Love your dog? Then you need to know . . .

Need to know what? You need to know about raw feeding, that's what. What the heck is raw feeding? Well, its exactly what it sounds like. Feeding your dog (or cat or ferret for that matter) raw food, specifically raw meat. I first encountered the term 'raw feeding' when researching ferrets, but I didn't look into it further at the time because it just seemed like an option for overzealous ferret owners. I ran into the term again after joining a dog-specific forum, and this time my curiosity was piqued. As I read, I became very interested in raw feeding, and began to do a lot of research. This research I will pass on to you, because I love you and I'm awesome.

I'm sure a lot of you are wondering why you would want to feed raw in the first place. Well, there are a bunch of reasons, and all of them are really important.

1. Dogs are carnivores. Don't believe me? Well, just take a look at a dog's teeth. Also keep in mind that even if they don't look like wolves on the outside, on the inside they are pretty much the same. Need more proof? Check out this lovely and well researched article: Dogs are Carnivores
2. Kibble is garbage. I mean that in the most literal sense. If you have a weak stomach, take my word for it and continue to number 3. For the rest of you, here are a few of the things that go into kibble: 4D livestock (the livestock that dies of illness or injury before it reaches the slaughterhouse), spoiled grocery store meat (including the styrofoam packaging it came in), used and spoiled restaurant deep-frying grease and sometimes even euthanized companion animals. That is just a fraction of what goes into pet food (not just dog food). Go here to see exactly what else is in your furry friend's food.
3. An all meat diet improves your dog's health. Because your dog is carnivore, he will get all the nutrition he needs from a raw diet, and none of the stuff he doesn't need. Raw feeders report that their dogs are better tempered, more lively, have clean, white teeth, fresh breath, shinier coats, brighter eyes, shed less, poop a lot less (yes, less poop!), don't smell, go to the vet a lot less and even live longer. Sounds good, doesn't it?
   
4. It's not as expensive as you might think. I admit, my first concern about raw feeding was price, but after doing a lot of research, I have learned that raw feeding is much cheaper overall than feeding kibble. Why? Well, for starters, meat appropriate for feeding a dog can easily be obtained from a butcher, a hunter, or even a wholesale meat distributor at excellent prices. Dogs don't need to be eating steaks. Also, a kibble fed dog is going to present more health problems, therefore more vet visits. Raw fed dogs don't even need to have their teeth brushed! Eating the way nature intended cleans their teeth.

When I get my dog, he is definitely going to be fed raw. As for the rest of you, I encourage you to look into it and at least consider it. You will change your dog's life! The following websites will help you on your journey. Check them out! They have specific information on what to feed when feeding raw, how much to feed, where to find meat, etc.

The Many Myths of Raw Feeding
This site is excellent and answers most of questions that people new to raw feeding have. It is extremely informative and helpful.

Raw Learning
Another excellent site! The FAQ page is especially informative.

Raw Meaty Bones
The original site about feeding raw meaty bones to dogs.

If you're really interested in starting your dog on raw, I really encourage you to join the Yahoo group, Raw Feeding. There are tons of members who all feed their dogs raw and there is always someone around to answer questions. I have learned TONS from this group, so please join!
Raw Feeding Group

Give Love, Get Love

Here at Puppydog Dreams, we love all dogs. That's why I want to discuss the beauty of adopting rescue dogs! Every year, the Humane Society of the United States estimates that about 6-8 million pets enter shelters, and about 3-4 million are euthanized. That is a lot of dogs and cats. There are several things you can do to help.

First of all, if you are considering getting a dog (or any pet) make sure you do plenty of research! Many dogs end up in shelters because the owners did not do research, and couldn't handle the energy levels or attention needs of the breed they chose.

Second, if you already have a dog, spay/neuter! Unwanted puppies often end up either on the street or in shelters.

Third, if you are considering getting a dog, go to a shelter before you go to a breeder. You never know what you will find at a shelter, and they often have purebred dogs too. Some cities even have rescue groups specifically for certain breeds.

And now, some true rescue stories to inspire you.

Meet Sharie. I'm guessing she is a poodle/terrier mix but to be honest, God only knows.Sharie is a little ray of neurotic sunshine. This dog never stops moving, and she crashes into walls a lot. She is also something of an attention hog. Despite all this, she brings a lot of joy and love to her owner, who wouldn't trade her for anything. She may not be the type of dog for you, but that's the beauty of it. The shelter where she came from has plenty of dogs with a huge variety of personalities and temperments.Now let's meet Clemencia! Clemencia is a mutt that belongs to my grandfather. He rescued her directly off of the streets, and she is one of the sweetest dogs I know. The mix of breeds present in Clemencia is so muddled that I'm not really sure what she is. I just know she's cute.She also brings a lot of happiness to my grandfather. He loves this dog very much, and she is a big source of comfort to him.I don't know how he did it, but he somehow trained her to "Shake Hands", no verbal command required. You just hold out your hand and she puts her paw in it (as demonstrated in the picture). Needless to say, that's CUTE!

Interested in a adopting a rescue pooch? In my area (El Paso, Tx)? Here's a list of local shelters and rescues.

The Humane Society of El Paso
4991 Fred Wilson
El Paso, TX 79906

Phone: (915) 532-6971
Fax: (915) 566-0723

Offices are open Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Monday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm


The Animal Rescue League of El Paso
(915)877-5002
7256 La Junta (Canutillo)
11:30 - 5:30 Tuesday - Sunday

Adoptable animals also available at the Westside Petsmart
Saturday 10 am - 4pm
Sunday 12 pm - 4pm


Pet Guardian Angel Welfare Association
Phone: (915) 598-0411
Fax: (915) 592-7160

13300 Round Dance (At Square Dance and Montana)
El Paso, TX 79938

10:00 am - 4:00 pm Tuesday - Friday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday


This website has a listing of all the breed-specific rescues in Texas: Adopt a Rescue Pet

Hope you're inspired to make a difference!

Fatty fatty two by four . . .

I have met my share of really fat dogs in my life, and while they retain their cuteness by the simple fact that they're dogs, its kind of sad. They can't really jump, you can't really walk them and the myriad of health issues goes without saying. So, the message here is:

STOP FEEDING YOUR DOGS CRAP THEY SHOULDN'T BE EATING. Thank you. Oh, and: WALK YOUR DOG.

Here is a little video just for driving the point home.