In order to feed a living creature in a species-appropriate way, it should eat exactly what nature has provided for this living creature.
There are herbivores like the cow, carnivores like the lion and omnivores like us humans.
Dogs are carnivores
The dog is descended from the wolf. The domestication of the dog began about 15,000 years ago.
Compared to other animals, this is a relatively short period of time. During the civilisation by man the outward appearance of the four-legged friend has changed a lot.
However, the essential physiological characteristics remain largely unchanged. This also includes the digestive tract.
"Like its ancestor the wolf, the dog is a carnivore," explains Jürgen Zentek, veterinarian, and professor for animal nutrition.
The wolfs natural diet
Although the wolf is adaptable in its choice of food as it hunts for its own prey- rodents, deer, or lamb are usually on the menu.
From these, he eats not only the meat, but also the bones and offal. His meals are supplemented by small amounts of vegetables. These come mainly from the digestive tract of his prey.
The wolf takes up the biggest part of his food fresh, but also with air-dried ingredients, as for example dried fruits or dried meat, he has no problem.
In short: He eats whatever he finds in the forest.
However, cooked, or processed food never ends up on his "plate". Like all living creatures in the wild, the wolf eats something different every day and therefore automatically has a varied and balanced diet.
Accordingly, a species appropriate wolf food is characterised by the following criteria:
Ingredients: The ingredients in the feed are fresh. The ratio between meat and fruit and vegetables is approximately 80:20.
Processing: The wolf finds its food in the forest exclusively fresh or air-dried. Processed food is not eaten in the wild.
Variety: Like any other living creature, the wolf also eats a varied diet. The many fresh ingredients provide it with all the essential nutrients and vitamins, which automatically ensures a balanced diet.
We assume that species-appropriate wolf food is also a species-appropriate dog food, as the dog's digestive tract is still remarkably like that of the wolf.
Surely you have already come across arguments against a wolf-oriented diet. These are usually marketing tricks used by the dog food industry to score points with dog parents with their own food.
However, for a dog food to be truly species-appropriate, all criteria must be met equally. A diet that contains fresh ingredients but is never changed is not suitable for the dog.
Only a natural, varied, and versatile diet can guarantee a sufficient supply of minerals, trace elements, vitamins and amino acids.
This is also the opinion of Anita Kröger, holistic veterinarian.
Variety matters!
That is why we at BUNCH say “NO” to the concept of complete food and instead rely on varied and balanced dog feeding.
We offer a huge selection of proteins, which are complemented by a variety of fruits and vegetables. Different oils and herbs complete our Mindful Menus Range.
As part of our nutritional concept, we recommend a combination of our numerous proteins and our menu variants in order to offer your dog the species appropriate food it deserves.
Our feed does not require nutritional additives such as artificial vitamins or other artificial nutrients, since all nutrients come from fresh, natural ingredients.
We also completely do without technological additives such as preservatives, flavour enhancers, antioxidants etc.
Dog feeding doesn't have to be rocket science. Fresh, natural and nutrient-rich ingredients are the best guarantee for a long and healthy dog life.
Talk to our feeding advisor - 01236 732929
