How to chose your dog's food

You want the best food for your dog ?

You've done some research and you realised that everybody has it's own opinion and simply tries to destroy others ?

You feel guilty because you can't afford the perfect Prey Model for your dog ?

Read this article !

there is more and more information (and disinformation ?) on how to feed your dog. What is the best diet, how many times per day he should be eating, to fast or not to fast, anyway we losing ourselves …

So, how to choose your dog's food ?

I can't answer that for you (sorry).

But, I can help you decide !

In this article, I'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each possibility (and if I have forgotten your favorite, ou if you still have questions, I invite you to send me a message !)

Let's start with kibbles !

The most common, the most used, the most practical … anyway let's start with kibbles.

It's true it is practical. You measure the portion, poor it in the bowl, and it's done !

Plus, a bag makes up for weeks.

Advantages :

😊 You can never say it enough times, it is practical

😊It's "complete and balanced", still think about rotating proteins and brands because it's "complete and balance" but it's not necessarily perfect...

Disadvantages :

😞It's extremely dry : about 10% moisture against about 70% moisture in fresh food

😞It's not necessarily quality food : look at the ingredients list and for the brand's reputation

😞It's ultra processed

If you like kibbles most, or if it's the best for you these days, here are some tips to improve your dog's diet :

😎 Rehydrate kibbles with bone broth, kefir with filtered water, chamomile infusion (it's not a soup Bob !)

😎Add some fresh food : table scraps (not too greasy and nothing toxic for your dog), fruits, vegetables (cooked or grind), meat from time to time

😎Add quality fat: coconut oil (cold press, virgin oil), fish oil, canned or frozen sardine, animal fat (raw)

Then, lightly cooked food !

It's what your vet recommend (bacteria are evil !)

So, your vet will be happy, more than with going for BARF for sure ! Still, why lightly cooked food ?

Advantages :

😊 It's fresh food (always a plus)

😊 It's easy to digest, especially for senior dogs

😊 No one will bother you with bacteria !

Disadvantages :

😞 Cooking kills enzymes

😞 It takes time

😞 It still need to be balanced (sorry Bob, chicken, rice and brocoli is not a balanced meal !)

How do you know if your dog's diet is balanced (quickly) ?

😎 There is a source of calcium in the diet (no cooked bones Bob !)

😎 The recipe is NOT three ingredients and a multivitamins supplement

😎 You rotate ingredients

😎 There is more than one source of protein in the recipe

Now BARF diet !

"BARF is just a trend". Sorry to disappoint but no, the BARF diet has been here a while now and earned some credit .

If it's not a trend, why the BARF diet ?

By the way BARF stands for Biologically Appropriated Raw Food not Bone And Raw Food as some might have said. This means you can give your horse some BARF, just not quite the same !

Advantages :

😊 Zero transformation, so all enzymes and all vitamins are conserved, no risk of loosing them in cooking (vegetables are either cooked or grind)

😊 It gets closer to the natural diet of dogs

😊 You'll have an entire community with you (or not) !

Disadvantages :

😞 You will be bothered with bacteria (by other people)

😞 It takes time and you have to do it right

😞 Sourcing isn't always easy, especially with homemade BARF

Small bacteria update !

Your dog has antibacterial and antimicrobial in its saliva (instead of amylase for us humans). That allows him to limit the risks of infection (of course you know what I'm talking about Bob Salmonella, E-Coli, etc...). With this first defence mechanism, dog's digestive system is much shorter than ours (perks of being a carnivore, despite what kibble makers would have you thinking), so bacteria that went through won't really have time to settle and make your dog sick. Lastly, you dog's pH is about 1, so really acidic and not really bacteria-friendly.

(Sorry, big bacteria update)

Lastly, Prey Model !

"That one's a trend !" Nope, still not sorry…

What is it, really the Prey Model diet ? It's close to the BARF diet but the goal is to recreate a whole prey to obtain a balanced diet like you can find it in the wild.

Advantages :

😊 If done right, it's balanced and really enriching for your dog

😊 Still no transformation and this time little to no vegetables !

😊 It triggers the dog's instincts

Disadvantages :

😞 Real tough sourcing the good ingredients

😞 Not really appetising for humans (hairs, head, diverse organs...)

😞 It's usually more expensive than the other fresh food diets (unless you live with hunters, which is also valid for the first point)

Usually, parts of preys are used instead of whole preys (it's easier), it's called Franken-Prey (from Frankenstein, by the way Frankenstein is the doctor not the creature !)

Bonus : mixed diet

"It's bad for the dog". Enough Bob, all that is posted on socials is not always right (and no, unless mention of the contrary, your vet is not a nutritionist).

So, mixed diet, it's the mixing of kibbles and fresh food. If there is more than 20% (give or take) of fresh food, then the fresh part needs to be balanced as well ! It's a point many people fail to mention...

Advantages :

😊 It brings moisture to your dog's diet (little reminder : kibbles are 10% moisture, and it is not enough)

😊 It brings vitamins and other nutrients in natural way (unlike synthetic vitamins and minerals from kibbles)

😊 All studies have demonstrates that adding fresh food to kibbles benefit your dog's health

Disadvantages :

😞 If you give more than 20% fresh food it has to be balanced

😞 You still have to store the fresh food

😞 You will receive comments because people want you to believe that you cannot mix kibbles and fresh food, or just because fresh food is "bad for dogs"

If you just want to add some fresh food, under the 20% threshold, here are my favorites :

😎 An omega 3 fatty acids source : frozen or canned sardines, fish oil, small oily frozen fish

😎 A protein source : A piece of meat, raw or cooked, to counterbalance the carbohydrate overload in kibbles

😎 An antioxidant source : spinach (frozen is good), blueberries (same), any fruits or vegetables with bright colour brings antioxidants (and each colour is a different antioxidant !)

😎 Don't forget to rehydrate ! Because you add fresh food doesn't make kibbles less dry 🙃

Alright, it was a small of the different possibilities. Tell me what you think about it and share to someone who need to read this, someone with questions on the subject, someone you just want to tease with that and make a big debate on family dinner ! 😈

You've understood, I'm starting this blog with a touch of humour !

Though the informations given are right and studied (otherwise I'll tell you), and the goal is to help you in your seek of the truth about canine nutrition (and training) !

And if you're still struggling, go check the follow-ups they are neat😇