Finding the Right Dog Food

So, how do you know what's right for your dog? There are alot of factors that are involved in choosing the right dog food. Age, size, breed, allergies, all of these can be contibuting factors in your search. Let me explain to you some things in the pet food world. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HOLISTIC! Legally, there is no description or guidelines for the term holistic, so foods that claim that they are holistic really aren't. Your just paying extra for the work HOLISTIC on the bag. There is no difference in a "holistic" food like Blue Buffelo and a good nutritional food like Science Diet other than the "holistic" name label and the "holistic" higher price. Don't buy into a "holistic" food label. FOR ALL LIFE STAGES When a dog food is labeled for all life stages this simply means that it MUST support ALL life stages, including puppy, adult, and senior dogs. When a dog is a puppy, it needs more nutritionally to build a strong immune system and grow up big and strong, therefore, it usually contains alot more fat, protein, etc, than your adult or senior dog needs, and in turn, can trigger weight gain or other problems. When a bag reads "FOR ALL LIFE STAGES" you should think of it as no more than a puppy food. SENIOR/MATURE ADULT FOODS Usually an older adult dog needs more joint and immune support with glucosamine in their diet than mid aged adults. They also usually, if they are alot older, may need smaller kibbles because they may have less teeth or have trouble chewing. If your dog is older than 6 years old, it's probably a good idea to get them started on a mature adult food spacific to their size (mature adult large breed, etc.). SMALL BREED VS. LARGE BREED FOODS There are foods out there simply for adult dogs, which is usually okay for medium sized dogs like Aussies, Pits, Rotts, etc, but its the biggest and smallest breeds that you should probably be feeding size spacific foods. Larger breeds have hip and joint problems, shed alot, and don't live as long as smaller breeds, and smaller breeds usually have allergies, skin problems, and smaller jaw sizes than large breeds. Pure breed or Designer breed, it's always a good idea to put your dog on a food spacific to it's size. BREED SPACIFIC FOODS Breed spacific foods are probably to easiest and best way to go. Because the food is BREED SPACIFIC it was designed spacifically with your dog in mind, down to the size and shape of the breeds teeth and jaw, to the kind of hair (evergrowing or shedding), the immune systems, whether you dog needs flatulence help like the Pug, or targeting hearing or sight loss. Eukanuba and Royal Canin both make breed spacific foods and I will be reviewing both brands shortly, so check my posts. My top 3 dog food brands: Royal Canin Science Diet Eukanuba Iams is also a pretty good food, as long as your checking your ingredients for red 40.