What to feed your dog and how much they need

What pet food to choose

The best type of food for your pet is a quality pet food that matches their age and life stage. Are they a puppy, an adult or a senior dog? Each type of pet food (puppy or adult) is formulated to supply all the nutrients that your dog needs at this stage in their life.

Tip: A dog’s life stage will depend on their breed, as larger dogs mature more slowly. For example, a 15-month-old great dane would be considered a puppy, while a terrier the same age is an adult.

The next thing to consider is whether to feed your pet dry food, wet, or a mixture of the two. Both types have benefits: dry dog food is better for an animal’s dental health because it gives them something to crunch on. However, wet food is great because it’s high in moisture – around 80 percent – and a lot of pets in New Zealand can benefit from extra hydration due to our warm climate and outdoorsy lifestyle.

A good compromise is mixed feeding – both wet and dry dog food together – as it offers pets a wider range of health benefits.

How much food does my dog need?

Once you’ve determined the best food for your pet’s age and life stage, use the feeding guide on the back of the pack to determine portion sizes. The feeding guide is exactly that – a guide. Pets, just like humans, get different amounts of exercise and have slightly different metabolisms. Follow the guide to begin with, then monitor your pet’s body condition. Reduce their ration if they’re putting on too much weight, or increase it if they’re too lean.

Knowing what a healthy weight looks like can help you avoid pet obesity. Look at three areas: can you feel the ribs but not see them? If you look down on your pet from above, can you see a defined waist? Finally, look at the abdominal tuck – from the side, you want to see your dog’s rib cage taper upwards toward their abdomen.

How to use dog treats

Treats can be a useful part of your pet’s diet, as long as you don’t overdo it. As a general rule of thumb, treats should not exceed 10 percent of your pet’s daily calories.

Which treats you choose comes down to their purpose – why are you giving the treat to your dog? If you’re training your dog using positive reinforcement, strips that you can cut into small pieces are great; they’re easy to carry and are a good, high-value reward.

If you want to occupy a dog, opt for something that’s longer-lasting and designed to be chewed.

Then there are treats to support dental health. Traditionally, dogs were given bones to eat and chew on, but these can be problematic – they come with risks, including tooth damage. However, if you do offer your dog bones, they should always be raw and never cooked. A safer choice is a dental treat, which has a texture that’s been designed to help clean the teeth and gums as the dog chews.

Looking for quality pet food your dog will love?

Check out our range of dog and puppy food online and in-store.

Photo Credit: Daniel Mahon