How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Cairn Terrier Puppies
The charming Cairn Terrier puppy is full of adventure and fun. A dog type most easily recognized for its starring role as Toto in The Wizard of Oz, the Cairn Terrier originated in the Isle of Skye over 200 years ago. The Cairn’s original role was to provide rodent control for its family’s home; however, today, this pup enjoys its primary role as a cherished family companion though it remains true to its hunting roots through its intense prey drive.
A true terrier, the Cairn Terrier puppy loves the sound of its own voice and is an avid digger. If given the opportunity to do so, the Cairn pup will eagerly chase small game or even simply moving objects. For its safety, the Cairn Terrier puppy should be kept safely contained in a securely fenced backyard.
The Cairn Terrier puppy is a busy little pup that enjoys living the active lifestyle. Far from a couch potato, the Cairn Terrier pup requires regular daily exercise. If its activity needs are met and the pup is not overfed, owners should have no concern of the dog becoming overweight or obese.
Cairn Terrier puppies love to earn but can be headstrong, meaning owners must be prepared to motivate their pup with treats and praise. Soft-natured and sensitive, the Cairn Terrier is easily hurt by harsh words, raised voices, or a heavy hand. For this reason, this sweet pup should only be taught using positive reinforcement techniques.
Because the Cairn Terrier puppy can be obstinate, this pup requires an owner that will establish firm boundaries and expect the dog to heed them. Weak trainers will soon find their Cairn puppy ruling the roost at home much to their dismay.
The Cairn Terrier puppy is sweet, loving, and affectionate and lives for time spent with those it loves most. Curious and fun-loving, this breed is up for any adventure but does not thrive if left alone for long periods of time. If subject to long periods of isolation, the Cairn Terrier puppy may develop nuisance behaviors such as digging and barking.
A pup that typically enjoys excellent health, Cairn Terrier puppies can be predisposed to a number of health problems including hip dysplasia, entropion, cataracts, and corneal dystrophy. Diets for this breed should contain supplements and nutrients to support eye and joint health such as glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
The best dog foods for Cairn Terrier puppies should contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. The calcium to phosphorus ratio included in any diet for this breed should be scaled to equal 1.2 parts of calcium for each single unit of phosphorus. This measurement supports a healthy growth rate in this small and active breed pup.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Cairn Terrier Puppies
The busy Cairn Terrier puppy requires a diet that has been optimized to meet its every nutritional need. Trying to understand how much of a commercial diet to feed a pup can be a time consuming process. The best dog foods for Cairn Terrier puppies offer suggested serving sizes as a starting point. These amounts can be adjusted, using the pup’s weight, age, activity level, and appetite as helpful guidelines until the correct portion is found.
The Cairn Terrier puppy should not be free fed. To attain a healthy weight, it is best for this busy pup to have its meals measured and all intake monitored.
Dietary Requirements for Cairn Terrier Puppy Foods
The Cairn Terrier puppy, as with all breeds, is a carnivore. As such, this breed needs a diet that takes lean, high quality meat as its foundation. Experts recommend selecting a diet with a whole meat or meat meal as its primary ingredient. Of lesser nutritional quality are by-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat, and these should be avoided.
Some commercially prepared diets include such ingredients as chemicals, additives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives in their food formulation. These ingredients are of no nutritional benefit to the Cairn Terrier puppy. Ideally, these diets should remain on the shelf.
From carbohydrates, the Cairn Terrier puppy gains the strength and fuel it needs for good digestion and a healthy immune system. The nutrients required for these effective bodily systems are found in high fiber and antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Healthy fats are the building blocks of every high quality diet for the Cairn Terrier puppy. These fats are ideally found in animal-based food products such as chicken fat and oily fish. Some plant-based oils such as canola, safflower, and coconut also offer sufficient servings of the essential fatty acids Cairn Terrier puppies need to attain optimal health and wellness.
All foods can benefit from the addition of supplements to boost the nutrition contained in their recipe. The best supplements to look for in a food for the Cairn Terrier puppy are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Cairn Terrier Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Cairn Terrier puppy:
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Lean, meat-based proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
Cairn Terrier puppies are active little dogs. Because of this, they require a diet that bases its formulation on a lean, meat-based protein. The ideal foundation for a high quality food for the Cairn Terrier puppy is a whole meat or meat meal.
By-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are difficult for the Cairn Terrier puppy to digest well, and thus, should be avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, flavorings, fillers, and mystery ingredients add no nutritional value to a food. Any puppy food that contains any of these elements should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Diets that contain helpful supplements are of great benefit to the growing Cairn Terrier puppy. The most beneficial supplements to look for in a diet for this sweet natured pup are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All puppy foods considered for the Cairn Terrier pup should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it is a complete and balanced diet.