Donna Stanley, owner of Endless Mountain Labradors says this about commercial dog food:

What’s really for dinner? 

The truth about commercial pet food:
Due to the recent pet food scares, I feel obligated to use this page to educate our clients, and the public about pet food.

Having worked full-time in the nutritional field for 5 years, I started transferring what I knew about human nutrition to canine nutrition. Our bodies are very much the same as our canine counterparts (you’ll notice that the drugs they are treated with are very much the same as we take too!) I had a lot of dog food companies and dog food supplement companies contact me to write their training programs for breeders, and so my journey began…

Having used a lot of dog foods over the last 25 years of breeding…I’ve seen it all. I’ve loved some, I’ve hated some. I also have to make it clear that my information contained here will also be specifically geared towards nutrition as it has to do with Labradors. I have found that labradors, in general, sometimes seem more sensitive to food allergies than other breeds, or maybe I’m just assuming that based on all the calls and emails I get from all over the country from people (people that don’t even have my dogs!) that have labs with skin and coat allergies. As soon as I make my food recommendations to them they call or email me later RAVING about the changes in their dogs…you would not believe how many people call me with labs that have “hot spots”, and when I proceed to ask them what they are feeding their dogs they tell me something like “Dads”…about the equivalent of feeding twinkies to your dogs, basically! It’s cheap, and you get what you pay for…junk. And you know how YOUR body reacts if you feed it twinkies everyday…and the medical field has proven how much our health is tied to nutrition…how many diseases and disorders are merely nutritional deficiencies in our bodies! Plain and simple.

Cancer: Frankly, I’m appalled at how proliferate this is in Labradors. I don’t know if I have just had good luck or what…but it has never been a genetic issue in our labs. BUT, I do know that we have pumped our dogs full of antioxidants and gluten free food. Oncologists actually put dogs on wheat/gluten free food to prevent cancer, or if they are already predisposed to cancer. It is also low carb, so you will not struggle with weight problems either. Basically corn and wheat were originally used in pet foods and as a cheaper source of filler than the wheat protein was. Many people prefer to not feed carbs because for one thing, cancer cells FEED OFF OF CARBS. In humans, the nations with higher carb consumption have a higher cancer rate. Its FACT. Lower the carbs, and lower your risk for cancer, diabetes, etc. All things our dogs get as well. They digest proteins and herbs/plants much better—that is what they were designed to digest. Wild dogs are carnivorous, BUT they also graze on greens (herbs, etc)…

ADULT FOOD, PUPPY FOOD, NO GRAIN FOOD, ALL LIFE STAGES FOOD
Small & Medium Breed Puppy Food is formulated with select ingredients to help your puppy grow and thrive. With Life’s Abundance, you can be confident that you’re feeding advanced nutrition to help your puppy achieve and maintain optimal health.

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• A proprietary blend of vitamins & minerals
• High-quality, multi-source proteins for growing muscles & healthy development
• An antioxidant system with vitamins C & E
• Prebiotic fiber & guaranteed probiotics
• Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin & a shiny coat
• Enriched with DHA for canine smarts
• Dietary fiber to help maintain a healthy digestive tract
• A selection of nutritious vegetables

Specially formulated using only wholesome ingredients, this food contains …

• No artificial flavors
• No artificial colors
• No corn or corn glutens
• No wheat or wheat gluten

Give your puppy every opportunity for a long, healthy and happy life. Feed Life’s Abundance and watch your young companion animal thrive!

I often get asked what to feed your dog. I really think that the Raw diet will be the trend in the near future, just because people are realizing that pet health care is getting scary with all the skin, coat, thyroid, cancer, kidney, digestive, allergy, and generally immune system issues etc. that are plaguing our pets in recent years. And I think it is because of the commercial dog food. I think dogs might have been healthier way back in the old days when people fed their dogs meat scraps instead of the feed we have now. What we have now is pretty similar to what is fed livestock.

Dogs need to eat meat. If we feed dogs a cheap dog food, what is the meat in that food? If you go to the grocer or meat market, you know that real meat - not fillers with a bit of meat in them - cost at least $3.00 a pound. Although sometimes you can get it for $2.00 a pound. This might be chicken. So, if we buy dog food and it is .50 cents a pound, I think we know that there is no real meat in it. To feed healthy, we just have to pay for the real meat. And fruits and veggies cost something also. So if we find a nice cheap dog food, we should think twice about feeding it to our dogs because we might mess up their digestive system or they might get allergies, or immune system issues, then we will need to take them to the vet and pay them the money we thought we were saving by feeding cheap food. Plus, we are just adding misery to our beloved pets.

I recommend feeding raw with veggies, and fruits for puppies. I might add brown rice or quinoa, or oats for adults. You can get some chicken cheaply. However, you need to add a supplement made for a raw diet so that the dog is not deficient in anything. It's complicated. If you would rather feed with home cooked, you can put everything in a pressure cooker or crock pot. Don't feed cooked bones to your dog!

An easier method would be to purchase the food already made up. 

Barf Word makes excellent food. Dogs absolutely love this stuff! Even finicky dogs love this stuff. The price is not too bad if you have it shipped to you monthly, especially for small dogs. I have an account with Barf. This is where I get it:

http://www.barfworld.com/

By the way, if you order from here, I can get 10% off my next order! Woohoo!

If you want to save $25.00 on your order, mention my name or # 1107 to subscribe for scheduled shipping.
If you have a big dog, you could feed part of the Barf Raw for one feeding and good kibble for the other.

http://www.barfworld.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?category=29&af=1107

Donna Stanley, a pet nutritionist and dog breeder says this about feeding raw:

We are firm believers in supplementing our dogs’ diet their most natural, basic diet: a raw diet. Basically, a paleo diet. Now before you skip over this thinking “No way!” Listen to some more info:

As Dr. Becker mentions, most dogs are deprived of the moisture that they really need in their diet because their whole lives they are on only dry kibble. However, we see the most common answer to this over the most recent years being smelly canned wet food which appears to be chunks of meat like substances soaked in gravy. Anhttp://www.barfworld.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?category=29&af=1107d how fresh is that really? A balanced meal of raw veggies, protein, and bone is the most natural you can get when it comes to fhttp://www.barfworld.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?category=29&af=1107eeding your dog. Dogs do not need an excess of carbohydrates in their diet to thrive.

Learn more about Raw Diet on the EML Blog!

Not all raw foods are equal! As dog food companies begin to jump on the bandwagon of raw feeding, they are pumping out low-quality foohttp://www.barfworld.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?category=29&af=1107ds that are nothing more than the poor ingredients in the processed kibble foods. They are adding GMO’s, phytoestrogens, fillers, meat “meal” (not true high quality protein), and cheap proteins. They process it and pump it full of sugar in a tube and call it “raw.” Beware of these products with high fructose, and anything like chickpeas or soy. This will wreak havoc on your pet’s hormones (in turn, thyroid), and other organ functions.

We recommend BARF World multi-mix patties because there are 30 years of research by Dr. Ian Billinghurst, who formulated it, behind their recipes. It is truly complete and balanced, convenient, and simple to feed with high quality proteins from non-GMO, grass fed animals without antibiotics. The fruits and veggies are in a pulverized form (the only form that pets can assimilate), and are all grown on small farms in the USA. Call them at 1-866-282-2273 (BARF®) and use affiliate code #1107 and ask for Christopher who will help you customize your diet for your dog/puppy’s needs. Using my affiliate code will help you get quantity discounts and personalized mentoring with the company. (You can also use this link) http://www.barfworld.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?category=29&af=1107
It comes in a convenient patty form that is easy to feed your dog, that stores easily in a freezer.

What we have found to be the most convenient and affordable feeding regimen is to feed a half kibble (Life' Abundance) half raw diet. Not only will you see fewer stools on this diet, but with keeping the kibble in their feeding schedule, it makes it more convenient for when you do take a trip either with or without your dog. This way his body is still adjusted to kibble and you don’t have to worry about keeping patties frozen. And you know the kibble you are feeding, is a HIGH quality one. Not to mention, both of these food companies deliver right to your door. Can’t get much better than that! BARF World also makes countless other holistic products for your pet that you’ll find yourself adding to your inventory!

TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING TO RAW (I’ve found that for LABRADORS, the directions for the feeding amount on the BARF multi-mix patties is too high, so here is how I recommend you feed your lab B.A.R.F.:
Don’t overfeed… it’s better to spread out the feedings in small amounts at first. I also recommend fasting your pet for 12 hours before introducing the new diet. I also throw in some leg bones from the butcher at least once a week. If you have a performance dog you may want to up your feeding a bit since your dog is more active than most.

"DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A QUIET REVOLUTION UNDERWAY IN THE DOG FOOD WORLD?"

Thousands of intelligent and progressive pet owners like you, with a deep love for their pets have now turned to the BARF Diet®.


People are desperately searching for a solution and want quick and natural results for pets with allergies, digestive problems, hot spots, skin and coat problems and degenerative diseases. The answer is the BARF Diet®.


The Simple, Ancient Secret Called "BARF®"
This diet is not new. In fact, this simple and ancient formula has kept dogs and cats happy and healthy for centuries. Although it disappeared in the late 1930's in the United States (when processed dog foods such as canned foods and kibble became popular), smart pet owners have rediscovered the incredible and easy to use BARF Diet®.

KEEP READING - you are about to learn the secrets of this amazing diet.

"What is BARF®?"
Our acronym, "BARF®", stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. This diet is all about feeding dogs properly and returning them to their evolutionary diet.

A Biologically Appropriate diet for a dog is one consisting of raw whole foods similar to those eaten by the dogs' wild ancestors. The food must contain such things as muscle meat, bone, fat, organ meats, vegetable and fruit materials combined in precisely the correct balance just as Mother Nature intended.

Don't Be Fooled...
Beware of Dry Foods and Kibble
If you want your dog to be healthy and live a long and active life, it means not feeding your dog cooked and/or processed foods. This means no diets based on cooked grains, dry food or kibble - no matter how persuasive the advertising. Don't be lured by the starburst on the front of the bags - "Real Meat" or "All Natural Rice and Chicken Formula." Read on. Read all the ingredients on the back of the package. Do you understand what they are? Are there preservatives, coloring agents, additives, grains, chemicals, or fillers? Has the diet been cooked?

Your dog was designed to eat a biologically appropriate raw diet. During the evolutionary process and these types of artificial and convenient dry foods can cause numerous long-term health problems for your pet.

Take Control of Your Pet's Health
It's not your fault if you dogs suffer from terrible skin problems today - the blame lies with dry food and kibble diets.

But now you must step up to the plate and take action!

Instead of canned, dry and kibble diets, why not try BARF World®'s BARF Diet®? Our safe raw diets are fresh frozen and truly all natural. When food is fresh, natural, raw, uncooked and unprocessed, it is packed full of the nutrients our animals friends need and crave. It is alive with the enzymes necessary for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. All ingredients are human grade and sourced from USDA inspected facilities.

Rapid and Lasting Benefits of the BARF Diet®
Here are some of the benefits you'll see in your dog when you switch to the BARF Diet®:

Tarter buildup on the teeth is eliminated, breath is improved, and your dog will have strong, beautiful teeth.
Itchy skin conditions associated with allergies will be alleviated, and you can expect a shiny and lustrous coat.
Chronic Diarrhea often disappears, and stool volume and odor is significantly reduced.
Your pet’s weight will be brought into line, and it’s easy to maintain a leaner, more fit body.
The immune system is strengthened and you’ll begin to see increased mobility in arthritic pets.
Your pet’s health and well being will improve for a long and wonderful life.
Increase energy and vitality - your dog will act like a puppy again.

Our 8 oz patties are conveniently packaged in zip lock poly laminated film bags with 12 patties in each bag. We offer a variety of protein sources - each with a particular targeted benefit to enhance your pet's health.