True, true, the onion is an unsung workhorse. Def agree that kibble packets recommend feeding rates that can be too high for a 'run on the scent of an oily rag' Labrador. Going by the parents' weight is a good idea. Also just monitor for fat coverage - and adjust as needed. Being able to easily feel but not see ribs is generally a good basic rule.
The weight recommendations on the bags tend to be on the high side, so you're better not really paying much attention to that and just going on the condition of your dog. If she's getting podgy, reduce the amount. If she looks a bit too slim, increase it. I don't understand the pumpkin. I was given two home-grown ones (not my home) last year. I roasted some to start with - tasted of nothing. I made a puree - tasted of nothing. Baked some - tasted of nothing. I made a spiced pumpkin and apple soup - tasted of apple and spices. The dogs got lots of pumpkin in their kongs after that. The onion is, indeed, a good contender. I still stand by the trusty courgette, though. I have courgette spaghetti ("courgetti") several times a week. I have courgettes raw in salads and they're great for adding texture and bulk to bolognese, chilli etc. You can make soup with them, you can roast them, I use them as the "sheets" in veggie lasagnes and I also make an amazing courgette and lemon cake. Best. Vegetable. Ever.
The first year I had a veg garden I grew round orange pumpkins and I found exactly as you describe - pretty tasteless. But the next year, I grew a range of small pumpkins, and squashes. Delicious. I only grow winter festival squash now, and use it for everything that calls for pumpkin.
Yes, other winter squash are lovely. As are summer squash. Like the courgette Do you roast the seeds of your squash? I did that with the pumpkin ones, but, again, found them tasteless. The dogs liked them, though...
I'm not a huge courgette fan. I do grow them, but often end up chucking them on the compost heap (probably because I tend to put too many plants in). I mainly use courgette for rataouille and for this soup, which is the best soup in the world: http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/t...ligatawny.html
We call them by the Italian name, zucchini. I too grow zucchini and appreciate them greatly. But not as much as I appreciate a good pumpkin. Good pumpkin is definitely not tasteless - it has a lot of flavour. I fear that you've been let down by inferior pumpkins, Snowbunny.
Just back from shopping. Bought two very large courgettes and a butternut squash. Other stuff, too, otherwise it would be a pretty lean week Interesting (not really), but I learnt something new. I knew that the Catalan for courgette is carbassó. What I didn't know is that pumpkin is carbassa and a butternut squash is called a "peanut pumpkin", carbassa cacahuet. Sorry, that's quite dull, really.
Going back to kibble,,we have just ordered some PURE dog food...which is a dehydrated food. Although very expensive..you don't use much, just 150g ( 5 scoops) per day, which is almost half the amount in grammes of the good quality kibble we use. I like the low fat content of 8%, which we need for Casper...we have to keep a close eye due to back problems and HD. So after scouring the dog food available we are trying this one. I also feel that just feeding him really small portions is making him feel short changed, even though he gets lots of low fat kongs etc.. I also have ordered the formula for weight increase..this contains 14% and quality proteins specifically for Blake.
Homer is on Burnes lamb and rice. As a puppy he was on chudley's puppy food, wich he had started on but at about 6-9 months he had tummy trouble and Burnes was recommended. I alternated chicken and lamb varieties and found that lamb suited him better. I'm not sure raw feeding would be good for Himer as he gets soft poops after having a bone from the butcher. Homer says that a crunchy carrot after dinner is the best vegetable!
