Most people recognise the evolution of dogs from their canine ancestors some 10,000 years ago.  But most people do not know the evolution of the food we feed our dogs — so evolved that it is now called dog food, as if it were made of ingredients exclusive to dogs.

Commercially prepared and processed dog food became popular in the mid 1940s.  Before that, the majority of companion and working dogs ate what we now call table scraps.  Similar to our modern processed human food, processed dog food was appealing for the convenience of being able to feed your dog “quick and easy”.  A massive marketing campaign promoting processed dog food as nutritionally complete and superior to harmful home prepared foods coupled with support from the veterinary industry made it near impossible for the common dog owner to feed their dog something other than what came from a bag from the grocery store.

The variety of dry dog food available is overwhelming, and confusing to dog owners.  Dogs are carnivores, from their teeth to their digestive system – even the tiniest teacup Yorkie is still a carnivore and is built to eat meat.  Yet commercially prepared dry food continues to be approximately 65% grains, grain fillers, grain fibres, and grain by-products – food that your dog is physically unable to digest or benefit nutritionally from.