How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Elos
The Elo is a relatively new breed and is still in its early developmental stages. This dog type hails from Germany where it was first developed by a couple by the name of Marita and Heinz Szobries. This dog type’s original name was Eloschaboro, but it has recently been shortened to simply Elo.
The Elo was the result of a purposeful breeding between the Eurasier, the Old English Sheepdog, and the Chow Chow. Its main purpose was to function as an excellent family companion. One of its founders most important goals was a dog breed that would excel with children; a trait they successfully achieved with their efforts to develop this new dog type.
Sociable by nature, the Elo enjoys the company of people and bonds very deeply to them. The Elo is moderate in size but does have high activity requirements. This dog must be exercised vigorously on a daily basis to remain physically and mentally content. As a result, the Elo is not a breed that is prone to becoming overweight.
Because this breed traces its roots only as far as 1987, it is still a dog type in its infancy. This means that to date there is no specific consistency of appearance to the Elo as of yet. Instead the Szobries focused on what was more important to them in the ideal family companion: temperament.
The Elo is a dog that loves to spend time with its family in active pursuits or simply in play. Intelligent by nature, the Elo is willing worker, always eager to learn new skills.
Experts agree that the best dog foods for Elos should contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Elos
As an active breed, the Elo requires a high performance diet to truly thrive. Determining how much of a high quality food to feed an Elo can be a daunting task. The best dog foods for Elos list suggested serving sizes on the bag, and these can serve as an excellent place for owners to start. These portions can be increased or decreased until the correct amount per meal is found.
Though the Elo is not particularly predisposed to weight gain, free feeding this dog type is still strongly discouraged. All food should be measured and all intake monitored to ensure a healthy body condition is achieved and maintained.
Dietary Requirements for Elo Dog Foods
Since the Elo is a dog that likes to be on the go, this breed requires a diet that is well balanced and full of top quality ingredients to achieve optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Elos list a whole meat or meat meal as their main ingredient. Though many commercial foods make use of such ingredients as by-products and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat, these foods are not of sufficient nutritional quality to benefit the hearty Elo.
Though the Elo is not a breed that is predisposed to allergies, it is still best to avoid ingredients that are known to be common allergens for many dogs. These include such items as chemicals, additives, fillers, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.
From carbohydrates the Elo gains the nutrients it needs to enjoy good digestion and a strong immune system. These can be obtained from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Elos that display a tendency towards food sensitivities, a problem not common to the breed, may do best on a grain-free diet.
Healthy fats give the Elo the fuel it needs to enjoy strong energy levels and excellent coat and skin health. These essential fatty acids are best included from animal sources such as chicken fat or oily fish. However, plant-based oils such as canola, safflower, and coconut are also excellent sources of the omega 3 and 6 fatty acids Elos need each day.
All foods can benefit from the addition of helpful supplements to boost their efficacy. The best supplements to look for in a food for the Elo include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Elos
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Elo:
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Lean-meat based proteins heading up the ingredients list
Elos, like all dogs, are carnivores. To best meet their nutritional needs, they require a diet that has a solid foundation based on a lean meat-based protein. Whole meats or meat meals are the gold star choice.
By-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are not of sufficient quality to offer any nutritional benefit to the active Elo. Diets that include these ingredients 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 the Elo. Any food that contains one or more of these items is not appropriate for this large and active breed.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
It is always a good idea to select a diet that includes helpful supplements to boost the Elo’s health and wellness. The ideal supplements to look for in a food for the Elo 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 Elo should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.