What our dogs eat and don’t eat, and why

Dogs will eat anything they get used too.
Our dogs can a will eat and enjoy, anything they get accustomed too as long as they have more than one opportunity to try it. This is one of the main reasons dog food manufacturers instruct you to gradually switch over your dogs food, from the old brand of dog food to the new brand. Some of our dogs will eat anything put in front of them. And some of our dogs will turn their nose up at any new feed.
The other reason we are told to slowly change our dogs food, when trying a different brand. Is a lot of dogs will get diarrhea when they first try eating something new. We will then think something is wrong with the new food, or our dog has some kind of new health issue. Most likely they just need some more time to get used to the new stuff.
The vast majority of dogs, have a cast iron stomach. Remember our dogs are a carnivore species. A dogs digestive enzymes are very different than ours. That is why when we prepare foods for ourselves, it has to be cooked to certain temperatures before eating to avoid getting sick. While our dogs can eat anything they like uncooked or raw. And a lot of our dogs prefer their meat, ah lets just say a little aged. They will bury it then dig it up a week or two later, then eat it when its nice and ripe.
Our dogs get fed a significant amount of raw meat. The local butchers and meat processors, donate roughly five to six thousand pounds of meat a year to us. Our guys will not touch the dry feed ( regular dog food), when raw meat is available to them.
The point of the raw meat thing is a lot of the new dogs that come to our sanctuary, initially when first given the raw meat to try, will not eat it. The reason for this is simple, they never had the opportunity or they didn’t have enough chances to get used to it. After a short period of time, they all wind up preferring to eat the raw meat as apposed to the dry dog food.
Each litter of puppies that we studied to gain a true understanding of pack structures and behaviors. Were given raw meat to eat as soon as their milk teeth emerged at about three weeks of age. And being the wild animals that they are, devoured the meat.
The point of this whole thing, our dogs need time to get used to whatever we decide to feed them. Whether we prefer a more natural raw diet for them, or we like buying dog food in bags or cans.

Keep money in mind when choosing a pet

Pets can be costly, both to obtain and to keep.

While some dogs are free or almost free, registered dogs and so-called "designer" breeds usually start at about $500 and can run well over $1,000. That is just the beginning, however. Basic equipment can be costly, depending on the size of the dog and the animal's place in the family. A simple dog bed can be obtained for as little as $10 for a small dog. A crate or kennel can cost under $50 or up to $500 or more, depending on size and use.Dogs also need collars, leashes, food and water dishes, and, of course, the all-important dog food. Many family dogs have a variety of toys and are usually given treats such as dog biscuits. The cost of pet ownership mounts when health care costs are included. Veterinarian visits can be as expensive as doctor's visits for the animal's human counterparts. Puppies need a series of three sets of immunizations, just like infants. A visit to a vet's office starts at $60 to $80, plus shots and medications. If an owner wants a microchip embedded under the dog's skin with identifying information, it costs about $80. Spaying and neutering usually starts at about $250 and increases in proportion to the dog's size. Emergency visits and hospitalizations can be much more. Professional grooming adds to the cost of dog ownership.