Eating

We all know our dogs will eat almost anything,almost anywhere and almost any time.

From their wild ancestry they learned to eat whatever they had as quickly as possible and leave nothing for later. This was simply because (a) they had no idea where their next meal might come from and (b) their food would be an animal carcass which would attract other carnivores so they needed to eat quickly to ensure they had a good feed before being chased off by something bigger and stronger and they needed to eat as much as possible as there would be nothing to come back to if they had to leave.

Of course our domestic pet doesn’t have these worries,but the habits persist. Our expression “wolfing it down”expresses this quite well. Usually he will eat everything in his bowl in one sitting. If he doesn’t you are either feeding him too much or he is not feeling 100%. The fact that he scoffs the lot down to the last morsel doesn’t mean he is actually hungry or what you put in front of him was not enough. It’s all too easy to make that mistake;it’s a mistake many owners make and it is why you see so many overweight dogs (and cats). The feeding guidelines on packets and tins are there to help you feed your dog the correct amount. If your dog should eat more,don’t you think the dog food producers would suggest more? It would be in their interest as they would sell more.

Something else that you need to keep in mind is the ancestry of your pet. He was,and still is,a carnivore. His diet consisted of raw meat and bone marrow. Feeding him just cereals or dry food is not good for him. Of course,we don’t want him eating raw meat as we don’t want to revive his taste for blood –for obvious reasons. Most dog meat today provide all the minerals,vitamins and trace elements that our dog needs. However,he does need something to keep his teeth clean and his jaws exercised,so a good bone,some biscuits or dry food mixed in with his meat will all be good for him.

Hmm,probably a bit more than he can manage!

Many of today’s pet owners see their dogs in human terms and want them to be happy. And this means that the standard,run-of-the-mill dog biscuit just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Indeed,there’s a virtual cottage industry of businesses that cater to pampered pooches with delicious,high-quality treats,ranging from organic cookies to custom-made birthday cakes.

As children fly the nest,parents left behind tend to humanize their pets,and like to give their child-substitutes dog treats that resemble human food. As a result many organic,all-natural treats with top-grade meats,vegetables,and even pasta are now available.

Some online pet treat retailers are even offering treats made with human-grade ingredients such as oatmeal,peanut butter,and tuna fish. And bakeries that cater to dogs with donuts,cookies,cakes,and other goodies are springing up everywhere on the internet.

What’s behind this trend? As children leave home and pets replace them,owners want to reward their pets with more than just the toss of a tennis ball. And most owners know that the fastest way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach,but they forget that the dog is not a child.

However,there is no proof that your dog prefers a treat that looks good to you or a simple meaty bone that he can strip bare and dig for marrow just like his ancestors used to. Personally I’m pretty sure that he would prefer the latter.