In today's modern home, pets are part of the family, and pet owners need to design good feeding practices suitable for their particular pet, and also suitable for their own lifestyle. Owners need to consider too, factors like cost, convenience, variety and availability of foodstuffs for dog food. They need to think about the individual needs of their own pet and combine foods in a way that the dog food meets those needs.

Most pets in the household live indoors, and are not in regular work so will require what is termed a maintenance diet dog food. This dog food diet needs to provide a balance of nutrients in the correct amount to keep the animal fit both physically and mentally, and to encourage peak condition and reduce disease. The dog food also needs to be concentrated adequately so that your dog is not having to eat large volumes of it, and it also should taste good so that your dog eats all its meal. Make feeding time with your dog fun as this will help with bonding your dog to you. Dog food time is often the high spot of many a dog's day!

Dogs are omnivorous although we group them with the carnivores. They can quite happily eat fruit and vegetables as well as meat. My own dog Toby loves nothing better than eating apple cores or cheddar cheese. It makes a change from dog food! He does however, have a preference for meat, and will eat it raw or cooked.

Healthy adult dogs can be fed with a variety of foods, or just one complete dog food. These complete diets can be either dry, semi-moist or canned. It is advisable to avoid sudden changes in your dogs diet as this will often result in diarrhoea. Introduce new foods slowly by combining them with the current regime, gradually increasing the new food. Often the easiest way to vary the diet is to offer different varieties of food from the same manufacturer.

Feeding your dog once a day is often all that is required to keep their appetite satisfied. I would tend to advise against feeding too late in the evening as this may prompt calls for the toilet in the middle of the night. Some dogs are happier fed two to three times a day after their owners have eaten, and this can be okay too, provided that an eye is kept on the dog's weight, and obesity doesn't become a problem. I would advise that dogs which are feeling unwell be fed little and often. The same would go for dogs with a poor appetite, and also very old dogs.

So how do you tell if you are feeding your dog adequately? The best way to tell would be by the appearance of your dog. Does he look in good condition? Does his coat shine? Is his skin in good condition? Is he full of life and vitality, and not too thin or too fat?

Finally, keep a regular check on your dog's weight and have him checked at least every six months at your local veterinarian. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Feed your dog a well balanced dog food and let him live to enjoy many years at your side. He may be the key to long life for you too.