We switched our 2 boys to raw from kibble about 6 months ago. The switch came because we were simply exhausted from walking them 3 times a day because they had loose stool (we don't have fenced in yard, so we need to walk them to go to the bathroom). Our vet recommended more fiber in their diet to help with loose stool. This intuitively just didn't resonate with us. Basenji are one of the most ancient breeds of dog… why on earth would more fiber be a solution to their problem (I know the theoretical why, but logically it was counter-intuitive)? We read many sources or literature on the raw diet and thought this would be a good switch for them. Again, they are an ancient breed so moving toward raw foods seemed appropriate and logical. It took that about a month for them to get really accustomed to eating raw chicken quarters, rabbit halves or pork shoulders but now they have no problem gulping their meal right down, bone and all (for those of you who don't feed raw, gulping is a normal behavior and bone is an essential part of the diet). Their digestion issues have vanished and we've even seen marked improvement in their destructive behavior. Two super happy boys now, two super happy Basenji owners!!
Happy Dog Food
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Recently, I have been trying out some alternatives to my dog's evening canned food since at $2 a can it adds up pretty quickly. Last week while at the Davis Food Co-op, I found a food called Happy Dog, http://www.happydogfood.com/ and decided to give it try. I tried the small Original formula and added ground chicken that they sell at the Co-op. Last week when I made it Nicky was the only one making a fuss while they had to wait for it to cook and then cool This week all four are going nuts because they know it is their dinner that is cooking and they apparently want it NOW!!!
I haven't tried their Express or Grain Free formulas yet but probably will after I am done with this batch of Original. So far the dogs are all doing very well on it and they obviously like it. I can make a large batch of it and then separate it into smaller portions and freeze it to pull out as needed. So if anyone is looking for an easy homemade food you may want to give this a try.
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I highly recommend a long walk with the dogs while the food cools because mine are constantly asking, "Is it done yet? Are you sure it isn't done yet? I think it might be done."
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Thanks for giving me some ideas as to what to swith my dogs raw diet up with. I like what I have read so far, I might have to try it out..
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lvoss: "I highly recommend a long walk with the dogs while the food cools because mine are constantly asking, "Is it done yet? Are you sure it isn't done yet? I think it might be done."
I don't have to be "cooking" anything for Gossy - she jumps around asking those same questions when I'm making anything - even when it's "my" food.
