Ultimate Guide to Feeding.
Feeding your dog is probably one of the hardest task, if taken seriously. With so many different options out there, choosing the right one for your dog could be a challenge. Let this guide guide you little bit more in the world between kibble and raw food.
Let’s go through all the options one by one.
1. Commercial Dry Food (Kibble)
The most known and the most convenient form of dog food out there. The good ol’ Kibble. Kibble is the number one because it is super long-lasting, and available for every of dog, from big to small, to old and young.
Kibble could be a good option, but make sure you pick a high quality brand, like Open Farm, As they focus on formulating their kibble to meet your dog’s complete nutritional needs. It is easy to store and serve, a quick grab in the bag and you’re done! Chewing on kibble also helps reduce plaque and tartar forming at your dogs teeth.
Even though it is super convenient it does come with a price. Dry food is very processed, which could result in a loss of nutrients. Manufactures also add additives, which good be good, like vitamins and minerals, but here’s also the non healthy ones; like colors, fillers or artificial preservatives to the food. Mostly so the human likes the product better (and buy it), it’s marketing.
Shiva hates dry food, ever she was a pup she refuses to eat it. Or should i say ‘since she ate something else, she refuses to eat it’. Still, as I’m travelling dry food is kind of the go-to for us. So i add some raw meat or wet food to it and it becomes a good meal for her.
Our dry food for dogs recommendations
Of course we would like to start things of with Royal Canin, it is just a save bet and they have proven themselves for years to be a good supplier of healthy dog food. A trusted brand with a 4.5 star with over 10 000+ reviews. Find the right version for your dog and you have a trustworthy source of dog food for ever. When we were living in 1 location, which was the time that Shiva was a puppy, Royal Canin was the brand we used.
Probably one of the top producer of dry food right now is OpenFarm, 4.5 star with over 1000+ reviews. I’ve read loads of different dry food producers out there, none competes with OpenFarm at this moment. Thanks due their high protein percentage and the fact that the product is grain free.
2. Canned Dog Diet(Wet Food)
Who doesn’t love it? The great smell of wet dog food. Well, dogs do. Mostly because it resembles real meat more than dry food does. It’s possible to feed your dog with wet food only, you could also consider mixing it with dry food for a more diverse dinner.
Wet food is more moist than dry food, which helps support your dogs hydration level and protects their digestive system. Wet dog food comes in all different flavors, brands and sizes. It offers a large variety. There’s something for every dog out there.
It is more expensive than dry food and it has a shorter shelf life, when opened you must to use it immediately or the next day if you keep it in your fridge.
If wet food is your choice it’s important to search a brand that uses high quality ingredients and adds no unnecessary fillers to the food. Wet food is also a good reward for after training or as an add-on to dry food, like i do with Shiva.
Our recommended wet food for dogs
On top of the list we’ve got Hill’s, they also have good quality dry food, but they accelerate in wet food. Having one of the highest positive reviews out there and I’ve read a lot of vets recommending this brand. If you click the link you can follow a few steps to figure out which variant is perfectly fit for your 4 legged friend.
Same as with the dry food, OpenFarm is getting a recommendation for their wet food. I’ve read a lot of good reviews, in dept analyzes of the ingredients and they just make very high quality dog food, with your dog’s health and happiness as main focus. Different flavors available.
3. Raw Food (BARF or RMBD)
Raw food is the most ‘natural’ dog food out there, it is very similar to what the ancestor dogs have eaten for centuries. This food should contain uncooked meats, bones, veggies and organs.
It is very high in nutrients as the food is unprocessed, which causes lot of benefits for your dog. Even tho it sounds very good, raw food is not that easy. It could be very expensive if you pick the high quality brands, it requires a lot of preparation and planning to make sure you can feed your dog on daily basis. You’ll also need to be a little more careful handling the food as it can contain bacteria.
Always consult your veterinarian when switching or considering raw dog food is it possible for your dog. Some dogs can’t handle it.
Shiva loves raw meat, so whenever i buy some meat for myself she’ll tax me on it. 50/50, yes, she’s like that. I add it to the dry food, and a meal from heaven is prepared!
Our recommendation for raw dog food
One of the top raw food producer in America is Raw Wild, using 99.4 % wild grown elk and venison, 0.6 % vitamins and minerals. Most importantly, there’re no sign of antibiotics, growth hormones, fillers or preservatives. Very natural raw food. 10/10.
4. Home-Cooked Dog Diet
This might be the cutest variant of dog food out there. Cook for them yourself. This way you gain full control over what your dog eats and the nutrients inside it. Make sure you add proteins, veggies and grains. The biggest minus is that it’s very time consuming, but if you love your dog and you love cooking, why not?
Inform yourself well, by discussing it with a pet nutritionist, about the different kinds of meals you could prepare. To make sure your dog gets all it needs
There’re many websites out there who can provide you with some delicious meals for dogs, made by your own hands. To give you a start we recommend looking at these recipes first.
5. Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated Food
Freeze-dried or dehydrated food is a mix between raw food and kibble. It has been processed in a way to remove the moisture while keeping in the nutrients. Some brands require you to add water before serving.
It contains more nutrients than dry food, but it does share the shelf life of it. It you’re feeding your dog raw food this could be a great replacement when you’re going on a holiday. As it is very portable.
Freeze-dried might be the most expensive options out there, at is requires high quality raw meat and a process facility. It is also important to keep your dog hydrated at all times when you choose to feed dehydrated food.
Our recommended freeze-dried dog food
There’s the overall best producer in our research again, OpenFarm. They also have a very high quality frieze-dried raw dog food for your dog. This recipe contains 43% protein, 40% fat and 9% carbohydrates, making it a well balanced option for your dog.
A different option is Instinct frieze-dried dog food, this recipe contains 38% protein, 28% fat and 26% carbohydrates, making it a little less good then OpenFarm, but non-the-less one of the better options out there.
6. Mixed Feeding Dog Diet
Like I’ve said before, this is my go to. Mainly because Shiva is a little princess when it comes to food. It is possible to mix different kinds of dog food in one plate.
This does require some good planning and testing to see what your dog’s digestive system can handle. Shiva and i have been travelling for quite some time and it’s hard to find the same brands in every place. Shiva’s body is used to changing food from time to time and we have gotten the hang of it, but it’s no easy task. Always mix a little bit of the old food before giving the new ones.
Conclusion
Feeding your dog is not easy. It requires planning, thinking, testing and it is also budget related. I would love to give Shiva all that she wants, i just can’t afford to do so. Think about your dogs differences like age, size, health, breed and preferences. If you figure out the right strategy you can ensure your dog enjoys a healthy and balanced diet, that supports them and makes them happy.
