The Optimum Training Diet
You might want to consider a premium diet when training your dog. A healthy dog will be much quicker in understanding you in training sessions than a less healthier one. And the basis for good health lays in premium food.
It depends on the money you can spend whether you can give your dog fresh meat. However I believe it is essential you invest in a good dry food brand. When you look for a good brand this is what you should keep in mind…
When checking the label you’ll find the ingredients are in a specific order. The more of an ingredient in the food contains the higher it is on the list. If corn is on top of the list it means that the food contains corn more than anything else.
One of the ingredients that makes cheap dog food less preferable is the high percentage of ‘waste’ animal parts. When you see ‘by products’ on the label, it’s better to avoid these brands. If it does appear on higher quality dog food, which is rare, it will be listed near the bottom indicating a small proportion.
By-Products Meals are animal parts like feathers, claws, blood that are not good for human consumption. You can find them in animal food, because it is legal to use them for animals, but they don’t provide high quality energy and they don’t attribute to a good health of your dog.
Just as one indicator, dogs with healthy coats (particularly, long-haired breeds) will look shinier and shed less. Assuming proper bathing and brushing habits, of course.
Professionals usually recommend the following proportion between meat, vegetables and starch: about 40%, 30%, 30%.
The bigger brands use chicken meat, beef or lamb as a source of protein. All three types of meat are exellent for a vital dog with a shiny coat and a good general health.
The vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that produce hormones and enzymes, which is important for strong bones among others. For example carrots and squash are extremely good vegetables for dogs.
The best starch comes from brown or integral rice. Rice is an terrific carbohydrate, unlike other cereals like corn. Starch is broken down by the dogs stomach and provides energy and aids in cell repair.
Not all dogs are made alike and thus dietary needs can vary between breeds. Take the Golden Retriever for instance. This breed is quite sensitive to wheat based foods. But what you want to avoid especially are corn based feed, because that’s the hardest to digest for any dog.
Always look for good quality ingredients in a dog food. If you need more information consult your vet, because he can recommend the right diet for your dog. When you feel your dog is in bad shape, scratches, or has soft stool, talk to your vet.
Some dogs will find dry dog food more enjoyable if prepared with a little water and microwaved for about 30 seconds. Feed dry is thought to add to teeth and gum hygiene.
Be carefull with treats. Even quality treats tend to have a high fat content. This is one of the reasons dogs enjoy them so much. One or two per day isn’t harmful, but go for the quality brands.
The price differential for good food is sometimes considerable. Higher quality dog food often costs two to three times as much. But considering the effects on hour dogs health you’ll likely make up for it in lower vet bills, or at least in a healthier dog.
You’ll have a happier, healthier and more energetic dog. But most of all, the training sessions will be more efficient and he’ll learn a lot faster. And that is a good investment.
