How is The Healthy Barker different from commercial dog food?

Commercial foods are made up of feed-grade materials, containing a lot of cereal grains and less whole meats. The Healthy Barker is made up of human grade foods, fit for human consumption. The Healthy Barker foods are grain free, fresh and whole. No by-products of discarded foods are included. These are called “fillers” and include things like corn gluten meal, dried beet pulp, powdered cellulose, soybean mill run, dextrose, modified rice starch, to name a few. Our dog food is also free of hormones and preservatives.

Why can’t I pay for my order when I check out?

The Healthy Barker prides itself on being more than just dog food. We want to be sure that you’re getting the best diet for your dog in a manageable quantity and ensure that your order includes the best choices for you and your pooch. We do that based on his size, age, breed, sex, conditions, etc. Once we’ve confirmed your order, we can arrange for delivery/pickup and payment, either prior to delivery with e-transfer, or when you receive your food order. If you decide you’d like to take advantage of our subscription option, we can make set up a recurring payment method.

Do I need to transition my dog over to The Healthy Barker foods?

Always transition your dog to new foods over a period of at least 7 days. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you can stretch the transition over to 2 weeks. The traditional recommendation is:
•  25% new food, 75% old food for days 1 and 2
•  50% of each food for days 3 and 4
•  75% new food and 25% old food days 5 and 6

How do you ensure the meals are complete, balanced and contain the proper vitamins and nutrients?

We use an advanced software that utilizes the USDA database of foods that has been modified to contain the nutritional needs of dogs and cats. Recipes are created using the National Research Council (NRC) requirements and nutritional software to insure that our recipes are complete and balanced.

How does a poor diet impact my dog’s health?

Poor quality dog foods will contain vitamins, minerals and nutrients just like high quality foods, but those nutrients may not be as bio available as they need to be. That means if the quality is not present, then it may not be possible to digest and absorb the nutrients in the food. Some nutrients compete with each other for absorption, so too much of some things will interfere with others. Some fillers just take up space in the food, competing with the healthy nutrients for exposure to digestive enzymes. This can lead to things like poorer coat quality, less strength and energy, and even allergies.  Poor quality food can also affect the health of their immune system.