If you are one of the lucky ones, you will be enjoying holiday meals with friends and relatives, replete with scrumptious dishes, as you celebrate the seasonal tradition of family gathering in the coming weeks. While Fido may get a few scraps, I would venture a guess that most of us devote only a tiny fraction of the time spent preparing our own food on our dogs' food.

I have often heard people comment about how invested in food dogs are, and I have to agree that food is generally a huge priority for most dogs. It is, of course, vital to their survival as well as an important part of the way they define their hierarchical structure. On the other hand, the energy that dogs and animals in general devote to the procurement of “culinary delights” pales in comparison to what we humans invest. I happen to be a bit of a food fanatic myself!

Personally I love to cook, eat and share time with my folks over food as much as anything else in life. I especially relish the feeling of food being both tasty and nutritious/healthy at the same time. I am lucky to live in a community where food is an important “ingredient” in the recipe of our social interaction. I have learned a lot from the people in our area who have dedicated themselves to the raising of enriching crops for the community: Frog Holler Farm, The Community Farm, Tantre Farm, Gardenworks and Renaisance Acres to name just a few stalwart devotees. Over the years I have extended this food awareness, to which I was fortunate enough to be exposed in my own life, into my feeding practices with my dogs.

I do recall, in my younger days, hitchhiking cross country with my canine companion “Chamois,” pronounced “Shammy”. She wore a backpack I had made for her out of a couple of strong sticks, some leather lacing and two canvas money bags — you know, the kind people use (or at least used to use) for bank deposits. The pack was designed to carry five pounds of the cheapest kibble I could find and one box of milkbones.

I was of the mindset that the kibble and an occasional milkbone was all that Chamois needed to be a healthy dog. As a result, Chamois struggled with perpetual skin issues that manifested in hotspots, loss of fur, itching and irritation. It was an on going nightmare for both of us for a few years. It's not so much that the food was causing the problem, I believe, as that her body lacked the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy constitution. After four years of Prednisone and frustration I happened to stumble upon a book that changed the way that I viewed health for my dogs... forever: "Natural Health For Dogs and Cats" by Richard Pitcairn and Susan Hubble Pitcairn.

The book inspired me to take more seriously the responsibility of providing good food for my dog. It also inspired me to embrace the fact that dogs thrive on a variety of foods, including many vegetables and fruits, and that minimal processing of foods renders a more vital product.

A gradual, but pretty drastic, change in diet, along with some herbals baths for a period of time, resulted in a permanent cure for Chamois' skin agony and liberated her from the Prednisone. The health of her coat and physical vigor was greater when she was 8 years old than when she was 3.

Since those days I have continued to develop my cookbook of simple wholesome recipes for the dogs and cats that I have cared for. Without going off the deep end as far as cost, I have managed to combine the provision of a high quality kibble with my own healthy enhancers, much to the benefit of my pets. And, I believe, I've circumvented some potential vet bills.

As far as cost goes, I know that sometimes our budgets will not allow for all of the healthiest, highest quality foods for our dogs. I have had to find my own personal balance of what's reasonably affordable and what's healthy for my dogs. Even though I don't always have time or money to make homemade raw food (like I would if I won the lottery), I try to include some fresh meats and veggies as often as I can, and a few supplements, with the backdrop of a good quality kibble.

Along with the Pitcairn book I mentioned earlier here are some other resources for advancing your own knowledge:

Books:

• "The Pet Lover's Guide to Natural Healing for Cats and Dogs," by Barbara Fougere

Pet stores in this area that specialize in healthy food:

• Green Pawz
• Dogma Catmantoo
• Mantis

Vets in this area that specialize in diet:

• John Smith of Petcare Animal Clinic, a.k.a. “The Dog Doctor”

Focusing extra energy on your dog's diet is yet another task to add to your probably already-full plate, if you're busy like most people I know. But it can be so rewarding when you look at your dog and see a shiny coat, clean teeth and vibrancy. Not to mention, dogs who eat healthy and get adequate exercise smell better too!

John Spieser is a professional dog trainer and owner of Dogheart. He can be reached at john@doghearta2.com.