I wrote part one of this two-part series in August 2018. At the end of it I told readers to expect part two in “about a month.” That was about a year ago. So why’d it take so long? In short, I’ve come to believe there’s a scandal at the heart of the matter and it has […]
Recent Posts by VP Coaching Staff
In a way, this piece is a reaction to a press release issued by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month informing pet owners that the organization had begun investigating a potential link between diet and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), an historically rare disease characterized by enlargement (dilation) of the heart muscles. But, more […]
A major recent study suggests that being just moderately overweight is deadlier for a dog than a lifetime of smoking is for a human being. Being just “a little fat” is simply horrible for a dog’s health. It is literally worse than smoking. And being “very fat”? Well, it’s likely even worse than that. That’s […]
Canine diabetes mellitus is one of the most common and serious endocrine disorders diagnosed in pet dogs. It’s often debilitating, sometimes deadly, and almost always expensive to treat. Studies suggest that it’s getting more common too. In lay terms, the disease is characterized by having too much sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream and not enough […]
As any dog owner can attest, the modern pet food market is practically bubbling over with choice. At least that’s the way it seems. Producers certainly do a wonderful job of making it feel like they’re offering consumers an abundance of choices, with “Limited Ingredient Diets,” “High Protein Diets,” and, of course, “Grain-Free Diets” being […]
What follows is my skeptical analysis of the arguments commonly made for why raw-ingredient diets are “better” for dogs than those based primarily upon cooked products. It’s a lengthy (3,000+ words) and in-depth piece. Perfect for passing the time while waiting for a delayed flight or taking a break from an awkward Thanksgiving table debate about the recent election. I have been […]
A few days ago, Dr. Patricia McConnell was good enough to review Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma on her blog. Her review is thoughtful, overwhelmingly positive, and very kind (she even gives major kudos to Kody!). However, I believe that she also mischaracterizes some of what I’ve written in the book. So earlier today I took the […]
So the presidential election (and all the associated campaigning) is finally over. And, if you’re anything like me, the sudden evaporation of the media circus that surrounds the election has left you with a bit of space to direct your attention to the many subjects that you truly consider worthwhile. It is, in other words, the […]
On most mornings, before I start working, I spend 10-15 minutes playing fetch with Kody. As I’ve explained in Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma (currently the #1 Hot New Release in its Amazon category, thanks to y’all), the evidence suggests that while exercise doesn’t play a huge role in reducing body fat, it does help build/maintain musculature. And […]
Today is a big day for me. I’ve spent the better part of the past decade researching and writing a book. It’s called Dogs, Dog Food, and Dogma. It’s about America’s pet obesity epidemic. And it’s being released today. I had originally planned for this “release day” post to be about why I wrote the book. My personal motivations, the cast […]