Hello everybody,
This is an interesting article I found on feeding dogs and cats people food. The article was particularly interesting to me because Lacey, my Chi/Pom mix, is feed more people food than dog food.
Jim
By Matthew "'Uncle Matty" Margolis
Dear Uncle Matty: What is your stance on sharing food with your dog?
I recently read an article about the positive bonding effect there
can be from sharing food with your dog (as long as the food is safe
for your dog to eat). Is there any value to this? If so, is there a
right way to do this so that you don't turn your dog into a whining
machine every time you eat something he wants (which is basically
everything you eat)? My belief has always been that you never share
your food with your dog because most human food is too rich and some
human food is toxic and even lethal for dogs. -- Lisa C., West Palm
Beach, Fla.
Dear Lisa: The best way to do this is NOT to do it! Dogs are natural
born beggars when it comes to food and will usually woof down
anything eatable whether it is good for them or not. Cats are more
discriminating -- they take more time to decide whether or not the
food being offered is a good idea, and they are less likely to
consume people food.
Sharing your food with your animal is not a healthy approach to
caring for your pet. People food is likely to give pets indigestion,
cause diarrhea, and create an overweight condition. People food
tends to have too much salt and/or sugar, and both of these in
people quantities are unhealthy for pets. Dogs are dogs. Cats are
cats. And both species need diets that are nutritionally appropriate
for the species and for the individual needs of each pet.
And what's with the "bonding" thing? That's like saying your dog
will feel closer to you if you wear matching sweatshirts. It's
ridiculous. Wear matching sweatshirts if it makes you happy. Your
dog couldn't care less. He make like the attention he gets when you
put on the sweatshirt and "ahhh" and "coo" over his appearance, but
you can "ahhh" and "coo" without the shirt.
Bonding by sharing food? What was the author of that article
thinking? If you insist, get down on all fours and dig into the
kibble or some fancy kitty feast. Slurp a refreshing drink by
sharing the water dish. If your dog is possessive over his food, you
may have a problem. I doubt that your cat will want to share any
part of the experience. And yes, Lisa, sharing food at the table
will most likely turn your dog into an annoying, impossible, whining
beggar.
This bonding idea is more of the current trend to humanize pets and
treat them as people. This takes life with Fido to the extreme and
the ridiculous. Dogs are happy being dogs. Cats are happy being
cats, and they are happier if you make it a point to understand
their behavior. Don't try to turn them into little four-legged
people. Look at your dog from the dog's point of view. Consider your
pets' health if you really care. Provide a diet that offers the best
nutrition for your animals' species, age and weight. Feed your pets
before your mealtime, and don't allow them to beg while you are
eating.
Bond with your pet through the training experience, daily walks,
providing moments of undivided attention, kind words and loving
strokes, playtime, rides in the car (if your pet enjoys excursions),
a healthy diet, and good health care. Woof!
Dear Uncle Matty: What is your stance on sharing food with your dog?
I recently read an article about the positive bonding effect there
can be from sharing food with your dog (as long as the food is safe
for your dog to eat). Is there any value to this? If so, is there a
right way to do this so that you don't turn your dog into a whining
machine every time you eat something he wants (which is basically
everything you eat)? My belief has always been that you never share
your food with your dog because most human food is too rich and some
human food is toxic and even lethal for dogs. -- Lisa C., West Palm
Beach, Fla.
Dear Lisa: The best way to do this is NOT to do it! Dogs are natural
born beggars when it comes to food and will usually woof down
anything eatable whether it is good for them or not. Cats are more
discriminating -- they take more time to decide whether or not the
food being offered is a good idea, and they are less likely to
consume people food.
Sharing your food with your animal is not a healthy approach to
caring for your pet. People food is likely to give pets indigestion,
cause diarrhea, and create an overweight condition. People food
tends to have too much salt and/or sugar, and both of these in
people quantities are unhealthy for pets. Dogs are dogs. Cats are
cats. And both species need diets that are nutritionally appropriate
for the species and for the individual needs of each pet.
And what's with the "bonding" thing? That's like saying your dog
will feel closer to you if you wear matching sweatshirts. It's
ridiculous. Wear matching sweatshirts if it makes you happy. Your
dog couldn't care less. He make like the attention he gets when you
put on the sweatshirt and "ahhh" and "coo" over his appearance, but
you can "ahhh" and "coo" without the shirt.
Bonding by sharing food? What was the author of that article
thinking? If you insist, get down on all fours and dig into the
kibble or some fancy kitty feast. Slurp a refreshing drink by
sharing the water dish. If your dog is possessive over his food, you
may have a problem. I doubt that your cat will want to share any
part of the experience. And yes, Lisa, sharing food at the table
will most likely turn your dog into an annoying, impossible, whining
beggar.
This bonding idea is more of the current trend to humanize pets and
treat them as people. This takes life with Fido to the extreme and
the ridiculous. Dogs are happy being dogs. Cats are happy being
cats, and they are happier if you make it a point to understand
their behavior. Don't try to turn them into little four-legged
people. Look at your dog from the dog's point of view. Consider your
pets' health if you really care. Provide a diet that offers the best
nutrition for your animals' species, age and weight. Feed your pets
before your mealtime, and don't allow them to beg while you are
eating.
Bond with your pet through the training experience, daily walks,
providing moments of undivided attention, kind words and loving
strokes, playtime, rides in the car (if your pet enjoys excursions),
a healthy diet, and good health care. Woof!
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