How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Brittanys
The Brittany is a beautiful sporting dog that carries itself with a distinctively regal air. This breed’s name is derived from the area from which it hails: the beloved seaside haven Brittany along the northwestern coast of France. This city is situated directly across the English Channel separating France from Wales. The two countries often worked in tandem in trade with dogs also playing a role in their daily commerce. As a result, the Brittany and the Welsh Springer Spaniel share many common characteristics and may also have some dogs that were utilized in both breeds’ older pedigrees.
The Brittany is believed to trace its roots back as far as the 1600s. Originally, the Brittany was a dog that was liver and white in color whose main role was to assist its owner with hunting partridge. The breed was further developed in the mid 19th century in France, introducing dogs of different colors and working abilities to move the breed from simply a pointing breed to one that retrieved as well.
The Brittany’s original name was the Brittany Spaniel. However, in recent years, breeders have become proponents of the removal of the name “spaniel” from this dog’s unique handle since their function was different from true spaniels whose main job when out in the field was to flush out prey.
Considered to be a gundog, the Brittany is highly sociable and ever friendly. The breed can be renowned for excessive energy levels but is a true and loving family companion. This dog breed requires vigorous daily exercise to remain physically and mentally content and is most at ease when given a job to do.
The Brittany is both intelligent and versatile, excelling at many different pursuits. These sociable characters are equally at ease on a hunt, in the show ring, or participating in any number of dog performance sports. The Brittany enjoys time spent with its family, particularly if it involves physical activity such as hiking, jogging, or climbing.
Because the Brittany is an extremely high energy dog, the breed is not naturally predisposed to gaining weight. However, this breed still should not be free fed.
The Brittany has a soft heart and responds very poorly to rough handling. Positive reinforcement is the key to learning with this gentle, sensitive breed.
This dog type is exceptionally good with children and is an excellent choice for families with multiple pets. They are naturally loving and affectionate, enjoying the opportunity to connect with their family and to make new friends at every opportunity.
Though most often a very healthy dog, the Brittany can be genetically predisposed to developing hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and hip dysplasia. Diet alone cannot prevent disease from occurring in the Brittany; however, it can lay an excellent foundation for overall wellness. The best dog food for the Brittany contains supplements to support joint health.
The ideal diet for this active sporting breed should contain approximately 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Brittanys
The adult Brittany is a very high energy dog, and thus, requires a high performance diet based on a lean meat to fuel its busy lifestyle. Once the right diet for this breed has been found, it is then time to determine how much food the dog needs to eat per meal. The best dog foods for Brittanys offer suggested serving sizes based on age and weight on their packaging. These amounts can be utilized as a starting point with adjustments made to reflect the dog’s activity level, appetite, and body condition until the correct portion is found.
Though the Brittany is not predisposed to weight gain, this breed can easily become underweight. It is also prone to hip dysplasia, and thus, maintaining a healthy body weight is vitally important to optimal health. Free feeding is discouraged, and all intake should be measured, and mealtimes supervised to ensure the Brittany receives an adequate amount of nutrition each day.
Dietary Requirements for Brittany Dog Foods
The Brittany is a true athlete, requiring a diet that is rich in lean, meat-based proteins to thrive. The best dog foods for Brittanys include a whole meat or meat meal as their foundation ingredient. By-products and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat are not of sufficient nutritional quality to fuel this busy dog’s daily lifestyle.
Carbohydrates provide the active Brittany with the antioxidants and dietary fiber it needs to enjoy good digestion and a thriving immune system. These carbohydrates can come from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or a combination of the three.
From healthy fats, the Brittany gains the fuel it needs for excellent coat and skin health and strong reserves of energy. The ideal sources for these fats are found in ingredients such as oily fish and chicken fat. Some plant-based oils also offer ample servings of these vital nutrients.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Brittanys
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Brittany:
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Lean, meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
Diets that meet the nutritional needs of the active Brittany list a lean meat-based protein as their primary ingredient. Whole meats or meat meals are the optimal choice as the basis for a high quality diet for this breed.
Foods containing plant proteins or by-products are not of sufficient nutritional quality for this naturally athletic dog, and thus, 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 a Brittany. Diets which contain any of these items are best left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
A highly active dog, the Brittany benefits from the addition of vital supplements to its food. Some of the most important supplements to look for in a food for the Brittany include glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Brittany should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.