He is 50 pounds of pure muscle and speed with a healthy dose of stinker thrown in.

Collie Mix

We started experimenting with some homemade dog food recipes so we can control the ingredients making sure of a balanced nutritious diet.  Many of the ingredients are common foods you may have in your kitchen.

I started out learning about different dog foods, both good and bad, commercial dog food, homemade dog food, and what is the best balanced nutritious meal for your dog.  After months of research I came across an ebook written about this subject.  It would have saved me months of research and it has better info than what I found.  It is called Dog Food Dangers, highly recommended for any dog owner.  You will thank me later.

Pet your pooch passionately,

Thomas & Kash

If you purchase anything through a link on this website, you should assume that we have an affiliate relationship with the company providing the product or service that you purchase, and that we may be paid in some way. We recommend that you do your own independent research before purchasing anything. Of course, all the products have a 100% money back guarantee or they would not be allowed on this site…honesty and quality counts.

]]> http://www.oinkerdog.com/kash-now-50lbs-eats-healthy-dog-food-homemade-dog-food/feed/ 0 http://www.oinkerdog.com/healthy-dog-food-and-our-new-puppy/ http://www.oinkerdog.com/healthy-dog-food-and-our-new-puppy/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:03:40 +0000 kozmokat http://www.oinkerdog.com/?p=112 I know this blog is about healthy dog food, but I want to introduce to you our new puppy.

It’s been a while since our dog Kozmo (the wheelchair dog) died.  It was a long and sad grieving process.  But we decided she would want us to rescue another dog and give a good life to another.  So after much back and forth chatter, we finally decided to start looking for a dog that wanted us.

We saw that North Star Border Collie Rescue had a litter of pups and drove to Kalamazoo to see them.  We wanted a female.  The female wanted nothing to do with us, only the runt of the litter paid any attention to our presence.

My wife decided that the little runt would be the one.  We had to wait a week before we could pick him up.  So we bought a dog training manual, a healthy dog food publication, 2 dog beds, and a couple toys.

The day finally came.  We had several names picked out, we just had to hold him and play with him before we actually picked one name and make it stick.  Gootch was our #1 pick of the names, but after having him a couple hours we went with Kash.  His middle name is Flow.

Kash Flow

Little did we know how much this puppy had very similar characteristics of Kozmo, our wonder dog.  We certainly didn’t plan on replacing our previous dog with a look-a-like, act-a-like dog.  It was kind of freaky!

So there is the introduction to Kash, our Border Collie-Australian Shepherd mix puppy.

Here we go again, with a big smile on our faces!

Wait until you see him grow!

Thomas

Kozmo loves homemade biscuits!

If it wasn’t for feeding Kozmo healthy dog food, she certainly wouldn’t have the energy and vigor to catch rabbits at her age, especially in a wheelchair!

As you know my dog Kozmo, a wheelchair dog, was always “in the hunt” mode.  We walked every day, rain or shine, snow, blizzard, wind or heat, didn’t matter.  Kozmo loved to hunt squirrel, rabbit, mice, snakes, and an occasional bird.

Our neighbor dogs, Hendrix (German Shepard Mix) and Dewey (Black Lab) would often come over to visit Kozmo.  Hendrix would rub Kozmo’s legs and her back with his nose as if trying to get Kozmo’s legs working again.  How do dogs know that stuff?

Hendrix, Dewey, Kozmo and I would take a walk together sometimes.  Kozmo would position herself at one end of the field (with a clear sight line) and wait for Hendrix and Dewey to work the field, pushing rabbits towards Kozmo.  It was so interesting to watch these dogs work together knowing each others strengths and weaknesses.

Kozmo’s grand total of rabbit catches was 16.  That was while she was in her wheelchair!  She was an amazing dog.  She never knew she was handicapped.  She taught my wife and I many life lessons over the years of caring for her.

Hendrix and Dewey still come over most days to say hi, get a biscuit or two, and mosey on home.  What wonderful dogs.  They love homemade dog biscuits the best.  They are much healthier than commercial biscuits.

To your healthy and happy dogs,

Thomas
Homemade Biscuits

PS.  Check out http://colliemix.net for some great puppy photos!

Hey Pet Owners!

I am coming to you about convincing you to try and make your pet love you even more!  Feed your dog healthy homemade dog food!  I know it may take a little extra time in the kitchen, but your dog trusts you to give it good nutritious balanced meals.  Not some preservative laden (possibly toxic) cheapo stuff from a “dollar store”.

Now I know you probably think there are Dog Food Secrets.  There is, and that is exactly what it is called…
Dog Food Secrets

You should click on the links above and listen to what this guy has to say.  He has a bit of an accent, but I think you will be able to understand him and the information he has to give you about caring for your dog.

Another thing, here is a really helpful link if you have questions for a vet.

The cost of healthy dog food is an important factor in this time of economic downturn.  I have read many reports of people having tough financial times and giving up their pets due to hardship.

          Yes. This is true. The cost factor needs to be looked into in various perspectives during the preparation of your dog’s food items. To get the required nutritiously balanced healthy dog food with proper vitamin and mineral supplementations in the food can be a challenge

          To many, cost will not always matter much because the dog’s value is being assessed in terms of companionship, happiness and loyalty received from the dog to the dog owner.

          When it comes to selection of ingredients for the healthy homemade dog food it need to be based on quality. Recommended nutrient contents may be obtained from your veterinarian or from reliable resources like animal nutrition references at your local library.

          When comparing costs of healthy homemade dog food, knowing what ingredients were used, to commercial high quality dog food, hoping the ingredient labels are accurate, is something worth thinking about.

          In commercial dog food, canned items cost more than the dry food items. However, the cost of the items depends on what kind of food ingredients, what formula is used, and how big the advertising budget is.

         Food allergies need to be monitored during usage of cheaper brands using low-cost filler ingredients.  If you suspect a food allergy, stop feeding your dog whatever you are feeding currently, and try homemade dog food, or a good high quality all natural dog food.

          Most of the dog food items today have their cost listed in the label itself.  The dog owner should not have any problem in making a decision on the cost per serving of the chosen commercial dog food purchase. 

           All in all, in my opinion, it is worth the extra time preparing quality, healthy homemade dog food, knowing I’ve done my best, for my loyal companion.  After all, your dog trusts you with all its heart.

To your dog’s health,

Thomas
www.learntoplayguitarmethods.com

Naming a newly adopted four-legged child is always a challenge. It’s fun, of course, but choosing the “just right” name for your new best friend is important. You want to get it right.  You want the name to fit (or maybe not).

You can name your dog anything you want to name him. He’s yours. There’s no “wrong” answer here. But there are some guidelines that you might want to consider before you hang a moniker on that cute little pup.

The first thing that you need to consider is that he’s not going to stay a puppy. He’s going to grow into a dog. You’re going to have to call him and others may be listening. Do you really want to stand out in your yard and holler, “Come here Dammit” at the top your lungs? I didn’t think so. So keep this in mind when you are naming your dog.

You really don’t want to name your dog one of the single-word commands, either. Don’t name him “Sit” , “Stay” or “Fetch” or any of the other commands (who would do that anyway). You’re just going to confuse the poor animal when he’s going through obedience training.

Even if your dog is a purebred with a pedigree and comes with a registered name, you’ll still need to give him a name that he’ll know means you’re talking to him. I don’t advise using names like Rover or Fido.  I like original.  But the name needs to be short.

Dogs are smart animals, but there’s no sense in stretching that intelligence and be demanding them to learn to come you call him by a long and convoluted name.(like Bartholemew Bartoid III) His name should contain no more than two or three syllables.

Remember to go to:

Dog Training Information

Don’t change your dog’s name. Once you’ve named him, stick to that name so you really do need to get it right the first time.(unless he bites you every time you call him!)

 Thank you,

Thomas

I know there are times when it is sooooo bad that even the dog looks around to see where that smell is coming from!  It is probably due to undigested grains.  Although one time I had the bright idea to cook a small turkey before we went on a road trip.  I thought our dog would really love it, seeing how she never ate well on the road.

Boy what a mistake that was!  We had to keep the windows open most of the trip due to excessive amounts of toxic dog gas.  I know it had something to do with the turkey, but jeez, we almost got flagged by the EPA!

We started making healthy dog food for our dog Kozmo after learning about all the food allergies she had.  Once we started feeding her more meat, vegetables, and even fruits, she perked right up!  It is not all that difficult to create several healthy dog food meals at a time from simple ingredients.  You may even save some money.

We struggled to find good healthy recipes for our dog until we found Healthy Food For Dogs: Homemade Recipes.  A guy named John Miller came up with hundreds of recipes (245 of them in the book) and offered the book for sale.  What a blessing!  Once you try these recipes you will find out that it is not difficult at all to cook up several meals for your pooch!

To your dog’s health,

Thomas

Dog Treat Recipes

PS. Disclaimer:  The links in this site are affiliate links, meaning if you click on a link, like what you see, buy it, and are satified with the product, then I may receive a small commission for telling you about this fantastic product.  This is what keeps this page running and my dog fed.

Happy Dog hunting minnows

Happy healthy dog despite her paralysis

 I learned so much from my dog over the years, partially due to the fact that I had to know more than the average dog master.  She was paralyzed in the rear legs and depended so much on us (my awesome wife and I) to understand her extra needs.  We came to know each other extremely well, from blinks of the eye, to a wriggle of the skin, to a deep exhausted sigh, or a sigh of disgust.  We knew each other like no other. 

This post is not to take the place of good veterinarian care. These tips will discuss some of the very basic points about dogs’ health, how to care for him, and help us be able to understand their sufferings and needs more.

12 Health Care Tips For Your Wonderdog

• The veterinarian for the dog should be someone you feel confident in, treats the dog well, and is likable, friendly and trustworthy.
• Try to visit to the same doctor (veterinarian) each time.  If there is more than one doctor in the office request the same vet each time.  This lends a degree of familiarity to the dog by the vet, and from the vet to the dog, making both more comfortable.
  Be prepared for the visit beforehand and write down all the questions you have about your dog, and ask for information about potential problems from your veterinarian.
• The day before your appointment with the veterinarian, call them and ask if you need a stool sample from the dog for testing, any inoculation records or any other pertinent information. 
• If you need more information about flea and tick prevention and control programs, ask.  Get more info about prevention and symptoms of heart worm tests, Parvo Virus, distemper, and kennel cough.
• Learn to treat minor injuries and get a prescription for a good antiseptic cream for minor cuts or infections.  Get a little education on keeping your dog healthy with proper balanced nutrition.
• A syringe without the needle is an easy way to give liquid medicine. It can be inserted in the mouth of the dog, when it is closed, behind his canine teeth, and should be given slowly and gently.
• The best way to give pills to a dog is to make him sit down, upright, and tilt his head back. Lift the lips away from his teeth, and hold his upper jaw by the gums behind the canine teeth with one hand, then push down on the lower jaw with the other hand and place the pill in the very back of his throat. Close his mouth and stroke his throat softly until pill is swallowed.  It’s a little tricky at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.
• You might also try crushing the pills and mixing them with cheese or peanut butter to make the dog swallow the medication within it.
• You dog at some time may indicate that it (dog) is in some kind of health distress.  When you suspect something wrong, check your dogs’ breathing and try to get a pulse reading.
  Most dog’s normal breathing rate is about 15 to 20 breaths per minute while normal heartbeat is around 100 to 150 beats per minute.
• A dogs pulse can be checked under his chest, or under his rear leg where it connects to the body.
  Your dog’s body temperature can be checked by using a rectal thermometer.  A dogs’ normal temperature should be around 100 to 102 degrees.
• The dogs’ gums, tongue and inside of eyelids should be healthy pink. Any other color is an indication of a sickness.
• A change in your dog’s behavior and unusual laziness, sleepiness, growling, snarling, snapping or irritability may indicate that dog needs to get proper attention from a veterinarian.  Be observant of your dogs’ behavior and moods.  My dog once ran up to me shaking her head and looking straight up at me as if saying “something is wrong with me”.  I looked in her mouth and found a stick lodged way in the back of her throat. If I had not known her normal behavior I wouldn’t have recognized her distress.

A dogs’ health always starts with proper nutrition.  Without proper nutrition the immune system is compromised.  The chance for fighting disease and infection is reduced.

Think about making healthy homemade dog food.  It could save you money and improve nutrition for your beloved pet.  There are some great recipes in this book “Dog Food Secrets”.  Your pet will love you for it.

To your healthy dog,

Thomas
Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Healthy Dog Food For Fido

If you are looking for healthy dog food read this:

Many commercial, highly processed dog foods contain less-than-desired ingredients.  A lot of products contain toxic chemicals, unhealthy preservatives, and crappy fillers.  Some dog foods may even be touted as “preservative free.” 

The truth be known, manufacturers are not required to list preserving agents that they (the Manufacturer) did not add.  Rendering plants that supply product to the dog food manufacturer may have added preservatives (possibly ethoxyquin) to the meat before shipping to the manufacturer.  (If you google ethoxyquin, and do some research, you may be wondering if what you are feeding your pet, is healthy dog food.)

Some of these preservatives could be what is causing so many allergies that dogs are afflicted with.  There are many more reported problems than ever before, and many veterinarians believe it to be food related. 

My own dog was tested for allergies and was found to be allergic to wheat, beets, duck, and a host of other items found in commercial dog food ingredients.  Once we started our dog on a healthy dog food plan, she made an amazing change in energy, attitude, and overall health. 

Homemade recipes for healthy dog food are the key.  They can save you money, save your dog, and make you feel that you are honoring the trust they have in you.

A free recipe:  Kozmo’s Beef Bones (biscuit treats)

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup quick cooking rolled oats (oatmeal)

3 cups all purpose flour (you can try whole wheat or rye flour, too)

1 pound lean ground beef

1 cup water

Put the beef and beaten eggs in a blender, blend well.   Set aside.

Get yourself a big mixing bowl and mix the flour and rolled oats together.  Then mix in the egg/beef mixture with your hands so it is blended very well.

Add the water to the mixture.  It will form a sticky dough.

Separate the dough into more manageable portions to make it easier to work with.

Get a good working surface, and flour it well.  Knead your dough and add flour until the dough is not sticky anymore.

Roll the dough out using a rolling pin until the dough is about 3/8” thick.  Cut the dough with a small round or square (1”- 1 ½” or so) cookie cutter and put on a lightly greased cookie pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Cool, and store at room temperature in a breathable storage container. (I actually keep mine in the fridge, and just take a few out everyday and keep on the counter to keep handy for instant treats).

If you are serious about your dogs health, and are interested in healthy recipes for your dog…
Healthy Dog Food Secrets

To your dogs health,

Thomas
Healthy Dog Recipes