The Importance of Your Dog’s Diet

Dogs are naturally energetic and are full of joy. Unless they are under pressure or stressed, you would rarely see these furballs feeling down. They are dynamic to the point of venting their energy out on your shoes, your furniture and the likes. In these cases, you would think that it is time for you to bring your furry best friend to a dog training school in Sydney. That may not be a bad idea if your dog is making a habit of making confetti out of your books and other important documents.

There is one other time when you would see your dog feeling down. That is when they are feeling sick. As pet owners, you would want to avoid this since a trip to the vet is not an easy breeze for your wallet and most of all, you would not want to see your happy little pup to be sad and dispirited.

As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Prevent your pup from getting sick by giving them a nutritionally balanced diet!

No matter what kind of dog food you are giving your dog, they need the same benefits that human beings require to stay healthy. They need a balanced amount of Protein, Carbohydrates, Fats, Vitamins & Minerals and lots of water, especially in the summer.

When you are deciding what to feed your dog, you have to consider that there is a wide variety of food available that could cater to your pet’s needs based on their breed, age and health. So take your time in deciding which kind of diet fits best for your dog!

Puppy to Dog School, the best dog school in Sydney, offers a  breakdown on the things you need to know when choosing your dog chow.

If you are a first-time dog owner, you may hear some unfamiliar terms when people are talking about their dog’s diet. The aim of this article is to educate you on these terminologies and their different benefits.

Super premium dog food

Super premium dog food may sound like the holy grail of dog food, and that may not be far from the truth. It is the variety of dog food which is created using only superior or high-grade ingredients. If you want a completely balanced diet for your pet then Super premium food is the way to go. This kind of dog food provides all the essential nutrients your pup requires without any hidden fillers.

Since super-premium dog food is meant to make your dog feel like royalty, there has been a lot of research and care involved in the development of these puppy chow. There are actually different types of premium food, such as:

Breed-specific dog food

This kind of super premium dog food is developed based on the specific aspects of your dog’s breed. Breed specific dog foods are created while considering the reason why your dog is initially bred. Factors like the strengths of their breed and health issues they may be prone to. You can research about your dog’s breed, but it is best to consult your veterinarian or ask your personal dog trainer so you can have an insight of people who are experts on the matter.

This kind of super premium food provides balanced nutrition depending on what your dog needs to be their best.

Natural and Holistic dog food

This kind of dog food is natural and balanced. Natural and holistic dog food is packed with fruits, vegetables, meat and other nutrients essential to your pet’s health.

This variety of dog food is made of only natural ingredients without chemical alterations. This means that it does not have added colours, artificial flavours or preservatives. It is just composed of the best ingredients nature has to offer.

Grain-free dog food

Many dog foods utilise grains as ingredients. The most common grains that are found in dog food are barley, buckwheat, corn, oats, quinoa and rice. Your dog would not tell you this, but dog foods that are mainly made of grains are not really that tasty for them.

The grain-free varieties, however, are more enticing to your furry friends as they are prominently made with meat like chicken, beef or salmon. These are closely followed by sweet potatoes or pea starch.

The popularity of the grain-free dog food industry has positively taken off the last few years. A lot of pet owners who switched their pup’s food to grain-free alternatives are seeing positive changes in their dog’s health.

Puppy food

If there are super premium dog foods for older dogs, there are also super premium puppy food for your puppies. Any puppy school in Sydney would agree that puppyhood is a delicate stage in your dog’s life and it is important that your furball is given all the essential nutrients it needs to grow and develop into a happy adult dog.

Puppy food also comes in different categories, it is available in natural, holistic, grain-free and breed-specific diets. This helps you make sure that your furry buddy is starting off on the best paw.

Since puppyhood is fragile, you want to make sure that you are giving the food that is best suitable for your little friend. You can try reaching out to your vet, asking the head of the dog food store or speak with experts in a puppy school in Sydney.

Mature dog food

Different breeds may have different maturity age, but on the average, when your dog reaches seven years it is already considered as a mature dog.

Once your dog has reached this age, your furball would be needing a different set of nutrients. This is where mature dog food varieties come in. This dog food variety is designed for older dogs who are no longer hardcore fans of playing and vigorous activities. These are for the dogs that are taking life easier. This stage of life comes sooner for dogs of larger breeds as they start calming down and being chill when they reach the ripe age of five years old.

Since this variety targets the older dogs, it contains ingredients that address your furry buddy’s health needs as they get older. This includes elements such as glucosamine to support their joints, as well as other vitamins and minerals that help them age gracefully.

Special needs dog food

Much like human beings, some dogs may have been born with special needs. Some of these needs may be addressed by providing them with a suitable diet.

Some of the factors that special needs dog food varieties can help you with are Growth, Health maintenance, Weight loss, Allergies, Dental or oral care, and Energy levels.

Raw food

A lot of dog owners have been choosing to feed their dogs a raw diet. This is not such a bad idea since there are products that can help you do this safely. These products ensure that your dog is getting all the essential vitamins and nutrients.

Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or BARF is a diet that is based on fresh raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables along with other essential and tasty nutrients like live probiotics, cold pressed ground flaxseed and kelp powder.

This kind of food is presented in the form of a patty and is normally sold fresh or frozen. This is an amazing alternative to feeding your pup a premium pellet.

Homemade pet food

There is also the option of cooking your pet’s dog food, but this is not generally encouraged since it is hard to make sure that your home cooking is covering all the nutritional needs of your pup. Expertly manufactured dog food is made to do exactly just that. Manufacturers have dedicated a lot of time, money and effort to be able to develop varieties of dog food that deliver the vital nutrients that your furry friend needs to live a long and healthy life.