Dog Training Tricks

Posts Tagged ‘best dog foods’

I got a great dane yesterday, and he’s a year and a half old. The previous owner was feeding him Nutro Max, but I’ve been reading up on it and it seems to have some bad reviews. I also heard that Pedigree is really bad for them, so I won’t feed him that. Also, he needs to gain weight. Are there any particular foods I should be feeding him for this? I heard a bit of raw chicken every other day will help him to pack on weight.

We can spout off good foods until we all turn blue, but it’s all a matter of which ones you can find. A good dog food is typically made just of meats, without a grain. But, if there is a grain, it must be wholesome. Dogs, being carnivores, do not process grains well at all. You want to look for a food that doesn’t use filler (corn, wheat and brewers rice) and no by-product. They’re used to make cheap dog foods and don’t do anything good for the dog. More is digestible in these foods, which leads to a better formed stool, and less of it. And, a healthier dog. For the price tags, you dog will end up eating much less for the same nutritional equivalent of nutro max or pedigree. They feel full faster, and are not always looking for food, and you’ll notice a difference in his coat after just a few weeks.

My dog, a german shepherd/mastiff mix, is said to need to eat 71/2 cups a day of pedigree to stay healthy. He eats maybe 4 a day of Taste of the Wild, and will actually leave food in the bowl. Blue Buffalo, Wellness, Innova, Canadae, Nutro Ultra (only Ultra is the good one, not the others), Taste of the Wild, Eagle Pack… the list goes on. Check some of these out online to get an idea of what you need to look for, then hit your local pet store and find one you like.

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If you are a dog owner then you will know how much your dog means to you. No doubt you have spent countless amounts of money on inoculations, leashes, blankets, toys and all manner of things to keep your pet happy and well. The one thing however that many dog owners overlook is what they are feeding their best friend. You may buy the most expensive dog food on the market but that doesn’t mean it’s the best. So what are the best dog foods? Let’s take a look.

In the main there are two types of food that you can give your dog – wet food and dry food.

Wet Food

Wet food is a more natural meal for a dog and would be what his ancestors would have eaten in the wild. Remember although your dog is tame its nature is feral and back in the wild it would have no doubt eaten animals whole, fur, feathers and all. So don’t think you have to go out and buy the best steak available as your dog will happily chew on a tougher cut and will digest it just as easily. Also you don’t need to be so fussy on the age of the meat, obviously you want to feed him the best dog foods and it goes without saying that you wouldn’t feed your dog rancid meat, but if it is a little older than you would probably like for yourself, it will still be ok for your dog. Dogs have very robust digestive systems and nature has already given them the tools to cope naturally with anything they would find in the wild.

Give A Dog A Bone

Dogs absolutely love bones, if you can get them from your local butcher and give one to your dog every few days it will do him the power of good. Not only will it help keep their teeth clean but they will have great fun hiding it and retrieving it at a later stage. Always remember however that all dogs are jealous of their possessions and a bone is no exception. Never try and take a bone away from your dog no matter how placid or gentle it is as most dogs will turn if you try to take away their bone and never under any circumstances let a child play with a dog when it has a bone.

Dry Food

Over recent years there has been a marked rise in the use of dry foods in a dog’s diet, to the extent that some dogs feed entirely on dry food. Now while they may get used to eating dried food, you must remember that this isn’t their natural diet.

If you are looking for best dog foods in a dry mix take extra care to check out the ingredients listing and make sure you try as much as possible to avoid preservatives. All processed dog foods often contain preservatives and dry foods in particular have them added during the manufacturing process. Dry dog food is processed at very high temperatures and some studies have shown that when some preservatives are heated they undergo a change in their chemical makeup which may in turn lead to long term damage to some internal organs.

Many cheaper dry dog foods make up their bulk with fillers like soy, wheat and corn which are not ingredients your dog would normally choose to eat. They will be more cost effective and will fill your dog up, but they are very definitely not among the best dog foods. Try to pick a dry food that is composed mainly of dried fish and meat protein which have added vitamins and no preservatives. Obviously if your dog has any specific allergies you should consult your vet before choosing which type of food would be best for your dog.

Mike Hooker

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