As a trainer, next to training and behavior, the second most popular topic people like to ask our opinion on is food.  And while my standard disclaimer applies here, “I am not a veterinarian, nor do I have any formal training regarding canine nutrition”, the reality is food is a major hot button topic for a huge number of dog people.

A number of years ago, I learned of the raw food diet.  Essentially, feeding your dogs raw meat and bones with some variation of people feeding fruits and vegetables, etc.  In the beginning, this idea was completely abhorent to me.  Feed my dog gross looking, slimy raw chicken?  Yuck!  And though I still do not feed my dogs a raw diet, the essence behind why some people are feeding their dogs raw I completely understand and sympathize with.

Several years ago, the pet food industry had such a major recall that it drew all kinds of national attention, countless pets died.  It also caused people to become more aware of what exactly it was that they were actually feeding their dogs.  The answer was not pretty.  And while I cannot substantiate all the rumors that I have heard about what is in some pet kibbles (dead dogs and cats, pesticides, known cancer causing agents – you get the picture) it was enough to get me interested in which kibble I chose for my dog.  Or, the even more radical idea – do I feed my dog kibble at all?

Kibble was invented about a century ago, and like everything else commercialized and consumer driven, companies wanted a well marketed product that was cheap to produce in mass quantities.  Since the laws that govern pet food are essentially non-existent, when compared with laws that govern human food, nutrition was bound to suffer.

With dogs having lived with humans for an estimated 14,000 years, how did they possibly survive the previous 13,900 without kibble?  The answer is simple, they ate the scraps the humans left for them, and they scavenged.  Meat, grain, vegetables – whatever they could find.  I believe dogs are omnivors, just like people.  You can’t objectively look at those teeth and tell me they are vegetarians, nor can it be denied that dogs will eat veggies, fruits, and grains.  One of my dogs, Willow, loves bananas, in fact will peel one and eat it all on her own.  Another of my dogs knows the distinct sound of the olive jar and would come running as if it were filet mignon.

So, when, as a trainer, I am asked my opinion on feeding a dog “people” food, the asker will get a queer look from me and I will reply, “People food IS food.”  Now, if you want me to train a dog not to beg at the table, that is a different question and totally reasonable to ask.  But it is simply not correct to think that milkbones and kibble are for dogs and everything else the earth provides is for people.  That’s just silly.

It is very amusing to me that at the same time the country we live in is having a massive wakeup call regarding health and nutrition, and we are warned to stay away from the middle of the grocery stores due to the ‘highly processed’ food that lurks there waiting to sabotage all our valiant weight loss efforts – at that very same time, we are given basically no alternative for our canine companions other than arguably the most processed type of food you can find – kibble.

I wish I did have the simple answer to the best kind of food to feed a dog, but it’s just not that simple.  Not all kibble is evil, not all raw diets are balanced.  Not every food agrees with every dog.  The best advice is use caution with any type of diet – kibble, raw, homecooked – and watch your dog for signs that they are getting all the nutrients they need.  Do they look healthy, shiny coat, bright eyes, plenty of energy?  No itching or scratching?  Then you’re probably on the right track.  Good luck!