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The Dog House: Selecting Your Dog

Let's face it--all hot dogs were not created equal. Many dogs, especially American brands, tend to be very dull and flavorless and taste like bologna or bread flavored with fat. Why buy hot dogs that taste like bologna? If you want bologna, then buy bologna. But if you want a hot dog, then be prepared to spend a bit more to get a real dog, not the cheap store brands or even some of the more well-known, but flavorless brands. All of the recipes contained here use real dogs: dogs full of flavor and spices and meat, and low on soy and fillers; dogs that add to the flavor of the final product, rather than detract from it.

How can you tell a good dog?
     First, you can tell a good dog by its color. A good dog is dark and reddish, like meat, not the dull, lifeless tan or pink of bologna. John Morrell and Fletcher's are two good North American brands. Also, Hebrew National makes good dogs, although they tend to be a bit pricey at more than US$3 for six dogs. Fletcher's and John Morrell dogs tend to be around US$2.25 per pound, at least in this neck of the woods, and well worth the money.

Also, hot dogs labeled German or Polish are spicier than regular dogs, as are kilbasas. (In fact, a good way to judge your hot dogs is to compare their color with that of kilbasas.) Bratwurst and sausages are also spicier than regular dogs and add a rich flavor to these recipes.

Second, the good dogs tend to be at least 2 ounces (56 grams) each (eight dogs per 16 ounce package), not the skinny, 1.2 ounce dogs (10 dogs per 12-ounce package). However, if you're on a tight budget, the 1.2 ounce dogs will do. If you have to buy these, then the turkey dogs are usually spicier and more flavorful than the chicken or meat dogs.

Third, compare the ingredients. In the U.S., companies are required to list ingredients in order, from the main ingredient, to the least ingredient. What is listed first? Is it beef? Or pork? Or by-products? What ingredient is listed second? If you are looking for meat hot dogs, then be sure the meats are listed first. If you are looking for chicken or turkey dogs, then be sure that is the first ingredient. Beef hot dogs should contain only beef, chicken hot dogs only chicken, and so on. Meat hot dogs, however, will contain several types of meat and meat by-products.

Lastly, be prepared to try several brands before settling on a favorite, and don't depend on fancy advertising or packaging to make your choices for you. If you do, then you could be paying for all that advertising fluff, instead of a quality dog. I've never seen any advertising for my favorite brands, and those that do spend a lot on advertising, well . . . I'd rather just pass up.