Old Trainer: Table scraps vs. store food for your pet

Dear Old Trainer: We just adopted Chaco, a 2-year old Weimaraner mix, my first dog as an adult. We always had dogs when I was a kid and fed them table scraps. Now I see endless brands of dog food, all claiming they are wonderful. Are table scraps still okay or should I buy store food? Or does it even make a difference?

Trent, Laramie, Wyoming

A: It makes a big difference. Nutrition is as important for Chaco’s health as it is for yours.

Table scraps kept canines healthy and happy for centuries and they still do if their humans are eating healthy food.

Dogs are both predators and scavengers and Chaco’s wolf ancestors first decided to hang out with humans because of the fine leftovers around the caves. It’s hard to run down a deer, so on the days the pack struck out on live prey the bones and animal parts humans tossed away were a nice fallback.

I don’t have enough table scraps for my pack so have to use commercial food. I researched all the brands and discovered any kibble you buy at a super market is lacking in nutrition.

I found a brand full of nutrition—same price as the junk kibble—that my dogs love (I emailed the name to you). I add meat, any scraps I have, fish oil, an egg twice a week, hot dogs every other day, bacon grease when I can get it. I give them a beef bone — the big leg bone, cut into six-inch pieces—to chew on after the meal, something carnivores love to do after they devour the tasty parts of a kill.

I never use any food product if it comes from China. Ever.

I feed my dogs once a day—same way zoos feed their big predators — half an hour or so before sunset.

The pack doesn’t care if humans change to daylight savings, they know they eat just before sunset so don’t worry the rest of the day. Easier on them, easier on me.

Do not leave food down all day for a dog Chaco’s size. You cannot keep track of the amount and it’s not the way canines eat in the wild. Feeding once a day is also an excellent training device (see my Nov 22, 2018 column).

It’s fine to give a dog a treat in the morning or just before bedtime, but anything you feed during the day must be deducted from the daily total required to keep Chaco at the desired weight.

No one plan fits all dogs, but for a mature dog I feed one-half cup volume daily for each 12 pounds of weight. If you can’t feel Chaco’s ribs cut back one quarter cup daily until you can.

I used plastic dog dishes until a fellow trainer convinced me to look at the health concerns. As soon as I did I switched to stainless steel. Spend five minutes researching and you’ll do the same.

Food and water dishes should be cleaned weekly. Here’s an easy way to do it:

1. Fill the bowl with soap and water for 10 minutes

2. Empty, then put half a cup red vinegar in the dish with two cups water

3. Use a rag to wash the interior and exterior surfaces

4. Empty, rinse with cool water

This story was originally published January 19, 2020 at 12:00 AM.