Is it OK to feed dogs table scraps?
24 Nov, 2016
When we are having a meal in our house, the dogs are expected to stay on their beds and not beg at the table. However, even from across the room, I feel the big brown eyes boring into me as I approach the end of my meal. Our routine is to “reward” the dogs with something from our plates for staying on their beds. The dogs are never keen when I offer something because it is usually a piece of carrot, bean or broccoli… but Dad always keeps a piece of meat for them – so you can guess who the favourite is at the end of a meal?
This routine works really well when it is just us and the dogs but when guests arrive, there is no resisting the brown eyes or the sad face that says “I have never been fed”. Guests quite happily share their food with the dogs, despite my protestations of “please don’t feed the dogs”.
So should I just chill out and let the dogs have tidbits from the table? With the festive season fast approaching, I guess this is something that many of us have to deal with.
Here are my do’s and don’ts on feeding table scraps.
- Don’t allow guests to feed the dog from the table unless you are OK with your dog being around the table when you are eating. I think it is grossly unfair on dogs to sometimes insist they stay on their beds when you eat and other times to reward them for being off their beds and begging at the table.
- Do keep a container to store table scraps, instead of feeding the dog at the table. You can add the appropriate amount of table scraps to your dog’s normal meal.
- Do keep small containers of healthy treats (see http://www.fullstride.com.au/blog/what-are-the-best-dog-treats) handy for your guests to treat your dogs, if they want.
- Do feed only healthy table scraps. I include leftover vegetables, meat (not bones or fat), fish, legumes, eggs, pasta, rice, and cous cous to my dogs’ meals. You can also add vegetable peelings and raw meat off cuts, so nothing is wasted.
- Don’t feed fatty, salty, alcoholic, caffeinated or flavoured table scraps. Avoid gravy, sauces, dressing, fatty offcuts from meat, old and rancid oil, desserts, cake, dairy (cheese) or food with flavours and preservatives.
- Do only feed table scraps as up to 5 – 10% of your dog’s diet (particularly if you feed commercial dog food as it can easily be unbalanced). If your dog is prone to being overweight or has other health conditions including pancreatitis or food allergies, then it is wise to avoid feeding table scraps.
For more information about formulating a nutritious diet for your dog or tips on teaching your dog to stay on their mat at dinnertime, please contact me at jlconlon@fullstride.com.au.
Sources
Billinghurst, I (1993), Give your dog a bone:the practical common sense way to feed dogs for a long and healthy life, Warrigal Publishing, Bathurst NSW.