How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Great Pyrenees Puppies
Great Pyrenees puppies are lively and fun. A breed originally intended to serve as livestock guardians, the Great Pyrenees pup has lots of energy, and thus, requires a high-quality diet to support its growth and development.
Great Pyrenees puppies require a diet that is rich in both protein and fat. A minimum of 22 percent protein is optimal with fat contents measuring 8 percent at a minimum.
A large breed puppy, the Great Pyrenees has a longer developmental period with puppyhood lasting until approximately age two. With this in mind, a healthy rate of growth is vitally important for this breed. To set the Great Pyrenees puppy up for success, the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus is necessary. A diet specially formulated for large breed puppies will ensure this nutritional requirement is met.
Great Pyrenees puppies should be fed a large-breed puppy food. Adult formulations do not contain enough calories to sustain the bodies of the growing Great Pyrenees pup. The best dog foods for the Great Pyrenees puppy are properly nutritionally balanced to support the correct rate of growth.
Feeding Great Pyrenees Puppies
Great Pyrenees puppies need fuel to propel their bodies through their critical growth and development periods. A good place to start is using the feeding guidelines provided on a suitable large breed puppy diet. This will ensure the correct amount is fed as your puppy grows. This amount of the best dog foods for Great Pyrenees puppies should be divided into at least three to four mini-meals that are fed throughout the day to prevent hunger from occurring.
Dietary Requirements for Great Pyrenees Puppy Foods
Great Pyrenees puppies are carnivores, and thus, need a diet that is high in protein. The ideal source for protein is animal in origin. Whole, lean meats are the ideal basis for the Great Pyrenees puppy’s diet; however, meat meals also offer a very good foundation.
No diet is complete without high-quality carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can come from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The primary importance is that any food included as a source of carbohydrates is highly digestible.
Healthy fats are a very important part of an excellent quality diet for the Great Pyrenees puppy. These fats should be from animal origins and can include chicken fat or oily fish such as sardines, mackerel, anchovies, salmon, or sardines. Certain plant-based oils can provide omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as well.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Great Pyrenees Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Great Pyrenees puppy:
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Whole proteins heading up the ingredients list
A high protein diet is vitally important to the health and wellness of the Great Pyrenees puppy. One of the first ingredients of any diet for this breed of puppy should be protein, preferably in whole form. Meat meals can also be an excellent foundation for a diet for the Great Pyrenees puppy.
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Enriched with helpful supplements
All diets can benefit from the addition of helpful supplements to support the growth and development of the Great Pyrenees puppy. Some of the most important ones to look for include glucosamine, chondroitin, DHA, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Great Pyrenees puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.