Some of the ingredients in processed dog food could be considered almost toxic: Cancerous food dyes, meat by-products, artificial flavoring and colors, sodium, and preservatives. When Newton resident John Edwards, 36, started researching pet brands and comparing labels, he realized that Sasha, his golden Lab mix, might be healthier if she ate the same natural, fresher, and locally sourced foods as humans. With more consumers interested in a more holistic approach to pet food, Edwards saw an opportunity in the $52 billion dollar pet product industry for a pet food made in New England with organic, premium ingredients. He launched The Well Fed Dog in 2010, formulating recipes made in small batches in a commercial kitchen, including beef and sweet potato; salmon and pumpkin; and unorthodox pet food ingredients such as collard greens, blueberries, and celery. “More and more pet owners understand that responsible ownership means making their dog’s health a priority. That means investing in a nutritious, balanced diet,” said Edwards, who said he is part of a new breed of “pet-preneurs.”

Q: What are some ingredients in commercial food that you find particularly offensive?
A: Meat meal is a dried meat product that comes from ground bones and flesh, but it’s a non-specific animal, so it could be a mix of pigs, llama, horses, deer, or anything else. This mulligan stew of junk can’t go into the human food supply chain. Even road kill makes its way into it. Instead, our dog food is locally produced with fresh fruits and vegetables and human grade meat.

Q: How does one break into the pet food market?
A: It is a difficult task, since there’s a lot of oversight from the USDA, FDA, AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), and each state’s department of agriculture. As a former banker, I went from one very regulated business to another, but this background was helpful in picking my way through the red tape. There are regulations on how ingredients can be labeled, what testing needs to be done, preparation and storage, and other best practices.

Q: In your opinion, when does dog food go “over-the-top?” Isn’t it unnecessary to have grass-fed bison, or free-range emu in pet food as some places offer?
A: What’s important to one person might not be to someone else. Some people may think that cruelty-free protein sources like grass-fed bison in dog food is over-the -top, but having options can give you peace-of-mind. Although some of these protein sources may seem strange, multiple allergies in dogs are incredibly common. My own dog is allergic to chicken, which is in almost every major food brand because it’s a cheap protein source. She was very sick until we discovered it and removed it from her diet.

Q: The consumer is often faced with a glossary of pet food terms, ranging from “natural” to “human grade,” etc. What advice would you give them to help navigate this maze?
A: Consumers face this with human food too and it’s terribly confusing. The phrases can mean different things in different situations, so it can get pretty complicated. I wouldn’t rely on any of these terms in isolation as a proxy for quality. “Natural” or “Human Grade” could be a marketing gimmick or it could be a true indication of quality. The bottom line is that people can’t rely on these terms to choose a quality food and need to do their own research. Talk to your vet, investigate the manufacturer to see if there is a history of recalls, and shop at stores with knowledgeable staff.

Q: Allergies, obesity, high-maintenance — what are some other special needs of dogs that you’ve addressed in your dog food?
A: A local vet I work with recently told me about a really interesting patient of hers with a food allergy. The dog had a history of biting people and the owner was getting frustrated with the situation. They’d tried working with trainers and behaviorists with no luck. As kind of a last ditch effort, they switched up the food, and almost immediately the biting stopped. If a dog is suffering from a food related condition they cannot always communicate that and will sometimes lash out. An animal’s wellbeing goes far beyond just providing the minimum level of nutrition.

Q: Obesity in dogs is increasing. Is this an owner problem or a dog problem?
A: Diet and lifestyle are the first victims of our busy lifestyles. The solution for obesity in pets is the same as for people; a little less food in the bowl and a lot more exercise. Losing weight can be a great team project for you and your dog; dogs make excellent walking companions. A dog being overweight is really an owner problem because they rely on us to take care of them.

Q: Are you planning on coming out with a line of cat food?
A: Cats and dogs have very different nutritional needs, although we tend to think of them in the same class. Cats are really carnivores and hunters in their natural state, while dogs have been evolving next to humans for the last thousand years and are perfectly designed to steal food off your counter. They require more diverse nutrients and carbohydrates.

Q: Does your dog Sasha get blueberry facials or wear rain slickers?
A: That’s not my thing. I start to get a little worried about dogs that are dressed in silly costumes.

The Well Fed Dog is seeking an Independent Contractor Demo Representative in the Greater Boston area. The Demo Representative will use hands-on tactics to spread the word about our healthy, natural, gently cooked foods for dogs through sampling and dialogue with interested parties.

Projects could include displaying product samples in boutique pet supply stores, engaging dog owners at dog parks, or running a booth a pet event.

The successful contractor should be prepared to:

The ideal candidate must:

The ideal candidate will be a creative self-starter. This opportunity could evolve into a regular full-time ‘sales specialist’ position for the independent contractor who demonstrates excellent results during the course of their projects.

If interested, please email info@wellfeddog.com to tell us why you’d like to be an independent demo contractor for us and to request an application form.

This article is reprinted from the ASPCA website.

Cold Weather Tips

Brrrr—it’s cold outside!  The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tip-top shape.
9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

The “special cuts in gravy with beef” lists the following ingredients: sufficient water for processing, chicken, meat byproducts, wheat flour, beef, etc. Ingredients on a label are listed by weight. So, we know from the label that this can of dog food is mostly water. That’s not a problem on its own. Most canned dog food requires a lot of water for processing and even high quality brands will have water as a first ingredient. What’s more troubling is what comes after the water.

AAFCO defines chicken as the clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken or a combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and entrails. When you think chicken you may think of the boneless skinless breasts and thighs you find in your grocery store. But, note that this makes no claims about the quality of the chicken or the ratio of skin, meat, and bone. A chicken with its breast, thighs, and wings removed for human consumption could be ground up along with its skin and still meet the definition of chicken. Further, there’s no requirement that any of the chicken be fit for human consumption. The reality is that chicken in dog food is made from animals to sick (or dead) for human consumption and whatever scraps are left over after a bird has been picked clean. This chicken is not the best, most nutritious parts of the bird.

Meat by-products are even more disturbing. Meat By-product is the non rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals. It includes, but is not limited to, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue and stomachs and intestines freed of their contents. It does not include hair, horns, teeth and hooves. Note that this is from slaughtered “mammals” it can include a variety of animals; cows, pigs, horses, etc. It also includes, organs, fat, and blood. Now, I don’t know exactly what “partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue” looks like, but I’m pretty sure my grocery store doesn’t carry it. And, this junk is the second most prevalent non-water ingredient in this dog food.

Next comes wheat flour, which is exactly as it sounds. Wheat isn’t bad, per se, or harmful to dogs, but it’s simply not a good choice for a dog. Dogs can have trouble digesting wheat and at the end of the day the nutritional value is pretty limited. There are much much better carbohydrate sources available. But, wheat is cheap, so this manufacturer uses more of it than beef in their food.

The bulk of this can of dog food is water, wheat flour, and stuff that we wouldn’t feed to a dog. Again it comes down to deceptive (albeit legal) marketing practices. Cans of food are described as “good food” or “tasty,” and they’re manufactured by brands we think we can trust, but unless you read beyond the hype you don’t know what your dog is eating. Our dogs add so much joy to our lives and I can’t help but think that they deserve better than this.

The Well Fed Dog Beef and Sweet Potato Dinner is made from Beef, sweet potato, collard greens, beef liver, beef heart, apples, blueberries, carrots, celery, brewer’s yeast, flaxseed, parsley, ginger, cod liver oil, calcium citrate, wheat germ oil. There’s nothing there that you can’t find at your local grocery store. There’s nothing in it that you wouldn’t eat yourself but the recipe is balanced to meet a dog’s unique nutritional needs. None of our ingredients have been “partially defatted” and there is no need for them to be “freed of their contents.” Our dinners are made with real food and our dogs (and their owners) see that as a real benefit.

The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has established model labeling requirements that have been adopted by most states, including Massachusetts.  The requirement is that packaging contain the following eight items; 1) Brand and Product Name, 2) Name of species for with the food is intended, 3)  Quantity Statement, 4) Guaranteed Analysis, 5) Ingredient Statement, 6) Nutritional Adequacy statement, 7) Feeding Directions, and 8) Name and address of Manufacturer or Distributor.   The first three items must be on the front label or Principal Display Panel and these items will be the focus of this article.

On this grocery store label the only required information is Manufactures Name, “Special Cuts in Gravy with beef”, “For Dogs”, and 13.5oz (the size of the can).  The rest of the stuff on the can is marketing information which is subject to less regulation.

At first glance one would assume that this food is special cuts of tender and meaty beef in beef gravy.   The picture, slogan, and tag line all lead you to that conclusion, but you need to look at the ingredients to be sure.  There’s not enough beef in this food for it to be called “special cuts of beef in gravy” so they add the marketing information to confuse the consumer and make them believe that they’re buying something else.

You see, there are certain requirements about what dog food can be called.  An ingredient or combination of ingredients can be used in the name of the food if those ingredients constitute at least 95% of the total weight of the product less water for processing.  So, a hypothetical “Brand X Beef Dog Food” would legally need to be at least 95% beef.  The same ingredient or combination of ingredients can be used in a product name if they total 25% of the weight of food (less water) as long as the descriptor “dinner”, “recipe”, “entrée”, or “formula” is included and their listed in the order of weight.  So, the hypothetical “Brand X Rice and Lamb Formula” tells you that the combination of rice and lamb are at least 25% of the total weight.  It also tells you that there is more rice than lamb in the food.  Finally, the phrase “with (ingredient)” can be used as long as the food contains at least 3% of that ingredient.

This is getting a little technical for a Friday afternoon, but the bottom line is that the “Special Cuts in Gravy with Beef” dog food in question has at least 3% beef in it, probably not much more than that.  But, in spite of the lack of beef the package is a cleverly designed marketing gimmick to trick you into thinking that it’s all beef.   Beef is expensive, even if you’re using beef meal made from parts not fit for human consumption.  Big manufactures can save money on expensive ingredients if they spend it on clever marketing.

At the Well Fed Dog we don’t like marketing gimmicks.  Our labels are intentionally very simple and honest.  Our Beef and Sweet Potato Dinner is about 29% beef.   That’s real beef, too.  We use a combination of eye of round, ground chuck, beef heart, and liver.  We don’t believe in skimping out on the stuff your dog needs most in order to save a buck.

Regardless of what food you buy your dog the most important thing you can do for the health of your pet is read beyond the front of the package.  You need to know what to look for, what the information means, and what to avoid so you don’t get tricked into buying junk food that you wouldn’t feed to a dog.

At 8 cents an ounce it’s a pretty cheap food and since you can get it at the gas station as well as the grocery store it’s certainly easy to find. It sure looks nice and sounds good and healthy. So, why wouldn’t you feed it to your dog? It’s dog food, and that’s what dogs should eat, right? It says beef right on the label, they can’t call it beef if it’s not mostly beef, right? And, what could be more reassuring that “homestyle?”

So, with these questions in mind, I read the ingredients list: Water sufficient for processing, poultry, meat by-products, wheat gluten, beef, soy flour, corn starch-modified, plus 23 other ingredients. Legally, ingredients must be listed by weight, so the first thing that jumps out at me is that this food is mostly water, 80% according to the crude analysis. Then, I said to myself “Where’s the beef?” It’s fifth on the list, but it’s one of the biggest words on the label. How can this be?

With 30 ingredients, and things like corn starch-modified, and wheat gluten this food doesn’t sound like something I would describe as home style. I have trouble believing that “meat by-products” really make for a “prime” food.  And, there’s barely any beef in it.

Reading labels can be very confusing, and it doesn’t help that manufactures intentionally make their labels misleading. Over the next few weeks we’ll discuss in more detail the information (and misinformation) on a label, what actually goes into all those ingredients, and how you can tell the good food from the bad. I think we, as dog owners, need to remember that we’re not just buying “dog food,” we’re buying food for our dogs. As a general rule I figure that I probably shouldn’t eat anything I can buy at the gas station, the same rule of thumb applies to my dog as well. Hopefully, we can shed some more light on the subject and help you make the best choice for your dog.

I’m thankful for my dog Sasha. I didn’t realize when I met Sasha seven years ago what a huge impact she would have on my life. Without her, I would never have conceived of The Well Fed Dog. Last weekend we took her to our favorite beach on Cape Cod where she spent an hour roughhousing in the surf and sand with an eight month old coonhound mix. Even at eight years old she has the spirit and energy of a puppy (although she loves a good nap too).

I’m thankful that there are people like MSPCA Law Enforcement Officer Martha Parkhurst. Officer Parkhurst investigated the case of a cat named Brady who had been beaten so viciously with a broomstick that he had to be euthanized. As a result of her efforts the abuser has been sentenced to prison. MSPCA law enforcement officers face horrible situations every day and I’m extremely grateful for their efforts in protecting the weakest members of our society.

I’m so happy to be a part of the Cold Noses Foundation. As a small, all-volunteer organization we’re able to keep our overhead low and get a larger portion of our donations to the people who have the biggest impact. Out dedicated team has raised money for local, national, and international organizations which allows them to spend less time worrying about finances and more time doing the work that matters. I couldn’t be more proud of our foundation and the work that we do.

I cannot adequately express my gratitude to our customers. I am very mindful of the trust you place in us when feeding your dogs and we are so very grateful to have the opportunity to provide these members of your family with the most nutritious and delicious food available. We rely so much on word of mouth and personal recommendations and appreciate what you have done to help us grow our business.

Finally, and most of all, I’m thankful that I have a family who have supported me and The Well Fed Dog. My wife, Laurie, has been behind this idea from the beginning. She’s been an amazing advisor, consultant, and cheerleader; all while juggling her own career and writing her second book. Without the love and support of my wife and daughter The Well Fed Dog could never succeed.

http://blogs.roanoke.com/thehappywag

the deep drifts.  It’s important to remember that winter can be dangerous too, so we’ve compiled our top ten list of winter safety tips to help you keep winter fun.

1. Keep your dog on a leash. More dogs are lost during the winter than during the summer months. Why? Because the snow can cover up the familiar scents and prevent the dog from smelling its way back home.

2. Make sure your dog’s tags are up to date and on the collar. Those tags don’t do any good if they’re in the junk drawer. If your dog slips out you want to make it easy for a good Samaritan to get him back home. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found a dog wandering along the road and tried to call the owner only to find that the number on the tag is out of date. It puts both the dog and the person who finds it in a very difficult situation.

3. Wipe your dog down after your walk. Pay close attention to her paws and belly. Chemical ice melts can burn the pads of your dog’s feet, and ice trapped between the toes can damage her skin.

4. Don’t leave your dog in the car. This is never a good idea, but in the winter cold it can be deadly. Don’t assume that the car will provide shelter from the elements. Cars can trap the cold and expose your dog to hypothermia or death.

5. Make sure you include your dog in your storm preparations. Be sure to have extra food and water for your pets as well as yourself. If you live in a flood area or could go without power for several days make sure you have a plan for your dog too.

6. Make sure your dog has a warm place to sleep. I prefer an old comforter. Comforters are nice because they’re big enough for a dog

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to make a nice nest; they also smell like you which can be comforting to your dog. There are tons of options available when it comes to dog beds; the most important thing is to give your dog a place off the floor and away from drafts.

7. Brush your dog more often. Brushing helps keep the fur and the skin healthy. It also helps to get rid of any nasty chemicals or dirt that your dog picks up on your walks.

8. Remember that anti-freeze is toxic. Clean up any spills right away.

9. Watch out for toxic human foods around the holidays. With thanksgiving just around the corner it’s a good idea to remind yourself of which human foods are toxic to dogs. If you’re hosting remember to keep food out of your dog’s reach. Sasha is particularly fond of brie and bacon. We’ve learned this lesson the hard way although thankfully neither brie nor bacon is dangerous to your dog (although there might be a little stomach upset if your dog isn’t used to a varied diet).

10. Feed your dog a little more at meal time, especially high quality proteins. Keeping warm takes energy. High quality foods will provide a better more efficient source of energy to keep your dog healthy and warm. If you’re looking to boost your dog’s food and protein intake give me a call. We can help.

If you have any tips you’d like to add post a comment

There have been no deaths linked to these brands and the recalls affect a relatively small pool of products. These are voluntary recalls and I want to stress that I believe the companies in question are acting ethically and appropriately by issuing these recalls. These companies did the right thing by proactively taking steps to correct the problem, rather than continuing with business as usual.

However, there is a larger issue here than the fact that contaminated food was released for consumption. The larger issue is the feeling among pet food producers, regulators, and, judging from their buying habits, consumers too, that our pets are entitled to something that is less than our best.

When I look at the price of dog food I simply cannot accept that quality food can cost 88 cents a pound. Next time you go to the grocery store take a look at the prices and think about what you could feed yourself or your kids for 88 cents per pound. It wouldn’t be very healthy, I can assure you of that. Then, take a look at the ingredients in your dog’s food. Ground corn as the primary ingredient? Chicken by-product? Animal fat preserved with mixed tocopherols (form of vitamin E)… that’s not food in my book!

When I was a child I spent most of my summers on my grandparents’ farm. I ate apples and cherries right from the trees. I grew up watching cows grazing in the pasture. I watched my father and grandfather bale hay. My grandfather and my uncles had great respect for their land, their animals, and the people they were feeding. I grew up with the understanding that food… good food… real food takes time, love, and hard work.

At The Well Fed Dog, we put these same values into our food. We make our food… real, honest, healthy food… in small batches with the same love and care we use when cooking for our families. We don’t use any grains or fillers or animal byproducts. No artificial colors or flavors or synthetic vitamins. That’s not food! And, we respect our customers (both human and canine) too much to settle for something less than our best.