Diets for Dogs

Many of us make New Years Resolutions to shed a few pounds, and just like humans sometimes dogs need to shed a few pounds and need our help to achieve their weight loss.

We hand fed both our dogs, Remy was hand fed until he was 5 months old, now he eats out of his bowl. Rhino is still being hand fed for at least one more month. We decided to hand feed our puppies for many reasons, and it certainly takes a lot of time and effort. It isn't for everyone but if you have the time and dedication the pay off is well worth it. Puppies understand a pack (family) unit, with one leader, and ranking members. A pup's first alpha is their mother who provides food, protection, and security. Many dog owners and experts believe that as the new parents of pups in order for us to become the pack leader, we must become the food provider. We can accomplish this by controlling the puppy's food supply. You can imitate being your pups mom by feeding them by hand a daily ration. We take our dogs for a short 20 min walk early in the morning before giving them breakfast. Once we get home we have their food already prepared and we have a designated area in the kitchen where we call our puppy to us on our terms (not when he/she is asking for food). We hand feed them a portion (1/3rd ) of the day's food ration, as our dogs eat three times a day. Then we pet them on top of the head while they are eating, touching his face area and petting him. We feed him slowly, and wait a few seconds between each hand feedings so that he learns to be patient for his food and not beg.

Repeating this procedure approximately 3 times a day or until all of the daily ration of food is done. Patience is a virtue with this process but well worth the end result. Neither of our dogs gorge or over eat from their bowls as a result of hand feeding them. We also have no issues with our dogs having food aggression towards any of our family members or friends and even strangers who handle, or pet our dogs while eating. Hand feeding will improve your dog's work ethic, manners around food, and his regard for you and bond with you will be that much stronger. Both our dogs are still puppies and many of the recipes I make is enough food for both of them for the entire day (3 meals). We ration out their meal portions based on their age and weight. For example when I feed Rhino who is turning 4 months old next week, and is 18.5kg (40 lbs) we feed him 475 to 580 grams of food a day.

Remy is turning 10 months old next week, he is 38.6 kg (85lbs) we feed him 725 to 860 grams of food day. Every dog is different based on age, size and physical activity. Our dogs also get one large meaty bone per day which adds to their caloric intake on top of their meals and of course a few treats throughout the day. Senior dogs tend to eat less and need less calories only because they tend to slow down with age and are less active as they get older therefore needing less calories. It is always best to check with your vet on how much you should be feeding your dog, and how many calories or grams of food your dog should be consuming. Here I have included two different recipes the first one is for dogs that are required to be on a lower calorie diet. The second recipe is for Senior dogs. Low Calorie Low Fat Recipe 3/4 Cup Beans Green Raw or From Frozen Chopped 1/4 Cup of Blueberries Raw or From Frozen Puree 1 Cup of Cottage Cheese Low Fat Low Sodium 1/4 Oatmeal Cooked (Natural Oats no sugar added) 2 Cups of Peas Thawed from Frozen 190 Grams Poached Atlantic Salmon 1/3 Cup of canned cooked chickpeas 2 Puree Spinach Leaves 1 Tsp Cod Liver Oil Directions Dice up Green beans. Puree Spinach leaves, Puree Blueberries. Cook oatmeal as per packaging. Puree Peas. Poach salmon till it's cooked. Puree Spinach. Mix in bowl green beans, blueberries, peas spinach and cottage cheese add salmon and mashed up chickpeas. Add oatmeal and serve.

Senior Recipe 1/3 Cup Carrots Raw Grated 270 Grams Chicken Breast Poached 3 Cups of Brown Rice Cooked per packaging 3/4 Cup Yogurt Plain low fat 1 Tsp Cod Liver Oil 1 Tsp Salmon Oil Grate carrots, poach chicken and cook rice per packaging. Mix in bowl carrots, spinach, rice chicken and add yogurt and stir in cod liver oil and salmon oil.