How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Airedale Terriers
A dog of immense bravery and high intelligence, the Airedale Terrier is well renowned for its striking good looks and tenacious charm. The Airedale was developed to be a dog that was highly versatile, excelling at many different pursuits. Though a member of the terrier group, the Airedale Terrier is equally at ease in the field, on the job, or competing in dog performance events such as obedience, agility, conformation, and hunt tests.
True to its terrier roots, the Airedale Terrier is most content with a job to do. This job can be as simple as playing with children, a role this breed enjoys to no end.
The Airedale Terrier is known for several “normal” terrier traits including digging, barking, and chasing. A dog with high energy requirements, the Airedale requires regular vigorous exercise on a daily basis to remain physically and mentally content. Because of its high activity level, the Airedale Terrier is unlikely to become overweight. However, free feeding this handsome breed is still strongly discouraged.
A breed that is quite intelligent, the Airedale Terrier is also a dog with a mind of its own. An independent thinker, the Airedale prefers charting its own course, making training this breed somewhat of a challenge. This breed does not respond well to aversive training methods and should be handled only with treats and praise.
The Airedale Terrier has an exceptionally high prey drive, and thus, a secure form of containment when outdoors is a must for this breed. The Airedale does not always get along with other pets; for best results, it is wise to introduce an Airedale into a multi-pet home when the dog is still a pup.
Because the Airedale Terrier loves the sound of its own voice and is naturally protective of those it loves most, this breed will alert bark at the presence of strangers. The breed makes an excellent guard dog. Airedales are affectionate with their family members, lavishing them with loyalty and love.
However, the Airedale Terrier can also be a bit of a clown, taking great delight in entertaining its family members. The breed has a mischievous streak which many owners find quite endearing. A dog breed that enjoys a lengthy puppyhood, the Airedale continues its youthful ways right into its senior years.
A dog breed that typically enjoys excellent health, there are a few genetic conditions that can affect the hardy, athletic Airedale Terrier. These include hip dysplasia, allergies, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy, umbilical hernia, Von Willebrand’s disease, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and cancer. To help support optimal wellness in the Airedale Terrier, it is recommended that this breed be fed a diet that includes supplements to boost eye, joint, skin, and immune system health. Because the Airedale can also suffer from allergies, it is best to avoid foods that contain some of the most common food-based allergens.
The best dog foods for Airedale Terriers contain approximately 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Airedale Terriers
Determining the appropriate amount of food to feed an adult Airedale Terrier can pose somewhat of a challenge. Thankfully, the best dog foods for Airedale Terriers offer suggested servings sizes based on age and weight that can be used as a starting point. These amounts can be adjusted incrementally until the correct portion has been found. The dog’s weight, appetite, and activity level will all serve as helpful guidelines.
The Airedale Terrier is both active and athletic, and thus, weight gain is rarely a worry. Still, the breed can be predisposed to developing hip dysplasia. For this reason, it is even more important that the Airedale maintain a healthy body weight. All food should be carefully measured and all intake monitored.
Dietary Requirements to Look for Airedale Terrier Dog Foods
The Airedale Terrier is a natural athlete that enjoys a busy lifestyle. To keep pace with its daily activity needs, this breed requires a diet that bases its recipe on a lean, meat-based protein. The best dog foods for Airedale Terriers include a whole meat or meat meal as the basis of their formula. By-products are taken from cuts of meat deemed less desirable for human consumption, and thus, can be of lesser nutritional quality for dogs.
The plant proteins soy, corn, and wheat are common allergens for many dogs. Since the Airedale Terrier can be prone to food-based allergies, diets containing these ingredients are best avoided. Many commercial dog food manufacturers also utilize ingredients such as chemicals, additives, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives to help improve the appearance and shelf life of a food. Foods that contain these items are best left on the shelf as they can trigger recurring allergies in the Airedale Terrier.
Carbohydrates help the Airedale Terrier to achieve good digestion and a thriving immune system. The nutrients required for these important bodily systems are found in antioxidant and fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Dogs with sensitivities to grains may do best on a grain-free diet.
From healthy fats, the Airedale Terrier receives the essential fatty acids required for coat and skin health and strong reserves of energy. The ideal sources for these fats are found in animal-based foods such as chicken fat and oily fish. Some plant-based oils such as canola, safflower, sunflower, and coconut offer an excellent alternative, also offering bountiful amounts of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Supplements help a diet to work its most effectively, boosting the overall nutrition contained in a food. The most beneficial supplements for the Airedale Terrier are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Foods for Airedale Terriers
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Airedale Terrier:
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Lean, meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
A true carnivore, the Airedale Terrier requires a diet based on a lean, meat-based protein to achieve optimal health and wellness. The ideal foundation for a healthy diet for this breed is a whole meat or meat meal.
By-products and the plant proteins soy, corn, and wheat are not suitable to meet the nutritional needs of the athletic Airedale Terrier. Foods basing their formulations on these ingredients are best avoided.
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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. 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 are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Airedale Terrier should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.