How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Border Terriers
The handsome Border Terrier traces its roots to England where the breed was developed along the border of its native land and the neighboring Scotland in the 1700s. A dog developed to hunt foxes, the ideal Border Terrier is designed to have a flexible body and compressible chest, enabling it to find its way in and out of foxholes with ease. In addition to these characteristics, the breed was purposefully bred to have longer legs to allow the dog to keep pace with horses during the hunt.
The Border Terrier is well renowned for its hardy endurance, its weatherproof double coat, and its thick pelt that protects the dog from injuries on a hunt. The breed possesses a fearless nature and is both bold and tenacious out in the field and sweet and loving at home by the fire. Small of size, the Border Terrier is big on personality, possessing a keen expression and the tenacity and spirit to get up to lots of mischief.
A dog with a sweet spirit, the Border Terrier retains the high drive of a terrier, requiring regular daily exercise to remain physically and mentally content. The breed is fiercely intelligent and possesses a depth of loyalty that cannot be broken. The breed has a playful nature and bonds very deeply to its family.
The Border Terrier will not be happy in a home with a sedentary lifestyle. The breed can easily become overweight if not sufficiently exercised. Free feeding this breed is strongly discouraged. In possession of a high prey drive, the Border Terrier must be kept securely fenced when outdoors to prevent escape attempts.
A dog with a very high prey drive, the Border Terrier loves to chase small animals and game. Their bravery means that they sense no danger, and if allowed to roam freely, may run directly into the path of a car to their own doom.
A Border Terrier not kept productively engaged will resort to nuisance behaviors which can include destruction, digging, and barking. Sufficient daily exercise helps to keep the Border Terrier happy and healthy. The breed typically gets along well with other dogs, making it well-suited to life in a multi-pet home.
The Border Terrier, sadly, can be predisposed to a number of health problems. These may include hip dysplasia, heart defects, malocclusions, seizures, patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, and cryptorchidism. Though diet alone cannot prevent genetic disease, it can lay an excellent foundation for wellness in dogs. The ideal diet for the Border Terrier should include supplements to boost joint, heart, and immune system health.
The best dog foods for Border Terriers consist of a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Border Terriers
The Border Terrier is an active dog, requiring a high performance food based on a lean meat protein to thrive. Trying to figure out how much of a diet to feed a dog is a challenging task, requiring some experimentation to arrive at the right amount. The best dog foods for Border Terriers list suggested serving sizes based on age and weight on the side of their packaging. These guidelines are a great starting point and can be increased or decreased until the appropriate portion is found.
The Border Terrier can be prone to gaining weight if not sufficiently exercised or overfed. Since two of the problems that can affect the breed are hip dysplasia and patellar luxation, it is vitally important that this breed be kept at a healthy weight. To this end, free feeding is discouraged. All intake should be measured and monitored to maintain an optimal body condition.
Dietary Requirements for Border Terrier Dog Foods
Since the Border Terrier is a busy dog, a diet based on a lean meat protein is essential to fuel its daily energy reserves with high performance nutrition. The best dog foods for Border Terriers list a whole meat or meat meal as their primary ingredient. Though many commercial dog food diets make use of by-products as a protein source, this is not an ideal foundation for this active breed.
Plant proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are common allergens for many dogs and can be problematic for the Border Terrier. In addition to this, foods containing chemicals, additives, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives are also best avoided.
From carbohydrates, the Border Terrier gains the necessary fuel for good digestion and a thriving immune system. Antioxidant and fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains all make for an excellent carbohydrate base. Border Terriers with sensitivities to grains may do best on a grain-free diet.
Healthy fats are a critical component of the best diet for the Border Terrier. From these essential fatty acids, the Border Terrier gains what it needs for coat and skin health and strong reserves of energy. The ideal source for these fats are animal-based ingredients such as chicken fat and oily fish.
It is always a great idea to select a food that includes supplements. The most beneficial supplements for the Border Terrier are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Border Terriers
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Border Terrier:
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Lean meat-based proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
The Border Terrier is a carnivore, and thus, requires a diet based on meat to attain optimal health and wellness. The best foundation for a diet for this breed is a whole meat or meat meal.
Foods basing their recipe on by-products or plant proteins are not of sufficient nutritional quality to fuel the busy Border Terrier.
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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 Border Terrier’s diet. In fact, many of these ingredients can be the cause of allergy issues in Border Terriers.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements help improve the efficacy of a diet. The ideal supplements to look for for this energetic breed 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 Border Terrier. This designation indicates a food has been assessed and found to be complete and properly balanced.