DOG KARMA

1. Offer a little each month about dog nutrition which we know can help your dog live longer and save on vet bills.

2. Break down training DOs and DONT’s which will give your dog every chance to succeed navigating our human world.

3. Answer questions after consulting with my network of expert professionals, and sharing your stories because sharing is caring 🫶.

*there was a small error with the previous letter, the subscribe button wasn’t functioning, so here’s one updated. NOW you can share with a friend, and they can subscribe. THANK YOU!

I’m Jody Sabral, a journalist, author, and filmmaker turned certified dog nutritionist - honestly, no idea how I got here?! - BUT, I’m so excited that you did, because this is one of my favourite conversations. Dogs. It never gets old. It only ever gets more interesting and insightful because dogs are like gods, here to teach us about unconditional love. They don’t ask us for much. Food and safety. Yet they give so much back; loyalty, laughs, love, friendship, a social life, companionship, a purpose, exercise, and more that is unquantifiable. My doggy shines in every room he enters, people smile at him and applaud his behaviour. They shake his paw. They hug him. He makes me look incredible cool, so I figured it was time to share everything we’ve learned about each other, if it can improve the lives of others.  

My journey into dog nutrition and behaviour began after I rescued a Greek street dog called Blue. He had skin rashes and limped from inflammation in his joints. The vet told me ‘some breeds have this issue with their back joints’, but today he runs like an athlete. The vet also put him on steroids which solved nothing in six months. That’s when nutrition came into focus.

He is my first dog and is three times bigger than I had expected, weighing in at 36 kg. He’s BIG. In his photos he looked the size of a Yorkshire terrier and being a rookie dog to-be parent I hadn’t checked his weight. *Please do that if you rescue a dog so that you know what you’re signing up to, big dogs cost more because they eat more. So taken in by his scruffy coat and big shiny nose, it hadn’t occurred to me to check this small but important detail. Life had suddenly changed. We weren’t flying cabin together, as I’d imagined we would. He would be going cargo, which meant I wasn’t really going anywhere. I felt grounded. It was a shock, it was an adjustment.

I collected him at a motorway service station on a rainy Sunday with a broken passenger window as my car had been vandalised that night. I squeezed him into a small crate in the back of my mini - after many many attempts - and was suddenly tasked with handling a large male dog which meant I needed to get to grips with it quickly.

click here to watch THE DOGUMENTARY

This newsletter is about our life together. I hope it’s helpful and easy to digest just like good food! Dogs are the most amazing creatures when given every chance to succeed in navigating our human world, so here goes.

NUTRITION FIRST  
RECIPES
 …from the kitchen cupboard

As with humans, diversity is key to our dog’s nutritional health so every week I’ll give you a recipe you can have ready in minutes. Feeding your dog from human supplies rather than solely depending on pet food can help the overall well-being of your doggy. Feeding doesn’t have to be complicated, it should do more than just fill them up, it should help gut health and longevity.

Mashed or sliced bananas (not peels/they can be toxic) - fruit can be a healthy alternative to fatty, salty treats. Banana is high in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and magnesium, which promotes bone growth and helps the body produce protein and absorb vitamins. It’s also high in fibre, which can help if your dog is having gastrointestinal problems.

Greek yoghurt – is high in calcium and protein. It can also act as a probiotic, which can be good for gut health aiding a strong immune system. (if your dog is dairy allergic, skip this).

Raw egg yolk (not whites/these are hard to digest)- yolks are a rich source of protein, which is essential for dogs’ growth, development, and maintenance of muscle and organs. They include vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as minerals such as calcium, zinc, and iron. Good source of fatty acids.

*NUTRITIONAL TIP for CALCIUM;  an essential nutrient for you dog: You can grind eggshells and sprinkle a small amount on any dish. They are a great source of calcium that will support strong bones, teeth and joints. IF YOUR DOGGY HAS ARTHRITIS this could be a great natural supplement. It can be a preventative measure too. Synthetics don’t cut through like natural vitamins, minerals and nutrients, so don’t throw your eggshells out, stick them in the nutri-bullet instead!

NO, Just don’t do it. I did, and I learned the hard way, all 36 kilos of it!

Extender leads have their moments, but they are of no benefit to you or your dog. Why? Primarily they are useful in the early days of your relationship, when you still haven’t taken the leap of faith to unleash your doggy off lead in the park. Once you have, lose the extender. It will not teach your doggy how to walk on a lead and understand space when on lead.

Does your dog pull endlessly while out on a walk, roaming wherever their nose takes them? Chances are that they are still on an extender lead. You are led to believe that by opening it up you are creating freedom for your dog, but that’s not what’s happening here. You are creating confusion and not teaching your doggy skills he/she needs.

When a dog is on a lead he/she must learn that they are in your space. This time is for you, together time. They need you to inform them it is not free playtime. So, if they are consistently pulling on a lead they most likely do not understand this. Be the hero of your dog’s story? This is a moment to put on your cape and shine. On an extender lead they will feel the tension and will constantly pull against it. I promise you left unchecked, it’ll only get worse. It will soon become a bad habit that you’ll have to work at changing, so why set your dog up for failure to begin with? Walks should be pleasant for both of you. The aim is to have your dog walking next to you on a loose lead.

If you have a wandering dog, there is only one thing to do today, use a slip lead that you can easily give a small upward tug on a short lead, to correct their behaviour. All it takes is a few days of corrections while on a slip lead for your dog to now understand he/she is in your space and that he needs to stay by your side, not pull and wander wherever he/she wants to go. This will transform your walks and give you a much closer relationship with your fury friend because they will become more aware of your space which will bring you instep with each other. It’s really the only time your dog is instep with you, so embrace it.

A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE
HOMEMADE TREATS 
Frozen banana; as with all treats, just like humans, do not overfeed.

Freeze sliced banana, this can make a nice little healthy snack for your best buddy during the day. No more than half a banana for big dogs and a quarter for small doggos.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST  
IF DOGS COULD TALK
Blue wanted to have the last word…
…my deepest apologies in advance.

@jodysabral

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