The foods that you eat have varying effects on your body and the same applies to the dog food that you give to your pet.
A working dog diet is perfect for larger breeds that are active and don’t spend all day sleeping. Most dog owners provide their pets with standard dog nutrition, and this is fine.
But if you have a working dog, you will need to provide it with adequate nutritional requirements based on what it does.
While it can be hard to track calories and monitor how much it’s burning. There are ways to ensure that your dog is getting the best working dog food.
What is a Working Dog?
Since dogs have been domesticated, they were used for a variety of tasks along with being the best companions. These tasks included herding, farming, sledding, and hunting.
These days dogs are also used for law enforcement, show, service, and agility competitions. Certain breeds have also been developed to perform tasks designed for their bodies and minds.
Common working dogs include breeds such as the German Shepherd, Saint Bernard, Rottweiler, Newfoundland, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Swiss Mountain Dog, Siberian Husky, and so on.
These dogs are known for having high energy levels and require a proper diet to match the dog’s active lifestyle.
Working Dog Food
To ensure that your working dog is getting the calories that it needs after a long day’s work, you need to provide them with high-quality dog foods that meet the dietary requirements for active dogs.
However, there are specialised diets such as BARF (bones and raw food) that can provide an active dog with everything it needs.
Real animal protein is a great way for most dogs to get their fats and protein; however, some dogs prefer dry dog food. If this is the case, a blend of raw foods and high-quality dog food brands can be enough for most working dogs.
Feeding working dogs the proper diet isn’t only for the dog’s performance but it’s essential for the pet’s health.
What Not to Do
As with most pet dogs, it’s never a good idea to overfeed non-working dogs. This will cause them to gain weight and it will be bad for their daily intake.
Feeding working dog breeds after strenuous activity is another bad idea as this can cause digestive issues and discomfort. Always wait an hour or two before feeding.
Drastically changing the diet or introducing new food to your working dog’s diet can spell disaster as it can cause gastrointestinal problems. Easing them into a balanced diet is always the best way to go about it.
Raw or Dry Food?
If your dog is a picky eater, it can be hard to introduce them to something foreign. Pay attention to what they like and provide them with a healthy alternative.
Many dogs love beef and turkey, so it can be a viable option to include these as high protein options in their meals.
Generally speaking, other dog foods that are great for most working dogs include high fat and essential amino acids for enough energy and long-term health benefits.
