Our Nutrition Philosophy can be summed up simply, Fresh is Best.
It is not anything fancy or complicated. We want to make it easy for you to put fresh food back into your dog’s meals. Happy Hounds is formulated with carefully chosen and obsessively sourced fresh ingredients. Everything that goes into our food adds real nutritional and flavour value for your hound’s health and happiness.
It is hard to ignore the correlation between the increase in highly-processed dog diets and the increase in allergies, obesity, diabetes and other diseases in our pets. We understand that dogs, like humans, thrive with unprocessed foods and a diverse diet.
There is a growing body of evidence identifying the dangers of some industrial pet manufacturing processes and indicating that fresh food has the following advantages over extruded, high-heat-processed foods (kibble):
Fresh is more bioavailable (your hound digests more of the goodness),
Fresh is associated with fewer cancer risks,
Fresh is associated with healthier blood-fat levels (reducing risks of heart attacks, strokes); and
Fresh is naturally tastier.
Additionally, feeding fresh increases the diversity of gut bacteria in your hound’s microbiome which is great for immune health and allergy defence.
“Complete and balanced” are critical words to look for when choosing what to feed your hound. Complete and balanced dog foods include the necessary vitamins and nutrients to keep your hounds alive. But we want your hounds to do more than survive, we want them to thrive, to be happy and healthy and with you for longer.
Our Proteins
All dogs require protein to survive and thrive. Proteins carry essential amino acids that build muscle, tissue, skin, ligaments and cartilage as well as contribute to energy production, all of which your dog needs to be fit and healthy. While dogs can produce some of their necessary amino acids, 10 of their 22 have to come from high quality dietary protein.
We only use high-quality, animal proteins that we know your hound will love.
Insect protein is a rich source of Lauric Acid, a medium chain fatty acid, which supplies energy to brain tissue for the support of healthy brain functioning and alertness. Insect exoskeletons contain a nutrient called chitin which has a prebiotic effect in the gut, helping to support healthy digestion.
Venisonis available seasonally from April to September, as hunting occurs when animals are not calving. We're committed to working closely with seasonal availabilities rather than sourcing from untraceable sources.
Marine fishare a good source of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which supports cognitive health.
Eggs are an excellent source of a well-balanced amino-acid profile, important for the maintenance and support of muscle tissue.
Our Fresh Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit
We have learned that dogs evolved from their carnivorous wolfy cousins to be more omnivorous. Both wolves and dogs need a certain amount of energy to carry out their daily activities. Energy comes from protein, fats and carbohydrates. While wolves thrive with a 54:45:1% protein:fat:carbohydrate energy profile, dogs have adapted to a more diverse, starch-richer diet with a 30:63:7% profile[1].
Carrots are rich sources of carotenoids and can be converted into Vitamin A. This means they play an important role in supporting both a well-functioning immune system and the mucosal membranes in your hound’s respiratory system.
Sweet Potatoes are an excellent source of fibre and important B-complex vitamins. They contain a balance of soluble and insoluble fibre which is important in maintaining normal gut functioning and digestive health.
Pumpkin is full of nutrients while having a lower calorific value compared to other vegetables. This makes it great for a weight-control diet.
Celery contains functional nutrients such as Vitamin C, Beta-carotene and other flavonoids which support the immune system during an inflammatory response.
Blueberries and Rosemary are sources of natural antioxidants that protect cell integrity by reducing potential damage from free radicals.
[1] The effect of a raw vs dry diet on serum biochemical,hematologic, blood iron, B12, and folate levels in Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Read More Here
Our Amino Acids, Vitamins & Minerals
Nutritional Yeast Extract offers a unique taste profile, umami, to enhance the flavor profile. Yeast Extract also contains Vitamin B12 an important vitamin in the energy metabolism cycle.
Taurine is a precursor molecule to bile salts which supports fat digestion and helps maintenance of a healthy heart. It is also an important nutrient for the development of normal eye health and vision.
Calcium and Phosphate are included in the range of fortifying macro and micro minerals. Both are very important minerals for the maintenance and support of a healthy skeletal system and strong teeth.
Besides the rich supply of vitamins from all the fresh vegetables, our product is fortified with extra vitamins to ensure the support of a healthy functioning immune system.