Comments on: The Ancestral Diet for Dogs http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/ The Healthiest Thing You Can Do for Your Pet! Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:42:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Howard http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-275 Howard Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:31:11 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-275 Steve<br>An interesting article, I own and work dogs for shooting/hunting and on the whole I agree with what you are saying, the one missing consideration though is activity. <br><br>"Ancestral dog" had to hunt to stay alive and needed the energy, domestic pets have their food on a platter, literally! look at sportsmen or those involved in very physical work, they eat high protein, high fat diets without issue whilst the same diet eaten by someone with a sedentary lifestyle (most pets) would suffer health issues. <br><br>Surely the best diets for any animal are those suited to their lifestyle. I need to feed my working dogs the highest energy(read fat and protein) diets I can find but when they retire this is changed, Historically when a dog was no longer fit to run and hunt with the pack it would eventually get pushed out and die, pet owners surely must take their dogs activity into account when looking at nutrition. Steve
An interesting article, I own and work dogs for shooting/hunting and on the whole I agree with what you are saying, the one missing consideration though is activity.

“Ancestral dog” had to hunt to stay alive and needed the energy, domestic pets have their food on a platter, literally! look at sportsmen or those involved in very physical work, they eat high protein, high fat diets without issue whilst the same diet eaten by someone with a sedentary lifestyle (most pets) would suffer health issues.

Surely the best diets for any animal are those suited to their lifestyle. I need to feed my working dogs the highest energy(read fat and protein) diets I can find but when they retire this is changed, Historically when a dog was no longer fit to run and hunt with the pack it would eventually get pushed out and die, pet owners surely must take their dogs activity into account when looking at nutrition.

]]> By: N Bondarenko http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-274 N Bondarenko Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:19:23 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-274 This is very good guidance for feeding dogs. If we look at the diet of feral and scavenging dogs in more recent times, I think that they are more omniverous than canids that hunt in packs. Even wolves will eat frogs and mice and insects when unable to hunt. Also, Juliette De Bairaclii Levy mentioned reports of foxes going into wheat fields and stripping the wheat if other prey were unavailable. <br><br>Dogs are scavengers more than hunters so they are biologically able to digest a range of foodstuffs. However, these days we require more than that a dog survive - we need dogs to have glossy coats, clean eyes and teeth, and plump condition, which is why it is more and more important to feed biologically appropriate, organic, fresh preferably raw food. This is very good guidance for feeding dogs. If we look at the diet of feral and scavenging dogs in more recent times, I think that they are more omniverous than canids that hunt in packs. Even wolves will eat frogs and mice and insects when unable to hunt. Also, Juliette De Bairaclii Levy mentioned reports of foxes going into wheat fields and stripping the wheat if other prey were unavailable.

Dogs are scavengers more than hunters so they are biologically able to digest a range of foodstuffs. However, these days we require more than that a dog survive – we need dogs to have glossy coats, clean eyes and teeth, and plump condition, which is why it is more and more important to feed biologically appropriate, organic, fresh preferably raw food.

]]> By: N Bondarenko http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-273 N Bondarenko Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:54:25 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-273 This is very good guidance for feeding dogs. If we look at the diet of feral and scavenging dogs in more recent times, I think that they are more omniverous than canids that hunt in packs. Even wolves will eat frogs and mice and insects when unable to hunt. Also, Juliette De Bairaclii Levy mentioned reports of foxes going into wheat fields and stripping the wheat if other prey were unavailable. Dogs are scavengers more than hunters so they are biologically able to digest a range of foodstuffs. However, these days we require more than that a dog survive - we need dogs to have glossy coats, clean eyes and teeth, and plump condition, which is why it is more and more important to feed biologically appropriate, organic, fresh preferably raw food. This is very good guidance for feeding dogs. If we look at the diet of feral and scavenging dogs in more recent times, I think that they are more omniverous than canids that hunt in packs. Even wolves will eat frogs and mice and insects when unable to hunt. Also, Juliette De Bairaclii Levy mentioned reports of foxes going into wheat fields and stripping the wheat if other prey were unavailable.

Dogs are scavengers more than hunters so they are biologically able to digest a range of foodstuffs. However, these days we require more than that a dog survive – we need dogs to have glossy coats, clean eyes and teeth, and plump condition, which is why it is more and more important to feed biologically appropriate, organic, fresh preferably raw food.

]]> By: SELVA http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-271 SELVA Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:47:33 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-271 An interesting take on the doggie diet. Thank you for sharing. An interesting take on the doggie diet. Thank you for sharing.

]]> By: lucy http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-268 lucy Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:39:02 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-268 HI there, I eat a raw vegan diet, my canivore companions ( dog and cats) eat a raw carnivore diet ( meaty bones) . I hope vegans are never banned from keeping cats and dogs. please dont tar us all with the same brush, I know many people who eat a conventional diet and feed their dogs on junk. blessings to you xx HI there, I eat a raw vegan diet, my canivore companions ( dog and cats) eat a raw carnivore diet ( meaty bones) . I hope vegans are never banned from keeping cats and dogs. please dont tar us all with the same brush, I know many people who eat a conventional diet and feed their dogs on junk. blessings to you xx

]]> By: Steve Brown http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-64 Steve Brown Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:06:43 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-64 Sam - An 8 year-old wolf is somewhat like a 50 year old person. Even in the best of health, with the best food possible and a toxin-free environment, a 50 year old person will be slower and more prone to injuries than a young person. Not even Michael Jordan was able to play basketball at age 50. When an older wolf can no longer run and cut at full speed, or gets injured in anyway whatsoever, the wolf will no longer be able to hunt and feed herself. She will die. Life in the wild is rough, and if an animal slows down even a little bit, it may not be able to catch its food. Our well-cared for dogs, on the other hand, don’t have to catch their food. So even when they slow down and are no longer as fast and agile as they were when young, they still get fed. If your dog Polka had to catch of her food, she probably wouldn’t live as long either. Sam – An 8 year-old wolf is somewhat like a 50 year old person. Even in the best of health, with the best food possible and a toxin-free environment, a 50 year old person will be slower and more prone to injuries than a young person. Not even Michael Jordan was able to play basketball at age 50.

When an older wolf can no longer run and cut at full speed, or gets injured in anyway whatsoever, the wolf will no longer be able to hunt and feed herself. She will die. Life in the wild is rough, and if an animal slows down even a little bit, it may not be able to catch its food.

Our well-cared for dogs, on the other hand, don’t have to catch their food. So even when they slow down and are no longer as fast and agile as they were when young, they still get fed.

If your dog Polka had to catch of her food, she probably wouldn’t live as long either.

]]> By: Sam http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-62 Sam Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:35:39 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-62 Recently I viewed the documentary film, “Wolves At Our Door.” One item of information I learned of from this film and, I was very surprise at, was the natural life span of wolves was about ten or eleven years and that their hunting ability begins to degenerate at eight years old. My dog Polka, since I got her as a pup, has been on a diet consistent with all and more of the nutritional advice provided in your blog but does not include raw food. She is ten now and is vibrant and as healthy as when I first got her. She is examined every six months and is in perfect health. I assume wolves in the wild still maintain the so-called “Cave Man” diet that you indicate is the more naturally balanced diet. Why then do they have such a short life span and degraded hunting ability by eight or nine years old? Sam Recently I viewed the documentary film, “Wolves At Our Door.” One item of information I learned of from this film and, I was very surprise at, was the natural life span of wolves was about ten or eleven years and that their hunting ability begins to degenerate at eight years old. My dog Polka, since I got her as a pup, has been on a diet consistent with all and more of the nutritional advice provided in your blog but does not include raw food. She is ten now and is vibrant and as healthy as when I first got her. She is examined every six months and is in perfect health. I assume wolves in the wild still maintain the so-called “Cave Man” diet that you indicate is the more naturally balanced diet. Why then do they have such a short life span and degraded hunting ability by eight or nine years old? Sam

]]> By: Steven Brown http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-44 Steven Brown Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:33:02 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-44 Well, I think one can formulate a vegetarian diet that is “adequate” for dogs; a diet that meets all AAFCO nutrient requirements. But I doubt a vegetarian diet can ever be “good” for dogs. I suspect that many of the supplements (vitamin B12, zinc, EPA and DHA) that will need to be added will come from meat, fish or meat products, so a “vegan” diet may not be possible. On the other hand, many vegans feed their dogs raw diets. Vegans often understand nutrition, and want to feed their dogs a natural diet. Well, I think one can formulate a vegetarian diet that is “adequate” for dogs; a diet that meets all AAFCO nutrient requirements. But I doubt a vegetarian diet can ever be “good” for dogs. I suspect that many of the supplements (vitamin B12, zinc, EPA and DHA) that will need to be added will come from meat, fish or meat products, so a “vegan” diet may not be possible.

On the other hand, many vegans feed their dogs raw diets. Vegans often understand nutrition, and want to feed their dogs a natural diet.

]]> By: Sighthound owner http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/the-ancestral-diet-for-dogs/#comment-10 Sighthound owner Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:06:45 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=981#comment-10 This should be obligatory reading to any future and current dog owners. Too often I read posts by people who proudly tell about turning their dog(s) and/or cat(s) into vegetarians. Reading your article above further convinced me that vegans should be banned from owning dogs and cats, or any other carnivores. The mislead persons who believe themselves to be animal lovers are actually abusing their own beloved pets. This should be obligatory reading to any future and current dog owners. Too often I read posts by people who proudly tell about turning their dog(s) and/or cat(s) into vegetarians. Reading your article above further convinced me that vegans should be banned from owning dogs and cats, or any other carnivores. The mislead persons who believe themselves to be animal lovers are actually abusing their own beloved pets.

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