How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Airedale Terrier Puppies
The Airedale Terrier puppy is a lively little pooch, ready for any adventure its family has in mind. A versatile dog breed with energy to spare, the Airedale Terrier is a wonderful family companion, particularly for people with children.
A comical little pup, the Airedale Terrier puppy enjoys mischief-making, a trait that delights its family and friends. Highly intelligent, this pup can easily learn new skills; however, because this breed is very independent by nature, teaching the Airedale Terrier pup tricks can be a challenge. This breed requires an experienced owner that will patiently work with it using positive reinforcement training techniques.
The Airedale excels at many different pursuits including agility, obedience, hunting, conformation, and more. In its early development, the Airedale Terrier was designed to be a dog capable of participating in many activities, and thus, is equally at home in the field, on the job, or simply enjoying the company of its family on the couch.
A breed with high activity requirements, the Airedale Terrier should be exercised vigorously every day. During puppyhood, the Airedale’s activity sessions should be divided into shorter segments to promote healthy development. Because the Airedale Terrier puppy is highly energetic, weight gain is not usually a problem. Still, it is not recommended that this breed be free fed.
A true terrier, the Airedale Terrier puppy is prone to digging, barking, and chasing things when given opportunity to do so. A dog with high prey drive, this pup should be kept in a properly fenced yard at all times when outdoors. The breed will also alert bark at the presence of strangers.
Loyal and loving to its family, the Airedale Terrier puppy is an affectionate pet. However, the breed does not always get along well with other animals. If considered for a multi-pet home, it is best for this dog to join its new family when still a pup.
The Airedale Terrier puppy enjoys a long puppyhood, often not reaching full maturity until the dog is two years of age or older. For this reason, this breed should be fed a large breed puppy formulation until it reaches one year of age or 75 percent of its full adult size. At that time, it can be transitioned to an appropriate adult food. One of the best things about Airedales is they remain youthful well into their senior years.
Though typically very healthy, Airedales can be predisposed to a number of health conditions including hip dysplasia, allergies, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy, umbilical hernia, Von Willebrand’s disease, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and cancer. The best course of action to support optimal wellness in the Airedale Terrier puppy is to select a diet that includes supplements to boost skin, joint, eye, and immune system health. In addition to this; since the Airedale Terrier puppy can suffer from allergies, owners should avoid diets containing common food allergens.
The best dog foods for Airedale Terrier puppies contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. It is also important that the food contain the correct amount of calcium to phosphorus to encourage a healthy rate of bone growth. Experts agree that this should be 1.2 parts of calcium for each included unit of phosphorus.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Airedale Terrier Puppies
Determining how much of a diet to feed a pup can be a challenging task. Thankfully, the best dog foods for Airedale Terrier puppies list suggested serving sizes that provide a helpful starting point. Owners can utilize these guidelines, making adjustments for their puppy’s weight, activity level, and appetite until the correct portion is found.
The Airedale Terrier puppy is highly active, and thus, is unlikely to become overweight. However, too much weight on a puppy’s frame can have a negative impact on joints, so it is important to ensure the Airedale pup maintains a healthy body weight. To this end, free feeding is discouraged. All intake for this pup should be carefully measured and monitored to promote the optimal body condition.
Dietary Requirements for Airedale Terrier Puppy Foods
The Airedale Terrier puppy is an athlete and requires a diet that is primed to fuel its daily energy needs. The best dog foods for Airedale Terrier puppies are based on a lean, meat-based protein. A whole meat makes for the ideal foundation; however, ample nutrients are also found in meat meals. Though by-products are commonly utilized as a protein source in commercially prepared diets, these are not of sufficient nutritional quality to meet the needs of the Airedale Terrier puppy.
Plant proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are commonly linked to allergies in many dogs. For this reason, foods containing them are best avoided. Likewise, ingredients such as chemicals, additives, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives are often added to foods to help improve their appearance and shelf life. These ingredients offer no nutritional benefit to Airedale Terrier puppies and can trigger recurring allergies in the breed.
Carbohydrates play an important role in the Airedale Terrier puppy’s diet, contributing the antioxidants and fiber needed for good digestion and a healthy immune system. These carbohydrates can come from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. Puppies that have shown sensitivities to grains in the past may do best on a grain-free diet.
Healthy fats help the Airedale Terrier puppy to enjoy excellent coat and skin health, brain and eye development, and strong reserves of energy. The best sources for these ingredients are chicken fat and oily fish.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Airedale Terrier Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Airedale Terrier puppy:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
Airedale Terrier puppies do best on a diet that is based on a lean meat. Whole meats are the best option; however, meat meals are also an excellent choice for the foundation for a high quality diet.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to an Airedale Terrier puppy. Diets containing any of these items are best left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
The most beneficial supplements for the Airedale Terrier puppy are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Airedale Terrier puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.