Choosing a Dried Dog Food

There are a great many types and brands of dried dog food on the market and it can be hard choosing the most suitable one. First of all let’s talk about what dried dog food is and how it compares to other types of dog food.

Complete dried dog food has been baked into hard biscuit sized pieces. It is a good and complete source of nutrition and the crunching and chewing of the dried food acts like an abrasive against the teeth, removing plaque and stimulating the gums it can help keep teeth and gums in good condition. Complete dried dog food doesn’t tend to have the same smell as the canned, wet food. It is also easy enough to serve as you simply pour the required amount directly into the dog’s bowl, no mixing required.

Most leading dog food brands such as Royal Canin Dog Food develop differnet ranges depending on whether the dog is a puppy, adult, senior, certain breed or has sensitive digestion. But which is really the best for your dog?

If your dog is aged up to 18 months look at the different brands of puppy food. These are not breed specific usually because food developed for puppies and young dogs contains different types and quantities of ingredients. Puppies need different quantities of certain vitamins and nutrients, just like human babies. Puppy food also tends to be split by the breed size such as small (Shih Tzu), medium (Border Collie) or large (Bull Mastiff). Now you should be able to narrow down your choice of puppy food by size and age.

Many dog food manufacturers split their ranges by specific breeds and size of breeds so choosing food for an adult dog is sometimes a little easier depending on what your priorities are. Assuming there are no health considerations you may decide to choose by the dogs breed size which then just leaves the price, personal preference and flavours available when selecting the brand. Sample packs are great for finding out which flavour your dog likes best!). Or go straight for a formula developed specifically for the breed such as labrador dog food.

Other things to consider when choosing a dog food includes your own personal preference. Brands such as Arden Grange are animal friendly i.e. animals were not used during the development of the product in what some animal rights organisations consider to be cruel conditions. Price is also an important factor; it is far better for your puppy or adult dog to be fed the same brand and not to switch too often because it can cause an upset stomach or your dog to go on ‘hunger strike’. So make sure you look at what you will have to spend on a regular basis and if you will be able to keep that up.

Tip: If you have more than one dog of a similar size it might be a good idea to try to get them all on the same brand and range of food.