How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Chinook Puppies
The fawn-colored Chinook puppy is an adorable ball of fun, ready for any adventure its family has in mind. A relatively new breed, the Chinook originated in New Hampshire in 1917 when a gentleman bred together his beloved farm dog and a Siberian Husky. The results of this pairing greatly pleased this farmer. One of the puppies from this litter was a male of exceptional temperament with the drive to excel as a working dog; his name was Chinook.
Over the years, the Chinook has nearly become extinct. Thankfully, through careful preservation of aficionados of this sweet-natured breed, it is still possible to purchase a Chinook puppy today. However, the Chinook is still considered to be quite rare.
The Chinook puppy is both gentle and sweet by nature. The breed is well-renowned for being easygoing and taking life in stride. However, the Chinook has an immense drive to work, possessing both the strength and the stamina to function as a sled dog. A highly intelligent dog, the Chinook puppy requires regular physical and mental stimulation to remain content.
Like the Husky portion of its pedigree, the Chinook is a highly active dog. This breed requires vigorous daily exercise; however, during its puppy years, it is recommended that these exercise sessions be divided into several shorter portions to prevent injury or structural damage from occurring. A natural athlete, the Chinook does well at many activities but is best suited to things like hiking, jogging, agility, and other physical dog sports events.
The Chinook puppy loves to dig and will also take every opportunity to escape if possible. For this reason, it is vitally important that this pup be kept in a securely fenced yard when outside.
A dog breed renowned for having good health, there are a few genetic conditions which can befall the Chinook puppy. These include hip dysplasia, cataracts, seizures, skin and coat problems, and gastrointestinal distress. An excellent diet can lay a foundation to help the Chinook puppy enjoy optimal wellness. The best dog foods for Chinook puppies contain supplements to support eye, joint, and skin health.
Because the Chinook puppy can suffer from food-related allergies, it is best to avoid diets that contain any of the most common food allergens for dogs. The ideal diet for the Chinook consists of approximately 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. In addition to this, it is vital that this pup be fed a food that contains the correct proportions of calcium to phosphorus to encourage a healthy rate of growth. This is defined as 1.2 parts of calcium for each included unit of phosphorus.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Chinook Puppies
Determining how much of a food to feed a pup can be a difficult task, requiring some trial and error in the process. The best dog foods for Chinook puppies offer suggested serving sizes based on age and weight. It is recommended that these suggestions be used as a starting point. Owners can adjust these amounts using the dog’s weight, age, activity level, and appetite as a helpful guide until the proper portion is found.
The Chinook puppy is not prone to becoming overweight. However, because this dog type can suffer from hip dysplasia, it is vitally important that an appropriate body weight be maintained. To this end, free feeding is strongly discouraged. All intake should be carefully measured and monitored to achieve the ideal body condition.
Dietary Requirements for Chinook Puppy Foods
The Chinook puppy is highly active, and thus, benefits from a diet that is well-balanced, full of the finest quality ingredients, and based on a lean, meat protein. The best dog foods for Chinook puppies include a whole meat or meat meal as their foundational ingredient. By-products are taken from less desirable cuts of meat and are often not of sufficient nutritional quality to fuel this growing, active pup.
Plant proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat have been linked to food allergies in many dogs. Foods containing these items are best avoided. Likewise, chemicals, additives, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives are often added to commercially prepared dog foods to improve the diet’s appearance and shelf life. These ingredients offer no nutritional benefit to Chinook puppies.
From carbohydrates, the Chinook puppy receives the nutrients required for good digestion and a healthy immune system. These carbohydrates can come from antioxidant and fiber-dense fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. Puppies that have shown sensitivities to grains in the past may do best on a grain-free diet.
Healthy fats are the building blocks of good health for Chinook puppies. These essential fatty acids help pups to enjoy coat and skin health, brain and eye development, and strong reserves of energy. The best sources for these fats are found in animal-based foods such as chicken fat and oily fish. Some plant-based oils are an excellent alternative, providing bountiful amounts of the nutrients Chinook puppies need.
Supplements added to a diet provide a great boost to the nutrition contained within a food. The most beneficial supplements to look for in a diet for the Chinook pup are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Foods for Chinook Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in a food for a Chinook puppy:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The Chinook pup is highly active, and thus, requires a diet that is based on a lean, meat-based protein to thrive. The ideal foundation for a high quality diet for this breed is a whole meat or meat meal.
By-products and plant proteins are not of sufficient nutritional quality for this growing pup.
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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 Chinook puppy. Diets containing any of these items are best left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
The most beneficial supplements for the Chinook puppy 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 Chinook puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.