Setting the Stage for Successful Training

Setting the Stage for Successful Training Carbohydrates have to be broken down for the

dog to be able to digest them. Dog food companies use a heat process to break them

down, and therein lies a problem. The heat process destroys many of the vitamins and

minerals contained in the carbohydrates. The question that immediately comes to mind is,

“Where do dogs in the wild get the grains and vegetables they need?” The answer is from

the intestines of their prey, all neatly predigested. If you feed raw vegetables to a dog that

has only been fed dry kibble, chances are he won’t be able to break them down and you’ll

see them in his stool. His stomach acid and digestive juices are too weak to digest them. If

you want to introduce your dog to a healthier diet by adding fresh vegetables and meat,

our suggestion is to first lightly cook them, and then over a week, cook them less and less

until the fresh foods are eaten raw. Doing so allows his stomach acid to come back to the

proper pH for digestion. Knowing the value of fats — in moderation Fat is either saturated

or polyunsaturated, and your dog needs both. Saturated fat (omega-3) comes from animal

sources, and polyunsaturated fat (omega-6) comes from vegetable sources. Together they

supply the essential fatty acids (EFA) necessary to maintain good health. Look for a dog

food that contains both animal and vegetable oils. In the manufacturing of the majority of

kibbled dog foods, fat is sprayed on as the last ingredient. Fat makes the dog food

palatable, like potato chips and French fries. This fat often is used by fast-food restaurants

first and collected by the dog food manufacturer to spray onto dog food. Fat is highly

palatable, and makes even poor-quality food taste good. Saturated fat is used for energy.

So, for dogs who get a great deal of exercise or participate in competitive events, the food

they eat needs to contain 20 percent animal fat. Not enough animal fat in your dog’s diet

can create:

✓ Cell damage

✓ Dry skin

✓ Growth deficits

✓ Heart problems

✓ Lack of energy

On the other hand, too much animal fat in the diet creates:

✓ Cancer of the colon and rectum

✓ Mammary gland tumors

✓ Obesity