How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Dogo Argentinos
The elegant Dogo Argentino is a power breed. White in color, this dog type was originally intended for use in large game hunting with some of its prey being wild boars and even bears. A tenacious hunter, the Dogo is renowned for a pleasant personality at home and bonds very deeply to its family.
A giant breed, the Dogo Argentino is fiercely strong and can be stubborn. As a result, it is important to establish firm boundaries with this dog. The Dogo, a breed sometimes referred to as an Argentinian Mastiff, requires an owner with the ability to be firm with it; otherwise, the Dogo will soon rule the roost at home.
Because the Dogo Argentino has an intensely strong prey drive, secure containment is a must for this breed. The Dogo has a very high activity level and thus must be exercised vigorously on a daily basis. If the dog receives sufficient activity, weight gain should not be an issue. Still, free feeding a Dogo Argentino is not recommended.
The Dogo makes for an excellent watchdog, lovingly protecting its home and hearth. It descends from a long line of fighting breeds; however, over recent years, care has been taken to breed overly aggressive traits out of this dog type as the ability to hunt in packs was essential on hunting expeditions.
Dogos are fearless, courageous, and highly intelligent. They excel at many different disciplines including police work.
This athletic breed requires a high performance diet to thrive. The best dog foods for Dogo Argentinos are based on lean meat-based proteins. The ideal diet should contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
The Dogo Argentino is a giant breed dog and can be predisposed to developing bloat. To prevent this from occurring, it is important to feed this dog type a food designed to meet the needs of large breed dogs if possible. These types of diets are comprised of large pieces of kibble that require careful chewing and swallowing, thus thwarting what are believed to be two of the contributing factors to bloat: overeating and too rapid eating.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Dogo Argentinos
Since the Dogo Argentino enjoys an active lifestyle, the breed requires a food that can fuel its daily performance. Determining how much of the best dog food for Dogo Argentinos to feed is an important part in achieving optimal health and wellness. Experts agree that the suggested serving sizes on the bag of food are a great place to start. Adjust these amounts incrementally with the dog’s weight, age, activity level, and appetite providing helpful hints until the correct portion is found.
The Dogo Argentino should not be free fed. It is important to carefully measure and monitor this dog’s daily intake to ensure a healthy weight is achieved and maintained.
Dietary Requirements for Dogo Argentino Dog Foods
As a highly athletic breed, the Dogo Argentino needs a diet that is based on a lean meat to enjoy good health. The best dog foods for Dogo Argentinos include a whole meat or meat meal as the foundation of their diet. By-products and plant-based proteins such as corn, wheat, or soy are simply not nutritionally viable for this active, muscular breed. Other ingredients that are best avoided include chemicals, artificial flavors, colors, additives, and preservatives.
Carbohydrates play an important role in the Dogo’s diet, helping the dog to enjoy good digestion and a healthy immune system. These can be derived from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. For Dogos with food sensitivities, a grain-free diet may be a better option.
Healthy fats assist with coat and skin health as well as provide fuel for strong energy reserves. The best resources for essential fatty acids are animal-based and include such foods as oily fish and chicken fat. Other excellent options for essential fatty acids include the plant-based oils canola, safflower, and coconut.
It is always a good idea to fortify the Dogo Argentino’s diet through a food that includes supplements. Among the best supplements for this active breed are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for Among the Best Dog Foods for Dogo Argentinos
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Dogo Argentino:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The Dogo Argentino requires a meat-based diet to enjoy proper health and wellness. Whole meats or meat meals are the best foundation for this athletic dog type. By-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are best avoided entirely.
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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 Dogo Argentino. Diets which include any of these items in their formulations are not suitable for the needs of this highly active breed.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements help boost the effectiveness of a food. The ideal supplements for the Dogo Argentino are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Dogo Argentino should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.