How to Select the Best Dog Food for Blue Heelers
The Blue Heeler is a highly active dog that is full of energy and a spirit of adventure. A dog breed that belongs to the herding family, the Blue Heeler, a pooch that is sometimes referred to as an Australian Cattle Dog, was originally intended to function as a working dog. As a result, this dog is happiest when given a job to do. Should this not be possible, the Blue Heeler needs to be exercised vigorously on a daily basis to remain physically and mentally content.
A dog breed of exceptional intelligence, the Blue Heeler is not a breed that will be content living a lifestyle that is largely sedentary. This breed traces its roots to Australia. In its native land, this dog was put to work herding cattle on large tracts of farmland.
The Blue Heeler is a devoted family companion. They are fiercely protective of those they love, and as a result, can be very suspicious of strangers. Due to their innate intelligence and athletic bodies, Blue Heelers excel at many different pursuits including agility, Rally, obedience, flyball, herding trials, and more.
Because of the Blue Heeler’s high activity needs, this breed should be fed a diet that is comprised of excellent quality proteins and that is well-balanced to meet its nutritional requirements. The best dog foods for Blue Heelers contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat with higher amounts also acceptable for this energetic dog.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Blue Heelers
The Blue Heeler is a high energy dog and needs a high quality diet to fuel its daily activity. The best dog foods for Blue Heelers include lean meat-based proteins to help encourage the development of strong muscles.
Determining how much of the best dog food for Blue Heelers to feed a dog can seem like a difficult task. However, each bag of food will come with suggested serving sizes printed on the packaging. These are an excellent starting point and can be adjusted with the dog’s weight, age, appetite, and activity level providing helpful guidelines.
Though the Blue Heeler is not predisposed to becoming overweight, it is still a good idea to refrain from free feeding this dog. Blue Heelers are often so busy that they don’t want to stop to eat at regularly scheduled mealtimes, meaning they can easily become underweight. For this reason, it is a good idea to monitor all intake to ensure the Blue Heeler is receiving adequate calories to fuel the dog’s daily needs.
Dietary Requirements for Blue Heeler Dog Foods
The best dog foods for Blue Heelers make a lean meat-based protein the basis of their foundation. Whole meats are the best option; however, meat meals are also a concentrated source of nutrients that support the busy Heeler’s active lifestyle.
By-products are typically made up of parts of the animal that are not deemed to be suitable for human consumption. As a result, their nutritional quality is inferior to other more choice cuts of meat. These are best avoided.
Plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are common allergens for many dogs, and thus, foods that include these items should be avoided as well. Additionally, ingredients such as chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors offer no benefit to the athletic Heeler. Diets containing these items are best left on the shelf.
Carbohydrates play an important role in encouraging healthy digestion and boosting the immune system. These can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Blue Heelers are not known to be plagued by allergies, and thus, can enjoy a grain-free or a grain-inclusive formulation with no ill effects.
No diet would be complete without the addition of healthy fats. Fats found in such items as oily fish, chicken fat, or safflower and canola oils are rich in essential fatty acids. These fats help to stoke the Heeler’s energy reserves and also provide a vital help for coat and skin health.
Supplements help a diet to be its most effective. The most beneficial supplements for Blue Heelers include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Blue Heelers
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Blue Heeler:
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Lean, meat-based proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
Animal proteins are the best option for the active Blue Heeler. Owners should select a diet that lists a whole meat or meat meal as its first ingredient.
By-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are not of sufficient quality for this energetic breed.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
All items introduced into a food formulation should add nutritional value. Chemicals, flavorings, fillers, and mystery ingredients do not contribute anything positive to a Blue Heeler’s diet. In fact, many of these ingredients can be the cause of allergy issues in Blue Heelers.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
All foods can benefit from the addition of helpful supplements. The ideal additions to look for in a food for the Blue Heeler are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
The AAFCO seal approval should accompany any food considered for the Blue Heeler. This designation indicates a food has been assessed and found to be complete and properly balanced.