Do you worry if you’re feeding your dog a good diet?
The more I know about dogs and nutrition, the more I worry about what I’m feeding my dogs. I want to do the best I can with their nutrition for several reasons.
- I want my dogs to live as long as possible.
- I want my dogs to be healthy and happy — I know nutrition is the foundation for a good, long life.
- I don’t want my dogs eating by-products, fillers, GMO grains, or preservatives.
- I eat well — I think my dogs should, too!
I’ve been fooling around with different food choices for my dogs for the past few years.
I tried our oldest Labrador, Lily, on a raw diet, but found it inconvenient when we were traveling, it was messy, and it was quite expensive. I’ve had Tango on a veterinary food for his arthritis, but I didn’t love the ingredients (by products, grains). And Nemo’s been on kibble his entire life.
To be honest, feeding each dog a different food was getting exhausting, not to mention that our pantry was taken over by bags of dog food. Leaaving the pet sitter with all the different foods and instructions wasn’t any fun either and was more complicated than I felt necessary.
Enter The Honest Kitchen (THK).
I’d run into them at a conference trade show a few years ago. I got to know them and their product. I read up on who they were and how they made their food. After about six months of data collection, I decided to make a test-feeding to see if (1) I liked feeding it to the dogs (2) if I was satisfied by the quality, and naturally (3) if my dogs liked it.
I’ve been blown away by the The Honest Kitchen and their products.
I’m a picky feeder. I have high standards. When a company is pickier than me, well, I take notice. THK is pickier. A lot pickier.
They sent a sample 2-pound box of their food Force, a chicken based dehydrated food product.
I fed Tango and Lily Force and they loved it.
What do I love about it?
- No grains
- All natural
- No fillers
- No preservatives
- No GMO ingredients
- FREE RANGE chicken (!)
- FDA certified that the ingredients are human grade and the processing and packaging are human grade
- Easy to feed — just mix with water!
- Convenient
- Healthy
THK doesn’t just make good, high-quality dog food. They live it.
I can’t decide what I like more, that they make excellent food or that they care so much about pet nutrition. I mean, I think I’d buy from any company that produced a high-quality, all natural food, but THK does that one better because healthy pets are the core of who they are and it’s why they do what they do. I identify with that passion because it’s that same passion that pushed me to start Smart Dog University.
They have a nice cookbook with recipes that you and your dog can share, as well as recipes just for your dog. I’ve been working my way through the cookbook and will be bringing you some videos and recipes from their creation in future blog posts.
Click here to get your own sample pack (for dogs or cats, your choice) for just $1 from THK.
Talk back!
What is your dog’s favorite real food treat?
Tango loves apples, tomatoes, and cukes, for instance. Leave a comment below and tell me what your dog loves!
At 5p (EDT) on June 6, 2014, I’ll randomly select a commenter to receive a free 2-pound box of THK Force food! All you have to do is leave a comment!
Only U.S. residents are eligible to enter due to shipping restrictions. THK sent me a free sample box to try, along with the cookbook, and information about their product. I wasn’t otherwise compensated to write this post and the opinions expressed are my own. I will always report honest opinions on products I use and love regardless of compensation (or more likely, LACK of compensation)!
I’m a huge fan of THC. I feed Love, Beams, Wishes and Ice Pups.
They’re great, THK, don’t you think!? I haven’t tried everything they make yet, but everything I’ve tried have exceeded my expectations.
Wow great article! I will have to check it out for Baxter. Baxter loves red peppers! I cut them up almost every night for his snack. He enjoys cucumbers, apples, carrots and strawberries, but peppers are his favorite. I also was looking for a cool treat for him during the summers and found this recipe for dog smoothies that I make a few times a year 🙂
http://brettwinn.hubpages.com/hub/Homemade-Frozen-Dog-Treats
Yum, I think I like all your dog’s faves, too! 🙂
Great information, Laurie! Will definitely need to check them out — I have some food allergies in the house, so am a dedicated label-reader.
Yeah, I’ve been impressed so far with them.
Kate, you’re the winner of the random drawing! I’ll get your information to The Honest Kitchen!
Yay!! Thank you for the opportunity, Laurie! I think you have my address and phone number, but let me know if you need anything else. Thanks again! I’m so excited for my pups!
Yes, I have your address! I gave it to the nice folks at THK at the beginning of the week. I don’t know how quickly you’ll see it, but it should be within in the next week or so, I’d think. Enjoy! 🙂
My 2 dogs love raw baby carrots, oranges, apples plus peanut butter & pumpkin or yogurt frozen in a kong.
My guys are on-board with all your dogs’ favorites *except* those baby carrots! They chew them up and then spit them all out! 🙂 But they’ll eat them if they’re cooked. Yes, I love stuffing Kongs for my dogs, too! Your dogs have it good, they’re lucky pups!
Thank you for the introduction to the Honest Kitchen! I have been on a mission to find the best food for my 6# Chihuahua. His favorite dog treat is from a local St Louis company who produces a “human grade organic dog treat,” so I’m excited to try a food with the same high standard in pet nutrition. Riley loves the raw pumpkin I add to his supper every night.
Hi Mary, like I said, I stumbled upon The Honest Kitchen at a conference. I’m so glad I did! I love that so many people are interested in feeding their dogs high quality food!