Rick Woodford - Feed Your Best Friend Better, Revised Edition: Easy, Nutritious Meals and Treats for Dogs

Feed Your Best Friend Better, th Anniversary Edition

copyright 2021 by Rick Woodford. Photography copyright 2012 by Alicia Dickerson Griffith. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews.

Andrews McMeel Publishing

a division of Andrews McMeel Universal

1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106

www.andrewsmcmeel.com

ISBN: - - 5248 - 7637-1

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021940156

Photography by Alicia Dickerson Griffith, www.fourleggedphoto.com

Images on : Getty Images

Editor: Samantha Jones

Art Director: Holly Swayne

Production Editor: Meg Daniels

Production Manager: Carol Coe

The information contained in this book is not intended to replace regular visits with a qualified veterinarian or to diagnose deficiencies or diseases in your pet. Before starting your pet on a special diet or supplementing your pets food, always check with your veterinarian about your pets specific needs. The information and recipes in this book are intended to benefit dogs as part of a healthy diet in conjunction with veterinary supervision, and while every effort was made to assure that the information and recipes are nutritionally sound and balanced for dogs, the author and publisher are not liable for any adverse effects your dog may experience while on these diets.

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To Jackson, my best friend

Theres a whining at the threshold,

Theres a scratching at the floor,

To work! To work! In Heavens name!

The wolf is at the door!

C. P. S. Gilman

Contents

Foreword

For fifteen thousand years, dogs and humans have kindled a deep relationship like no other pairing on the planet. At the center of that relationship is food. Feeding our dogs every day is part of the unwritten, unspoken deal weve made in return for their protection, their aid in hunting and herding, and, for most of us nowadays, their companionship. We love to feed our dogs, and our dogs love to eat.

As we uphold our end of the bargain, we have many choices in what and how we feed our furry friends, just as we have choices for ourselves. Our lifestyles, budgets, health consciousness, and culinary ambitions all influence what we put into the food bowls and on our plates. What Rick Woodford has done with this book is to provide a carefully researched and kitchen-tested group of canine recipes and guidelines for people who love to cook.

For those who are pressed for time or worried about diving into a home-prepared diet headfirst, Rick helps us choose top-quality commercial diets to act as a nutritionally balanced foundation. Then the fun really begins. Ahead of you and your best friend are dozens of tasty, wholesome meals, each full of fresh and nutritious ingredients. Rick goes beyond merely inventing yummy meals for our dogs. He understands the responsibility we take on when we choose the ingredients that go into our pets food, and provides guidance to avoid some of the pitfalls that can accompany feeding an unbalanced homemade food for a prolonged time.

As a holistic veterinarian, I have witnessed firsthand the healing power of food, whether commercial or homemade, that has been prepared in a mindful, loving way. Its important to seek the advice of your veterinarian if your dog does not seem to be thriving on the food youre preparing; if your dog seems to be doing great, yearly exams and blood work are still important, especially if feeding any home-prepared food regularly.

Feeding your dog should be a joyful experience for both you and your dog. With the help of the following pages, you can nurture not only the chef within and the health of your dog but also the bond between you and your best friend. Enjoy!

Nancy Curran

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Two Rivers Veterinary Clinic, PC

Introduction

My Best Friend, Jackson

Jackson and I had shared an apartment for three months by the time our first April 14 rolled around. When I opened the door, we both ran to one another, happy to be reunited after an eight-hour shift at work; mine building databases and analyzing data, Jacksons loudly guarding the house from the comfort of my bed. When being interviewed by Jacksons former owners, I was surprised to learn that his birthday was the same as mine: April 14. On our first birthday together, a package arrived from my mom, and our birthday gifts were inside. Holding the box, I let Jackson tear off the brown paper wrapping, and then I examined the contents: a toy for Jackson to tear apart, and a dog food cookbook for me. The book was entertaining, and it seemed like a nice idea to cook for your dog, but it was soon moved to a bookshelf and never opened again. After all, dogs eat dog food, right?

At five years old, Jackson was still a terror on walks and mischievous when unsupervised. One of his parents had been a Belgian Malinois, and that part of his heritage made Jackson a fierce protector and intelligent student. The other parent must have been a Labrador Retriever; inside the house Jackson was playful and loving. His genetic mlange somehow left Jackson with ears that were ridiculously small for his shrunken apple head that was also too small for his body. Still, he was adorable, and his playful antics charmed everyone who met him.

I had wanted a dog because my life as a bachelor left me feeling lonely, and continually opening the door to an empty house was repetitively disappointing. The moment Jackson arrived, life changed. We raced one another to a nearby lagoon before work and took long walks around the neighborhood after dinner. I would hide and Jackson would try to find me, or Id hide a toy for a game of Find It! When we werent playing tug-of-war with the empty hide of a stuffed animal, school was in session and Jackson learned to turn on a lamp, close doors, and retrieve items for me. I took Jackson everywhere, and hundreds of miles under tennis shoes and paws transformed our relationship from being just roommates to being best friends.

Three years into our friendship, I noticed a small bump on Jacksons neck. Probably another bee sting, I told myself. A couple of weeks later, the bump was a bit larger. A series of appointments and tests earned us a referral to an oncologist. We began turning back to the house after walking only a few blocks, and our runs stopped altogether. Jacksons appetite disappeared and he spent days lying in his bed, not wanting to be bothered with food or walks. It seemed as though he had three paws in the grave and I was desperately holding onto the fourth.