I don’t write about what I feed my dogs all that often here. Seems strange for a pet blog right? When I do touch upon the topic of pet food, I usually try to stay away from strongly promoting any one specific brand or pushing the foods I feed my own dogs. Even so, by far the most common question I get whenever I do write about food or pet nutrition is “well what do you feed your pets?“. I don’t mind answering, especially since I do put a lot of time and research into feeding my dogs, but I always make it a point to tell people that they need to do their own research and determine for themselves what the right food for their pet is. I don’t usually offer specific dog food recommendations, at least not without asking a lot of questions first!
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There’s no one perfect dog food out there!
I can tell you what works for my own dogs. I can tell you how to recognize a higher quality commercial food. But I can’t tell you with 100% certainty that the foods I’m telling you about will work for your pet.
Dogs are each individuals. While they may all have the same basic nutritional needs, there’s no one food that each and every dog out there will do amazing on (wouldn’t that make pet keeping so much easier if there was). Some dogs (like my Kitsune) suffer from food allergies. Some just don’t like certain foods. Or have medical conditions, sensitive stomachs, the list goes on. Some owners have the time to research and prepare homemade diets, others don’t.
Each dog an individual. The people they live with, and their living situations are too!
Dog food recommendations can sometimes be useful, but not everyone has the time, ability, or motivation to spend hours researching then implementing home prepared diets. Not everyone can afford to buy their dogs fresh foods or higher quality kibbles. Some people might not have the freezer space required to economically feed a raw diet, or easy access to certain foods. Does this mean these people shouldn’t own dogs? My opinion is that, with so many domestic pets ending up in shelters/rescues these days, I’d rather see a dog in a happy home eating a lower quality diet than living in a shelter cage or getting euthanized.
When it comes to feeding our pets, each of us has to do the best we can!
We should take into account factors such as our dog’s individual needs and preferences, our own schedules, budgets, and abilities, and our individual living situations. Personally I do feed my dogs a home prepared diet, but I don’t judge people who don’t. If someone asks me what dog food I recommend I’ll tell them about raw and home cooked diets, but I’m very understanding of people who can’t or won’t feed their pets this way. Feeding a poorly researched and/or unbalanced home prepared diet can easily lead to health issues. It’s not the type of thing you want to do if you’re not 100% committed to doing it right. Feeding a high quality, balanced commercial food is better than feeding an unbalanced home prepped diet.
It’s very important for owners to actually research their animals’ diets.
Don’t just opt for the cheapest bag of kibble in the store because it’s cheap, or feed a certain brand because someone else told you their dog does well on it. Take some time to learn what makes a good, high quality food. Look at what options exist within your budget. Not all brands of food are created equal, even ones that are within the same price range. A healthy diet is so important, after all, and it’s our job as animal guardians to always do the best we can to take optimal care of our furry companions.
The curcumin in turmeric is thought to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There are SO many dog health conditions that cause painful inflammation. Many owners swear by supplementing with turmeric (via something called “golden paste”, more later) to treat conditions such as arthritis, joint issues, GI issues, allergies, general pain, and more! Turmeric is also thought to benefit dogs’ skin and coat health. 
I am not currently giving my dogs turmeric. My dog that it benefited the most, 
If you decide to frequent dog parks with your dog, always make sure to supervise them closely. Let them enjoy interacting with other dogs, but be prepared to leave early if the situation warrants it.
Of course I have to start with 
I knew I wanted a second dog pretty quickly after we got Kitsune. We waited 7 years before we found 
While there are not actually written accounts of pirates keeping pets on their ships, they most likely did. These pets would have included everything from exotic parrots and monkeys, to the more common cats and dogs. Exotic pets were thought to be favored as status symbols, and because they could fetch a pretty doubloon through the exotic pet trade. Sailors, in the days of pirates, considered a cat aboard ship to bring good luck. Cats, and dogs too, would probably be expected to help protect food stores from rats. Dogs may have been used for hunting while ships were docked. And, of course, even by pirates, pets were more than likely appreciated for their companionship. 
Knowing how many calories your dog needs a day can help you plan their meals. Did you know that many pet food companies overestimate the amount of food they tell you to give your pet each day? Pet food companies are, like any other company, out to make money. The more of their food your pet eats, the more often you will have to purchase their product. The more money they make!
If you don’t want to do the math yourself, 
Unfortunately, besides exposing us to their pleasant odors, some candles release carcinogens and neurotoxins. In addition, some contain animal by-products and other ingredients that are bad for the environment.
Checkups and shots are one thing. Our pets’ yearly exams are important, but if you have to put them off for a bit while you save up funds it’s not the end of the world. Health issues, some of which may be emergencies, are quite another issue. There are situations when our animal friends need to receive medical treatment, and we don’t have the luxury of being able to wait.
