How About Dog Food that Won't Poison Your Dog?

More and more people are interested in food that is natural or organic. They want to eat food that isn't full of preservatives, by-products, anti-biotics or other junk. And this line of thinking doesn't stop with them; it continues on to their pets. They want their pets to eat healthy, too. That brings us to the subject of natural dog food . What is meant by this? Well, dog food that is free of the same junk you don't want in your own food.

It wasn't so long ago that all dogs ate "natural" dog food. Why? Simply because most people didn't buy canned or pre-packaged food for their dogs; they fed their pets what they ate. Dogs would eat beef, chicken, pork, vegetables...whatever the family was having for dinner that night. You know - those infamous table scraps. And often they were healthier for it. Then along came the "experts" who denounced feeding dogs table scraps; since then dogs having been getting poorer nutritionally.

Many brands of dog food that tell you they're "complete and balanced" are anything but. Sure, they have some nutrients in them, but usually not enough. And they don't tell you all the junk they put in their product. The preservatives alone are nightmarish. For a long time now, people have been waging a battle to get crap out of food destined for human consumption. And it's been an uphill battle. But at least there have been some major victories. But it seems all that junk taken out of people food has found its way into dog food - or maybe it never left.

Natural dog food is just food that is suitable for canine consumption. So what's suitable? Here's a tip: if it's good for you, it's probably good for your dog. Do you like to eat chicken, beef, pork, carrots, garlic, broccoli, spinach, or rice? If you said "yes" to any of the foods on this list then you like to eat the same food your dog should be eating. And that's what natural dog food is all about - food that is good for your dog.

So you like to cook...how about cooking for your dog? Really. It's becoming a trend more people are following: homemade dog food. With all the concern over contaminated pet food lately, many dog owners are turning away from the commercial brands to feed their dogs. They've had enough. They can't trust the dog food industry anymore; besides it wasn't that good to begin with. Scores of dog owners have decided they can do a better job of feeding their dogs than Corporate America. They're treating their dogs to homemade dog food .

No doubt, it will mean extra effort for you. In addition to whatever cooking you're doing now, you'll have an extra mouth to feed - your dog's. But the payoff will be big. Your dog will be happier, healthier and live longer.

The first benefit: your dog will look and feel a great deal healthier. You'll have a much more playful pet on your hands - and a better looking one too. People might even think you went out and bought a new dog. Almost certainly your dog will lose weight by switching away from the commercial brands just because of all the fat and sugar they contain. Obesity is the number one health problem for dogs. Homemade dog food will also improve your dog's oral hygiene. His or her breath will improve, which is always a good thing. Who likes stinky doggy breath?

And a big benefit of homemade dog food that you'll really enjoy will be the cost. Commercial dog food is very expensive compared to the homemade variety. You may save as much as a $1,000 a year by cooking for your dog. That sure ain't chump change.

Whether you want to cook for your dog or not is up to you. But when you think about it, there are really some good reasons why your cooking should "go to the dogs."