6 Tucker time

Feeding

Q: Why do we bother spending extra money on raw and premium foods? 
A: We want a long and healthy life for our pets and believe this can make a difference!

We have weaned our pups onto a raw diet of meat (no preservatives and sourced from the pet shop - not the supermarket or butcher), meaty bones and the occasional carrot or broccoli stalk. We have loved the enthusiasm for meal time and the easy transition from mother's milk (no loose or stinky poo and small amounts indicating that it is highly digestible). We will discuss feeding with you before you take your pup home so that you can be prepared.

Perviously we weaned to a high quality dry commercial dog food and certainly, this is an option for your puppy but we are convinced of the many health benefits of a species and biologically appropriate food so recommend it for your puppy. We encourage you to speak with your vet / research online in order to make an informed choice regarding your puppy's diet. In the same way as a formulated kibble adjusts to growing needs, raw diet too needs to adjust with weight and age.

For those not wanting to feed raw - there are a range of products to suit dogs of various ages and sizes, and that it provide balanced nutrition. With any dietary change, please transition gradually to avoid tummy troubles. 

To fit in with a working family schedule, I have been feeding the puppies at flexible times early in the morning and then mid afternoon (approx 3-4pm) and then again later in the evening after we’ve had our evening meal.  You can reduce his meals to twice daily at about 4 months of age.

Generally we don’t let our dogs graze – if they’re not interested in food within 10 minutes of offering it then the food is removed and offered at later stage. It is OK for your dog to have a base diet of dry food as long as there is always plenty of fresh water available but they love fresh food treats too though – try carrots!

Remember the rule of the pack – the lowest members are fed last, reinforcing your leadership within the pack. You can even supervise young children to feed your dog, which helps to set this pecking order in the dog’s mind with regard to the youngest member of your household.

If you don’t want your dog to beg for food, don’t feed him from the table. Tid-bits from your plate should be given in their bowl, away from the table…. just make sure they are not on the danger list (chocolate, onion, grapes and bacon!). You can offer raw fruit and veg – Jezzie loves carrots, apples, broccoli, celery, mango and sometimes bananas.

Treats

Treats can be given for many reasons – as food rewards when training, to entertain or provide mental stimulation when you go out or just because. Giving a stuffed Kong toy while you’re at work can help to dissuade destructive behaviours such as barking, digging, chewing as they challenge him and keep his mind stimulated in a constructive way. 

There are now a range of timed food dispensers of novelty challenges for kibble distribution. Our favourite is the "bob-a-lot".

The treats we have included in your take home pack are all natural, free of preservatives or sugars and come from ClearDog. Ordering online is simple and their service is exceptional. Kangaroo tendons, bully stick, shark cartilage (all great for keeping teeth clean), green lipped mussels and lamb puff. 

Kong recipe!

Try Google “Kong stuffing recipe” 

Some other ideas

• frozen chicken wings turkey neck or meaty bones (all bones to be uncooked please)
• frozen disposable drink bottle filled with chicken stock – pierce a hole in the lid for an all day dog ice-block search - ensure lid is on tight ...but if your dog is super destructive - give this one a miss
• frozen dish of water with food treats inside
• raw fruit and veg... apple wedges, carrots or frozen banana for teething
• commercially available pigs ears, cow hoof (last a long time), Greenies (expensive but dog love them) and lamb chews (can get a bit smelly).