hi all
just wanted to know if i was doing the right thing by adding cooked chicken breast to their meals, my 2 boxers have been on this diet for about 5mths now(looking great, on the outside) but if i don't add the chicken,they seem to just nibble at the autarky occasionally, i know some will think i'm spoiling them, but this is how i've been feeding them and they seem to love it.
Am I spoiling their meals all together? adding more ingreidients than they need?
or is it okay what i'm doing?
I don't see any problems with them,they're the same bouncy dogs they were before i started on aurtarky apart from looking better now ,of course
They have put a bit of weght on though, only a couple of kilos give or take, my boy(Bruce) weighs 31.5kg and my girl(lucie) weighs 24.5kg, both look great,anyway, enough of me bragging!!  lol
should i stop giving extra chicken and leave them to eat autarky alone?
or.... don't change anything if they're happy with the chicken?
thx in advance, just wanted to know if i was spoiling the balance thats all
gary

I add Naturediet to my dog's Autarky, and haven't had any problems.  Mainly started because one dog started leaving his dried food, but since I've added meat to it, he finishes the lot.  I think as long as they are happy, energetic and healthy - and I don't remember the last time I had to take one to the vet! - it can't be a problem.
  Hilda

no,no problems whatsoever
when i first started adding chicken,they couldn't get enough and now know its their main meals,i reckon they just think its 'crunchy chicken' lol
i thought it would give them bad wind but obviously not,they're happy enough and if they eat it all up,i'm happy too :)

Gary I think your dogs have trained you perfectly well!

I feel Autarky to mine and also add either some Butchers Tripe, chicken or something that I consider to be nice.  I know this is really for my benefit and not theirs as they will eat it totally dry if left to it.  Once or twice a week I feel that I would like to give them a change.  I realise this is more my decision than theirs and that there are some people who would criticise anyone for feeding a complete food then adding to it. 

We have to do the best we can for our dogs to keep us and them happy.  If they like it, and you like feeding it, and all is well with their weight and health then why not continue?

i think it's a good idea,dogs need variety just like humans do and not to mention how boring it would be for the dogs to have a plain bowl of cereal day in day out! If your dogs arent picky you could also add:tinned sardines in oil or tomato sauce,mackarel,tripe,yoghurt,cottage cheese,vegies,all kinds of meats and organs,scrambled eggs,boiled egg,raw egg and for desert you can give them a chicken wing or neck to clean their teeth.The skie's the limit really :D

christine