When I was browsing the internet trying to decide what was the best dog food to feed my new Doberman, Talim, I came across an AMAZINGLY well written article that cleared up any questions that I had. The article is actually split in to two articles on the source website, but I combined them into one so that it is easier for you to check out:
Just like we humans need proper nutrition to be healthy and happy so too do our dogs.But the decision on what to feed our dogs can be a confusing one. Grocery stores usually have a whole aisle dedicated to pet food with a large assortment of products. The fact that there lacks regulations in pet food labelling only makes things harder for consumers. But with the very real concern of contaminated food from bacteria and chemicals, we need to put some effort into educating ourselves for the sake of our pet’s well-being. So what doberman food should we consider?
Ideally we would want to feed our dogs home-made meals but this is just not practical for most people. My personal recommendation if you are going to feed a commercial food, is to find a good quality kibble and supplement it with other “real” goodies to ensure your dog is getting a well-rounded diet. Also consider alternating between dry and canned food. Canned food is usually more nutritious than dry dog food since it contains less preservatives and grain ingredients. When looking for a good dog food, you want to avoid kibbles high in grains (corn, flour,etc) and choose one with a meat in the first three ingredients. Also look for chicken meat instead of chicken by-product for example. To help you compare different dog food brands, you can read our previous post for more tips.
Here are some ideas to boost the nutrition and flavour of a boring dry dog food.
- Add chicken broth or natural gravy to dry kibble.
- Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top.
- Add full-fat plain yogurt to the dish.
- Add a teaspoon or two (depending on your dogs size) of flaxseed oil or fish oil to the kibble (omega-3 acids)
As for treats, if you can’t find a product that has organic, human-grade ingredients then try a home-made cookie recipe. But if you hate cooking, an easy alternative is to give your dog veggie treats like carrots and green beans. Chopped fruits like pears and apples are another healthy alternative to high carb, poor quality store-bought treats.
Instead of rawhides that may have preservatives, are bleached, have artificial flavours and colors, ask a butcher for marrow or knuckle bones. To kill any surface bacteria, submerge the bones in boiling water for about 30 seconds, just long enough to kill the bacteria. Remember that cooking bones makes them easier to splinter so avoid giving your dog cooked bones.
Foods you should avoid include: chocolate, onions, macadamia nuts, grapes/raisins, soy and citrus.
I don’t recommend vegetarian diets for dogs. Dogs are omnivores who favour meat. In the wild, dogs naturally eat meat, bones, vegetables and grains. You should aim to give your domestic dog the same diet as their wild family members eat.
In tommorow’s post I’ll provide you with guidelines to find good quality dog food at the store for your doberman.Here is where the second post starts:
So we decide to feed our dobermans a commercial dry dog food, but which one?
Here is a guide you may want to print out and take with you to the store to help you compare different dog food brands. This should help you choose between a good dog food and a dog food that is harmful or nutrient deficient. Grab the bag, look for the ingredient labelling and compare it to these suggestions. Following these guidelines doesn’t guarantee you’ll get good quality, human grade ingredients or that the processing techniques haven’t destroyed most of the nutrients, but it will filter out the worst commercial dog food. Lastly use the feeding portion sizes on the bag as a guideline not a rule. The amount you need to feed a dog varies depending on it’s age, breed, activity level and any specific health issues.You are better to compare your dog’s weight against the Dog Body Condition Score and adjust portion sizes as needed.
DOG FOOD GUIDE
You want this:
- Look for certification from the AAFCO – Association of American Feed Control Officials. You want to see that animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures have been conducted.
- Check the expiration date or bar code date for when the food was made. You want to buy the freshest, especially since natural preservatives in dog food are only effective for about 30-60 days.
- Look for a meat product as the first ingredient, like chicken meat or lamb meat. You want human grade meat (USDA) and better yet, organic meat. Organic meat is less likely to contain hormones, growth stimulants or come from diseased animal flesh.
- Natural preservatives Vitamin C and E (or Tocopherol)
- Look for whole grains like barley, oats and rice (no “hulls)
- Buy from a store that has a quick turnover of product for optimal freshness
- You want a food that has high digestibility. You can find out how digestible the food is just by looking at your dogs stool. If the volume of the stool produced is greater than, equal to or slightly less the volume of food eaten, the digestibility is poor. The aim is to have a samller stool volume with little odor, this indicates good digestibility.
- Bonus if the dog food contains probiotics (good-bacteria) to help digestion
You don’t want this:
BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin
- Avoid these preservatives that have been shown to cause health problems,
- Meat by-product, this is basically animal parts that are not meat, like brains, intestines, blood and chicken feet. (yuck!)
- Corn, soy, wheat or low quality carb fillers. (common allergens)
- Avoid foods with artificial dyes or colors and flavors, these are usually listed as a dye number
Rather than going through and rating some popular dog food brands, I thought this guide would be more practical. This way you can compare dog food brands that are available for sale in your local pet store or grocery store. But if you like, I did find this dog food rating site dogfoodanalysis.com that you may want to check out. Keep in mind although that some of these dog food brands may only be available to you through online purchase and remember you want to buy a product that has good turnover to get the freshest possible dog food.
I hope this guide helps you find a good food for your doberman dog.
Well there you have it! I hope that helps you guys as much as it did me, and I know that Talim is happy because of it. Here is what I ended up going with: Pedigree Healthy Longevity with rice, lamb, and omegas to promote health and longevity, 15-Pound Bag
Be sure to read my post about commercial dog food to determine if you should be feeding your dog Real Food along with commercial Dog Food.
If you found this article helpful, check out these Doberman Training Tips.
Be sure to read my post about commercial dog food to determine if you should be feeding your dog Real Food along with commercial Dog Food.
If you found this article helpful, check out these Doberman Training Tips.