PUPPIES DIET

We did a lot of research into health and nutrition. After owning my own dog training business and running puppy school for the past 8 years, diet plays a huge part in the happiness and mental stability of your dog. Diet also is a major factor in allergies, growth, skeletal and muscular structure.

We believe feeding a dog that is closest to nature is best, as that is what they are genetically made up to survive on. A raw diet of meaty bones, occasionally fruit/vegies, offal and occasionally fish.

Dogs digestion starts in the stomach. Which is why dogs don't need to 'savour' their food or chew it up in to tiny pieces.

Saliva is just a lubricant to get the food chunks down to the stomach.

Unlike dogs, our digestion starts in the mouth with saliva breaking down the starches and sugars in food. Which is why we need to chew our food.

A dogs stomach has a very low ph level between 1 and 2.The same as 0.4 % of Hydrochloric acid . Which is why dogs can eat rotting meat and not get sick, being natures' scavengers. The ph level is too low for salmonella or e- Coli to live . Whereas humans ph level is quite high, almost neutral, not low enough to kill these bacteria so we are prone to food poisoning. Our ph level is just right to digest cooked food and to digest carborhydrates such as rice and corn and wheat.

A dogs ph level cannot digest these carborhydrates. Cardorhydrates also cause tartar on teeth because there is no saliva to break it down.

The only supplements we feed are kelp powder, as Australian soils are almost entirely deficient in iodine. It also contains copper, which dark coated dogs need more than light coated dogs. As well, kelp powder also contains other minerals such as phosphorus, zinc and selenium. Most often skin problems such as dandruff ,itchiness and sparse coat are caused by not enough minerals in the diet, this can be fixed by adding kelp powder.

We also add oils such as flax seed oil or cod-liver oil.

Occasionally we add a pinch of yellow sulphur powder to keep parasites away like fleas. Sulphur is not coming down the food chain which is why adding to our dogs diet, will combat that.

Our dogs get fed roughly 5-6 times a week.

We feed a variety of meats, such as chicken, lamb, beef and fish. There are different amounts of vitamins and minerals in different meats so feeding a variety is best. A healthy dog should not have allergies to particular meats and avoiding meats such as lamb or beef you are not doing your dog a service. These meats do not make the 'blood hot' nor do they make your dog 'aggressive' or 'hyperactive' nor do they make your dog want to chase and kill things. These are old wives tales and deserve nothing but a laugh.

Meat is best fed RAW. Not cooked in stews or in any form. Cooking meat ( any food) destroys valuable nutrients and renders it undigestable to your dog.

Bones are best served RAW. Never feed a cooked bone of any sort. Cooking bones changes the structure of the bone making it hard and splintery and will kill your dog.

Vegetables and fruit are best served rotten ( yes!) Or if that is too far out of your comfort zone, grated or pulped/blended up is just fine. Dogs cannot digest big chunks of fruit and vegetables. Grating or blending them up breaks up the cellular walls and lets the goodness out for the dog.

A dogs genetic structure is 0.02% different to that of a wolf. The genetic difference between two different breeds of dogs is 0.02%.

So feeding close to a wolfs' way of feeding is ideal.

1/3 raw meaty bones

1/3 fruit/vegies

1/3 meat (fish included)

The rest we feed offal. ( lambs brains, kidneys, liver, green tripe)

Always watch your dog with bones. Dogs can choke on anything from toys, to dry food, to bones.Be smart about it. Feed bigger bones if you are nervous, and take it away when it gets too small. ( see training notes for ways to do this )

Bones are natural calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium to name a few minerals in it.

Boys need more calcium than girls. Beef brisket is highest in calcium.

Never feed calcium supplements. This is an excellent way to cause growth problems in your dog. For your dog to absorb calcium it must be in the correct ratio with other minerals. You must know exactly how much is missing as to how much you add. Raw meaty bones are the best way to do this.

Chicken carcass' are mostly cartilage, and best for older dogs. Only feed every now and then for a young dog.

Excellent reading is Dr Ian Billinghurst ' Grow your pups with bones'

Pat Coleby 'Natural pet care'

Tom Londsdale 'Raw meaty bones'

Mogens Eliasen 'The wolfs' natural diet -a feeding guide for your dog?' This can be bought as an E-book on www.k9joy.com