Wendy Vollhard and her husband have written a number of articles or books on feeding a raw diet. Some of your information is different that what they recommend. There seems to be a conflict among experts here. What are your thoughts?

I don’t agree with adding brewers yeast to any dogs diet, for any reason. We do use yogurt occasionally, for puppies and dogs that have had antibiotic therapy. Cottage cheese is given very occasionally to puppies and pregnant dogs. Grains are not necessary for dogs, and can cause many problems. We don’t use them.

The best advice I can give is to do research, educate yourself on what a dog is designed to eat and make a decision that you are comfortable with. This is a recent addition to our web site, and is a work in progress.

I don’t consider this a battle of experts, they have their opinions and reasons for feeding their dogs the way they recommend, as we do. I don’t know if the Vollhard's’ are breeders but if you want to find out how good your feeding regimen is, try breeding for a while. It’s the ultimate test of a diet. If the diet is inadequate you will have increased vet bills, smaller and weaker litters ,and reduced health and fertility in your breeding stock. We are constantly evolving in this area, but one thing I know for sure is that grains are not a part of our feeding regimen and our dogs have never looked better or been healthier. I believe that as breeders, we have much more experience than most and experience is a great learning tool. You have the luxury of learning from our mistakes and our successes.

The one rule for you to remember when taking care of your dogs is “there are no rules.” Do what works for your dog, and what you feel comfortable with. The important thing is never stop learning and asking questions. Good luck with your dog!

Thanks, Cindy Rhodes~Leerburg Kennel Manager