The Caregiver

The Human at the End of the Lead

The question of what to feed our dogs is a common topic in dog-related conversations. Whether it's at the park, during training, at events, or even on social media, it's a question that comes up frequently. However, the answer to this question can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances such as finances, family, living situation, time, convenience, health, and morals. Additionally, each dog has unique dietary needs that must be taken into consideration.

In this chapter, we will delve into the factors that influence our dietary choices for our dogs and focus on the role of the dog owner. As the ones responsible for purchasing and providing our dogs' food, it's important to understand how the industry markets to us as consumers rather than to our pets. We'll explore how to make informed decisions, who to turn to for advice, and how to tailor our choices to our individual dogs.

Ultimately, our goal is to help you feel confident in your decisions about what to feed your dog. By understanding your own needs and preferences, as well as your dog's, you can make choices that support your dog's health and wellbeing.

The Relationship between Dogs and People

The relationship between humans and dogs has a significant impact on the dietary decisions made for our furry companions. Various factors, such as lifestyle, also play a role in determining what we choose to feed our dogs. Notably, there exists a clear distinction in the feeding choices between individuals who care for multiple dogs living in a kennelled environment and those who pamper a single dog as a cherished family member. However, there are also many variations in between, such as pets that engage in occasional work or competitive activities. Each dog has unique needs and requirements, and their nutritional choices should reflect these needs. It is crucial to recognize the diversity in canine caregiving, along with their individual nutritional needs, in all aspects of canine care and management.

Each dog is an individual and the relationships we have with our dogs affects what we choose to feed them.

What About Dogs Without People?

It is important to keep in mind that the dogs that coexist with us, receive our care and share our daily lives, represent only a fraction of the worldwide dog population. The majority of dogs live as feral, semi-feral, stray, minimally managed or even pariah dogs. These dogs subsist on a diet that consists of scavenging, occasional human-provided food, and some hunting. While the composition of their diet may be of interest, it does not generate the same level of discussion as the feeding practices of the average, well-cared-for companion dog.

The majority of the world’s dogs are free-living, feral or pariah dogs, living on the edges of human society.

The perception of managed domestic dogs varies greatly among individuals, ranging from being viewed as a working tool to a pampered pet. This perception greatly influences the decisions made by caregivers regarding the dog's diet, healthcare, and overall care. When a dog is regarded as a family member as opposed to a working tool, there is a higher likelihood of an increased budget and interest in a customized or specialized diet.

The Spectrum of Canine Caregiving

For dogs that are actively managed and cared for by humans, there exists a broad range of attitudes towards their treatment and feeding. Some dogs are viewed purely as working tools and are fed on a basic, functional level with a focus on cost-effectiveness. While their care and wellbeing are important, the emphasis is on their functionality and work capability.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are dogs that live in environments and are fed diets that surpass the living standards of many people. There are also working dogs that are treated as pampered pets and dogs that appear to live a luxurious life but lack a deep connection with their human caregivers. The more human-like the relationship between a person and their dog, the more likely it is that the caregiver will have the budget, interest, and desire to provide a human-like lifestyle for their pet, including their diet.

Do We Overcomplicate Feeding Our Dogs?

If you ask ten dog owners what they feed their dogs, you will likely receive ten different answers, each with their own reasoning. In the dog community, opinions and beliefs about feeding are strongly held and passionately defended. As our bonds with our dogs grow stronger and we increasingly view them as family members, their care, management, and diet become more humanized. Expectations are evolving and nutrition, being a variable that can be directly managed and altered, attracts significant interest.

However, it is possible to overcomplicate the process of feeding our dogs. We may focus too much on specific ingredients rather than the necessary nutrients. We may avoid certain manufacturers or suppliers or explore the latest trends in feeding, such as supplements or entire diet choices. We may even overcompensate for perceived shortcomings in our dogs’ care by overfeeding them. Our emotions towards our dogs can greatly influence the choices we make for them.

External factors such as marketing messages from dog food companies, social media influencers, and even trainers, friends, and family can influence our decisions about what to feed our dogs. It is unfortunate when people feel judged or criticized for their choices, especially if their options are limited. As dog lovers, we should extend our care and compassion to their owners and avoid making judgmental comments about their dietary choices. Instead, we can support them in making the best decision for their individual situation while ensuring that sound nutritional science is applied.

Most domestic dogs lead sedentary lives with good healthcare and moderate levels of exercise. As such, they require a diet that provides adequate nutrition in a palatable form to support their health and wellbeing. From this starting point, we can explore additional requirements to meet the individual needs of our dogs and ourselves. These may include essential needs such as increased nutrient supply for growth or lifestyle choices such as home-prepared meals or alternative dietary ingredients.

However, there is a vast amount of conflicting information available about the best way to feed dogs. Some of this information can be intimidating or judgmental, suggesting that certain choices are harmful or that the caregiver’s priorities are misplaced. It is understandable that many caregivers may question their decisions and lose confidence in their dietary choices for their dogs. So how do you decide what to feed your dog and who should you trust?

Decision-Making for Your Dog’s Diet

Making dietary decisions for your dog is best done based on evidence. This involves sourcing information, verifying its legitimacy, and assessing how it aligns with the needs of you and your dog. The challenge lies in determining which sources and information to trust.

Canine nutrition has come a long way since the first commercial dog foods. We now have a better understanding of the biology of dogs and their nutritional requirements. Nutritional science is a good starting point for making informed decisions, but it is important to remember that science is an ongoing process and new knowledge is constantly being acquired through research. As evidence is gathered and new information becomes available, practices and advice evolve. This is true for canine nutrition as well. When views, advice, and practices change in response to new evidence, it indicates that the scientific process is working.

Beware the Cognitive Bias

Cognitive biases are ways of thinking that can be efficient but can also lead to ineffective decision-making. The process of feeding our dogs is not immune to these biases. Common biases include the “bandwagon effect,” where feeding trends become popular because many people decide to try them, particularly if others have reported success. This is why feeding fashions often come and go. Another bias is the “naturalistic fallacy,” where there is a preference for anything labeled as “natural” and an assumption that it is safer or better than alternatives. It is important to be aware of your biases and their potential impact on your decision-making, especially when seeking advice or evaluating marketing materials. Be cautious of words and phrases such as “superfood” or “natural” that may appeal to your cognitive biases and influence your decisions.

Cognitive biases can influence our decision-making. When selecting a diet for our dogs, there are numerous factors to consider and it can be challenging to determine which are most important. It is important to be aware of our biases and their potential impact on our decisions.

How to Choose What to Feed Your Dog

The dietary choice you make for your dog depends on both you and your dog. At a minimum, the diet you choose should provide sufficient energy and essential nutrients to support survival, good health, and longevity. If your dog is active, growing, pregnant, or lactating, their nutritional needs must be met. The diet should be palatable to your dog and convenient for you to feed. It should fit within your lifestyle and budget and be readily available. If any of these criteria are not met, the diet may be unsuitable and unsustainable for both you and your dog. Using a simple checklist of questions can be an effective, evidence-based starting point for making dietary decisions. This process can also help challenge your biases and remove some emotion from your decision-making.

Who Should I Trust for Nutrition Advice?

Change the tone to professional: Sometimes extra nutritional advice and support is needed. Many people will initially turn to social media, and while there is some excellent advice available there, there is also some fundamentally incorrect and even dangerous advice. How can you decide what is good advice and what is less good about feeding your dog?

Your vet is often a good starting point for guidance, especially if your dog has a health issue that is nutrition-related or one that can be supported via nutrition. In serious clinical nutrition cases, referral to a suitably qualified veterinary nutritionist is recommended. Sometimes other professionals will be able to assist and always look for someone who is qualified (ideally to degree level in an appropriate subject area as a minimum) and insured to support you. Beware of ‘miracle cures’ or guarantees of changes in short spaces of time. Equally, it can be dangerous to explore some approaches without consulting your vet, especially if your dog has a diagnosed condition and is on medication. Anyone who suggests that they are an alternative to your vet, could be putting your dog in danger and could even be breaking the law – in the UK, only qualified and registered veterinary surgeons can diagnose and treat conditions. Ideally, your dog will have a team of professionals to help you and them – or they will work together to ensure the best possible care for your dog. This could include your vet, trainer, behaviourist, nutritionist, veterinary physiotherapist and other canine professionals.

When seeking nutritional advice, it is important to consider the motivations behind the information being provided. In most cases, advice and support are given with the best intentions to help you and your dog. However, it is possible for the information to be biased. Is the source a business or organization seeking to maximize profit and make a sale? While this is a legitimate goal, some marketing practices can create fear, confusion, and anxiety for caregivers. Information may also come from organizations with specific interests or agendas promoting ethical, moral, or other choices. Sometimes, well-intentioned individuals may provide information that is not supported by knowledge and understanding of individual circumstances.

Checklist for Choosing a Diet for Your Dog

Use these questions and sub-questions as an evidence-based way to help you work out what type of diet might be a best fit for you and your dog:

1. What is your dog’s daily energy requirements?
   1. Are they growing, pregnant, lactating or highly active?
   2. Do they need to maintain, gain or lose bodyweight?
   3. Are they a young puppy, a mature adult or a senior dog?
   4. Are they spayed or neutered?
   5. Where does your dog live – kennel or house?
2. Does your dog have any health issues, dental problems, preferences, sensitivities or allergies that mean that their diet needs to be amended?
   1. Are there nutrients that need managed/modified levels?
   2. Are there ingredients that need to be minimised or avoided?
   3. Does the form of the diet need consideration – wet, dry, raw?
   4. Does your dog have breed-/type-specific nutritional requirements?
   5. Does your dog prefer to eat certain flavours or ingredients?
3. What can you afford to feed your dog?
   1. What is your daily/weekly/monthly budget?
   2. Do you need to factor in supplements/rewards/chews to this budget?
4. Can you easily get regular access to your chosen dog food and can you store it?
   1. Do you need a regular supply or can you bulk buy/prepare meals and store/freeze?
   2. Do you have suitable alternatives in case of supply issues?
5. Do you (or any of your household members) have health issues or other concerns about certain foods or ingredients?
   1. Is anyone immunocompromised or on medication that might mean hygiene is extra important around dog food?
   2. Does anyone have an allergy or sensitivity to food components or ingredients, such as gluten, where exposure, even in dog food, might be an issue?
   3. Do you have concerns about the ethics, welfare or sustainability of dog-food ingredients?
   4. Are there manufacturers/suppliers that you wish to avoid?
6. What do you want to feed your dog?
   1. Is convenience important for you (dry or packaged food might be easier)?
   2. Do you enjoy home-cooking and home-preparation?
   3. Do you want to feed a less processed diet?
   4. Do you want to feed an alternative ingredient diet (e.g. plant-/insect-based)?

Always Remember Nutritional Individuality

You and your dog are unique, as are your circumstances. It is important to keep this in mind when choosing a diet for your dog. What works for someone else may not work for you or your dog. This applies to their genetic makeup as well as their living situation, health, and activity level. When you factor in the variation among individual caregivers and their needs, it becomes clear why there are so many options available and such diversity in feeding practices.

When selecting a diet for your dog, you must consider their needs, your needs, and what the food can provide. Among the many options available, there will be a best choice for you and your dog. By carefully considering what you need from a diet and what your dog needs from it, you can make an evidence-based and confident decision.

There is no single “best” dog food, but there is a best dog food for each individual dog and their owner.

Summary

• As caregivers, we have almost complete control over what and when our dogs eat, and with this control comes the responsibility to make suitable and appropriate dietary decisions for them.
• The nature of the dog-human relationship varies widely and impacts the choices made for individual dogs. The nature of each relationship affects the financial and emotional investment a caregiver has in their dog.
• Each caregiver and dog has unique needs and circumstances, which means that nutritional choices often need to be carefully tailored to meet those needs.
• Most dogs on a balanced diet of any type will be perfectly healthy. We can sometimes overcomplicate the process of feeding our dogs.
• Good nutrition is not just about finding the best food, but about finding the best food for an individual dog.