Canine diet

Question
I was somewhat startled at the vehemence of your response in the absence of knowledge of what I was doing. Perhaps it was the naivete of my question.

After reading several books on dog care and training, I read "The Dog Whisperer" by Paul Owens. From that I was led to "The Natural Dog" by Mary L Brennan. I am feeding 65% grain (at present mixed white and brown rice), 25% protein (at present cooked ground turkey or ground beef), and 10% raw vegetables (my dog particularly likes zucchini and carrots). In addition, I am adding a multivitamin, enzymes and probiotics from Animal Essentials.

Does this in any way alter your opinion? Thanks again. John
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Followup To

Question -
I have a one-year-old Border Collie mix that I am converting to a diet I prepare at home. I am concerned that I establish proper food quantities, and except for weighing him frequently which is impractical, I am looking for clues. I have been told that too much or too little food per meal can cause variations in the stool. Is that true, and would too much cause hard stools or loose stools? Thanks.

Answer -
hi John;
Unless you have spent a lot of time in research and learning, and a lot of help and advice from a Veterinarian, I STRONGLY advise you to feed a prepared food, rather than cooking for the dog yourself.
Dogs do NOT have the same nutritional requirements humans or other animals have.
what you can do by feeding food you prepare, unless you have spent a few years reasearching this subject, is, damage their health and severaly shorten their life soan, as well a buy yourself a lot of high Veterinary bills in the future.
Improper muscle and gland developement, is one of the most imediate problems you will create.
there are many foods that are very healthy for humand to eat, and for some animals to eat, and they can poison a dog.
Some foods can be deadly to them if fed raw, while cooking makes them oj.
Some can be deadly with just a bit fed only one time, or may seem fine for a long time, and when the chemical makeup of the dog's system is just right, kill them.
You are really entering on a dangerous area, and you could lose your dog as a result.
I NEVER fed my dog foods i prepared for them without checking with my Vet first.
I have been researching, learning from Veterinary publications, and asking more than one Veterinarian, to get different feelings on the matter, and 90% of my dogs' diet is prepared dog food.
I feed Natural Choice.
Other brands I would recommend are, Iams, Science diet,and Walthams.
these are huighly tested foods, and the quality control in their preparation is quite frankly better than that in factories that prepare human foods.
ALL the nutrients the dog needs are in there.
There is no variaton from one feeding to the next to upset their digestive system.
Don't be suckered in by the "Dogs in the wil eat everything" way of thinking.
The truth is, Dogs DON'T eat everything in the wild. They do NOT eat bones. They crack the bones and splinter them so they can dig out the bone marrow with their teeth and tongue. The marrow is very hight in nutrition.
That is why splintered and broken up bones are found.
If wild dogs and wolves ATE the bones, you would never find remnants of bones.
Please get one of the dog food brands I have recommended, and feed as a steady diet.
Maybe once a month, I will make chicken stew for my dogs.
I use only vegetables that are safe for them to eat, and only herbs to season, that are safe for the dogs.
I will make a stew from a 4 or 5 pound chicken, that i have skinned, and simmered in water till it falls off the bones, remove the chicken and cool the broth till the fat firms so I can remove it. then i will split this stew up between the 4 dogs, and divind it for two days meals.
They don't go a day EVER without more than half theitr day's food being their proper diet. The dog food.
Watching my dog's health, I have the compliment from my Vet that my dogs live longer past their life spans, than any other patients he has ever had.
He has been taking care of my dogs for over 30 years. I don't do anything that I have not cleared with him, at some time.
I have been raising dogs for over 60 years, and Have done years of research on their diets, and I would not undertake feeding a dog totally on food I prepare, unless the prepared dog foods I have mentioned were not available.
That is about the same as making your own medicines for your children.
You know wgere thst could go.
Please reconsider.
Charlotte

Answer
Hi john;
sorry, it doesn't.
Neither of the authors you mentioned are scientists, nor have they the backgroud for writing a book to be listened to all that much.
Anyone can write a book and get it published.
What you are feeding is pretty much wjhat off-brand dog foods consist of.
It is a pretty good diet to bring up all kinds of health problems.
I am into "natural" I am a totally organic gardener, and control fleas with organics.
I use herbs for aroma therapy, insect repellants, and also for some health problems to take the place of or to enhance the medications I have to take to stay alive.
I am over-protective of my children's and animals' health.
My Veterinarian is a conventional + naturapathic Veterinarian. He also performs accupuncture on patients.
As for the dog whisperer, I have not read his book.
I have been communication with animals since I was a small child. My father was a Veterinarian, and used natural as well as conventional ( what was available back then )medicines.
Most of my natural healing methids I learned from him.
The "Dog Whisperer" came to the surface after the Horse Whisperer showed up in TV and movies.
The Nez Perce used that method of training horses centuries ago.
Native Americans have always communicated with animals in this way.
My ability comes a lot from my cherokee grandmother.
90% or better of the books on raising and training dogs are written by people who haven't a clue what they are talking about.
"Whispering" is merely a way of communicating with animals, because they are so much smarter than we are, they can read our thoughts.
They also understand far more of what we say than most people give them credit for.
Dogs know more about us than we know about ourselves.
Your dog knows exactly what is in your heart, and he knows you are trying to do what is best for him, because you love him, but you have listened to some bad advice.
I am in no way faulting you, because you feel you are doing the best for your dg.
I LOVE people who take the same responsibility and love in raising their animals as we do our children.
I am responsible for the life God intrusts me with, whether i adopt it or give birth to it, and no matter if it has 2 legs or 4.
  A good site for information about dogs, health, feeding, training etc, is
  www.dogage,com

Good luck
Charlotte