I refuse to feed my furbutts dog food!!!!!
 

Good morning YorkieTalk! I was wondering if you could help me... I was reading a few threads and I can upon one about what is really in pet food and what is legally aloud to be put in it, and now I refuse to feed my furchildren dog food. I did some research online and I found a few homemade recipes but nothing great and my kids are fussy. So, anyone out there know what I could do or have some tips for me?

I think we read the same thread. I however opted to try a "clean" dry puppy food instead of home cooking. Home cooking just isn't realistic for me but I commend those that can. :) I switched to Halo chicken flavor for puppies and give her meat treats for training. I know the meat content is pretty low (according to this forum) so I just wanted to be sure she got enough :) I bought mine at our local Petco and it's one of the more affordable in comparison to Blue Buffalo or Wellness. Good luck

You just need to find a quality company.

Not all dog food is bad...there's some really good companies out there...you just have to do your homework

You're right, there are a few good dog food companies still left, you just have to be diligent about your research.

I do home prepare meals with a recipe provided by a canine nutritionist. But I also feed Wysong Nurture w/pheasant and other Wysong foods, especially with my foster dogs. They have to be on some kibble so that when they are adopted they will be used to a kibble, because I realize, not everyone will home prepare. Also, when we travel my dogs will be used to a kibble too.

I home cook for Lady because of her age and multiple health issues. Up until a few years ago I fed her high quality commercial food, most recently Nature's Variety Prairie. If she hadn't developed liver disease from years of seizure medications, I would have continued feeding it.

Homecooking has to be done correctly or it can actually hurt your dog. The calcium to phosphorus ratio especially has to be correct or dogs can develop cardiac, skeletal and neurological problems. If you do decide to homecook, you need to follow a recipe prepared by a canine nutritionist which contains all the necessary supplements. You also have to get a complete blood chemistry done six months after switching to make sure all her nutritional needs are being met.

The article "What's Really in Pet Foods" refers mostly to the pet food you find at the grocery store. There really are some excellent premium foods out there, but you must get them at a doggie boutique.

Precious has a very sensitive stomach and I had to fine a VERY good line of dog food for her. I found Dick Van Patten. It is allergy free, no fillers, and no grains. Precious gets the Duck and Potato. Before giving her this she would not eat well, she is very picky when it comes to her food. Plus, she got sick from all the fillers and by-products they put in foods now. Now that she gets this food she looks forward to being fed and she is MUCH more healthier!!! SHE LOVES IT!!!

PS She gets both the moist and the kibbles of the same flavor :)

It's scary to read articles like the one that was posted. However, there
are lot's of good kibble on the market. It's important to get the right
vitamins and nutrients and home cooking may not provide them all.
I feed Natural Balance Organic and home cook. Fresh boiled chicken breast
and veggies added. If your dog is not allergic to chicken that's the way
to go as far as adding additional protein IF your dog food is low in protein
to begin with. Supper market dog food is the pit's. Whenever I'm behind
someone in line and I see BENIFICIAL in their basket I want to scream.
It's just plain garbage as many other's on the shelve's.
I'm sure you'll find the right food if you just read around here.
I think there's a sticky in food and health regarding healthy
kibble and how each is rated.

I bought Natural Balance Organic dog food in the roll and Zoey was not impressed at all! She gave me the 'How dare you try to feed me that crap, if you eat it first then maybe I'll try it' face. I'm going to the pet store today and I'm going to take a peek in there. Zoey eats dry food from her vet by the way and she only eats it when she is picky or if the other dogs eat it because she is selfish lol!

I don't concider NB Organic kibble or roll "CRAP".
I feed it to Buddy and my trainer uses the roll for treats while
training dog's. I would be alittle more careful with your wording.

I never said that I called it crap. I said that my dog looked at me like SHE thought it was, and she refused to eat it.

Well since dog's don't think in human thoughts than it's obvious those were
your words and not your dog's. I am not here to argue with you I was
only trying to be helpful and calling the food I considered CRAP was just
pain rude.

If a dog is hungary enough it will eat! It's the human's who drive themselves
nut's in pleasing their pet's, not the pet's refusing to eat not worthy food.

I agree with the end of this post 100 percent. My dogs were on SD and did just fine. I joined 2 groups (one for toypoodles and this one) and was told.. sometimes in a very nasty way HOW bad sd was so I started my research on new foods. This started about 2 years ago. I spent countless of hours, money, and time on finding the "IT" food for my dogs. What I ended up with was..sick and picky dogs, and being broke. :rolleyes: I did eventually find a food that worked and for the last few weeks my dogs have transformed into totally new dogs. I will not never listen to anyone again about how bad the food is that Im feeding. I know what works for MY dogs and I dont care what anyone else thinks about it..;)
Everyone needs to do their own research and decide for themselves and thier dogs what works for them.
Telling someone the food that they are feeding is "crap" imo is rude and uncalled for. Just because your dog "looked at you funny" and you interpeted as she was telling you it was "crap" deosnt means that the food isnt good. I dont agree with feeding homecooked, raw or high protien diets but I dont tell people they are feeding thier dog "crap".
I will get off my soapbox now.. can you tell this is a touchy subject for me..:rolleyes:

I think people worry to much about their adult dogs eating.. puppies and momma's or dogs with health problems now that is different. If they are hungry they will eat. I have not bought 1 food mine would refuse but I don't fuss. They might not gobbled it down right that minute but give them time they will eat. I think owners make them fussy eaters. I free feed Natural Balance Kibble and I use the roll food for treats or extra caloires for mom.

I would have to agree with the fact that we do spend a lot of time stewing over the fact "is it good for my dog?" I do have to watch what I give Precious though, she had a BAD episode of Pancreatitis just a few weeks ago. She spent a few days in the hospital due to it. I was told to watch what I fed her, I can't give her all the things that normally goes into making dog food. Her stomach can not handle it like others can. She also has to have little fat, something else her stomach does not handle. Don't get me wrong. I have a Rottie also and she eats EVERYTHING (within reason of, course). But, she has never had any problems with her food, treats, or cleaning up the floor after my daughter. I was actually surprised when Precious got sick and was told about her eating habits... I just did not know this could happen.

I agree that if my pup is hungry enough she will eat anything. I am sorry that I do not pick my words carefully but I wasn't saying the dog food was crap, my dog just doesn't like it. I aim to please my furbaby even if it drives me nuts lol. I am sorry that what I said turned into an argument. Zoey has human eyes so she looks as if she has emotions, as crazy as that sounds, she acts more human than actual humans do.

LOL! ;) Smart girl!

Homecooking is not that hard. There is a sticky in this section that has plenty of recipes. You will need to add a supplement to each meal. They eat fewer times a day with homecooked and their stools are not vulgar. Yorkies are food connoisseurs and some are so picky that they will teach you a thing or two about food quality :D Cerise is doing fabulous and YT has PLENTY of members who know this is an ultimate way to assure your furbaby a healthy diet.

Sorry to “butt in” on this thread, but this food thing has really hit home and has been an eye opener….I think that as a new Yorkie owner (I always had big dogs that just ate everything) I am trying too hard. I read everything I could on dog food and sent for the all the samples and bought anything I couldn't get samples of (gets a little expensive). Bridget came to me eating Proplan, and ate it very well – then her habits changed (probably the “treats” she was given gave her a new taste that she liked). My vet thought it was a good food to feed her, so I didn't worry until I read that it wasn't. When she started turning up her nose at her kibble, I took it as my cue to change her food to something better (which from what I understand almost anything is better) ….that is when I started on this venture of finding her the “right and best” food. Problem is – she turns her nose up at everything…or so I thought. People who have found a good food are so excited about it that when a post reads that their dogs “gobble it right up”, or “get excited” when they are fed, makes me think that Bridget is not liking it if she’s not reacting the same, not realizing that dogs like people have different eating habits. My vet told me to just leave it down….she’ll eat it. I got nervous that she wasn’t eating it as quickly as I thought she should and tried something different. I think that WV Yorkies, Archie and Hugz4all4 are saying is absolutely right – I think I’ve made Bridget picky. Do I think that she may get bored may need a little variety every once and a while – absolutely – but I think when I need to give her a little variety, I should maybe switch her wet food between 2 different flavors – rather than 8 totally different foods – heck – she wants to eat the cat food every day, and that never changes. AND she will eat and and all that I’ve tried if hand fed. So after having a “duh” moment – I’m seeing I am creating a spoiled girl…..good intentions but no so good outcome. Since she has no health issues or allergies to date - I need to decide on one good food and stick with it.

Thanks WV Yorkies,Archie, and Hugz4all4 for the eye opener. I was so worried about not being a “good mom” that I think I was confusing her....when my skin kids refused to eat what was on the table, I certainly didn't run over to the stove and cook them a whole new meal.
(Sorry again if I’ve stepped where I shouldn’t have – but I really wanted to comment on WV Yorkies,Archie, and Hugz4all4’s posts).

Thank you so much for seeing my point lol! I did look at that section and there were so many I don't know where to start! any ideas?

You didn't step in at all!! I started this thread so I could hear every ones opinions. I agree with both also, they are right! but apparently (and I should have know this) I should explain myself a little better so no one gets upset, because I, like everyone here on YT, want to make friends and give and receive help from other Yorkie parents lol.

:confused: The Op didn't say that this food was crap! She said her baby looked at it like it was crap. BIG difference.

But I don't mind stating the fact that most commercial dog foods are crap. There are some quality ones out there but lets be realistic. The bad ones (the crap) have been the norm for most of the pet food marketing for many years and it took horrible events to bring about some change, but still people shouldn't be fooled by all the change that is claimed, because too many bad companies make some of what people consider to be superior foods :rolleyes: Big businesses are sneaky!

But there are companies that do make quality pet food.

So it's really about convenience.

Homecooking pet owners have figured out that the convenience is not worth the expense of not knowing exactly what their furbabies are eating. We fit the preparation into our busy schedules and find it rewarding. It's not hard and it just takes approximately 2 hours out of one month (depending on how many meal choices you want ;)) and that's NOT an inconvenience to us.

IMO each pet owner has to make their own choice for what works for them. But I will say this...if you are finding that your Yorkie baby is not liking kibble or having problems with eating and you are getting frustrated...consider researching homecooking! Changing to it WILL NOT make your baby a spoiled brat and IMO those who think so are just not well informed of the benefits.

I homecook. Have been for 3 years now. I find it time consuming, inconvenient, expensive, nerve-racking, and frustrating. But hey, that's me. :)

I have been thinking about homecooking. I have a question, Is this something that you do and then freeze? So you don't have to actually cook tiny portions everyday. I was just wondering what others do.

Read the entire section...YES it's long! :D But copy some of the great recipes. YT member Yorkiedaze has a supplement powder recipe in there. She calls it her Healthy Powder :) Do research the net for more recipes and start off slowly to see what your baby likes or dislikes. They do change after a while and start trying and liking more things ...especially when they see and smell your cooking :D Invest in a Cuisinart. I have just the mimi version and it works perfect. Make sure you have measuring cups and spoons, a large bowl (for mixing all ingredients together after cooking) and of course at least two pots, some containers or freezer bags for the individual servings. And don't worry, because you'll be an expert in a short time! :D

Cook then freeze! :thumbup:

YES!!!! I think freezing the food will make my life SO much easier. But most recipes I looked up said to freeze leftovers!

Thank you for the quick responses. This will make my decision a lot easier :)

I just want to remind everybody that while homecooking is okay, it has to be done correctly. Most or all of the recipes on YT are unbalanced and they are not okay to feed regularly. The recipes in the homecooking sticky could be used as treats. Very few, if any, are appropriate for everyday feeding (and some aren't even appropriate for one time feeding). An unbalanced diet can lead to some extremely serious health problems over time. If ratios are unbalanced and/or there are too many or too few vitamins and minerals, heart, blood, and bone problems can develop along with a whole list of other things. If a recipe does not meet AAFCO (or possibly NRC) guidelines for your dog's lifestage, then it should not be used.

It's everyone's right to feed what they want to feed, but it does not make these recipes right. The first thing that could be looked at is, does the recipe have a guaranteed analysis? There is much more that goes into it, but if it doesn't have a GA, then you don't even know how much protein and fat your pupster is getting!

I am with you on this one. Yes alot of people say there are certain foods that are bad and certain foods that are good. I think with the whole pet food recall people have really become more aware of what is in their dogs food. I for one feed Nature's variety raw with kelp and mixed with a tablespoon of Merrick. I also freefeed wellness Dry. my dogs are not fat and they don't overeat. I also give them either purebites dehydrated chicken treats or pet fresh real meat treat. they also eat milkbone treats.

We also have a Pom that got used to my husband switching her food everytime she turned her nose up at it. She did this because she got used to it. I told him to buy one food and stick with it. Well she's been on the same food for 3 yrs now. If you keep switching the foods because you think they don't like it , then it becomes a learned behavior with them. So essentially your training them to be picky.