With such a huge range of different diets available for dogs, how do you choose which to feed? Dr Jacqueline Boyd advises.

“Dogs and have lived side-by-side for tens of thousands humans of years.”

Whatever you decide to feed, make sure your dog enjoys it!

ABOUT JACQUELINE Dr Jacqueline Boyd is an animal scientist and humane education specialist with a passion for applying and sharing scientific knowledge to improve animal health and welfare. She has five ‘multi-purpose’ Cocker Spaniels who do cani-cross, agility, gundog work, and heelwork to music.

What did you feed your dog for his last meal? Was it a pre-prepared, commercial diet or was it carefully home-cooked? Perhaps it was out of a tin, or maybe it consisted of raw, fresh ingredients, lovingly arranged in his bowl?

If you venture into the dog food section of your local pet shop or supermarket, you will be surrounded by a huge array of dog food options, from dry to baked, tinned to frozen, and a whole range in-between. You might even be tempted by vegetarian, vegan, or even insect-based varieties of food!

But why is there such a range of options? And how do you choose what is best for you and your dog? Let’s explore different diets and help you decide what fits best for your dog’s needs and lifestyle, as well as your own.

A SHARED DIET

Dogs and humans have lived side-by-side for tens of thousands of years. During this time, food has been shared between us. The early ancestors of our modern dogs would fend for themselves, eating leftovers, waste, and scraps from human settlements. Occasionally, dogs were fed deliberately and benefited from any excess food from successful hunts.