If you follow my Instagram stories, then you know we
have recently acquired a dog. He just
showed up one afternoon with a confused wet face and when he tilted his head, I
knew he was here to stay.
So, after about an hour I went to the fridge to see if I had anything he would eat. I found leftover rice and beans; they must have been good because he never left.
I sent a picture to a friend; she came back with, “he’s an Australian Shepard mix” apps can be so helpful these days.
Instantly I thought, a smart working breed that requires attention. His size was perfect, but I knew right away that he was a drop off. These dogs can come with a lot of issues like anxiety; I wasn’t sure if I wanted to deal with it. So, at first there was resistance.
I was told that some dogs find us, my husband said, “looks like you got your dog” and my sweet friend kept texting asking how things were going. Everybody but me realized I had a new dog and my hesitation turned into acceptance.
The following morning, I knew if I was going to take care of another dog things had to look different this time around, beginning with the food supply. The one thing that I have always disliked about dog ownership is store bought dog food and trying to find a container to repel mice and ants.
Living in the country I always failed and with a new house I did not want dog food in our home, not to mention I cannot stand the smell of dry or wet food.
I went to the internet to research what I could feed a working dog and what to avoid. I also observed Kramer’s activity, he loves to jump and run so I knew his protein intake had to be sufficient. Since he’s around 40 pounds, daily feedings consist of 1 to 1.5 cups morning and evening.
During the day we offer treats for training purposes; so far, he has learned how to sit and fetch. We are still working on stay and down, like I mentioned, he loves to jump sometimes flying over the creek.
On a side note, he enjoys resting in my art studio while I
am watercolor painting. Kramer has become a great companion and it is true that
some dogs do find us.
What Dogs Can Eat
Have you ever wondered what dogs can eat? I was curious so I went to the internet where
I found positive and negative feedback; it was all helpful. I also found some really neat websites for
pets.
First, I want to dive into that information because I was amazed at the variety. I didn’t even have to go grocery shopping to begin so that was another bonus.
For protein the best options are fish, poultry and turkey. Kramer also loves chunks of beef, venison and wild game. Make sure the fat is removed but when it comes to fish, I do feed him the skin because it contains healthy oils.
Dogs can also have fresh veggies like, peas, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, green beans, spinach, beets and celery. I prefer using the first five and over the summer I may see if beets are to his liking.
Beans are also a good, again a long option starting with black, kidney, lime, garbanzo, lentils, navy and pinto.
Herbs such as basil, cinnamon, ginger, parsley, rosemary, turmeric, oregano, chamomile and even cilantro is okay. I use a combo of two or three for added flavor; keep in mind cilantro and parsley will help with puppy breath.
Dogs can also consume cooked rice or oats; I offered cooked steel cut oats in my recipe below.
Finally, we are down to fruit, choose from apples, bananas, blueberries, oranges, watermelon and
cucumbers. Please note that fruit treats should be
offered in moderation and defiantly not daily.
Two things you should never offer dogs, onions and garlic. Both will upset their stomach and nobody wants that.
Making Homemade Dog Food
Now that you have a solid list of ingredients let me share
how I go about making homemade dog food.
First off, I use a medium size crock pot and fill it with water to the
halfway point.
I add a cup and a half of dried beans, 2.5 cups of cubed meat, this week it was chicken. Then I select two or three vegetables like fresh carrots, broccoli and sweet potato chopped in bit size pieces. Add about a cup of each with a handful of chopped herbs for flavor. I normally use a combo of two or three.
Let this cook for about 2 or 3 hours then I add one cup of white rice or oats and two cups of water to keep the base from getting too thick. Let that cook for another 30 minutes to an hour or until last ingredient is soft.
Think of this as a slow cook stew because you can get on with your day while it is cooking. When done, stir and scoop into quart jars then let it cool on the counter before storing in the fridge with lids.
This should make between 3 to 4 days of food; I like using
quart jars because I just dump food into a glass pie plate, warm it up for a
minute in the microwave and serve. Kramer loves it and he knows the tops shelf in the fridge is
all about him.
You might think this sounds like a lot of work but honestly once you get in a routine it is no big deal. I cook his food twice a week and in my opinion it is healthier.
His coat is shiny, his energy level is grand,
his focus is better and his stools are as they should be. Enough said... Kramer is thriving and we can hardly wait for deer season.
See the Good,
Carole West