gourmet dog

I always oppose package food or process food, however, our lives is so busy that baking our own ham is literally impossible, so some process food is ok in my book, such as baked ham or salami. I do not have the facility to air dry my own salami but good news is one of Victor's friend from Connecticut makes his own salami once a year and cure at his basement, lucky me to be able to put in my order every spring.

When it comes to dog food, I feel no dog in the world should eat the same food every day and night, I strongly suggest to make your dog human food with supplement such as multi-vitamin and chewy bones for its dental health. Now the difficulty comes when I have my own dog, I wish I could give Samson my food everyday, realistically it won't work because if I travel somewhere, Samson would need to eat dry food in a boarding or doggy day care facility. To feed Samson all human food now would create potential problem later.

But he wasn't responding well to the Science Diet I chose for him, the food bowl can stay there full for 5 hours untouched. I decided to make a change, after consulting my friends with dog, I was recommended Nature's recipe.

I feed Samson all dry food in the morning, mix with a little hot water to make it warm. 2 nights ago, I cooked a big pot of shredded pork, jasmine rice, pea and carrot, chopped spinach, egg white (left over from using all the yolk for ginger bread cookie dough) and celery chopped fine with some chicken broth and water. Samson possibly knows I was cooking for him, stood right next to my feet while I was cooking that big pot of his wet food.

I saved a quart in the refrigerator for the next 3 days, the rest I divided in small portion and freeze it, I could use a small package and heat it up in the microwave later on whenever I want it.

At night, I feed Samson half of the wet food I cooked and half of the store-bought dry food, he loves it! I also mix 1/8 of a teaspoon of vitamin C powder in his dinner. I noticed a difference in his coat, suddenly the coat becomes very shiny.

I also added equal part of shredded beef at the wet food before I heat it up at the microwave, so there is plenty of protein from the meat source, carbon hydrate from the rice and fiber / minerals from the veggie. Many dog owners was told switching their dog's diet would create diarrhea and upset stomach, Samson seems very ok with the switch, he did not have this problem and seems very happy to eat human food than one dry dog food fits all style.

His all time favourite is my gingerbread man, once I take it out from the cookie jug, his eyes would not leave my hand! Second favourite is Victor's gluten free honey cake, Samson would chase Victor inside the house for the crumb of that homemade honey cake! Too much sugar is no good for dog or human, indulge a little bit is ok for all of us; the less harmful sweet form for dogs are honey, natural brown sugar and molasses. (not for puppy though)

As a shelter dog, one won't imagine Samson is also a cheese connoisseur; his tail would waggle in a very fast pace when he smells Jarlsberg, Parmigiana Reggiano, Mozzarella, Provolone or sharp Cheddar....literally any cheeses.

Perhaps one day Samson could become a dog-food critics, telling other dogs what is good to eat what is not! That'd be funny!