Welcome!

Moms, and others, who love dogs! I am a life-long dog lover. I have had several dogs join my family over the years. They bring us such joy, emotional support, love and ultimately such loss when they pass. I am an avid fan of many Facebook groups involving Great Pyrenees, my current dog child. However, I love all dogs. I have had ‘Heinz 57’ breeds, Old English Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds, English Springer Spaniel, Irish Setter, Sheltie, and now our big baby, Blanco the almost 9 year old Great Pyrenees.

I didn’t start with dogs however. As a 5 year old, I asked Santa for a kitten. I got a beautiful little tiger kitty and loved her so much. She disappeared around the time my parents divorced and I was told she had died. Years later, I learned she was pregnant, had a litter and was given away. My Grandmother kept one of the kittens for her farm. Adults can be so strange, and cruel.

Anyway I did have other cats in my family, but they tend to be more independent and less interested in the people around them, unless they want you, so dogs!

My Mom used to tell me how our Australian Shepherd, Baxter, looked so much like her Border Collie when she was growing up, Scottie. Who lived to be 17 by the way. Baxter was her favorite. Blanco, not so much. Too big for her when she was in her late 80’s and early 90’s. I think he scared her and she felt he might trip her. Most GP’s won’t move even if you are walking over them. But, sometimes….

So I’ve been on a mission lately to find the best food for Blanco. I want him to be healthy, and live as long as he is able to and continue to enjoy activity. I read about how dry dog food are often processed creating carcinogens in our dogs which is why, I’m guessing, the rate of cancer in dogs age 10+ is much more common than it used to be. I also read they often put diseased or dead animals into the dog food as it is not regulated. Yuck. That can’t be good.

So here’s what I’ve tried and I would love feedback from anyone trying similar or other fresh foods, or who make their own dog food. I first tried Farmer’s dog food. Blanco loved it! For a week. Then he got so he wouldn’t eat it at all. Ok, so I tried Ollie and again he really loved it, then stopped eating it. So I paused it, got some Freshpet food and he seemed to be more consistent with it. I have interspersed it with the Ollie as well as dry food that claims it is only made of healthy foods (?)

I know there are lots more out there, but I don’t want to keep changing what I feed him which I guess can be confusing and upsetting to his system as well. So anyone with experience with other fresh foods, or making your own (which I did try but failed at miserably)?