The Favorite Foods Of Dogs

Making your dog eat a healthy diet, but also love it is easier than you thought. We tell you which are the favorite foods of dogs, so you can make a meal that makes his mouth water.

Do you know if they like salty flavors, sweet flavors or if they prefer bitter ones? Do not rack your brains and better follow these recommendations so that you know once and for all what your dog likes.

Dog’s favorite foods

Despite the fact that your dog’s gastronomic preferences are determined by his instinct, there is also an interference with the special characteristics of each one, that is, his personality and his eating habits.

Much of the dog’s food taste was developed in relation to the things that it has been able to experience in terms of food, with a more varied range of tastes those who have had diets with more products.

However, not all decisions can go to your liking, as this can be detrimental to the health of your pet.

Keep in mind that dogs are omnivores with a carnivorous preference, and unlike cats, they will more easily accept foods other than animal protein. Possibly, this is why they prefer savory or plain foods. A good option to start with is wet feed, as it has a greater texture, smell and will more easily attract your dog’s attention.

If we talk about preference, in terms of animal protein,  the dog seems to be more inclined to consume red meat than fish, therefore, if you give it a choice, it will probably prefer red meat.

According to many veterinarians, despite the fact that particular tastes influence the choice of one food or another, within their meat tastes, beef will always be prioritized, then pork, lamb and, finally, chicken.

Another influencing factor is the food your caregivers eat. Therefore, dogs will be tempted to consume sweets, dairy or any other kind of food that their caregiver consumes. However, this does not necessarily meet his needs and, on the contrary, may end up being counterproductive for him.

In front of the consumption of fruits and vegetables they are a little more demanding, but they seem to be attracted by those rich in fiber or that are very juicy, for example apples, bananas or carrots. This taste of dogs for wet food is also evident when they are given a choice between dry feed or wet feed, preferring in most cases the latter.

If your dog scavenges the garbage or consumes decomposed meat (from a dead animal that has come across during a walk for example), it is also because, in addition to having wolves as ancestors (which are mainly hunters), they are related to coyotes, which are scavengers. Although this will depend on the facet that the dog has more developed.

The importance of smell

Smell, in both dogs and humans, is strongly linked to the sense of taste. This is not only a selection criterion, but one of protection, since the smell tells the animal if the food is in good condition or if it can be toxic.

Dogs have about 220 million olfactory cells, therefore they have a very different experience than what we can perceive with our smell. Make sure your dog’s food is attractive to their nose, so they will devour what they have on their plate.

Foods that dogs don’t like

Contrary to their preference for salty foods, bitter flavors repel them immediately. This is why it is so difficult for them to take a certain class of drugs.

Memory also has to do with the foods they do not like, therefore, if when consuming something the dog experiences some kind of negative experience (illness, bad taste in the mouth, etc.) it is most likely that the next time it have to consume it reject it.

Therefore, you must keep this in mind, and mix the foods that you like with those that suit you, in this way it will be much easier for you to take care of your diet and preserve your health.

Image courtesy of Moniek van Rijbroek.