There are four primary dog feeding strategies:
There is no definitive answer as to which dog feeding method is best.
This article summarizes each method, and presents their pros and cons. Based on this, we can decide what to feed our dog, based on his lifestyle and preferences.
1. Dry Dog Food (Kibble)
When considering which kibble to feed our dog, it is important to keep these things in mind –
- Note what the main ingredients are.
- Look for a kibble with meat as its primary source of protein.
- Avoid kibble with wheat, corn, or soy as its main ingredients. For sources of carbohydrates, potatoes and rice are easier to digest. Many dogs are allergic to wheat and corn.
- Avoid any food with wheat or corn gluten. Here’s why.
- Avoid kibble with too many “by-products” in their ingredient list.
- Avoid kibble with many generic ingredients, for example poultry meal or fish meal. Instead, look for chicken meal or salmon meal.
- Avoid kibble with artificial coloring and preservatives, for example BHA or BHT.
- Avoid kibble with too much filler material, such as corn hull.
A good rule of thumb to distinguish the major components of a food is to look for the first named source of fat in the ingredient list. Anything listed before that, and including it, make up the main portion of the food, other items are present in much smaller amounts to add flavor, function as preservatives or because of their dietary benefits (e.g. probiotics, vitamins and minerals).
~~ [ Excerpt from the Dog Food Project ]
I have done a fair amount of research into dry dog food, because both my dogs have sensitive digestive systems. My Shiba Inu is allergic to wheat, and my Siberian Husky is allergic to most types of grains (wheat, corn, oats), as well as some types of fish.
Here are some good kibble brands that are well-reviewed by many dog owners:
- Wellness CORE – My dogs are currently on Wellness CORE. They seem to really love the kibble and are doing well with it.
- Orijen – This was actually my first choice during our kibble switch-over. However, my Sibes are allergic to some types of fish and all their kibble formula contains fish.
- Blue Wilderness – Very well reviewed and the chicken formula has a similar ingredient list to Wellness CORE.
- Nature’s Variety Instinct – This kibble has a simpler ingredient list with two main components – chicken meal and tapioca. It also has a 42% protein content which looks good.
- Taste of the Wild – I have never tried Taste of the Wild, but they also have a well reviewed grain-free kibble with good ingredients. I love their cover art.
- Innova EVO – On March 2013 there was a voluntary recall of EVO products. As a result, we decided to switch over to Wellness CORE.
** Note that all of the above brands are grain-free, high-protein kibble. There may be some concern over high-protein dog food causing kidney disease, but this is a myth that has been debunked.
Just be careful not to give high protein food to large breed puppies as it may cause overly rapid growth, which will stress bones and joints.
Other dry dog food brands:
Canidae is often recommended as a good, medium-cost quality kibble. I have never tried Canidae, but their ingredient list looks sound.
Solid Gold: I did not include Solid Gold because their high protein kibble, Barking to the Moon, contains generic fish meal as its primary ingredient. Instead, we want to look for salmon meal, herring meal, or whitefish meal which is in Orijen 6, and Wellness CORE Ocean.
Pros
- Better for dental health because it is less likely to stick on, and stain teeth.
- Easy to transport and use in dog obedience training, handling, and dog grooming.
- Easy to stuff in dog toys.
- Balanced nutrition for our dog.
- Has good fiber content, resulting in more regular stools.
Cons
- Does not smell or taste as good as the other dog foods.
- Our dog may not want to eat kibble, and instead try to hold-out for something better.
- May make our dog thirsty. Therefore, provide free access to water all day long.
- Cannot be sure about quality of ingredients. There have been a fair number of dog food recalls on kibble.
2. Wet Dog Food
Once we have finished our research on dry dog food, we can just get the wet or canned versions of our favorite kibble brands. Doing this will ensure the same high quality ingredients, and packing process.
I only give my dogs a small amount of wet food everyday. They get their wet dog food in the form of frozen Kongs, which they work on at night while in their crate.
Pros
- Tastes good.
- Will not dehydrate our dog.
- Balanced nutrition for our dog.
Cons
- Difficult to handle and stuff in toys, unless frozen.
- Difficult to use for training, handling, or grooming.
- Not as good for dental health.
- Cannot be sure about quality of ingredients. There have also been some wet food recalls.
- Expensive.
3. Homemade Dog Food
The most difficult part of feeding our dog homemade food, is ensuring that it has the proper nutritional balance.
The American Veterinary Medical Association warns against feeding our dogs table scraps. Table scraps tend to be too rich, and may contain foods that are poisonous to dogs. The AVMA also discourages using homemade food as our dog’s primary feeding method.
The AVMA does not recommend that people attempt to prepare home-cooked meals for their pets because pet nutrition is very complicated and unique to species and individual animals.
~~ [ Excerpt from Tips On Cooking Your Pet A Home-Cooked Meal, AVMA ]
If we absolutely want to try this dog feeding method, the AVMA recommends the book Home-Prepared Dog & Cat Diets: the Healthful Alternative
by Dr. Donald Strombeck, or the www.petdiets.com website.
I will sometimes microwave some simple people food for my dogs, but only as a supplement to their mostly dry dog diet. In particular, my dogs really like melted cheese, boiled chicken, microwave sausage, and bacon.
When I need my dogs to endure an unpleasant dog grooming session, e.g. nail grinding or teeth brushing, I will sometimes microwave them a mix of salad greens (lettuce, and carrots), boiled chicken, vienna sausage, cheese, and a very small amount of bacon bits.
Pros
- Very tasty.
- Our dog will probably work hard for homemade food.
- High quality, human grade ingredients.
Cons
- May not have balanced nutrition for our dog.
- Difficult and dirty to stuff in toys.
- May be time-consuming to prepare.
- Expensive.
4. Raw Diet (BARF)
A raw diet consists primarily of uncooked meat, edible bones, and organs. Sometimes eggs, vegetables, fruits, and vitamin supplements are added to create a more balanced meal.
Whether to feed our dogs a raw food diet, is a hot debate with strong proponents and opponents.
Pros
- Very tasty.
- Bones help to clean teeth.
- Nutrients are not destroyed by cooking.
- May lead to better health.
Cons
- May not have balanced nutrition for our dog.
- Bones can splinter and become a choking hazard or cause intestinal perforations.
- Raw food may carry bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.
- Difficult to use in training, or to stuff in food toys.
For a more comprehensive discussion on the pros and cons of a raw diet, check out this wonderfully researched article by Alisa, or refer to the links below:
- Wikipedia: Raw Feeding.
- SPCA International: Understanding Homemade Diets and the Pros/Cons of a Raw Food (BARF) Diet.
Useful Dog Feeding Sites
when is it a good time to switch from puppy food? (currently on Blue Wilderness puppy food) She will be 1yr March 15
Hi
May I ask a dumb question…
When you use the frozen wet food in Kongs, do you frozen the wet food first then put in the Kongs, or you put in the wet food in Kongs and then froze them together?
Also, do you mix the can food with some water before frozen it or put in Kongs?
Thanks
I put the soft wet food in the Kong first, then I put the filled Kong in my freezer. I don’t mix it with water. 🙂
Hi ShibaShake,
My name is Nicole and I am the mama of an 8 month old Sesame Shiba named Taz. We got him at 3 months old and have been giving him Purina Pro-Plan Puppy Formula dog food. I was initially concerned because he was having a mixture of normal poop and then diheria, but our vet told us it was because he was a puppy and getting used to dry food. He seemed to be doing okay these last few months, but recently (he is 8 months now) he has been having diheria and clear liquid coming out. Thinking it was maybe his food since he seemed to become uninterested in eating it we swapped him to Purina One Smart Blend for puppy’s. It doesn’t seem to be getting better and I’m not sure what to do other than go to the vet?
Do you have any words of wisdom that could possibly help?
Thank you,
Worried Shiba Mom
Hi hi 🙂
My boyfriend and I recently added little baby Dakota to our family! He is 18 weeks and weighs 8.4 pounds, we are feeding him 1/4 cup twice a day at 8am/pm. I’m worried that this may not be enough, he does have energy but loose it very quick. He will play with us for about an hour or two and then need to nap or lately he has just been sitting by his dish staring at it waiting for us to fill it. We do use his food for rewards when we train him so he is not going all day without anything in his tummy. Any advice you have would be amazing!
Hi! I’m from India. I have a 3 month old husky, Goku. I feed him ROYAL CANIN MAXI JUNIOR, four times a day, around 200g each. And my vet asks me to increase his feed gradually (he doesn’t mention anything breed specific). I’m just wondering if I should increase the feed and if I should change the brand of food?
Hi. I was wondering if you ever had your huskies cry at their food bowl and just basically refuse to touch their food. Mine wouldn’t stop crying/whining til I take his food away. (I’m feeding Acana Duck and Orijen Puppy so I don’t think it’s because the food is low quality). I’m about to tear my hear in frustration.
A husky owner happened to upload a video of his husky doing the exact same thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r96LZqBtlwg
Thanks in advance for the help!
My rottweiler puppy 45days so pls tell me royal cabin giant starter good for my puppy health and which food and tonic I give my puppy healthy
I avoid dog food that contains wheat gluten or corn. I talk more about how I pick food for my dogs in the article above. I am currently using Wellness kibble. I use the puppy formula in the beginning, and then switch to Wellness CORE once my dog is fully grown.
When I get a new dog, I also take him to the vet for a check-up and to get advice on vaccinations. Finally, it is generally best to wait until a puppy is at least 8 weeks old before separating him from his mother and siblings. Here is why.
ASPCA article on puppy socialization.
Hi again
I’m the girl with the 4 year old boxer
I feed him Ol Roy adult kibble
When I walk him he doesn’t leave other dogs alone (humans as well)
I told my vet what I could do and she said to walk him but I can’t His daily routine: Play with him at morning: Let him rest and play again for 1 hour: the rest of the hours we cuddle and he lives his life: At night I feed him (I only feed him once a day) But hes getting better at walking which is good ☺
With my Shiba Inu, I did dog-to-dog desensitization exercises and dog-to-people desensitization exercises to help him be more calm around people and other dogs.
I talk more about how I pick kibble for my dog in the article above. I make sure to look at the ingredients in my dog’s kibble very closely as that will impact his energy, health, and more.
The Dog Food Advisor website also has reviews of many types of dog food. When picking food for my dog, I usually try to look up information from multiple sources, and do searches on individual ingredients so that I can make good choices.
Hi
I have a 4 year old Boxer who is preety obese and I am trying to walk him but his old owners never made him social and it would really help if you could tell me if there is a way to male him social and if you could tell me if there is kibble that can help him lose weight. I play with him 1 hour a day and still no results
Thanks!
What are you currently feeding him? What is his daily routine like? What do you mean by “not social” – does he get reactive to people or other dogs or something else? What does he do during walks?
With my dog, I give him a fixed amount of food every day. I measure out how much kibble I give him. If I give my dog extra chicken rewards for training, then I make sure to cut down on his kibble accordingly.
I would consult with your vet on how to manage your dog’s weight. Medical history is important and has to be taken into account.
Hello,
I have a poodle/maltese mix puppy. I currently have my dog on wellness Complete Small Breed. I can’t help but wonder if she could maybe have an allergy to the oatmeal in the food because he seems to scratch more than usual.
Do you know if Nutro Natural Choice Puppy is good as well? First ingredient on the bag is chicken
How old is your puppy? I did a quick look through of the different Nutro kibble and it seems that most of them also contain oatmeal. The ingredient list for NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® Small Breed Puppy Food also seems to contain oatmeal.
When I had food allergy problems with my Shiba, I first switched him over to a bland diet (after consulting with my vet). Then I waited to see if his itching symptoms went away, which it did after some days (< 1 week). His stool quality also got better. Then, I slowly introduced his normal food back one by one to narrow down which exact food was causing his symptoms. More on what I did to figure out my Shiba’s food allergy.
There could also be other reasons for dog itchiness.
Hi Shibashake,
My puppy is 11 weeks, and I currently feed him Wellness Complete health Puppy. I have been considering to switch to Grain-free puppy to see if it helps. He tends to bite his feet and scratch a lot behind his ears