Feeding

[kamie]

I am feeding my dog Embark.  You can buy it at the honestkitchen.com It is a natural, gluten free dog food, all organic and full of good stuff. Has anyone else heard of this? Also I made my shorkie some homemade dog treats. Just boiled a chicken breast and cut it up, is this ok too. I dont know much about dogs and I want to do this right. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[eepuni]

i have never heard of the brand of food you are feeding your baby, i personally feed my sadie royal canine puppy 33 which was vet recommended.  but i'm not sure if it's all natural, if that is what you are looking for.   as for the treats, boiled chicken is good and you could also try giving him some plain rice so he also can get fiber.  I know that boiled veggies is also good for them, however there may be some veggies that aren't good for them.  if you wanted to cook for your shorkie you could buy a cookbook for dogs so you know what is and what isn't ok for your dog.     and for a treat we always give our puppy an ice cube and she looovvesss it, especially during these hott summer days.  the only thing i'd say though is be careful not to give them too often because chewing on ice is not good for their teeth nor ours.   good luck!   

[swagette]

I have never heard of that food either but I suppose it depends what country you are in.
It is really hard to make a natural diet for dogs and get all the good stuff in it right. But I have studied and used a natural diet for my dogs. I found the best books are by Dr Ian Billinghurst called - Give your Dog a Bone and The BARF diet.
Basically,, lots of bones ( good for teeth/minerals and vitamins), meat and RAW vegies and fruit. Yes RAW - cooking kills off all the good stuff!! Meat of all sorts, vegies include mainly greens and most fruits - put all vegies and fruit through a blender/food processor tilll it turns to mush, mix with meat and give bones as well. Basically you are trying to give what a dog would eat in teh wild - the vegie mush is inside of preys belly ( yuck but the first thing a dog would eat), then the meat and bones. When was the last time you saw a wolf light a fire and cook up his prey??? lol
DON"T FEED -chocolate, onions raw, potatoes,pumpkin ( starchs have to be cooked), lots of grapes and avocados bad too.
add extras like garlic(for flea protection), kelp, cottage cheese or yoguhrt, and cod liver oil.

I hope this helps a little and I do recommend following the Ian Billinghurst BARF diet so you get it right.
Good luck and happy food gathering with your shorkie.

p.s I still fed supercoat dry to my dogs once a week in case I missed anything and it easier if travelling/kennelling if on dry food too.