The History of Dog Food

It is an argument in our house whether the dog eats better than we do. Dogfood is often pound-for-pound more expensive than the mostly vegetarian diet we eat. Dogs are carnivores, but long ago most lost all ability to hunt for food and we scold them if they try. Most people feed dogs a commercial food that is mostly grain based. While some are returning to making their own raw meat or cooked dog food, this takes time, is expensive and takes knowledge to make sure the dog gets the nutrients it needs. Historically dogs around a home ate scraps. This is still the case in many poorer parts of the world. Advertising has taught us that feeding a dog table scraps even as an addition to dog food is bad. Commercial dogfood is complete and healthy on its own. 

The first dog food was made in the late 19th century. It was a biscuit of wheat meals, vegetables and meat.marketed as "Spratt's Patent Limited". After WW1 Ken-L Ration introduced canned horse meat as dog food as a way of using up dead horses. By the 1930s Gaines Food Co. also made dog and cat food. In Toronto during the Depression Dr. Ballard's marketed canned dog food by sponsoring a radio show about three bogs and their dogs called "Tom Dick and Harry". The storyline of the radio show always promoted feeding your dog Dr. Ballard's new dog food. At a time when many people did not have food for themselves, the dog food industry was growing.  By the time WWII ended, pet food sales had reached $200 million in the United States. 

In the 1950s companies like Nabisco, Quaker Oats, and General Foods, expanded into pet food production asa way to market the by-products of their industry. People were discouraged from feeding their dogs meat because it made the dog a 'finicky' eater and they were told it was too expensive. In reality commercial dog food was a convenient way to sell meat by-products and meat unusable by humans as well as grain by-products. These ingredients were mixed together and cooked at high temperatures to kill bacteria before being canned or dried. By the 1960's dog food marketers were hiring Veterinarians to not only mix their food but to add credibility to their ad campaigns. Health and convenience became the most important thing sold.

How this concoction looked to people was also important. Colour and amusing shapes make dogfood visually appealing to owners. Ken-L-Ration even made dried, extruded fake ground beef! Today after many dogfood quality health scares dogfood companies are still marketing a 'healthier' diet but lifestyle is what is advertised. Look at this link for many more interesting ads:http://www.caninest.com/clever-dog-advertising/

1970's