Trip to Home Depot

So, over the last few weeks I have been obsessed with reading and learning about dog nutrition. (This is the follow-up to the comment about the apples) It stated with a slow day at work and wondering if it really was bad to share my wheat thins, leftover oatmeal, carrots with Freddie. If you think about it, who REALLY wants to eat the same thing every day? I would have to say that if I had to eat a dry, brown mixture of who-knows-what, I would be one un-happy person. What is different about Fred? I have heard that raisins, onion, avocado, etc are bad for dogs, so I thought I would do a little research on what I could give Fred that would be okay.

Wow! I didn't know what I was getting myself in to, and frankly, I wish I didn’t know what I know now. Seems kind of backwards huh? Where do I start?

After hours of internet research - I know, don’t believe everything you read on the internet, but I promise I was objective and read all different sources - and a few books, here some of my conclusions....

1. Dog food has some NASTY stuff in it. Chemicals, other dead animals, (not dead like the slaughter house, dead like in road kill) "animal" by-products, and lots and lots of filler that most animals don't need.

2. Most of pets problems are not natural problems, they stem from what we feed them.

3. Dog food companies are appealing to the human buyer, not what is best for the dog. AND just like everything else, cheaper and faster is better. Weird.

4. There really are no "pet food standards"

5. Healthy people food (meat, grains, veggies, etc) is just fine, and actually better for your pets than the stuff you are probably feeding them. Just leave out the Doritos and diet soda.

After a long talk with Joe about the concern I now had with the food we were feeding Freddie, we did some research and picked a natural commercial dog food that is chemical, preservative, la, la, la free. It is also wheat free which is something we choose because of Fred’s allergies. Joe's only comment was, "I don't want Fred to eat better than we do." Fair enough.

So, I won't go on and on about my new favorite subject, other than telling you to think about what you are feeding your pet. We provide our best friends all of the other luxuries we have in life, why not feed them well too?

Here are a few resources.
www.dogfoodanalysis.com (An independent site that rates most dog foods based on nutrition, protein content, etc. Foods are rated on a 1-6 star scale, 1 being the worst)

Dr. Pitcairn's Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats - Book. (This guy is a little extreme, promoting mainly whole food diet for animals. But, he is a vet and has very good information about the health of dogs and cats)

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?p=359&more=1 (An internet article about what is in pet food. A simple web search will bring up TONS of results.)

Okay, I am off my soap box....about Home Depot....

Joe and I took Fred to Home Depot last night. We try to take him anywhere we can, just so he gets out to socialize. Home Depot is a dog friendly place with most of the associates in orange carrying doggie treats in their pockets. Do you see where I am going with this? This is great, UNLESS you no longer feed your dog just any old treat.

We usually get stopped multiple times as we make our way though the store, people asking what kind of dog Fred is and how old he is, and "oh what a cute dog,” yada, yada, yada. Yesterday as Freddie and I made our way to the isle with the sinks, we were stopped by the first lady with a treat. (Remember that we have changed Fred's food...wheat free diet...I am VERY picky about what he eats now.) I figure I can't be a total snob, and if someone offers Fred a treat, one or two won't hurt him.

The lady and I are talking about Fred, and she very politely gives him one treat (and I am sure this treat was highly nutritional and natural). We chat a little more and then out of the blue she says to me, "Now you don't feed him people food do you?" Ha! What? Where did that come from? I wasn't sure if I should get back on my natural food soap box again or just stay quiet. I chose the second option, smiling politely and saying no. (Thank you lady, I'm sure he is getting all the balanced nutrition he needs with that treat you just gave him.)

The second treat interaction of the night, aside from everyone we passed stopping to give Fred a pat, was the lady at the check-out. She ALSO had treats, and after one look at Fred she ran to her station to get a few. She asked if she could give him one, dangling it in front of him, assuming I would say yes. I did, and Fred obliged, chomping the treat slowly as he usually does dropping half of it on the ground as he chews. She looked up at me as Fred finished the first treat, pulled out a second treat and said, "Can I give him another one?"

I said, "No thank you."

The lady looked like I had taken her dog and thrown it out the window. She seriously looked heart-broken that she couldn't share another scrumptious treat with my dog. I smiled, and we left. As I walked out of the store, Freddie prancing along beside me, I felt horrible that I had just denied a treat for him, and a simple joy to the nice check-out lady. I thought of all the things I could have said to her like..."He just had a bunch from another lady in Paint" or "We don't feed him wheat, but one won't hurt him." or SOMETHING. Instead, I left a nice lady with a treat in her hand and no one to give it to. "No thank you" is all I said.

I am officially the snobby dog lady.