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| Eric Christensen |
| Dog Chef Dr. Terifaj and founder of The DOGie Bag, with beloved canine companion, Rosie. |
Who is a dog chef?
Anyone who can boil water and worries that dog food is not the real deal that consumers have been brainwashed to swallow. Ever wonder what dogs ate before Ralston Purina dreamed up the booming business of making dog food decades ago? Reality check: The family dog ate whatever our grandmothers or great grand mama’s cooked up. True to the heart of all dog chefs, we ain’t taking chances on food that has been marked unfit for human consumption.
Over the years, savvy pet owners have painfully learned that any product labeled as dog food deserves to be well scrutinized. Today’s informed pet owner must do their due diligence before buying any pet food. This task begins by deciphering pet food labels to weed out inferior ingredients. Read how to become a pet food detective. Next, you must buy from companies who can prove they practice quality control manufacturing methods and use only human grade meats and grains in their product lines.
From my research, here are a few companies that are not willing to risk making your dog sick in favor of pleasing corporate fat cats: Nature’s Variety, Natura, and Honest Kitchen. To buy online top quality pet foods, see a full listing reputable pet food companies at Only Natural Pet Store.
Now back to my confession. My dogs eat what I eat—sometimes it comes out of a can or carton—right off the shelves at my local Trader Joe’s. No, nothing labeled as dog food gets into my cart. I grab cans of white chunk chicken, pink Alaskan salmon, light meat tuna in water, and sardines. Next, I head straight for the refrigeration section and load up on cottage cheese and plain yogurt from growth hormone free (no rBST) cows and eggs from drugless (no antibiotics) free range hens! And I am choosing organic whenever I can.
So, on my craziest days, dinner is just a can of chicken or fish or a few scoops of cottage cheese mixed with some brown rice—compliments of my plug it in and just add water rice cooker. No dog chef can afford to be without this magic time saver. One batch makes enough rice to fill dog tummies for a week. All in all, it only takes this busy dog chef less than one minute to prepare what any hound would consider a feast!
And remember… I did, after all, write the book: How to Feed Your Dog if You Flunked Rocket Science—the smart way to feed your dog on your budget. So, if you can boil water, bake chicken, open cans, and follow a few simple instructions…you too can become a dog chef. And I will guarantee you a healthier, happier dog for many years to come. But for those of you who would rather scrub toilets than cook, or like the idea of buying dog chef prepared meals you can just warm and serve—see the company that my dog Rosie inspired, The DOGie Bag.
Bone-a-paw-tite!
9 responses so far ↓
1 jan keith // Aug 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm
YUM! When do we eat? BTW—My dogs eat healthier than I do.
2 Bree & Kendal // Aug 7, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I do this too! I just boil some chicken (or fresh fish) – fast and easy and throw in some rice from my rice cooker (which always has rice made ready to go). I’m asian remember! We always have rice made!!
Add whatever veggie I have in the frig and serve. I’ll add some Omega oils and off they eat. I’ll do 30/30/30 % ratio or most often 40% protein / 40% rice and 20% veggies. I eye ball it!
I’ve done sardines out of the can – they love fish! Sometimes I feel like a bad mommy giving them this thrown together version of my fancier meals – but I have to remember……..it’s better than commercial. And they do love it.
Glad to know I’m not the only one that does some cheating.
Bree
3 Charlotte Dorris // Aug 8, 2008 at 11:16 am
Love it! But Toby does love “Flint River Ranch” kibble for dessert. I also buy stew meat , boil it and cut into small pieces for him , he doesn’t really like veggies so I have to “hide ” them. I do have a question, I’ve read “onions” are really bad for dogs, it this true?
4 Cindy Scott // Aug 9, 2008 at 7:55 pm
It’s nice to see someone eating my cooking – and they love it!
5 Sherri Regalbuto // Aug 12, 2008 at 9:04 am
I do exactly the same for my guys; but with three it is a little tougher to find what everyone likes and their stomachs agree on. I have been feeding my guys strictly homemade food now for over a year and have my males epilepsy under control and completely replaced all my old JRT missing hair from years ago when she had an autoimmune ordeal. I don’t trust any dog food at this point.
Thanks so much for spreading the word.
6 Dr. Terifaj // Aug 12, 2008 at 10:25 am
My response to Charlotte,
Yes, you should avoid onions, but not garlic. I have found that limited amounts of garlic are well tolerated and offer healthy benefits. To be safe, limit your dog to no more than one fresh clove per day.
7 Sirena // Aug 12, 2008 at 11:25 am
Mostly my dog eats FRR Fish & Chips (aka: torut & potatoe ) but ever since was sick with HGE I make him a homemade meal using brown basmati. I read this is healing to the digestive tract, do you agree?
I’m glad you commented on the garlic since its seems to be a controversial item. If I want to give this to him in form of a tablet, how do I figure out the correct amount? I have heard 1/3 of whatever is recommened for me and others suggest based on body weight so I’m a little confused.
8 linda // Aug 12, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Have 3-4 lb pomeranians (3 – (2 are 7 years)- one is 12 yrs. – saw in Herbs for Pets (Cypress library) cineraria maritima juice with saline solution will disolve cataracs – cannot locate it anywhere (nurseries). Too much ofcarrots (Vit A) stay in liver as does Vit E. I feet oatmeal – dannon lite and fit (only 3g sugar). It has no added sugar and low carb. Good for us ALL. Too much sugar in everything and have had friends with diabetic dogs. Too many yogurts are HIGH in sugar. I did find Science Diet at Big Lots (lamb & rice) 50 cents a small can and added raw zucinni and raw brochlee (excellent for dogs). Even my birds (canaries, cockateils, finches, lovebirds) love raw vegetables – Being single, we all enjoy and any left over (not fresh )goes into gardening compost. Let me know what you think about Science Diet. I was feeding Nature’s (Petco) Senior and sometimes give dry with other live additives. Grated carrots everyone loves also (birds, dogs). Have turtle who also enjoys fresh foods (no head lettuce – no nutritional value. Loves watermelon, hybiscus flowers, rose petals.
9 linda // Aug 12, 2008 at 8:48 pm
You are holistic vet – do you use herbs? I take COQ10 -100 mg capsules and was wondering if I can give Pomeranians (7 and 12 yrs) a portion of the gel – have stuck capsule with needle. It is natural component within our body, but don’t know if you can give small dog too much.
The senior pomeranian (12 yrs) has a little white in eyes, but can see wherever I move my finger her eyes follow – up, down, sideways – however, I did have Rescue pomeranian that went blind. want to avoid that happening again. This also was rescue. Rescued Regina (now Sweetie) at 5 and she had 3 puppies – still have 2 (new 7). At 12 she loves to walk over a mile through the tract. I consider her healthy but concerned about the slight appearance of white in her eyes.
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