Charlotte Foster
Specific dog food for the Labrador? Special food for the French bulldog? Breed-specific dog food is more than just a marketing idea from feed manufacturers. Because different dog breeds have different nutritional needs. The specific foods for individual breeds make it easy for dog owners to optimally feed their four-legged friends.
The German Shepherd Dog is a versatile service, working, and herding dog, the Rottweiler has a strong build that suggests great strength, agility, and endurance, the Shih Tzu stands out with its silky coat. As different as dog breeds are, so are their nutritional requirements. While one breed of dog has a strong urge to move and therefore high energy requirements, another breed tends to be overweight. A high-quality diet depends on the special needs of a dog breed.
Proper nutrition is safe and easy with breed-specific dog food. The food, composed according to scientific knowledge, ensures that every animal – from the small Yorkshire Terrier to the strong Boxer – is well cared for. This makes it the best basis for health and long life.
Breed-specific nutrition not only takes into account the differences between the different dog breeds, but also the age, eating habits, possible tendencies to illnesses, and thus the physical requirements and characteristics of the different dog breeds.
Physically very active breeds like the German shepherd dog need particularly high-energy food. Other dog breeds, on the other hand, tend to have weight problems. They need food that, on the one hand, provides them with all the vital nutrients and, on the other hand, keeps them full and counteracts hasty gobbling. Owners of Golden Retrievers and Beagles, for example, should pay attention to the calorie intake of their four-legged friends.
Quite a few dogs are prone to breed-specific health issues. With increasing age, the risk of sensitivities or illnesses becoming noticeable increases. In many cases, owners can prevent problems by providing food that meets the physical needs of the dogs.
The best for heart and skin
Heart muscle weakness can occur in some dog breeds such as the Rottweiler, the Golden Retriever, or the Boxer. Nutrients such as taurine and L-carnitine support the heart muscle. Another special case is the Dalmatian because the black and white spotted dog tends to form urate urinary stones. To prevent urinary stones from forming, the Dalmatian needs a diet with moderate protein content and little purine. For animals with sensitive skin, the Golden Retriever and the English Bulldog are examples, there is special breed food with valuable vegetable oils and omega-3 fatty acids that can prevent skin irritation and improve the shine of the coat.
These are just a few examples of the peculiarities of dog breeds and how the composition of breed-specific dog food can do justice to them. In addition to the composition, the external form of the feed can also make a difference: For example, there are feeds that offer special dry food croquettes for different breeds. The shape of the croquette is then adapted to the dog’s snout. In addition, it can also have a positive influence on eating behavior: For example, it is typical for the Beagle to wolf down its food. The shape of a breed-specific kibble, therefore, encourages this dog to chew, preventing gulping and slowing down eating.
Benefits of breed-specific dog food at a glance:
- It makes it easier for dog owners to optimally feed their four-legged friends.
- It meets the different nutritional needs of different breeds.
- It is the best basis for health and long life.
- It can prevent breed-typical health problems in many cases.