How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Irish Setter Puppies
The charming Irish Setter puppy is easily recognizable by its natural grace, friendly nature, and beautiful, flowing red hair. A breed that is a natural athlete, the Irish Setter puppy is extremely sociable and loves the company of people. A dog with high energy requirements, experienced breeders are quick to point out that this is one pup that will require a minimum of one hour of exercise each day once the puppy reaches full maturity.
The Irish Setter puppy is extremely intelligent; however, the breed requires an owner committed to helping the breed channel its mischievousness appropriately. An independent thinker, the Irish Setter puppy is not always so fond of learning, making training a challenging task at times.
Originally bred to assist its owners on hunts for various bird species, the Irish Setter is now considered to be a gun dog. This delightful sporting breed possesses immense stamina and a strong prey drive, meaning a home with a securely fenced yard is a must for this active breed.
The Irish Setter puppy bonds very deeply with its family and does not do well when separated from them for any period of time. This dog prefers the active lifestyle, willingly participating in any activity from dog sports to hiking, biking, and more.
A large breed dog, the Irish Setter puppy enjoys a very long puppyhood, often not reaching full maturity until three years of age. For this reason, this breed should be fed an appropriate large breed puppy food until it reaches one year of age or 75 percent of its adult size. At that time, the dog should be transitioned to an adult diet that is suited to its nutritional requirements.
A breed that is highly active, the Irish Setter puppy is not prone to becoming overweight. However, it is still recommended that this pup’s meals be carefully measured and all intake regularly monitored.
The Irish Setter puppy typically enjoys good health. However, as with all breeds, there are some health conditions which can be common to this dog type. These include progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and hip dysplasia. The best dog foods for Irish Setter puppies will include supplements to support joint and eye health such as glucosamine, chondroitin, DHA and ARA.
As an active breed pup, the Irish Setter does best on a diet that includes a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. Likewise, it is important that any food for this dog breed include the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus which is considered to be 1.2 parts of calcium for each part of phosphorus.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Irish Setter Puppies
The Irish Setter puppy is a busy little pooch. To help keep its energy levels primed, this sweet and happy breed requires a diet that is based on a lean meat protein and that is well balanced to support optimal health and wellness as the pup grows.
Trying to figure out how much of a diet to feed an Irish Setter puppy can be a difficult task. Experts agree that the best dog foods for Irish Setter puppies provide suggested serving sizes that can be very helpful as a starting point for owners. These guidelines are based on a puppy’s age and weight and can be adjusted to reflect that particular pup’s activity level, body condition, and appetite until the correct portion is determined.
The Irish Setter puppy is a busy little fellow, but it is still recommended that this breed not be free fed. Instead, all food should be measured and all intake carefully monitored to promote a healthy body condition and to prevent excess strain on the joints which can come from a dog that is overweight.
Dietary Requirements for Irish Setter Puppy Foods
Lean, meat-based proteins are the ideal foundation for a diet suited to the nutritional needs of the active Irish Setter puppy. The best dog foods for Irish Setter puppies take a whole meat or meat meal as their primary ingredient. By-products are of lesser nutritional quality, and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat can be common allergens for many dogs as well as difficult to digest. It is best that foods containing these protein sources be avoided.
Carbohydrates provide the Irish Setter puppy with the nutrients it needs to achieve good digestion and a healthy immune system. These carbohydrates can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Of primary importance in any included carbohydrate in a diet for the Irish Setter pup is its bountiful amounts of antioxidants and dietary fiber.
From healthy fats, the Irish Setter puppy gains fuel for its energy levels, support for its coat and skin health, and assistance with brain and eye development. The ideal sources of these fats are animal-based and include such foods as chicken fat and oily fish.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Irish Setter Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for an Irish Setter puppy:
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Lean, meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The best dog foods for Irish Setter puppies make a meat the primary ingredient in their diet. Whole meats and meat meals are the preferred options.
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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 growing Irish Setter puppy. Any foods containing these items is best left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
The Irish Setter puppy benefits from a food that is rich in supplements to boost its overall health. The ideal supplements for an Irish Setter puppy are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Irish Setter puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.