5 Best Dog Foods For Dalmatian Puppies

How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Dalmatian Puppies

The charming Dalmatian puppy is full of energy and fun. A breed that is beloved worldwide for its distinctive white coat with black or liver colored spots, the Dalmatian puppy is a highly active dog and requires a home where it will receive regular daily exercise to prevent nuisance behaviors from developing.

A loving and devoted family companion, the Dalmatian puppy gets along very well with small children with whom it displays great patience and gentleness. A dog breed that deeply values time spent with its family, the Dalmatian pup will happily join its owners on any adventure they have in mind, but they are particularly fond of active pursuits.

Highly intelligent but with a penchant for stubbornness, the Dalmatian puppy can be challenging to train. A breed that is known for being wilful, the Dalmatian pup requires a strong owner that will teach the puppy boundaries and expect they will be reinforced. However, the Dalmatian puppy is a sensitive soul and does best when taught using positive reinforcement methods.

The Dalmatian is a highly versatile dog, excelling at many different activities. Among the performance sports the Dalmatian is well suited to are agility, obedience, Rally, flyball, and conformation. They are also equally adept at jogging, biking, and hiking with their families.

Because of their high activity requirements, the Dalmatian puppy is not particularly predisposed to gaining weight. However, this dog breed still should not be free fed.

Though typically a very healthy dog type, the Dalmatian can be prone to developing a number of different health problems including allergies, eye problems, skin problems, congenital deafness, and more. In addition to this, the Dalmatian pup can suffer from trouble with urinary health. To assist the Dalmatian with achieving ideal health and wellness, it is recommended that its diet contain moderate amounts of protein and be reinforced with supplements to promote eye, skin, and urinary health such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and DHA and ARA.

The best dog foods for Dalmatian puppies are well balanced and moderate, containing approximately 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. In addition to this, the Dalmatian pup requires a diet that contains the correct amount of calcium to phosphorus to support a healthy rate of bone growth. This is considered to be 1.2 parts of calcium for each unit of phosphorus.

Dalmatian puppies should be fed an appropriate puppy diet until the dog reaches one year of age.

Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Dalmatian Puppies

Dalmatian puppies are highly active, and as a result, they require a diet that is well balanced, moderate, and based on a lean meat to thrive. Trying to determine how much of this type of food to feed a pup can be a challenging task, requiring some trial and error to get right. Thankfully, the best dog foods for Dalmatian puppies provide helpful hints by listing suggested serving sizes based on age, weight, and breed on their packaging. These can be used as a starting point with adjustments made incrementally until the proper portion size is found.

Because the Dalmatian puppy can struggle with urinary issues, it is vitally important that this pup have access to fresh drinking water at all times and is taken outside to use the bathroom frequently. These few measures help to support optimal urinary health in conjunction with a diet comprised of moderate amounts of high quality protein.

Though not a breed predisposed to weight gain, free feeding the Dalmatian puppy is still strongly discouraged. It is best to feed this pup several carefully measured mini meals throughout the day to help keep its energy reserves well fuelled to keep pace with its busy lifestyle.

Dietary Requirements for Dalmatian Puppy Foods

The best dog foods for Dalmatian puppies list a lean meat as their primary ingredient. Whole meats or meat meals included in moderate amounts form the best foundation for a diet for this sweet and charming pup. By-products and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat are common allergens for many dogs and are also difficult to digest, and thus, diets containing them are best avoided.

Diets that list chemicals, additives, preservatives, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives in their recipes are not of sufficient nutritional quality to support the needs of the growing Dalmatian puppy. For many pups, exposure to these ingredients regularly can trigger recurring skin and stomach sensitivities. Foods containing these ingredients are best left on the shelf.

From carbohydrates, the Dalmatian puppy gains support for good digestion and a strong immune system. Though some Dalmatian pups can be prone to allergies to grains, most can eat diets that are grain inclusive without any ill effects. Carbohydrates may come from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains, and should be selected for their abundance of dietary fiber and antioxidants.

Healthy fats help the Dalmatian puppy to enjoy strong energy reserves, excellent coat and skin health, and support for ideal brain and eye development. The best sources for these fats are found in animal-based foods such as chicken fat or oily fish. The plant-based oils safflower, canola, and coconut also offer excellent amounts of these important nutrients.

Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Dalmatian Puppies

Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Dalmatian puppy:

• Meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list

The ideal foundation for a diet for the Dalmatian puppy is a lean meat included in its whole form or in a meat meal.

• 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 growing Dalmatian puppy. Any foods containing these items is best left on the shelf. 

• Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements

The ideal supplements for a Dalmatian puppy are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin. 

• Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food

All foods appropriate for the Dalmatian puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.