Dogs are carnivores. Just like wolves.
12 000 years ago hunter-gatherers in what is now Israel placed a body in a grave with its hand cradling a pup. There's no way of knowing whether it's a wolf or a dog, but the proof remains clear: we already kept these canines as pets.
The rest of the dog's history isn't as clear. What they do know is that wolves started living closer and closer to human settlements because they grew spoilt on the food found on the garbage dumps. Dogs started their relationship with humans when they started eating crap.
Dogs are carnivores. According to their DNA, dogs are descendent from wolves and while humans have succeeded in changing almost everything about dogs, we haven't been able to change their digestive systems.
Dogs have the exact same digestive system as wolves: a very short digestive tract with strong concentrations of stomach acid and scissor-like teeth**. Wolves live a carnivorous lifestyle. They kill and eat live prey. Rabbit, fowl, small antelope, rats, mice, birds, etc.** Because dogs have the same digestive tract and the same teeth, it's logical that if they are to live a natural lifestyle, they need to eat like they would naturally.
To eat naturally, dogs need a variety of sources of meat. We can't necessarily give them live prey to catch and kill (their mother never taught them how to do that), but we can try to mimic the nutrition they would get from their natural diet. Dogs were made to eat meat, bones and organs. That's it. They aren't omnivores - they can survive on kibble and processed foods just like humans can live on fast foods and soft drinks. What happens to humans who live that way? They start having health problems by the time they are forty years old. What's forty in dog years?
I don't want that for my dog. Or for myself. I don't want to spend lots of money at the vet. I don't want a dog who struggles to get up when he's just 8 years old. I want one who can still play fetch when he's 10 or 15 or 20! I'm not saying that a raw, natural diet can guarantee that, but it will sure help to know that I did my best for my dog.
Think of it this way: if you could stick to such a healthy diet yourself, wouldn't you? This is the best diet for dog because it's the best diet for wolves. Our domestic canines might be tame and loving, but their tummies are still like a wolf's.
We can't feed our little wolves on biscuits, dry food and wet mush. They will start to have skin problems. They will start to get too fat or they won't pick up any weight at all. They might (if your dogs are like mine) stop eating altogether.
Feeding a raw, species-appropriate diet might not make a profit for anyone, but it's the best way to go for our pets. Any fresh, raw food that a dog can chew is better than food that they gulp down. Less changes of bloat. Less changes of obesity. They get mental stimulation from chewing too - dogs were made to chew meat and bones! It's a challenge for them and great for their development.
All of the puppies that come out of Solange d'Orio Biewers are raised on a natural, raw diet and we strongly advocate this type of diet to anyone interested in our puppies. We want what is best for our dogs and based on science, logic and many years of experience, the prey model raw diet is the best diet there is for dogs.
You want more reasons? Okay. Let's do a case study. Mauzer is a 13 year old Labrador Retriever from a backyard breeder. Mauzer came to our family as my sister's 12 year birthday present from my parents. Before Mauzer I never knew that I loved dogs, he's that awesome. He loved to eat and he would often wake my parents during the night by eating the kibble outside their bedroom wall.
Mauzer was obese by the time he was 2 years old. He had arthritis by the time he was five and he no longer wanted to run or play with us. None of us knew any better and we kept leaving kibble outside for the dogs to eat when they want. By the time Mauzer was 10, he struggled to stand up and he always had health and skin problems. He had a hot spot on his front leg for years! We didn't think he would get this old.
I took Mauzer in when I moved into a house with a garden and I put him on a diet. He lost 20 kg that year. Three years later, he is thirteen years old and he still runs in the park. He no longer has his hearing and his sight is going too, but he still loves crunching down on chicken quarters. He doesn't have skin problems anymore and his flea allergy cleared up by itself. I gave him a whole chicken for his thirteenth birthday.
All dogs share the same DNA and they have the same digestive system, whether it's a Labrador, wolf or a Biewer a'la Pom Pon. If you don't believe me, try the prey model raw diet for your own dogs and prove me wrong. I dare you.
** check!