What do you feed your dog??

I am always very curious what people feed their dogs, and more importantly, how much food?

I ask questions and I have general ideas about what kind of food majority of people use  - pet food - dog chow, cans and treats.
But how much of them?
It's very vague.
Someone says he feeds his dog once a day. One and a half cups of canned food mixed with a little bit of dog chow.
I look at his German Shepherd/boxer mix boy, and he is fat.
How can he be fat when he eats only once a day, and such small portions? Can his measurements be right? Does he give the dog lots of treats throughout a day?

Thing is, I cannot say to the owner "Oh, really? That little? Then why is he fat?".

I'm sure there is a reason for it when a dog (or person) is fat or skinny. It's just, it's a hard topic to discuss, sometimes (no always).

I see healthy and beautifully fit looking dogs at the beach. I want to run to their owners and ask them what they feed their dogs. But those owners are usually very engaged in the activities with their dogs, I don't want to interrupt.

Enough of my babbling.
I thought I would show what I feed my dogs here. And where I buy the food - not that anybody has asked, but just for my record keeping....

I buy all my pet food and treats at Costco. The most economical place to buy almost anything (if you can buy in bulk) and I trust the quality of their products in general.


BREAKFAST

DOG CHOW

I serve 1-cup of this to everybody for breakfast. This bag lasted about a month among 3 dogs.

DINNER

Kirkland Chicken & Lamb Variety 24 Cans ($16.99)

This is for the rescues. 1 can is good for 2 diners (4 servings)

Meaning this package can serve 96 bowls (for 2 dogs, lasts 48 days) 

I make dinner separately for Ginger and the Rescues. As I basically do not totally trust pet food because of the processing and preservatives, I use chicken for Ginger's dinner, no seasoning. just cook it in the pan.

For the rescues, I have had to use pet food to be cost effective, as well as I don't want to spoil them with steaks for they will go to their new and permanent homes, and they may only use pet food.



<Ginger's Dinner>



Chicken Thigh with skin & bone (2pcs)

  

Save fat for the rescue dogs

Take bones out. Cut it up. Done!

<Rescue Dogs' Dinner>

~For 2 dogs~

Add 1/2 can of dog food (for 2 dogs) to the saved fat

Mix well

Separate into 2 bowls

Add 1/2 cup of dog chow to each bowl and mix well

Bon Appetit!

The rescue dog dinner basically consists of dry & wet pet food but because of the chicken fat from Ginger's dinner, it smells GOOD!

I bet it tastes great too.

To make this dinner for the 3 of them, it usually takes me about 30 mins. It gets consumed in less than 20 seconds.

I always wonder if this is too small (or too much).

The portion-wise it doesn't look a lot, but calorie-wise, I'm thinking it should be enough.

The dogs look healthy. None of them are losing weight. Ginger has been steady at around 45 lbs for months.

With this menu, the monthly cost for food for 3 dogs will be approximately:

$23 (dry food)

$10 (cans)

$20 (Ginger's chicken)

= $ 53

On top of this, I give them treats between breakfast and dinner;

.....etc.

Usually I give each of them 2 cookies and 3 slices of jerky. I don't give them human snacks or food as I worry about seasonings and preservatives, except for occasional pizza crust and pancake leftovers.

So including the treats, the grand total will be $80~$100/month.  Shouldn't be no more than $100.

That's not bad. Not bad at all.

If a family of four eats at a restaurant, it will easily go above $50.
Eat at home instead of eating at a restaurant twice a month, we get to enjoy having 3 dogs as our family!

Of course there are other expenses too - basics like collars, leashes, toys....flea medication, vaccination shots...what if they get sick?

But still, anybody should be able to easily afford one dog. A little love and attention - you get to keep a forever friend for the cost of one meal at a restaurant!

I don't understand people give up their pet saying "we can't afford her any more".
Don't you eat at McDonald's anymore either?

Our pets deserve far more respect than that.
Who else will love you with the same devotion and admiration as ever before when you go broke?
Obviously and definitely not your human partners.

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ANKO and MILLAII are up for adoption. They need new homes.

I am fostering them until they can find nice new owners.

They are current with their shots.

Millaii is spayed. Anko will be spayed on 11/15.

Please e-mail me if you are interested in either Millaii or Anko (or both), or if you have questions, or if you know of anybody who may be interested in them. We live in Cypress, California. 15 mins from Disneyland.

You can foster her for a few days to see if she is a good fit for your family. I will always take her back if you decided she is not the right pet for you.

PLEASE also see the profile of "Millaii"

PLEASE also see the profile of "Anko"