If you’ve come across this article, chances are you’re already feeding your dog on a diet of raw pet food (PA residents looking for a supplier should check our drop off schedule). Although if you’ve had any experience experimenting with your own diet, you’ll be aware that it’s not just what you eat, but how. Teaching your dog healthy eating habits is a must. This is just as true with dogs, who can quite easily become unwell or feel uncomfortable when we over- or under-feed them. Just like you were trained into your eating habits when you were young, teaching your dog healthy eating habits at a young age is important. If your dog is already fully-grown, or perhaps in its senior years, then you may find it harder to retrain them on this matter. Regardless, this is just as important as the kind of food you give them.

Here are some tips for teaching your dog healthy eating habits.

Find Out their Eating Style

Depending on their breed and genetics, dogs can have a number of different eating styles. By observing how your dog acts around mealtime you can identify their eating style pretty quickly.

Picky Eaters

As the name would suggest, some dogs are a bit finicky about exactly what they “want” to eat. This can be for several different reasons, including:

  • Their appetite is suppressed by the amount of treats their getting throughout the day
  • The portion size may be inappropriate for them, be sure to do your due diligence about the exact size of each meal your particular dog requires
  • They may be sick, this is usually combined with several other visible symptoms
  • They may simply dislike the flavor of the food you’re currently feeding them

Over Eaters

Some dogs simply can’t get enough food, and can graze all day long and still fit their meals. Over eating can be due to:

  • Dogs don’t have the ability to discern which nutrients they are missing, and will simply keep eating until they feel better. Make sure your dog is getting all the nutrients they need.
  • The portion sizes you’re giving them at meal times aren’t enough to satiate their appetite, this is common in giant breeds.
  • As with nutrients, dogs also can’t always discern between hunger and thirst. Ensure they have plenty of fresh and clean drinking water available for them.

Human Food for Humans, Dog Food for Dogs

As hard as it may be, getting out of the habit of feeding the dog from your own plate can do wonders for them. Most of the food we eat isn’t suitable for dogs, and can often contain more sodium than they can handle. Instead of allowing your dog to eat food from your plate, you could consider being much more strict with their eating habits. In time they will learn that your food is yours, and their food is theirs. With this it’s important that everybody that comes into contact with the dog is on board, as this behavior can be quickly undermined.

Otherwise having some of their food ready for them when they come begging for your food can work too. Just be sure that you don’t end up mixing your own food with their raw pet food. PA locals have jokingly told me that this mistake is what they call “the real hair of the dog”.

Feeding Methods

There are two feeding methods which are commonly used with dogs, and once you’ve figured out their eating style, may be more suitable for them.

Timed Feeding

The typical style of feeding which sees the dog getting a bowl of food in the morning and in the evening. You should generally allow them 20 minutes to eat, before removing the bowl and cleaning up. This will quickly establish a routine with your dog that is proportionate to their calorie requirement, and is ideal for overeaters, larger breeds, and dogs suffering from obesity.

Free Choice Feeding

This is an increasingly popular style of feeding which revolves around giving your dog autonomy around when they eat. Simply fill their bowl in the morning and allow them to eat throughout the day, making sure to chuck away the remnant of the food and clean the bowl each night. This style of feeding is only really suitable for dogs with good self-control, or relaxed eaters.

Teaching Your Dog Healthy Eating Habits: Best Raw Pet Food

Now that you have a better idea of when and how to feed your dog, you may be wondering what the best food is for them. Here at Happy Critters we are strong believers in raw dog food providing all of the nutrients which they would naturally require. If you’re looking for a local supplier of raw pet food, have a look at our delivery schedule to see when you can try raw food for your dog.