How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Norwegian Elkhound Puppies
The Norwegian Elkhound puppy is an adorable ball of grey and black fluff. Easily distinguished by its rich, double coat and uniquely curled tail, this affectionate breed was developed to assist its owners on hunts for large game. The name given to this delightful puppy is somewhat confusing since the breed does not hunt elk and bears little resemblance to a hound. The name is taken from the Norwegian handle “Norsk Elghund” which translates literally to “moose dog.”
The Norwegian Elkhound puppy has energy to spare and is well renowned for its athleticism and stamina. The breed has a unique manner of holding prey in position. This dog type will prance around its prey in a circular fashion and make loud vocalizations, enabling its owner to locate the pair with ease.
The Norwegian Elkhound puppy is an excellent family companion that is especially well-suited to families with children. This dog type also gets along very well with other animals and is an excellent choice for a multi-dog home. However, there is one caveat owners must be aware of with this loving and affectionate pup: Norwegian Elkhounds can be very vocal.
An intelligent breed, the Norwegian Elkhound puppy can be taught many different skills and can excel at a wide variety of events. However, the breed is well known for its stubbornness and sometimes must be convinced an activity is a good idea. This pup requires an owner that will establish firm boundaries and ensure the pup heeds them. Otherwise, the Norwegian Elkhound puppy may soon rule the roost in a home.
The Norwegian Elkhound puppy’s thick double coat makes it well-suited to time spent outside, particularly in cold temperatures. To keep this dog physically and mentally content, regular vigorous exercise is required. It is recommended that the Norwegian Elkhound puppy be taken for several walks per day as opposed to one lengthy session. This will help to keep the dog in good health.
If properly exercised and not fed too much, the Norwegian Elkhound puppy should not struggle to maintain a healthy body weight. Still, free feeding is strongly discouraged.
To keep the Norwegian Elkhound puppy safe, this dog breed should be kept in a securely fenced yard when outdoors. The breed has high prey drive and will chase prey if given the opportunity to do so.
The Norwegian Elkhound puppy most often enjoys excellent health; however, there are a few genetic problems that can plague the breed. These include hip dysplasia, Fanconi syndrome, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy, and sebaceous cysts. To help promote optimal wellness in the breed, it is a good idea to feed the Norwegian Elkhound puppy a diet that is rich in supplements that can support eye, skin, kidney, and joint health.
The best dog foods for Norwegian Elkhound puppies should contain approximately 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. In addition to this, this dog breed requires a puppy formulation that includes the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus to promote a healthy rate of growth. This is defined as 1.2 parts of calcium for each part of phosphorus.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Norwegian Elkhound Puppies
The Norwegian Elkhound puppy is a flurry of energy, and thus, does best on a high performance puppy formulation that is well-balanced and full of exceptional quality ingredients. Determining how much of this food to feed a dog can be a challenge. The best dog foods for Norwegian Elkhound puppies provide suggested serving sizes based on a puppy’s age and weight. These guidelines provide an excellent starting point, and owners can tweak these amounts until the correct portion is found.
If properly exercised and not overfed, the Norwegian Elkhound is not typically predisposed to carrying excess weight. However, free feeding is still strongly discouraged. Since the Norwegian Elkhound can suffer from hip dysplasia, maintaining a healthy body weight is vital in this breed. To this end, all food should be measured and all intake monitored.
Dietary Requirements for Norwegian Elkhound Puppy Foods
The Norwegian Elkhound puppy is a busy little pup, requiring a high quality puppy formulation to achieve optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Norwegian Elkhound puppies prioritize the use of a lean meat-based protein as their foundation. The ideal basis for a diet for this sweet-natured breed is a whole meat. However, meat meals also offer bountiful amounts of the amino acids Norwegian Elkhound pups need as they grow.
By-products are taken from less desirable cuts of an animal that typically are not favored for human consumption. As a result, they can be more difficult for puppies to digest. The plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat are common allergens for many dogs. Foods containing any of these items are best avoided.
From carbohydrates, the Norwegian Elkhound puppy receives the nutrients required for good digestion and a thriving immune system. These carbohydrates can come from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or a combination of the three. Puppies with sensitivities to grains may do best on a grain-free puppy formulation.
Healthy fats give the Norwegian Elkhound puppy the boost that is needed for coat and skin health, brain and eye development, and strong reserves of energy. The ideal source for these fats are foods such as chicken fat and oily fish. Some plant-based oils such as safflower, sunflower, canola, and coconut also offer ample servings of these essential fatty acids to benefit the Norwegian Elkhound pup.
Supplements can be of great benefit to the Norwegian Elkhound pup, helping the nutrition found in the food to work its most effectively. The ideal supplements to look for in a diet for this breed are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Norwegian Elkhound Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Norwegian Elkhound puppy:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
Norwegian Elkhound puppies require a diet based on a lean, meat-based protein. Whole meats provide the best option; however, meat meals are also perfectly acceptable.
By-products and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat are not of sufficient nutritional quality to fuel the Norwegian Elkhound puppy’s daily needs. Foods containing these protein sources are best avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, flavorings, fillers, and mystery ingredients add no nutritional value to a puppy food; in fact, they can be harmful. Diets that contain one or more of these items should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements added to a diet help to boost the overall wellness of Norwegian Elkhound puppies. The best supplements to look for in a diet for this pup are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All puppy foods for a Norwegian Elkhound pup should be stamped with the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating the food is complete and balanced to meet the needs of a growing puppy.