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As we travel around the country, one of the things that really strikes us is the number of dogs that don't smell very nice. In fact, it's so widespread that most people seem to have come to accept that it's the natural state for a dog - that dogs are supposed to smell. I guess that's why we call it a 'doggy smell.' It's most obvious when you go to pat a dog and it leaves an unpleasant odour on your hand. It also can make places where the dog tends to hang out - such as in its bed or the car - have a permanent stink.
It's more obvious to some people than others, of course. Many people have become used to it. What often happens is that when the owner begins to notice it they say to themself, "Well, time for the dog to have a bath". A shampoo will often alleviate the problem for a while, but not usually for long. And then it's back to that 'doggy' smell again.

The truth is that dogs shouldn't smell bad. Unlike humans, a dog also doesn't smell due to a lack of cleanliness. A dog should be able to go for months if not years without bathing; its system is perfectly designed to keep it clean without a bath or shampoos.The real cause of a smelly dog is something that its skin and fur is reacting to that is causing it to give off a foul odour. It could be something in the environment, but usually it's something in the food. We have carried out numerous 'experiments' on dogs and have had many reports from other dog owners and one of the benefits of changing to a quality food is that the doggy smell disappears.
Some of the things that dogs can react to - and which are commonly found in foods - are:

• wheat and cereals
• by-products
• beef and beef-derived products (such as 'meat meal' and 'animal fat')
• artificial colourings, preservatives and flavourings

Pro Pac and Earthborn Holistic are two of the few foods on the market that don't contain any of the above. It is surprising how many other foods do contain these problem ingredients, even other superpremium foods such as Eukanuba, Hills Science Diet, Advance and Pro Plan. Why they do would probably take a book to explain!

If you do have a dog that smells a bit (or a lot) 'doggy' then look at what you are feeding. If it contains any of the above ingredients that may well be the reason.To buy Pro Pac and Earthborn Holistic, amongst the world's leading quality petfoods, visit Petfood Direct at www.petfooddirect.co.nz.

The latest instance of contaminated pet food has created an even more unwelcome side effect. It appears that some humans in contact with this food have developed salmonella illness, with five people even being hospitalized.
Diamond Pet Foods in the US has recalled some of its products due to contamination with salmonella. It seems all of the problems have been linked to one manufacturing plant in South Carolina in the US. Some brands have been withdrawn for sale and others are undergoing testing to see if they too represent any health risks.

Food recalls and contaminated foods are an ongoing issue for the petfood industry. Virtually every major company and brand (with one notable exception) has recalled their foods due health issues. Usually the problem is discovered only after animals have become ill (and in many cases actually died), which is not good news for pet owners.So how can you be sure the food you feed is safe?
One of the best ways is to feed a food that is guaranteed not to contain any Asian ingredients. Most of the big companies source ingredients from Asian countries because they are much cheaper. However the quality controls in that part of the world are often simply not there and Asian ingredients are the number one cause of contaminated foods.

Very few companies will guarantee that they don't source ingredients from Asia and will often reply to the question with a vague reply along the lines of "We get our ingredients from the best sources possible." It may be best for the company (i.e. lowest cost) but it won't necessarily be so for the pet.There is one company that guarantees none of their ingredients come from Asia, and that is a major reason why they are one of the tiny few that have never had a food recall or problems with contamination- and that's in 25 years of production!
That company is Pro Pac. All of the their ingredients are only sourced from the US (apart from lamb which is brought from Australia or New Zealand). Their foods also do not contain any genetically-modified ingredients, another sign of high quality.

Pro Pac spends more to ensure quality ingredients. The result is one of the safest foods on the market and one you can be confident buying for your dog.

Protein is one of the most essential elements of a dog's diet. We all know that protein provides the "building blocks of life" and are vital for proper growth and development in all animals. But as the ones responsible to maintain our animal's health, how much is the right amount? And more importantly, can we rely on the food manufacturers to provide the right quantity?
There are two elements to the question about the right amount of protein. Firstly there is the issue of quantity, but secondly (and equally if not more important) is the quality of the protein.

The AAFCO minimum amount of protein for a food to be able to be labelled "complete and balanced" is 18%. However, this is in reality too low to really maintain a dog in peak condition. The true amount should be closer to 23%, although the actual amount for any dog will depend on a number of factors. These include:Size of the dog: Smaller dogs generally need more protein than larger dogs
Activity level: If a dog is highly active then a high protein food is advisable

Age: Puppies are in need of more protein than mature dogs..In saying all of this, it is always better to err on the side of more protein than not enough. Studies have shown that there are no adverse effects to a dog from a very high protein diet. In fact, in the wild dogs do survive on very high protein diets.
The other thing about protein, however, is the protein source. The higher the grade of the food the more the protein will come from meat, which is the natural source for dogs and of far higher quality than grain or vegetable-based proteins that predominate in low-quality foods. So in general, the more quality meat in a food, the higher the amount of quality protein - and the better the result.

Pro Pac and Earthborn Holistic both have high levels of quality meat which delivers top quality protein that dogs thrive on. Each formula is designed to deliver the right amount depending on the age and breed of dog.And what is the result? One of the immediate differences of a dog on a high quality protein food such as Pro Pac or Earthborn Holistic is the shiny coat and healthy skin. Many owners have been surprised just how good the coat starts to look after moving to these foods.
And of course a food with a high meat component is not only going to make your dog look and feel better - it's going to enjoy the food more as well. It is vital to choose a food that contains both the right quantity and quality of protein.

When looking for a quality dried food for your dog you will probably discover that there are two types of foods, those that contain grains (such as corn or rice) and those which don't. There have been many debates over the years about which type of food is better, and it can be very confusing for the dog owner.
Corn and rice have been used in dried dog foods for decades – for as long as dried dog foods have been in production, in fact. There are many benefits to these grains. Both add a carbohydrate that can be a good energy source for a dog. Both are highly digestible; corn is 99% digestible and has been described as the perfect carbohydrate for dogs. In a small number of dogs it may cause some allergy symptoms such as skin rashes. In this case it would be advisable to substitute with a rice formula; rice also can be easier to digest, particularly older dogs and those with sensitive stomachs.

Pet foods with no grains are a more recent development, and they have been introduced with the idea that they are closer to a dog's natural diet. Carbohydrate sources in grain-free foods are usually other vegetables such as potatoes.It remains a controversy as to whether or not a dog does better on a grain-free diet. There is only one thing that is very clear: some dogs do better and some do worse. The key is to look at what else is in the food. As long as it contains quality ingredients – no by products, filler or waste ingredients, artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives – and has a named meat as the first ingredient (preferably in meal form) – then the dog should be getting optimum nutrition to create good health. Beyond that it comes down to personal preference and an observation of how the dog is doing.
At Petfood Direct we can offer the dog owner a choice of grained and grain-free foods with two of the highest quality foods on the market. Pro Pac is a high-meat-based food with corn or rice as the grain source. Earthborn Holistic is grain-free food and uses chicken and/or sustainably caught native American fishes for protein and a variety of carbohydrates including potato Both are excellent choices to help ensure your dog stays happy and healthy.

We've recently created a video featuring Liam and our dog Molly talk about the truth about dog food. It has some virtually "secret" information about what's really going on in the pet food industry... as a pet owner you'll find it interesting to say the least. We think it's what you really need to know - and it's time someone said it.

PS Molly doesn't really talk on the video, but you have to watch to the end to see what she does. It's pretty cute!Check out the controversial video here: