I'll admit it, I'm a junk food junkie! I love anything that's been deep fried, even though I know that I won't be feeling my best shortly afterwards. That post-junk food slump hits me hard, but for some reason that doesn't prevent me from eating it. Donuts for breakfast? Yes, please! I don't let myself do that every day though, because I don't like the way it makes me feel. I try to eat healthy most of the time so that I can afford the occasional binge.
I handle my dog's diet the same way - they get a good quality kibble - I use Whole Dog Journal to help me choose one, and I add salmon oil to help with their skin & coat, and glucosamine for my older dog. I do this for a few reasons - one, I want them to live long, healthy lives, and I figure that good food is an important part of that. Another reason I do it is because I know that the way I feel and behave is directly connected to what I eat, and I suspect it's the same for dogs.
I also give them a few tablespoons of canned food with each meal because I like to give them a little variety (I wouldn't want to eat the same meal every day), and I want to give them an incentive to eat their food immediately because it helps me to plan their bathroom breaks. I don't want my dogs chowing down on a bowl of food at 9 pm and waking me in the middle of the night because they need to potty!
One other thing to consider is food allergies - many food allergies will manifest in the form of skin and coat issues, and I know that a dog who's itchy may also be irritable, and that's when the trainer gets called in! Pay close attention to what you feed your dog and the impact on his skin, his coat, his behavior. Discuss it with your vet and ask for recommendations, and never discount the value of a healthy diet!
