How to Select the Best Dog Food for Basenjis
The strong-willed Basenji is full of energy, mischief, and fun. A breed that hails from Africa, the Basenji is well renowned for being barkless. However, this breed is not silent. It has its own unique vocalizations unlike the sounds made by other dogs.
The Basenji is not a breed for the novice dog owner. It is known for being particularly stubborn and unwilling to learn new things. The breed is fiercely intelligent and requires regular vigorous exercise and mental stimulation to remain a contented family companion.
Basenjis can learn new skills; however, they are very unreliable as to when they will obey the commands they have learned. The breed can be very manipulative, easily training its owners to do its bidding.
The Basenji excels at finding ways to escape even the most carefully constructed yard. For this reason, they need to be carefully supervised even when contained in a fenced space. They make exceptional watchdogs, enthusiastically yodeling at the presence of strangers.
Another unique quality of the Basenji is its feline like desire for cleanliness. The breed is also known for shedding only minimally.
Highly athletic, the Basenji is not known for gaining weight easily. Free feeding is still discouraged for this energetic little pooch. All food should be measured and all intake monitored to ensure a healthy weight and body condition.
The best dog foods for Basenjis should contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Basenjis
The athletic Basenji requires a premium performance diet to thrive. The best dog foods for Basenjis list suggested serving sizes which can provide a helpful starting point for owners trying to determine how much to feed their dog. These can be adjusted with the dog’s age, weight, activity level, and appetite providing helpful guides for increases and decreases.
Because the Basenji is a busy pooch, the breed can be predisposed to forgetting or not stopping to eat. This can make this breed prone to becoming underweight. To avoid this problem, it is best to refrain from free feeding the Basenji. All food should be measured, and meal times should be monitored to ensure the Basenji consumes adequate calories for optimal health and wellness.
Dietary Requirements for Basenji Dog Foods
Basenjis are carnivores and as an athletic breed they require a meat-based diet to achieve optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Basenjis take a whole meat or meat meal as the basis of their formula. By-products are not of sufficient quality to fuel the Basenji’s daily nutritional needs. Likewise, plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat should be avoided as they are common allergens for many dogs.
Any food that contains artificial ingredients or chemicals is poor quality and should be left on the shelf. Some of the most concerning ingredients include fillers, preservatives, additives, artificial flavors, and colors. These items add no nutritional benefit to a food.
Carbohydrates help the Basenji to achieve good digestion and a thriving immune system. These can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Each ingredient in a diet should be chosen for its high antioxidant and fiber value.
Healthy fats are the building blocks of a food, helping the Basenji to enjoy coat and skin health and strong energy levels. Animal fats are the best source of these essential fatty acids and can be found in such foods as oily fish or chicken fat. The plant-based oils canola, safflower, and coconut also offer ample servings of the fats required for the Basenji to enjoy health benefits.
Supplements help a food to operate at peak efficiency. The ideal supplements for the Basenji include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Basenjis
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Basenji:
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Lean, meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The primary ingredient in any diet suited to the active Basenji should be meat. A whole meat or meat meal is the best foundation for a high quality food. By-products and plant-based proteins such as corn, wheat, and soy should be 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 the Basenji. Diets containing these ingredients should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements can be a great help in supporting the Basenji’s health. The ideal supplements to look for in a food include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Basenji should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.