Tag: puppy

A Legacy of Healthy Pups Requires Nutrition They Can Trust

Posted on July 9, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
An interior infographic detailing various facts about breeding dog nutrition.

The Matthews family knows a thing or two about pet nutrition.

When your family motto is “Work hard, play hard,” and part of that work and a lot of that play involves multiple litters of goldendoodles at a time, you need to make sure that everyone — especially those on four legs — is happy and healthy. You need nutrition you can rely on and trust.

The Matthews have been breeding goldendoodles for several years, and they’ve relied upon Taste of the Wild since day one. McKinley Mantell and her sister, Tori Matthews, got a pet goldendoodle, Dixie, 12 years ago — way before goldendoodles were a wildly popular breed. Dixie gave McKinley and Tori a passion for the breed, and that passion became a dream to give other families the opportunity to love a doodle just as much as they loved theirs.

The sisters spent hours researching the best way to breed and raise goldendoodles. “We wanted to raise happy healthy puppies to be service dogs, emotional support dogs, and life-long companions.” Tori says. “We started with two female golden retrievers, Sadie and Rue, and fell in love with their happy personalities and even temperaments,” McKinley says. “We knew they’d be perfect mothers.” And so the Matthews Legacy Farm breeding program began.

When the sisters started the program, McKinley and her husband, Matt, had been feeding Taste of the Wild to their own goldendoodle, Bear. “We’d been looking for a brand with a clean nutrition panel,” Matt remembers. “So we tried Taste of the Wild, and we quickly noticed Bear’s thick, shiny coat. And she just seemed healthier.”

“If we were noticing how great it was working first hand for our own dog, then we knew it would be great for our program,” McKinley says.

A Caring Environment

Matthews Legacy Farm is an animal haven. The 15-acre plot where the farm sits is home to cows, horses, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, and cats. “We have a little bit of everything,” McKinley says. “But they’re all pets. Every one of them.”

But let’s not forget the dogs. While Bear, Sadie and Rue are the constant canine companions, there have been up to 20 goldendoodle puppies goofing around the farm at one time. “Both dogs had litters, and one was huge. 11 puppies! That was fun,” McKinley remembers.

In addition to their own personal dogs, the Matthews created a “guardian program,” meaning that they place potential mothers in pre-screened homes. “This way, the mother has an amazing quality of life and a great family to create many lasting memories,” Matt says. Part of the screening process for a potential home is that the mother and any subsequent puppies be fed high-quality food. “We recommend Taste of the Wild.”

Wild at Home, Wherever Home Might Be

The Matthews have placed doodle puppies all over the United States (with their first international placements to Canada and Mexico coming this fall). No matter where the puppies make their new homes — from New York to Oregon to California to Washington, D.C.— one thing stays consistent: Every new pet family is sent home with a “Matthews Legacy Farm Puppy Package” that includes a toy, teething bone, shampoo, training treats, a bandana, poop bags and pee pads, puppy folder with records, birth certificate and training guide, all in a sturdy Matthews Legacy Farm canvas bag. And they also get two sample bags of Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe with Smoke-Flavored Salmon.

“There are a few reasons for this,” McKinley says. “With puppies going to a new home and leaving mom and siblings for the first time, having the same food helps them adapt to new family and strange living space more easily.” But it’s not just the puppies who are adapting to change; the new puppy parents are as well. “So taking the guesswork out of the puppies’ nutrition for the owners brings them comfort and helps them get started on the right foot.”

Another reason the Matthews prefer to send the puppies home with Taste of the Wild is a little more practical. “We love the distribution,” Matt says. “Whether they’re going to Vegas or New York, we’re confident that if the new owners want to stick with Taste of the Wild, it will be available to them. Whether it’s at the local store or online, we like knowing that it’s there.”

But another reason is because the puppies love the Pacific Stream Puppy recipe. “We start feeding puppies at 5 weeks,” Tori says. “We soak the food with warm water and they just jump right in, like it’s a natural-born instinct. We’ve never had to force-feed a puppy. They love the flavors. They just crave it.”

The new owners seem to recognize how much the pups love Taste of the Wild. The Matthews stay in touch with every family who has adopted their puppies, and whenever nutrition comes up, it usually turns out that they stuck with Taste of the Wild. “Every time we hear from owners and they say they’re still on Taste of the Wild, we consider it a success,” Matt says. “It tells me that we’re doing it right.”

As for the Matthews’ adult dogs, there isn’t a Taste of the Wild recipe that they don’t like. The pregnant mothers get switched to puppy recipes to get extra nutrients into mom and her milk while the other dogs have yet to turn down an adult recipe. “We try to mix it up for them from time to time,” Matt says. “And they just down it no matter what.”

More Puppies, More Fun on the Horizon

There is a lot of puppy action happening at Matthews Legacy Farm. With two litters due in July and two more by October, it’ll be worth your while to follow the family and all the puppies on Instagram and Facebook. And if you haven’t already, look us up on Instagram, Facebook and X.

An interior infographic detailing various facts about breeding dog nutrition.

A new puppy text graphic with a white, tan and black puppy lying in the grass.

Evolution Makes Puppy Dog Eyes So Irresistible

Posted on October 31, 2019 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild Pet Food

Every dog owner knows the look: wide brown eyes rimmed with a bit of white, eyebrows slightly raised. It’s the look that says, “Can you share that little morsel of cheese with me?” Or “Can I please come snuggle on the couch with you?”

And no matter how many times you’ve vowed not to let the dog eat from your plate or lounge on the furniture, you simply can’t resist those eyes. So down goes the plate and up jumps your dog.

But it’s not that your dog has mastered the art of manipulation — it’s that dog evolution has actually changed the muscles around the eyes to give your dog more power to tug at your heartstrings.

What dogs have that wolves don’t

Dogs are thought to have evolved from wolves about 33,000 years ago. Now, new research shows that as dogs became domesticated, they developed a new eye muscle to help them better communicate with people. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to compare the anatomy and behavior of wolves with that of dogs.

In addition to four wild gray wolves, the scientists examined the anatomy of a Labrador retriever, a mixed-breed dog, a bloodhound, a Siberian husky, a chihuahua, and a German shepherd. All the dogs had a well-developed levator anguli oculi medialis muscle, while the wolves did not. A second muscle, the retractor anguli oculi lateralis, which helps expose more of the whites of the eye, was almost non-existent in the husky and the wolves.

Raised eyebrows

The levator anguli oculi medialis muscle enables dogs to raise their inner eyebrow. Researchers surmise the raised eyebrow makes the eyes look more helpless or sad, like an infant, sparking an urge in humans to care for the dog.

The researchers also looked at wolf and dog behavior when exposed to humans for two minutes. Not surprisingly, dogs raised their eyebrows much more than wolves did.

Previous research has shown that dogs raise their eyebrows more when humans are looking at them than when they’re not. And a 2015 study that examined how people respond to animal behavior found that people are more likely to adopt shelter dogs when the dogs raised their eyebrows upward and inward.

Which just goes to show that evolution may have had a role in helping dogs become domesticated to become part of the family, as they are now.

Should I Spend the Money on a Breed-Specific Diet?

Posted on May 16, 2019 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild Pet Food

Last year, owners spent almost $73 billion on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association. What accounted for the majority of those expenditures? Was it veterinary care or toys? Actually, the single largest expense, accounting for just over $30 billion was — you guessed it — pet food.

As if choosing between dozens of brands and flavors wasn’t overwhelming enough, now there’s another factor in the mix: breed nutrition, or pet foods tailored to specific dog and cat breeds. Designed around the health conditions that may be common to those breeds, these diets may also feature kibble shapes and sizes tailored for your breed’s particular mouth.

Do they help?

First off, a breed-specific diet probably won’t harm your pet. And special kibble design might be helpful. For example, kibble shape and size can be designed to make it easier for flat-nosed pets (think pugs and Persians) to pick up and chew food with their short jaws. And larger, donut-shaped kibble might help a Labrador eat a little slower, rather than inhaling each meal.

But can these diets really help prevent particular health issues?

Currently, we know a lot about disease prevalence among breeds, but there’s very little research available on whether nutrition will prevent those diseases. What’s more, over-the-counter maintenance diets aren’t legally allowed to make claims about preventing, treating or curing a disease. Only therapeutic diets, provided under the guidance of a veterinarian, can do that — and only after demonstrating that the food actually lives up to the claim.

Choose a diet based on your pet’s needs

The truth is, there are plenty of diets on the market that suit your pet’s (and your wallet’s) needs. Your veterinarian can recommend a few diets based on your pet’s size, life stage and health.

For example, large-breed puppies — whether they’re Newfoundlands or mastiffs — can benefit from special diets designed to help them grow slowly so they’re less likely to develop orthopedic conditions such as hip dysplasia.

In terms of life-stage, puppies generally require more protein and calories to meet their higher energy requirements than geriatric dogs who spend most of the day snoozing on the couch.

And nutrition can certainly help manage some health conditions. A high-fiber, low-calorie diet, for example, might help a chubby dog slim down a bit. But a dog that’s just the right weight doesn’t need this kind of diet.

The bottom line is that there may be some benefits to breed-specific diets, but there are also plenty of other diets that are suitable for your pet. And breed-specific diets aren’t a replacement for therapeutic diets specifically designed for a particular health condition. When in doubt, count on your veterinarian who knows your pet’s nutritional needs.

He or she can even recommend what’s best for mixed-breed dogs, or mutts, that make up an estimated 53 percent of dogs in the United States. Because they deserve solid nutrition, too.

A new puppy text graphic with a white, tan and black puppy lying in the grass.

Can My Dog Eat That? Candy

Posted on October 19, 2017 - 11:42 am by
A brown dog sitting in a chair next to an orange plastic pumpkin bucket.

Welcome to “Can My Dog Eat That?,” our series that answers some obvious (and not-so-obvious) questions about what your dog can and can’t safely eat. You can view some of the previous foods we’ve looked at in our “Can my dog eat that?” guide. Today we answer the question “Can dogs eat candy?” Read on!

If people overindulge in candy, they may wind up with a stomachache (and some regrets). But dogs who eat chocolate or candy may not get away with it that easily. Candy is not a healthy treat for dogs, but more importantly, chocolate and some sugar-free candy are toxic to dogs — even a small amount can be dangerous. So keep your candy stash safely hidden from your dog!

Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?

No. Chocolate contains two potentially toxic substances for dogs: caffeine and theobromine, with theobromine being the greater concern. Both are rapidly absorbed from the small intestine and across the bladder wall, and returned to the bloodstream to recirculate again. Dogs can’t metabolize theobromine as easily as humans, which puts them at risk of theobromine reaching dangerous levels. 

As a general rule of thumb, the darker and more bitter the chocolate (e.g., cocoa powder, dark chocolate), the more theobromine it contains, and the more dangerous it can be. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate, for example, can contain around 450 mg of theobromine per ounce, compared with milk chocolate, which contains around 60 mg per ounce. Although white chocolate contains only a small amount of theobromine, it’s still best to keep it out of your dogs’ reach.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Chocolate

If your dog eats any amount of chocolate, it’s important to contact a veterinarian or animal poison control immediately. They will want to know the type of chocolate eaten (e.g., dark chocolate, milk chocolate), an estimate of how much was eaten, your dog’s weight and how long ago the chocolate was consumed.

A dog’s size can make a difference to how chocolate affects them. For example, a Great Dane that eats a small amount of chocolate may show mild signs, but the same amount could be fatal for a Pomeranian. Timing can be critical, too; if your dog just ate the chocolate, your veterinarian may be able to induce vomiting before much of the chocolate is digested (do not induce vomiting at home unless directed to by your vet).

Signs of Chocolate Poisoning

Depending on the type of chocolate, the amount eaten and the size of your dog, signs of toxicity can range from mild to severe and life-threatening. Here are some of the most common signs of chocolate toxicity:

  • Increased thirst
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Panting and pacing
  • Restlessness or hyperactivity
  • Muscle spasms (tremors)
  • Irregular heart rhythm
  • Seizures

Don’t wait for these symptoms to appear. If you know or suspect your dog ate chocolate, call your veterinarian immediately. After assessing your dog’s condition, your veterinarian may induce vomiting, administer activated charcoal to coat the digestive tract and prevent further chocolate absorption, or recommend additional supportive care.

Can Dogs Eat Sugar?

Let’s break this down. Is sugar toxic to dogs? No. Should dogs eat sugar regularly? Also no. While sugar won’t cause a life-threatening illness, it still isn’t healthy for dogs. If they eat a large amount of sugar in one sitting, (e.g., they swiped a sheet cake off the counter and devoured it), it can upset your dog’s digestive system, causing vomiting, appetite loss and diarrhea. The only type of sugar dogs should eat is the natural sugar found in dog-safe foods (like in strawberries or pineapples). However, too much natural sugar can also be unhealthy, so remember to keep to the rule of limiting treats to only 10 percent of your dog’s daily calorie intake.

Why is too much sugar bad for dogs? If your dog regularly eats sugar-filled sweet treats, the high sugar content could contribute to weight gain and increased health risks like obesity, diabetes and dental problems. 

Sugar-Free Products Can Be Toxic to Dogs

The more serious, short-term concern for dogs is not sugar but the natural sweetener xylitol. It is often used in sugar-free foods like gum, candy, peanut butter, syrup and sweeteners as a sugar substitute. Xylitol can also be found in non-food items like toothpaste, mouthwash and chewable vitamins. 

Xylitol poisoning can cause the dog’s blood sugar levels to drop (causing hypoglycemia) and can also cause liver failure if toxic amounts are ingested. Before giving your dog any human food, make sure you check the label carefully for xylitol and its other names: birch sugar, wood sugar and birch bark extract. If you think your dog ingested candy or food that contains xylitol, contact your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately. 

Keep Dogs Away from Dangerous Halloween Candies

If you have kids (or even if you don’t), Halloween is probably the peak time for candy and chocolate to be in the house — baskets full of candy corn, Skittles, Twizzlers and other tasty Halloween treats. Not only do you need to watch out for chocolate and xylitol, you also need to look out for the other Halloween candy ingredients. Candies and chocolate can contain other potentially toxic ingredients, such as raisins (chocolate-covered raisins are out for two reasons!) and macadamia nuts. 

Too many fatty treats can lead to pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that may require hospitalization. And since dogs don’t bother unwrapping candy before feasting, eating large quantities of candy wrappers could cause a digestive tract obstruction that requires surgery to correct.

Can Dogs Eat Candy?

No. Dogs should definitely not eat chocolate or sugar-free varieties of candy containing xylitol because these are toxic to dogs and can cause serious health issues. Dogs should also avoid eating large amounts of sugary foods. The best plan is to keep candy and chocolate treats out of the reach of your dog and limit your dog’s sugar consumption. There are plenty of dog treats made just for dogs, so stick to those for your furry friend.

An interior graphic with text that reads, ‘Can my dog eat candy? No’.