BEST DOG FOOD

01

How to Decide on the Best Dog Food Brands for Your Pup

© Getty Images Picking a great kibble for your puppy or dog can look daunting, but luckily experts have a few tips for when you're scanning the brand labels. Here's what grain-free, human-grade, and complete and balanced really mean.

Just take a walk down the dog food aisle and you'll realize that pet nutrition contains just as many buzzwords as the human kind: Grain-Free! Human-Grade! Healthy-Weight! Sorting through the noise and picking great kibble for your pup can feel daunting, but here, experts are sharing solid tips to make it all easier.

If you're just looking for a few quick recommendations, brands like Purina Pro Plan, Hill's Science, and Royal Canine might be good picks for your pup. But if you really want to learn the ins and outs of healthy foods, https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q,  for your dog, stick with us.

4 Things to Know Before You Shop for Dog Food, https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q

Loop in your vet. He or she can provide personal recommendations based on your pup's unique needs.

Look for the words "complete and balanced." They signal that the dog food should provide all the nutrients your pet needs in sufficient amounts. "Holistic" does not mean the same thing!

Or the "AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement," which you may also find in small print on the back or side of the packaging. AAFCO stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and it provides nutritional recommendations. Anything marked as "intermittent or supplemental" won't do the trick.

Get ready to measure. Obesity poses a big problem in the pet world. Using the right portion size for your dog's age, size, and activity level can help, so keep a dedicated measuring cup with the food instead of leaving out a full bowl. Make it fun and pour kibble into a puzzle or "slow feed" container, which doubles as a cool enrichment activity.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) also provides a few additional tips for curious shoppers. Click here for more detailed advice on buying dog food. https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q

When to Shop Premium vs. Affordable

"There are so many good dog foods out there," says Renee M. Streeter, DVM, DACVN, Veterinary Clinical Nutritionist at the Liverpool Village Animal Hospital in Liverpool, New York. "The most important thing to me is the company's quality control practices."

Those include employing a board-certified nutritionist to formulate the diet, testing the nutrient content and adequacy, and assessing for contaminants. Lots of major brands do this, but dog food still comes in all different price levels with various claims as to why some cost more than others.

Expensive varieties often boast about their ingredient lists. All dog foods, https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q,  must name everything that's in them in descending order by weight, but ingredient lists do not tell you anything about quality.

Manufacturers can also influence the order by splitting up similar components (e.g., flaked corn and ground corn) or adjusting the moisture. For example, dry "meat meal" , https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q, actually contains more meat than water-filled "whole meats," according to the American Kennel Club.

"Many people are concerned about foods containing by-products instead of whole meat," Streeter adds. "However, some parts of the animal that are considered by-products, such as liver, can be very nutritious."

The two biggest (and most expensive) buzzwords in pet food right now are grain-free and human-grade, but don't feel like you have to spend more.

"There is no reliable evidence that suggests that it is harmful to feed grains as a group to dogs," the Clinical Nutrition Team at Tufts University Cummings Veterinary Medical Center wrote on its blog. "Whole grains, rather than being 'fillers,' can contribute valuable nutrients."

As for human-grade, this marketing term should signify that the food and all of its ingredients meets federal regulations for human consumption. However, AAFCO states, "Human-grade does not automatically equal nutritional safety for pets."

Ultimately, choosing a formula comes down to what you and your vet think is right for your pet, but both premium and budget-friendly versions can contain healthy carbs, proteins, and fats.    https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q

How Does My Dog's Size Factor Into His Food?

Dog owners should also consider the right food for the size of their pets. Puppies do need specific puppy food, as they're growing very quickly.

Large-breed puppies in particular need more nutrients that support musculoskeletal growth, according to the AKC. Royal Canin makes one for puppies expected to reach 50 to 100 pounds in adulthood.

© Getty Images Samoyed Puppies Eating Dog Food,  https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q

As for adult dogs, you can buy food labeled "for all life stages," but feeding sedentary pets a calorie-rich mix also fit for young pups may contribute to weight gain. Smaller breeds can do better with smaller kibbles, but the super-specific distinctions become less important with dogs when they're older.

Is Wet or Dry Dog Food Better?

"Wet food is not necessarily better, but it's typically more palatable and the excess water it provides may help keep dogs hydrated," Streeter says. "Including at least some in the diet is reasonable."

Here's a quick tip for when you're scanning the cans: A named ingredient like "Beef Dog Food" means the product must contain at least 70% beef. However, names like "Beef Entree" or "Beef Dinner" only have to contain 25%. "With Beef" or "Beef-Flavored" doesn't have to contain much at all.

How to Deal With Weight Loss and Sensitivities

Uh oh: Your dog's weigh-in at the vet didn't go so well. Now what? While the doc may prescribe a special therapeutic diet, many brands sell food intended for chubbier pups as well.

"Weight-loss foods should be formulated with a lower-calorie density and may contain higher concentrations of other nutrients such as protein," Streeter says. "Often, they are also higher in fiber, which should help them feel more full."

For example, Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Weight Dog Food, https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q,  contains 15% fewer calories than its regular ONE SmartBlend formula.

© Getty Images Fat Pug

If you believe your dog suffers from a skin or stomach issue, the first thing you should do is consult your vet. The problem might stem from something other than diet.

Food marketed toward dogs with digestive sensitivities may limit certain ingredients or alter nutrient levels, but it depends on the company. Streeter advises seeking out formulas that contain omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oils to help soothe irritable skin, and switching to a food with new ingredients for tummy upset. Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food has hundreds of fans on Amazon.

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02

Dog Gone Problems: My dog guards its food and bones from other dogs

Dogs who guard resources do so to protect the item from perceived threats. A dog can guard a person, place or thing, and it can guard from people and dogs.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is forcibly taking the item from the dog when he or she guards. But since the guarding behavior is a result of the dog thinking you will take their item, forcibly taking it from them is one of the worst things you can do. It validates the dog’s perception and can easily lead to a real and often serious bite.

When I have a dog with a resource guarding problem, I usually do two things. First, teach the dog to drop and, second, teach the dog that I’m not a threat to steal their items.

Teaching a dog to drop is best accomplished with low-value items the dog is not guarding, such as a toy, ball, etc. This video covers how to teach a dog to drop.

Communicating that you are not a threat to take things is fairly easy, but it does take a lot of practice. You will use the same approach you would use for dogs and for people. But when you have a dog who guards from dogs, you will need a dog (or several) who are not reactive that you can lead easily to accompany you with the same method.

The concept is to approach the dog and stop before she feels threatened while creating a positive association with your presence. This video explains how to stop resource guarding in dogs. The video is of a dog who guards its kennel, but you can use the same approach for food , https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q, of bones. Just have a helper dog on a leash as you follow the steps.

03

After 6 years, Black Top Grill food cart moving to brick and mortar

“At one point, it just didn’t make sense for me to work there anymore,” Ceniceros said. “I wanted to be my own boss.”

Ceniceros purchased a food , https://amzn.to/31PHr7Q, cart and initially chose hot dogs as his primary cuisine of choice.

”Hot dogs were a comfort food I was familiar with and a comfort food with endless possibilities for creativity,” he said.

Ceniceros relished in the experimentation.

“We must have tried 155 different hot dog combinations in the first two years,” he said. “We tried things like a peanut butter and jelly hot dog. That didn’t work.”

Eventually, Ceniceros nailed down a selection of dogs that he now offers on a seasonal rotation. He also dabbles in flatbreads and quesadillas.

The Elotero dog proved to be his biggest hit, taking home the best hot dog nod from the Wurst Festival Ever hot dog festival in Phoenix, in 2018. Blacktop won the award again in 2019 for its Shanghai dog.

Ceniceros spent his early days serving his creations outside of Dragoon Brewing Company on West Grant Road, which, at the time, was also just getting off the ground.

“They were a little lobby when they started,” Ceniceros said. “It was the start of the brewery boom. We were with them throughout the years and saw them expand. It was motivating to see that.”

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