HOME COOKING UPDATE

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well it's been just about a week on the home cooking, and I'm totally sold on it.  Here are all the great things...

• Great poops.  He is now going regularly twice a day.  In general, poops are just the right consistency.  If I do notice they are a little soft or a little too firm, I just slightly adjust the diet at the next meal, and back to just the way they should be. On the dog food, I had no control (and I love control LOL).
• He loves it.  No more need to "free feed" because he hated his dog food (and we tried every premium grain free made).  He eats twice a day and acts like he is in heaven.  He licks the bowl for five minutes even after everything is gone.  He is a very happy puppy.
• No more "grazing" on walks.  Guinness used to try to eat anything he could get his hands on when we walked him. His nose was to the ground, and it was a constant battle to keep him from eating twigs, leaves, etc.  He has completely stopped doing this.  All I can think of is that it is related to the new diet.  It makes for a much more enjoyable walk.

I had a great conversation with his Vet today.  She wanted to know how he was doing since the IBS episode.  She told me she doesn't generally recommend home cooking, because she worries about owners' commitment to the science of consistently providing the right balance of foods.  That said, she was very positive about what we're doing with Guinness, and believes it's the right choice for him.

I really thought it would be much more difficult than it actually is.  I make 3 day batches, and it really takes me no more than 5 - 10 minutes (ex cooking time).  I keep in in the refrigerator so it's easy to pull out and "nuke" twice a day.  It's been fun for me to watch him when I'm getting it ready.  He recognizes that it's his food, and dances around the kitchen.  I also thought it might be expensive.  Actually, I don't think I'm spending much (or any) more than I was on the premium food. I look for sales and buy in larger quantities.

So, bottom line my Dood is very happy and I am very relieved.  I was on my last nerve with all the soft stools and diarrhea. The IBS diagnosis made me realize I had to do something different.  It was also concerning that he never seemed to enjoy his food.  I'm just hoping this all continues.  I am so grateful to the Food Group for putting me on the right track.  

  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think there is anything you could have told us that would make us happier, Jane! Congratulations, I'm so glad our group was able to help Guinness be happier and healthier! Keep up the good work, you are a super doodle mom!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

This is one of the best advertisements FOR Homecooking I have read, yet. I am so glad that everything is going so well and from experience, I can tell you that they will continue to improve.

As far as the cost being equal, add to that IN THE LONG RUN, you will save on the medical exams, vet bills and meds that many foods are causing to our animals that the COST IN THE LONG RUN will be so much less.

Your vet and many vets are coming around to this way of thinking and I believe that we will continue to see more and more people cooking for their loved dogs. You go, girl!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I am so happy for you because I so believe homecooking is THE way they were meant to eat. REAL food! You are doing such a great thing for him and you have described my doodle exactly and put it all to words very well the great feeling I get when cooking and feeding something I have made for him myself.

Isn;t it wonderful that you have seen such positive results in just a week? I agree with Lynne on the cost factor and altho I have never really added it all up, I do know that it sure beats shelling out $50-70 at once for a bag of dry dog food. I feed Orijen as well so I always have some on hand incase I don't get to cook a mostly balanced meal or haven't gotten to the groc store, or like just last month, if I leave him with hubby for 3 weeks, I know he will get good food while I'm gone. There are so many great groc. sales each week and I also can use up leftovers that we are just tired of or would throw away, so in that sense I feel we really are not wasting as much $, time or food.

I do cook a big bag of Lentils each week and use that as a good base for his other foods. Good protein, fiber and legumes. He loves it. So easy and cheap, I think 1.29 a bag. Two bags lasts me at least a week. I do add the egg shells and fish oil to his morning meal. Also he gets raw/smoked marrow bones from the butcher, boiled or cooked Liver a few times a month and the same butcher has frozen raw dog food that I will add in. Mostly because it's a ground turkey or chicken neck base and my holistic Vet recommended necks for their bones.(raw whole necks are a bit messy) :( Murphy eats a lot I think, but he is on the very active side. He just come back from a 3 mile run with me and he hiked for an hour with me yesterday. So he works it all off.

Anyway, yes the food group has made all the difference for us too and thanks for your post. It was a nice testimony to homecooking.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

That is just amazing!!!! I am copying off your letter to send to my vet daughter. Are your recipes on the food page? Shelley admits (to her and our chagrin) that she was not taught much about foods for pets. And that what she WAS taught came from the dog food companies. I can't tell you how upset I got a couple of times at her vet school. We paid a fortune for Shelley's education and then they would do things like send the kids into the stalls of stallions without any preparation on how to handle these animals. She learned all that from me, as I used to ride BC (before children).

But I am so happy and relieved for you. That diet has changed both of your lives. How exciting that we have knowledgeable women on this site that can and do help each other. You can bet I'll be watching my little doodle and if she has trouble, I'll be righ there w/ you.

Is your recipe posted on the food group page. I'd like to send it to my daughter.

DKers ROCK!!!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

In my case, there really is no one recipe. My HC'd is based on chicken, brown rice and veggies/fruit. I add and change ingredients over the course of the week. Like Sue said, adding beef, liver and other protein sources to the basic "recipe." This allows for "Balancing over time" rather then "the Complete & Balanced" myth pushed by the DF companies. I have been HG'ing for my own dogs for three years now and I am usually feeding 4-5 dogs at every meal. I will never go back to commercial. Especially with sick or malnourished fosters, this helps them come around the quickest of anything Big DF can dream up.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Here's our home cooking plan that I shared with the Vet...and thanks DeeDee.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Jane, I could not open this file. I'll keep trying. Thank you for sending it.

[Tammy & Gracie]

I couldn't open it either. But then I am a technological dinasaur!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Me either. Also not the greatest techie.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Shelley admits (to her and our chagrin) that she was not taught much about foods for pets. And that what she WAS taught came from the dog food companies"

Thank you so much for this post! Now we have it from the horse's veterinary student's mouth, and the Food Groupies know I didn't make it up, lol.
DeeDee, if it's any comfort, they don't teach much about nutrition in medcial school, either.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

In my case DeeDee, I haven;t posted my meal recipes in the cookbook yet, but have posted a liver treat recipe that I do use quite a bit. It's good to get an idea of what percentages of proteins, grains, fiber, carbs, fruits and veggies would be required for your size dog. Then you can make up your own recipes.

As for expense, you got me thinking and when I went to the groc store I sorted the dogs groceries from the rest and it came to just over $15.OO and that will give me 8 days of 2 meals a day made of ground lean beef, cut green beans, cranberries, for some fruit, and egg noodles for some carbs. I will add some liver to some meals during the month and I usually add a dollop of lowfat plain yogurt to each meal. Some days they get scrambled eggs and oatmeal for breakfast. And we'll add any extra cooked meat that's leftover or cut up turkey dogs in their bowl. They love them for treats too, Then the next week, I'll boil a chicken and add veggies, rice or noodles and make a weeks worth of meals out of that. I will use chunk light tuna sometimes or even canned Salmon when it's on sale. So they get a little of everything and it's all healthy and balanced over time.
Price wise, a med size bag of Orijen is almost $40.00 and barely lasts me a month if I feed the recommended amount. So $45.00 a month on good variety of foods doesn't seem so bad to me. I know my daughter spends 60 a month on Wellness for her dog. Who id 2 yrs old and 70 pds. This is such a great group to get so much knowledge and support for homecooking. Glad to have you join us.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am just so happy you found something that is working for sweet Guinness. I will definitely look into Homecooking if needed in the future - they tell me T's kidneys need that Hills crap again, its ON!