How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Pekingese Puppies
The Pekingese puppy is an adorable ball of fluff. A breed that was originally intended to serve as a family companion to royalty in its native China, the Pekingese pup is a pooch that is firmly convinced it is the center of its owner’s universe, enjoying life as a pampered family pet.
The Pekingese puppy carries itself with an air of nobility. Originally only available to the aristocratic and wealthy; today, the Pekingese is a cherished family companion in many homes throughout the world. Its distinctive lumber has charmed many a heart and is a unique trait of the breed.
Easily recognizable by its long, flowing locks that are reminiscent of a lion’s mane, the Pekingese puppy has very high grooming requirements. As a result, many breeders recommend clipping the breed to cut down on the amount of coat maintenance required each week.
A breed renowned for being in possession of great intelligence, the Pekingese puppy is as stubborn as it is smart. Since the Pekingese views itself as the head of its household, the breed requires a strong owner that will establish boundaries the dog will respect. The Pekingese is best trained through the use of treats and praise and responds poorly to aversive training methods.
The Pekingese puppy eagerly lavishes affection on its family members but is not fond of strangers and will bark at their presence. The breed can be predisposed to excessive barking, so owners must be prepared to teach their puppy to use its voice appropriately and to cease barking when asking to do so.
The Pekingese puppy is not necessarily a natural with children. A breed that will not tolerate foolish behavior or rough handling, this pup will bite if feeling provoked. Likewise, the breed does not always get along well with other dogs but can live peaceably with other Pekingese.
A breed that can be prone to patellar luxation, maintaining an appropriate body weight is very important in a Pekingese puppy. Though not a high energy breed, the Pekingese does require moderate daily exercise. It is important to note that exercise sessions with this toy puppy should be shorter, more frequent sessions and all activity should take place in moderate temperatures as the breed does not do well in heat or cold.
The best dog foods for the Pekingese puppy contain a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. Also important in any diet for the Pekingese pup is that the correct proportions of calcium to phosphorus are included to encourage a healthy rate of bone growth. This is considered to be 1.2 parts of calcium to each part of phosphorus.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Pekingese Puppies
Since maintaining a healthy body weight is vitally important to good health in the Pekingese puppy, the breed should never be free fed. It is best for all of the Pekingese pup’s meals to be measured and all intake monitored to prevent obesity from occurring.
Determining how much of the best dog food for Pekingese puppies to feed a dog can be a daunting task. Experts recommend using the suggested serving sizes on the bag as a starting point. These amounts can be adjusted incrementally until the proper portion has been found.
The Pekingese puppy should be fed an appropriate small breed puppy food until the pup reaches one year of age.
Dietary Requirements for Pekingese Puppy Foods
The Pekingese puppy benefits from a diet that is based on a lean meat. The best dog foods for Pekingese puppies take a whole meat or meat meal as their foundation. By-products and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat are best avoided. Other ingredients unsuitable to the nutritional needs of the Pekingese puppy include chemicals, additives, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
From carbohydrates, the Pekingese puppy gains the nutrients needed for good digestion and a healthy immune system. These can come from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. The carbohydrates included in a diet for the Pekingese puppy should be rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants.
Healthy fats help the Pekingese puppy to enjoy strong energy reserves, excellent coat and skin health, and support for eye and brain development. The ideal sources for these fats are animal-based and include such foods as chicken fat and oily fish; however, certain plant-based oils such as canola, safflower, and coconut also offer ample servings of these healthy fats.
Supplements added to a food can be of great benefit to the Pekingese puppy. The ideal ones to look for in a diet for this pup include glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Pekingese Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Pekingese puppy:
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Lean, meat-based proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
The best dog foods for Pekingese puppies list a lean, meat-based protein as their primary ingredient. The ideal foundation for a diet for this breed is a whole meat or meat meal.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Foods that contain chemicals, flavorings, fillers, preservatives, or mystery ingredients are low in quality and should be avoided.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements can help a diet to work its most effectively. The most beneficial supplements for Pekingese puppies include glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods for the Pekingese puppy should have received the stamp of approval from AAFCO, certifying it is nutritionally balanced and complete.