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How to choose the best food for your dog!

1/4/2015

54 Comments

 
Nutrition plays an important role in your dogs general health and well-being. Just like with people, your dogs diet directly impacts their health! Dogs that eat junk food full of additives, fillers, and low quality ingredients will not be as healthy as dogs eating fresh whole foods that are species appropriate and full of healthy ingredients.

Dogs are individuals with their own dietary needs based on several factors, such as their genetics and current state of health. While one type of diet may not be ideal for every dog, the majority of dogs tend to thrive on diets consisting of real, whole foods that are biologically appropriate. 

When selecting a diet for your dogs, you need to keep your dogs anatomy and physiology in mind!
Dogs are facultative carnivores (or opportunistic carnivores) which is defined as a carnivore that does not depend solely on animal flesh for food but also can survive on grains, fruits, vegetables or left overs from human garbage. While your dog can eat carbohydrates, this is a matter of what your dog will thrive on versus what they can survive on.

All the proof you need can be seen after your dog goes potty! Dogs that eat a raw food diet see a much smaller volume of stool because the body is digesting and utilizing almost every part of the raw meat, bone and organs. With homemade food, many dog owners report seeing undigested vegetable matter and grain in their dogs stool. Commercial kibble diets tend to produce very large stool volume due to copious amounts of useless filler like low quality grains and poorly digested carbohydrates in the kibble.

My two raw fed German Shepherds potty once or twice a day, and the volume is very small. Stool of raw fed dogs will turn white and crumble to dust within a few days. Most kibble fed dogs will see 3 - 4 very large piles a day, and the stool does not break down due to not only the chemical additives and preservatives, but also because carbohydrates and grain takes longer to break down than meat.


What to Avoid in your Dog's Food:

There are certain ingredients that either have no business being in your dogs body, or are less than ideal in terms of promoting health and resistance to illness and disease. If your dogs food contains any of the following ingredients, do some more research and consider making the switch to a healthier alternative!
  • Animal digest
  • Meat by-products
  • Animal fat
  • Corn
  • Beef tallow
  • Oat, rice or other "hulls"
  • Salt, flavoring or color
  • Ethoxyquin

Do you know what the best and worst dog foods are? A little research goes a long way!

Want to know what these ingredients actually are and why they are bad for your dog? Read my article on bad ingredients lurking in dog food!

The Best Food to Feed your Dog:

The best dog food is biologically appropriate, fresh and nutritionally balanced. No species on Earth has evolved to thrive on dehydrated vitamin enriched pellets. All living creatures require species appropriate whole, fresh foods to thrive. Even if you are unwilling to switch to a 100% fresh food diet, you can absolutely make a huge difference by removing 25% of your dog's kibble and replacing it with fresh food!


  1. A Fresh, Raw Food Diet (Click here to learn more about raw feeding)
  2. Homemade Dog Food (Click here to learn more about homemade dog food)
  3. Dehydrated Food / Freeze-dried Raw
  4. High Quality Commercial Kibble mixed with fresh, whole food.
  5. High Quality Commercial Kibble

How do I Choose the Best Food for my Dog?


Research! Talk to dog nutritionists, pet food specialists, holistic and traditional veterinarians who specialize in canine nutrition and take your individual dogs needs into consideration! There are plenty of great articles from reputable sources that are a google search away, too. Remember to always cross-reference information for accuracy! Ideally, you can bring your veterinarian on board with your dog's dietary choices.

Click the article links below to continue your research!


  • The Incredible Raw Food Diet for Dogs
  • The Benefits of Homemade Food for Dogs
  • Real Food Diets: Unlocking Health and Longevity with Nutrition

My online store contains dog nutrition eBooks on raw feeding and homemade diets!

For more content like this and updates on holistic dog health care news, come join my official Facebook group: K9 Instinct: Holistic Dog Health Care.

Looking for a fun, friendly, safe, all-positive group on Facebook for dog lovers and pet parents?
Come check out The K9 Connection!


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54 Comments
Linda Sanderman
1/4/2015 09:07:38 am

I feed my three small dogs a lot of brown rice, along with hamburger, fish and eggs. I am wondering what is wrong with feeding them brown rice? Thanks for your reply.

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Alexandra
1/12/2015 06:27:58 am

Brown rice is a complex carb, which means it's structure makes it more difficult for an animal to break down and digest. Dogs are not omnivores, so they don't have the faculties to fully utilize brown rice, so much passes through their system unused. Aside from its decreased digestibility, grains are one of the most common causes of food allergies in dogs, so many people choose to feed their dogs a grain-free diet.

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Kéra
1/14/2015 01:17:25 am

Well said, Alexandra..

Julie
2/3/2015 06:10:22 pm

I think it just comes down to dogs are not meant to eat rice, pork, chocolate, mushrooms and a few other things.

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Stacey
4/30/2015 05:08:13 am

That isn't true. I feed a raw diet and pork is fine

debbie
1/15/2015 03:48:29 am

Is whole earth a good dog food it's the next step down version of mavric dog food

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K9 Instinct
1/18/2015 01:02:49 pm

It is about a 4 star kibble, not bad! :)

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Shawn
2/24/2015 11:50:33 pm

My daughter's Pit Bull eats oranges and graps and apples. Is this bad for her ?

mitch
2/27/2015 09:07:10 am

Apples are good. Grapes are very toxic to dogs. I wouldn't feed oranges.

lacey
3/2/2015 08:51:55 am

I feed my dogs Fromm

alejandra
1/15/2015 05:14:14 am

Is it ok for a pit bull to eat raw chicken / chicken bones ?

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Bridgit
1/15/2015 06:23:53 am

ABSOLUTELY!

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K9 Instinct
1/18/2015 01:03:45 pm

Raw bones are absolutely good for your dog! Just be sure you are feeding proper ratios of raw to provide the right balance and nutrient profile. http://www.k9instinct.com/shop.html

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Alison link
2/18/2015 11:53:06 am

K9 Instinct01/18/2015 9:03pm
Raw bones are absolutely good for your dog! Just be sure you are feeding proper ratios of raw to provide the right balance and nutrient profile. http://www.k9instinct.com/shop.html
REPLY

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Bridgit
1/15/2015 06:25:40 am

I give my BSD's a frozen, raw, chicken wing as a treat 2 or 3 times a week. Also, have given them chicken carcasses for their dinner (not frozen.) As long as bones are cooked they are safe as they only splinter when cooked!

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K9 Instinct
1/18/2015 01:04:39 pm

Yes, raw bones are safe. Weight bearing bones of large animals are tougher to digest though.

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suzanne
1/18/2015 01:01:06 pm

I know it's best to feed organic, but is it ok to feed raw non organic? Organic meat is so expensive, even though I would love to do organic it just cost way to much for us as well.

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K9 Instinct
1/18/2015 01:05:30 pm

Organic would be the very very best you could feed, but I do not believe it is necessary. Regular meat, while not organic, is still superior to commercial kibble. :)

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Pat Roy
1/21/2015 10:08:32 pm

I have been feeding my GSD's a kibble from Smart Pak it is the chicken and brown rice called live smart. Can you check it out and tell me if t is good? I have had no issues with stomach problems as I had with other foods.

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Diane Strang
1/29/2015 05:40:50 am

is there a list of preferred dry dog food. I feed mine Taste of the Wild Lamb and Rice (purple bag)?

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Clairisse
2/18/2015 10:37:06 pm

Taste of the Wild is not a bad food. I prefer Earthborn Holistic, it's very comparable if you wanted to check it out. Orijen would be one of the top foods you could buy, but at that price you're better switching to a raw diet which at that point could run cheaper and be healthier.

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Jeff
4/29/2015 07:55:10 am

I too feed mine Earthborn primitive. Great food lots of choices and never been recalled. Made in Indiana, not china.

Debbie
4/29/2015 02:55:12 pm

I feed my GSD Orijen six fish & ACANA Grasslands, his stool is perfect! And yes, that is some expensive kibble but you get what you pay for. I'm not sure how to start feeding him raw. He is 9. Will his sensitive digestive tract handle it okay?

Stacey
4/30/2015 05:10:10 am

Acana is also made by Orijen and is an excellent kibble, the grain free is fantastic

Elaine Euton
2/9/2015 12:12:24 pm

Am learning so much from your posting...t/y so very much. I'm inviting friend s to this page

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Clare Manning
2/18/2015 05:38:16 am

Can I change my dog to a raw food diet without too much a problem?

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Annette
2/18/2015 05:43:04 am

What do you know about Origen kibbles and Hills?

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Lisa
2/18/2015 06:22:45 am

I can absolutely attest to the benefits of a raw diet for dogs. I switched three of mine from Kibble as adults and my puppy now 8 months started raw the day I got her home at 9 weeks. Benefits: Coat is glorious, they do not have that dog smell and I rarely have to bathe them, teeth gleaming white, older dog that used to have many sebaceous cysts no longer gets them, she also carries less weight and moves better, they eat enthusiastically, they drink far less water (kibble is well dry and they guzzle water to compensate for digestion) I could go on but that gives you an ides.

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Lisa
2/18/2015 10:34:02 am

I have a 6 month male pure frenchie. He is on vet brand puppy chow i feed him 3-4 times a day. I also have a 7 year old boston terrier who has been eating raw food for 4 years due to allergies. I want to switch to raw for the frenchie, but i have never switched over a puppy before. Also, he is always hungry... thoughts? thanks L.

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Irene
2/19/2015 01:58:14 am

How about raw dehydrated food? I feed my airedale Buffalo with vegetables, made by a company called NRG.

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kerri
2/19/2015 10:30:34 pm

I have 3 dogs and I feed them boiled chicken or lightly boiled beef ground up. I feed half that and half nutro weight management grain free dog food. Is this a good diet? Also sometimes I add boiled carrots and apples. Is that a good additive or should I stay away from it.

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kristen
2/27/2015 05:40:30 am

Does the ebooks that are for purchase, specifically the raw diet book, give portion sizes of what your dog should be getting daily? My biggest concern about starting my dogs on a raw or homemade diet is making sure that they're getting enough calories and nutrients. I'd like the purchase the books but want to make sure all that information is inside.

Thanks!!

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Sara
2/27/2015 06:06:19 am

i feed my puppy biljac. Is that a good food?

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Kelly
2/27/2015 09:14:25 am

Is Acana a good brand?

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Cb
2/27/2015 10:01:43 am

I feed my dog a mix of Acana Pacifica and senior. It has a 5 star rating on dog food advisor. Hope that helps!

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Loretta Davis link
2/27/2015 11:34:24 am

I FEED BOTH MY GERMAN SHEPHERD'S 4 HEALTH. BEEF AND POTATOE, GRAIN FREE. I HEARD IT WAS ONE REALLY GOOD DOG FOOD FROM MY VET. YOU CAN ONLY BUY IT AT THE TRACTOR SUPPLY STORE IN MICHIGAN. THEY SEEM TO LOVE IT. ALSO MY WHITE SHEPHERD HAS FISTULAS WHICH IS WHY SHE IS ON GRAIN FREE. SHE IS 11 NOW AND ON MEDS FOR HER CONDITION AND DOING GREAT!

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Catalina
2/27/2015 10:50:47 pm

I feed my dogs blue buffalo is that a good food?

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Tiffany
2/27/2015 11:56:37 pm

I have a 13 week old Siberian husky, when he gets a year old I want to switch him to adult food. What's the best kind of food to feed him?

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brian spain
2/28/2015 03:41:51 am

I feed my dog Purina rice and lamb formula is this a good food ?

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brian spain
2/28/2015 04:28:00 am

Iam feeding my dogs Purina special blend rice and lamb formula is this a good dog feed ?

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tammy alexander
2/28/2015 09:41:32 am

My wgs and black golden eats Purina lamb and rice is this Good for them

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J. Vega
4/29/2015 06:56:14 am

Hi, my 15 week Czech GSD craves on Merrick Grain Free - Healthy Weight. Any opinions are appreciated.

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ET
4/29/2015 06:58:41 am

IS Rachel Ray's Brand Dogfood A Good dogfood Purina Natural Salmon And Egg

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kelly pierson
4/29/2015 08:11:57 am

Is benefit a good dog food?

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Zita
4/29/2015 08:54:45 am

Is Blue Wilderness a good food for dog?

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Linda
4/29/2015 09:09:10 am

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Donna Poole
4/29/2015 03:54:44 pm

I have a Gsd ans an overweight yorkie on weight maint. Food. Cannec, what is best for her to loose weibht. Getting your books and Waya is going on thd raw diet

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SBechdel link
4/29/2015 11:07:13 pm

I have a German Shepard, she's 4. What would be the best food for her diet, she has diarrhea all the time and fishtatures that bleed. She is on medicine, but my vet says her food is not the problem. I think it may be. I am wondering if she has food allergies that are making the condition worse?

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Amy Seidler
5/4/2015 03:36:44 am

I would ask about allergy testing and I would definately try a differetn food. I'm curious what you're feeding now but try to learn more about raw diet, definately the best choice but not for everyone. Dogfoodadvisor.com gives a rating on almost every brand of dog food. The main two to avoid are Ol'Roy from Walmart and Beneful from Purina.

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dawn carter
5/4/2015 03:18:26 am

i have 3 dogs as well i give them chicken back nd noodles r the noodles good for them.but my question is raw food is good for them raw beef raw chicken nd u can give them chicken raw nd they can eat the bones from the raw chicken nd it wont mess up there stomach ,i thought u had 2 cook the bones so it dont mess their stomach up nd make them bleed

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Mari
5/4/2015 03:47:23 am

Never ever give dogs cooked bones of any sort!! If they eat cooked bones they can splinter and rip the dogs inside open. Noodles not so good just read up on raw food before you start to give them so you will learn does and donts :) I raw feed my 2 bulldogges and they are thriving on it.

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dawn carter
5/4/2015 06:14:51 am

omg thank u when i gave them the chicken back i would cook it until they were soft thinkin i was doin good wow,thank u so the bones from raw chicken doesnt splinter,i thought those b the ones that would rip their insides thank i so much

J Nelson
5/17/2015 12:33:15 pm

We also feed our GS Purina Lamb and rice or Chicken and rice. Am anxious to hear your reply regarding this as it was recommended by a vet.

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nancy barratt
10/6/2015 07:14:04 pm

Our boys loved ACANA Ranchlands Variety. I just cannot keep it up price/cost wise. $86 for a 28.6lb bag. I would love to.
Our newest pup ( 1 1/2) does not like anything else so far!
TOTW is junk, Victor not good now trying Pure Vita Bison and he does not like it. I really wish we could afford Acana Ranchlands. It is the best!

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