How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Black Mouth Curs
The Black Mouth Cur is a lesser known breed throughout the world, but it is no less beloved by those who share their home with this active and charming pooch. This dog type takes its name from the coloring that encases its lips and muzzle. The breed has currently not received official recognition by the American Kennel Club.
This dog type originated in the United States in a southeastern portion of the country. The Black Mouth Cur was developed to function as a versatile working breed. This dog excels at protection but is also a valued hunting dog due to its incredible capabilities at scent detection.
The Black Mouth Cur is a brave dog, facing prey with great courage and fearlessness. Devoted to its family, this dog breed is affectionate and loving, making an excellent family companion. It is best to use positive reinforcement techniques when training this breed as the Black Mouth Cur can be very sensitive. In addition to this, the Black Mouth Cur feels things deeply and is easily able to intuit and respond to the emotions of its family members.
Though very intelligent, the Black Mouth Cur can be very stubborn and is not always interested in learning new things. For this reason, this dog breed is best in the home of someone with experience working with breeds that can be challenging to train.
The Black Mouth Cur is a high energy breed and requires regular daily exercise. This includes a vigorous daily walk and time to run in a safely fenced area. If this dog type’s activity needs are not met, it is possible the dog will resort to nuisance behaviors.
Because the Black Mouth Cur is highly active, it is not predisposed to becoming overweight. However, it is still important that this breed’s meals be measured and monitored to ensure a healthy body weight is achieved and maintained.
The Black Mouth Cur typically enjoys excellent health. However, as with all dog breeds, there are some health problems the breed can be prone to developing. These include ear infections, epilepsy, mange, hip dysplasia, and cataracts. To support optimal health and wellness in the breed, it is recommended that owners choose a food that includes supplements to support eye, coat, and joint health.
The best dog foods for Black Mouth Curs contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Black Mouth Curs
The Black Mouth Cur is a high energy dog, and thus, requires a high performance food that is well balanced to meet its nutritional needs. Selecting a diet of this caliber can be challenging, but once that task is completed, it is then time to determine how much of the food to feed the dog per meal. The best dog foods for the Black Mouth Cur often provide suggestions for meal sizes based on a dog’s age and weight.
Using the suggested servings sizes provided on the side of a diet’s packaging, owners can then make small adjustments until the proper portion is found. The dog’s weight, activity level, and appetite serve as helpful guidelines in this process.
The Black Mouth Cur is not particularly prone to weight gain, but it is still important to monitor this breed’s intake and to measure all meals. Free feeding is strongly discouraged.
Dietary Requirements for Black Mouth Cur Dog Foods
The Black Mouth Cur is an active dog, and thus, requires a diet based on a lean, meat-based protein to enjoy optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for the Black Mouth Cur base their formulation on a whole meat or meat meal. By-products and plant proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat lack the nutritional quality to be suited to the needs of this busy breed. Other ingredients of no nutritional benefit to the Black Mouth Cur include chemicals, additives, fillers, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.
Carbohydrates give the Black Mouth Cur the fuel it needs for good digestion and a thriving immune system. These carbohydrates can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Of primary importance in any carbohydrate included in a diet for the Black Mouth Cur is its high concentration of antioxidants and dietary fiber.
From healthy fats, the Black Mouth Cur gains the nutrients required for optimal coat and skin health. These fats are best included in animal-based ingredients such as chicken fat and oily fish. However, some plant-based oils also offer ample servings of these vital nutrients including canola, safflower, sunflower, and coconut.
Supplements help a food to work its most effectively. The ideal supplements to look for in a food for the Black Mouth Cur include glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Black Mouth Curs
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Black Mouth Cur:
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Lean, meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The active, athletic Black Mouth Cur does best on a diet that is based on a lean, meat-based protein. Whole meats and meat meals make the best foundation for this type of diet. It is recommended that diets that utilize by-products or plant proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat 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 Black Mouth Cur. Foods containing these items are not suited for the needs of this breed.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
The most beneficial supplements for the Black Mouth Cur 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 Black Mouth Cur should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.