The Best Dog Food for the Best Dog!

While you will never be able to provide Rover with the same variance in his diet as you do with yours, a good brand of dog food will help ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life. Even though we live in a fairly health conscious society today, some pet owners may be overlooking the importance of what type of dog food is preferable for their own dog care. Like people, dogs come in many shapes and sizes, and have different levels of activity, metabolism and genealogical factors to look at when deciding on what diet to provide.

From the day you pick up your new pet, the first step in puppy care is to choose the right dog food. Most packages will provide information on the amount of food required each day, but these are only guidelines, and need to be adjusted with the activity level of your pet. While most puppies are very active, and burn many calories, they should not get into the habit of having food around whenever they want. The responsible owner will monitor the amount of food given, and establish feeding routines early. While you may use dog treats for training rewards, be sure to keep this in mind at the next meal, and adjust the amount accordingly. This will ensure your faithful friend remains in tip-top shape and good health for many years.

There are a number of different types of dog food available, mostly geared to the age of the canine. While the first type is obviously puppy food, which should be provided until the pup is full-grown, an adult dog should be given the blend that best suits his or her nature. A working dog, such as a Border collie or retriever, needs more calories and fat in the diet than an animal that is happier lying in its dog bed for an entire afternoon. Most companies, such as Wellness dog food, have products specifically for older dogs, with less fat and fewer calories, but more of the necessary vitamins. There is one rule to keep in mind whenever your pet is undergoing a change in the food given; never make the change all at once. Start with one quarter of the new food to three quarters of the old, then half-and-half, then one quarter of the old and three quarters of the new, taking up to a week for a complete change. Animals have very sensitive digestive systems, and this will ensure a smooth transition to the new diet.