Dogs, High Priced Dry Food and Food Scraps

As a former dog exhibitor and breeder, I've been exposed to many ideas on the best food to give my dogs for optimal results. When we were right into showing and breeding, our dogs ate top quality dry food, costing many many dollars for a 20 kilo bag. Our dogs and the puppies that were born had gleaming coats and were in top condition.

Since giving up the dog showing and breeding though, and with one or two financial issues, we've had a careful think about it and looked closely at the mid-point range of dry dog foods. I've had experience within the dog food world, and learned some things about best feeding dogs (and cats too). I studied the relevant parts of various dog food bags, weighing up the figures there.

It seemed that with enough care, we could try the lower-priced dog food, see what the effect was on our loved canines. We thought about it and began feeding our dogs the lower-priced food (one of the mid-range ones - Pedigree) that seemed the best, and waited to see what the result would be...

So, after two years of no more dog showing and no more puppies, what do I say? I firmly say - the dog food we give our dogs now results in active dogs with gleaming coats, in top condition! So, we will no longer be tied to a dog food that costs twice what our current dog food costs. We give our dogs scraps at times, bits of meat, bread and vegetables. The dogs love it, all of them thrilled to be given veggie offcuts, especially mushrooms!

They sometimes catch their own foods too - birds and lizards are firm favourites amongst our Pharaoh Hounds, with our Schnauzer, who is the oldest of our dogs, sometimes getting a taste if she gets in quick. The upshot of this is, I think, feed an expensive dog food if you want to, but don't believe the hype that tells you expensive is always the best way to go for your loved canine companion.

Those are my thoughts on feeding my dogs - what are your thoughts?

Update on Jenne

Jenne seems completely well now, no swelling of eyes or gums. I took her to Chris, our vet, this morning for her vaccination which had been postponed until she was well. 

I wanted to keep Jenne safe on the vet trip, so I put her in our soft crate, which has plenty of room whether there's a baby Schnauzer in there or an adult Pharaoh Hound (I don't think Kharis would fit in there though!).

Jenne, of course, loudly let me know that she resented being locked up like a common criminal. I just turned the volume of the radio up, and tried to ignore her. I've become passionate about securely tethering dogs in the car. Terrible accidents can occur if dogs can get loose. It doesn't bear thinking about. 

Anyway, Jenne's been pronounced fine by Chris, we just need to keep an eye out for any reaction to the vaccination. With Jenne's immune system problems, it may always be something to keep an eye on. It's such a shame, Jenne is the sweetest little puppy - naughty, but very cute with it!

I'll also be keeping a very close look on Jenne's mouth for another reason. Recently I looked at Jenne's mouth and was saddened to see her bite is not a correct scissor bite, but is undershot instead. The next day Jenne was at the vets and Chris looked at her bite and confirmed the undershot bite. Chris thinks it may be because Jenne was unwell at a crucial stage, and perhaps it may come good when Jenne's adult teeth come through. I certainly hope so - if her bite doesn't come good, it will be the end of her show career before it even starts. 

Jenne can still eat just fine thank you very much, no problems there! If the bite doesn't correct itself, Jenne will be looking for a pet home though.

Poor little Jenne

Today little Jenne has been to see our vet, Chris. She's got immune system problems by the look of it.
I hope she's going to be well again soon. Jenne is the puppy girl we've kept for showing, along with her broher Jeebers - Simpsons fans will giggle, others - ask a teenager!
This is our 'J' litter. Holkschter Kennels began breeding schnauzers at 'Z' and we are working our way back toward 'A'.
It's been fun, coming up with the names over the years and we've had some great names 'Holkschter So Sumi' - good name, beautiful girl; 'Holkschter Upper Crust' - he was a good boy, just didn't really like dog showing, 'Holkschter Que Sera Sera' - again a beautiful girl with the most wonderful temperament, 'Holkschter Yana Went' - also didn't like showing much.
I feel like we've got a theme happening here - don't like showing. Thank goodness for Holkschter Kiss me Quick - she likes to be out and about, and Holkschter La De Da who doesn't mind the odd show here and there. Thank goodness too for 'Ch Holkschter Rangler Jane' - loved to show and always did her very best. She's still doing her best at the age of twelve, showing people who visit that just because a schnauzer is barking at you, it doesn't mean they don't like you!
I hope that Jenne and Jeebers will love to show - I think Jeebers will, he's got some arrogance about him. And he's right to be arrogant, he's a gorgeous looking boy!

One gone, ? to go!

Well, one of the puppies has gone to her new home, three are set to go next weekend. Now all we need to do is decide how many of these cute babies we're keeping and find a home for the ones we don't want to keep for showing.
It's all fun, watching the puppies as they trot around the back yard, discovering new things and trying out their hunting skills on bugs, birds, each other. I know which pups will make the best show prospects (well, I think I do, I'm not the show judge though, am I? I'm only the backyard judge!) We're keeping at least one girl.
Do we want/need to keep a male schnauzer? Well, the big pepper and salt boy is such a good looking boy, it's hard to look past him really. I'm sure we can find a way to peacefully have three intact male dogs here. Well, 'sure' is perhaps not the right word. I 'think' we can, would be more correct, or maybe I 'hope' we can! If we can find a show home for him then that's the issue solved.
Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about lately as I watch these schnauzer puppies. It's all good fun!

Babies are vet checked now!

Well our schnauzer puppies have visited the vet again, and got his OK, healthwise. Well, almost, there's only one small issue with one pup, but it's not a major health issue at all, and easily fixed.
Our the vet told me which puppies were the best, in his opinion, and I was slightly saddened that my Sunshine didn't get his vote - I was going by her temperament, he was going by heads. But our vet breeds dogs which have very strong heads, so that's his 'thing' I suspect. I do agree with what he said though, so I'll have to consider his words to some extent - he is a dog judge afterall! Temperament in the show ring is important, but correct breed type is just as important.
It's no good having the happiest, most confident dog in the ring, if the judge can't tell what it is! I can remember in the early years for my husband and I - some of those dogs left a lot to be desired on breed type issues - I'm not talking schnauzers here, but other breeds in the show ring. I'm not naming names at all here, and it's just my opinion anyway. I can remember one dog show whan a quite well known dog exhibitor told me our dog Ming was probably the soundest dog in the entire show - and she was a mutt! Gorgeous though.
The schnauzer babies are going well, getting wormed again later today or tomorrow morning. They still getting visits from their mother Nena, but I feel they're all kidding themselves to some extent. I doubt that she's got a lot of milk at this stage. The pups can go to their new homes within a fortnight, so we're looking for Nena's milk supply to dry up soon anyway. Purina ProPlan Puppy is all they need, milk from mum is just a bonus, and it's more about playtime anyway.