Real Fresh Food and Why It’s So Important
Would you like to eat dry cereal at every meal, every day, for the rest of your life?
That’s what life is like for your dog if all they’re getting in their bowl is kibble. While it may be cost-effective and convenient, it’s important to know what’s in kibble and how it will affect your dog’s health.
When Santiago was first diagnosed at three years of age with mast cell cancer, I went down the rabbit hole, researching canine cancer. I was fortunate to find “Canine Nutrigenomics” by Dr. Jean Dodds, a fascinating book that not only taught me the important connections between diet and gene expression, but also helped me learn about a better way to feed my beloved Santiago.
Kibble is produced using high heat that destroys nutrients and taste, so flavor enhancers and synthetic nutrients are typically added back in, creating carcinogens in the process. Other kibble concerns include the low quality, feed grade ingredients used and a high starch to carbohydrate ratio that typically leads to pet obesity and related health issues.
Once I learned that certain types of dogs are genetically predisposed to certain diseases, and that diet can be used to reduce risks, I knew that I would never feed kibble to Santiago or any of my other dogs again.
I highly recommend that all pet owners do some research and learn about the rendered ingredients in animal feed. While you’re at it, learn how to read a dog food label. Warning: If you’re not familiar with the terms, it will probably turn your stomach, like it did mine. The good news is that you have plenty of options to provide your dogs with human grade, minimally processed food.
Back when I had my revelation, there were fewer commercial options available. I was also challenged by Santiago’s intolerance to chicken and fish, especially after I discovered there was fish oil in almost all dog foods. Equipped with new knowledge, I worked with a canine nutritionist to formulate balanced home-cooked diets for my pugs. For years, my husband and I cooked for them every day. When we began to encounter the scarcity and rising costs of organic proteins like beef sirloin and lamb during the pandemic, I did some sourcing and found great commercially available raw options that met my standards.
During my research, I found consumer advocate Susan Thixton’s truthaboutpetfood list which includes safe dog and cat food brands. If the manufacturer can’t substantiate their claims, they don’t make Thixton’s list. This resource is a great starting point for finding high-quality pet food that can be purchased online. The $10 fee helps fund the independent research required to create the list annually.
Once I was feeling confident about the quality of our pugs’ regular diet, I began making their treats, using organic ingredients. My pugs were raised right, so they shared their treats with friends, and once word got out, Dapper Dog Dining, LLC was born.
All of my original recipes are pug taste tested and approved. You can feel confident feeding your dogs Dapper Dog Dining treats, and you’ll love seeing them light up with joy at the sight and smell of our Canine Cannolis, Puptarts, Pupcakes, Pugkin Pie and more.
