Working dog food unrivalled in quality and value for over 40 years. For active, healthy dogs at every stage.
Working dog food unrivalled in quality and value for over 40 years. For active, healthy dogs at every stage.
Feeding Guidelines are given with the best of intentions but every dog is an individual. Three things are essential to your dog’s wellbeing as far as feed is concerned.
1) Weigh your dog and start with the guideline level of Feed. This will be everything your dog requires. If you give your dog rewards or treats then it is essential to compensate by reducing the dog’s feed accordingly.
2) Watch your dog’s condition and take control of its feeding yourself. Start with the recommended levels and if your dog gets ribby at any time then add to the recommendation until its healthy weight is achieved. Likewise if your dog is overweight do the opposite.
3) It is best to feed your dog twice a day. Many better quality feeds are balanced so that the stress on your dog’s digestive system is minimised. You may feel the amounts are too small but this is in the dog’s best interests. Only add to the recommended amount as per item 2. Protein percentages are not the main factor, rather it is the quantity of protein a dog gets that matters. So a feed with 50% protein food will deliver the required amount of protein to two similar dogs with half the volume of feed (and poo) that a 25% protein feed will require.
There comes a point, however, with higher protein feeds where dogs do not feel “sated” and can start eating their poo and scavenging.
Our recommendation is a puppy should aim to be fed 26% – 28% feeds, an adult between 21% and 24% and a senior dog 22% -25% to keep its muscles strong to support joints but it is essential that the fat and oil levels are reduced in comparison to adult feeds.