filled in hot weather makes them miserable. Watch your dogs closely and they will tell you how they need to eat, you should feed your dogs only one time a day, after a couple hours take up their bowl. This will get them into the habit of eating what they need and not over eating. Fat dogs die early and I know everyone here who has dogs love them, so love them even more and feed them correctly. A yearly check-up at the vets and a good diet will keep your dog healthy and with you for a longer time. When I show my senior dogs i'm always being told by the judges that I'm doing a great job keeping my dogs slim. I've had senior dogs that can out last and out preform dogs in the prime of their lives, all without exotic foods or fancy food regiments. Keep it simple for them and yourself.

GC