How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Hokkaido Puppies
The loyal and charming Hokkaido puppy traces its roots to an island in Japan from which it takes its name. A member of the Spitz family, this delightful, active breed is considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds still in existence today. A breed that has been declared a national monument by its native Japan in 1937, the Hokkaido puppy is well protected by law against future extinction.
The Hokkaido puppy’s original purpose when fully mature was to serve as a hunting companion alongside its owners. In possession of immense bravery, this athletic breed possessed the courage to tackle even large prey animals such as bear. In addition to this, a highly skilled dog, the Hokkaido was also able to pluck fish directly from running water, assisting its family with a viable and consistent food source in times of need.
A dog with moderate activity needs, the Hokkaido puppy does require regular daily exercise to remain physically and mentally content. Though unlikely to experience weight gain if properly exercised and not overfed, this pup still should not be free fed. Because the Hokkaido puppy has a high prey drive, it should be kept in a securely fenced yard at all times.
The Hokkaido puppy makes for an excellent family companion. The breed bonds very deeply to those it loves most and eagerly protects them by alert barking at the presence of unusual sounds or when encountering unknown people.
Typically, a healthy breed, the Hokkaido puppy can be prone to developing certain health problems. These can include such conditions as collie eye anomaly, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, heart murmurs, and idiopathic seizures. To help set this busy pup up for success, it is a great idea to select a diet that includes supplements to support eye, heart, and joint health. The ideal supplements to assist with this are DHA and ARA, glucosamine, chondroitin, and taurine.
The best dog foods for Hokkaido puppies are well balanced puppy formulations that contain approximately 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. In addition to this, it is essential that owners select a diet that includes the proper ratio of glucosamine and chondroitin to promote healthy bone growth in the Hokkaido pup. This is rated as 1.2 parts of calcium for each included unit of phosphorus.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Hokkaido Puppies
The charming Hokkaido puppy requires a well balanced puppy food comprised of top tier ingredients to attain and maintain a healthy body. Once an owner has selected the right diet for their pup, the next step is determining the size of each meal for the Hokkaido puppy. The best dog foods for Hokkaido puppies help owners out by listing suggested serving sizes on the side of their packaging that are based on age and weight. These suggestions are general guidelines that owners can increase or decrease as needed to find the correct portion size.
The Hokkaido puppy is not naturally predisposed to becoming overweight. However, to sustain a healthy body weight, this breed should not be free fed. It is recommended that all food for the Hokkaido puppy be measured and all intake carefully monitored.
Dietary Requirements for Hokkaido Puppy Foods
The Hokkaido puppy is a working breed, and thus, requires a high quality puppy food based on a lean meat to enjoy optimal health. The best dog foods for Hokkaido puppies base their formulation on a whole meat or meat meal. Though many commercially prepared diets do make use of by-products as their foundation, these ingredients are not of proper nutritional quality for the athletic and active Hokkaido pup.
Plant proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are also sometimes selected as the basis for commercial dog diets. These ingredients can be difficult to digest and are also common allergens for many dogs. Diets containing these ingredients should be avoided along with any items added to a food to artificially improve appearance, taste, or shelf life such as chemicals, additives, fillers, preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors.
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that are nutrient dense all make an excellent foundation for a food’s carbohydrate content. Each ingredient included in a food for the Hokkaido puppy should contribute a bountiful supply of antioxidants and dietary fiber. These vital nutrients help puppies to enjoy good digestion and a healthy immune system.
Healthy fats are a very important part of any puppy’s diet. These fats help puppies to achieve excellent digestion, optimal coat and skin health, and support for brain and eye development. Animal-based ingredients such as chicken fat and oily fish are the ideal sources of these essential fatty acids, but some plant-based oils are also a good choice for these nutrients.
Supplements can help to boost the nutritional profile of a food to ensure it is well rounded and complete. The ideal supplements for the Hokkaido puppy are glucosamine, chondroitin, taurine, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Hokkaido Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Hokkaido puppy:
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Lean, meat-based proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
The Hokkaido puppy benefits from a puppy food based on a lean meat protein source. The ideal basis for any high quality diet for this breed is a whole meat or meat meal. By-products and plant proteins can be common allergens for many dogs and are also not as nutritionally viable. Diets that include these ingredients are best avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavourings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, flavourings, fillers, and mystery ingredients add no nutritional value to a food. Any puppy food that contains any of these elements should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements provide additional vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that greatly aid the Hokkaido puppy as it grows. The most beneficial supplements to look for in a food for the Hokkaido pup are taurine, glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All puppy foods considered for the Hokkaido pup should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it is a complete and balanced diet.