Scraps for Scrappy???
There is a lot of very strong feeling about feeding the family doggie something from the dinner table. Some folks think that it is OK as long as it is a small piece and relatively tasty. Others believe that anything that may be destined for the garbage disposal, outside of sharp bones if fair game for Bowser. Still others believe that absolutely nothing from the table should go to anybody that isn’t sitting at the table.
After doing much research on doggie diets, and such, my position is 95% toward the theory that nothing from the table should go to the dog. What is the other 5% you may ask? That is a very select minimal amount of human food (not scraps) that would normally be found in a good wholesome dog food, such as the skin off of Salmon. But this should only given when it is dogie’s normal meal time, and only is his or her food dish – definitely not directly off the table.
OK I am not a dogie food nutritionist, and this is not a preaching on how to feed your dog. But I have found over the years, several things that work with the family dog, and several that do not. None of the dogs I have had since I was in grade school have ever been fed anything directly from the dinner table. And, you know what, none of my dogs have ever sat next to the dinner table and begged for food. Actually, at times, it is almost the opposite extreme. Jasmine, our current “best friend” all but ignores most human food. Not log ago, while watching TV, I was trying to cut a pizza into smaller slices, and being on an uneven table, about half the pizza slide off an onto the floor. Jasmine was laying on the floor close by and watched the whole thing. She was not at all interested in going after the food, and the look on her face said “well, you dropped it, so you pick it up”.
I have found that dogs love to be trained, and respond to training very well. By not ever feeding my dog from the dinner table, she has effectively been trained that nothing for her to eat will ever come from the dinner table. This is not only a very health conscious approach, but imparts “manners” which is very nice especially when the In-Laws are visiting.
This is a topic that has a lot of different thoughts, and we’d appreciate yours. Please add a comment and let us hear your thoughts. And, as always, may all your Waggin’ be Delightful.
I agree and do not feed our dogs from the table either; it teaches great manners as not all our friends enjoy a dog at their feet! BUT we do give our dog human food–things like bison, turkey, fish, etc in addition to the dog food (packaged) that we use. Many things are fine for their consumption–but you need to make sure you understand a dogs nutritional needs and what they can and can’t have before you just start giving them “leftovers.” Great thoughts in this blog. I encourage people to do research before you start throwing the dog your food!
from, Lisa