Fresh food is best for all living creatures. Fresh foods, either  raw, frozen then thawed,  or fresh cooked, are what I prefer to give my dogs. They love it and sparkle with good health. Freezing will keep the food fresh, as well as eliminate the threat of parasites. Thaw overnight and use the next day. The diet should consist primarily of fresh meat and organs, raw bones, and some fresh fruits and vegetables. Because Poms are small dogs, I buy the commercial raw diets which have all the ingredients ground together and formed into patties or cubes. This reduces the risk of choking. NEVER give your dogs cooked bones, which can splinter. Raw bones can be given with supervision, and with the dogs separated. Large beef bones are a welcome treat and the marrow is very nutritious. Cottage cheese and yogurt with active cultures are usually enjoyed. This is good for the digestive tract, as well as a great source of high quality protein. There are some supplements available which can be used to add trace elements to the diet, such as Solid Gold Seameal and Missing Link. However, a fresh diet with sufficient variety will usually not need supplementing.  Feed two times daily (or more often for a puppy, 3-4 meals), as much as they will eat in 10 min or so. Food should be refrigerated between meals and not left out to spoil.

Do not believe the claims of the multi-billion dollar pet food industry. Dog foods which are commercially available are made from waste products. The "meat" is what the USDA calls "4 D" from dead, diseased , disabled or dying animals. The ingredients have been "rendered" or boiled into a soup at high temperatures for many hours, until there is little nutrition left . Fats from rendering plants are used. The discarded oils from fast food restaurant friers are a major source of these fats, which become rancid quickly. There is a high ratio of grain in these foods (wheat, corn, rice etc). Grains are primarily carbohydrates, and are not the food source which nature intended dogs to eat. Dogs are primarily meat eaters, who also consume some fruits, vegetables, and sprouted grasses.  Grains easily become stale and support the growth of molds, which can kill outright or cause cancer with consumption of lower levels over several years. We won't even go into the toxic preservatives which must be included to prolong shelf life.  YUCK!!!

False Sense of Security: AAFCO testing of pet foods:

Most dog foods proudly advertise on their labels that they have passed or conform to AAFCO testing.

For adult maintenance dog food to pass the AAFCO test:

• 8 dogs older than 1 yr. must start the test.
• At start all dogs must be normal weight & health.
• A blood test is to be taken from each dog at the start and finish of the test.
• For 6 months, the dogs used must only eat the food being tested.
• The dogs finishing the test must not lose more than 15% of their body weight.
• During the test, none of the dogs used are to die or be removed becasue of nutritional causes.
• 6 of the 8 dogs starting must finish the test 

That's all there is to it. So, if 6 out of 8 dogs don't die or lose more that 15% of their weight over 6 months, that food passes the AAFCO test. It's definitely not a measurement of quality.

MYTH:  "Complete and Balanced" nutrition:

No animal eats "complete & balanced" with each bite. Is every bite you put in your mouth complete and balanced? Balance is achieved over time. The overall daily balance is what is important.

MYTH: "Dry food cleans the teeth"

Dry food does not help clean the teeth. If anything, the high amount of carbohydrates promotes bacterial plaque formation.  If you want to keep his teeth clean, give your dog a large raw bone. Regular dental care by your vet is necessary for your Pom. Toy breeds are notorious for problems with periodontal disease and early tooth loss.  You can buy a soft toothbrush and special dog toothpaste. Use it daily to help keep the teeth clean and bright.

Would  YOUR teeth stay decay-free if your diet was 100% crunchy carbohydrate bars?

Why can't I just feed an inexpensive dry kibble?

Poms are small and do not demand a large amount of food. Please give them the fresh wholesome foods that they deserve. Food which costs $10 for 40 lbs is not only insufficient nutrition, it is dangerous to their health. 

A Word on "By Products"

"By products" vary, depending on manufacturer. This term can refer to ingredients such as organ meats, which are highly desirable as pet foods. It can also mean inedible components such as ground legs/beaks/feathers/horns/hooves, Believe it or not, these "byproducts" count towards the protein content of commercial pet foods, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE INDIGESTIBLE. So research your manufacturer, and find out just what they are using for byproducts. Or, better yet, don't buy commercial kibbled/canned dog food.

MYTH: Dogs shouldn't have table scraps

The leftovers from your table are undoubtedly more nutritious than any commercial pet food. The derogatory term "table scraps" was coined by the pet food manufacturers. Dogs lived for thousands of years quite happily on mankind's table scraps, thank you very much.

DO NOT FEED ONIONS OR CHOCOLATE  TO DOGS.  THIS CAN MAKE THEM VERY ILL AND POSSIBLY CAUSE DEATH.