Page 298 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

298 C ARE AND TR AINING

FOOD AND FEEDING

Keeping a dog healthy is largely a question of feeding him
the right food in the right quantities. There are several options:
complete, premade dried or wet foods; raw, uncooked foods;
or a diet created from combination of these. Whatever you
decide on, aim for a good nutritional balance and tailor the
A puppy’s dietary needs
change as he matures quantities to suit the size and age of your dog.

A balanced diet WHICH DOG BOWL?
Premade dog food is the choice of many owners since it is It is best to invest in a sturdy
both quick and convenient. Reading the labels on processed stainless steel bowl with sloping
edges rather than a plastic bowl.
foods will tell you what type of dog they are suitable for. Pick a size that your new dog
Make sure you use a type that is appropriate for your dog’s can reach into easily.
age. Some foods are available in puppy, junior, adult, and
senior varieties, and buying the right formula is important. affect the care of his teeth.
When in doubt about what quantities to feed, ask your vet A dog that is fed exclusively Stainless-steel bowl
for advice. If you decide to feed your dog a mixture of wet wet food is more likely to
and dried food, be careful to halve the quantity of each so need to have his teeth
you are not overfeeding him. cleaned regularly.
A balanced diet consists of the right quantities of nutrients: Your dog needs two bowls:
proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Using one for food and one for
processed foods ensures that you get the balance right; if water. Put the food bowl
you feed your dog fresh food, his diet needs a little more down only at mealtimes and
thought. A dog’s nutritional requirements change as he ages. remove it as soon as your Plastic bowl
Puppies need high levels of protein and calcium to aid dog has finished eating. The
growth and development. Geriatric dogs, on the other hand, water bowl should be left in
require particularly high-quality protein, as well as increased an accessible place at all times and should always be kept
levels of certain vitamins as their kidney function slows filled with fresh water. Of the various types of bowls
down. Reduced kidney function can lead to dehydration due available, the best are stainless steel, since they can be
to too much water being excreted, so you may decide to feed thoroughly cleaned after each use and, unlike plastic bowls,
an older dog a wet diet rather than dried food to increase cannot be chewed. Bowls with sloping edges are a good
his water intake. The sort of food your dog eats will also choice because they are difficult for your dog to tip over.

TYPES OF FOOD
Dry food provides
your dog with a
complete, age-
appropriate diet.
Wet food alone
may lead to dental
problems. Raw food,
such as meat and
vegetables, takes a Dry food for Senior Canned Meat from Raw
little longer to prepare. puppies food food a pouch food

US_298-299_FoodandFeeding.indd 298 12/09/19 9:46 AM