How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Poodle Puppies
The Poodle puppy is an adorable ball of fun. Full of energy and intense intelligence, this charming little pooch is up for any adventure its family has in mind.
The Poodle traces its roots to Germany where it was originally developed to assist its owners on duck hunting ventures. As a result, the Poodle puppy excels in water and thrives when given a job to do. Its distinctive show coat is about far more than simply appearance with each of the “balls’ on the dog’s coat serving as protection for vital organs or joints that could become chilled when the dog is in the water.
Poodle puppies are extremely versatile, excelling at many different activities including obedience, Rally, agility, and conformation events. When the breed began to gain popularity in France, the Poodle often joined its owners on truffle hunting expeditions, making this dog’s nose a highly prized commodity.
Many families are drawn to the Poodle puppy because of its low to no-shedding coat, making it a breed that is well-suited to families that suffer from allergies. However, the Poodle’s coat does require a fair bit of maintenance, even during the puppy years.
Another drawing card for many families when it comes to Poodle puppies is the fact that this breed is available in three different sizes. Families can choose from the toy, the miniature, and the standard.
To keep the Poodle puppy healthy and well, regular, daily exercise is vitally important. To help this breed have the energy it needs to enjoy an active lifestyle, it is vital that the Poodle puppy be fed only the highest quality nutrition. The best dog foods for Poodle puppies contain the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus to ensure a healthy rate of bone growth. This is rated as 1.2 parts of calcium for each included unit of phosphorus.
Though Poodle puppies are not typically predisposed to bloat, it is still a good idea to avoid free feeding.
As a general rule of thumb, Poodle puppies should receive a diet that contains a minimum of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Poodle Puppies
Poodle puppies enjoy an active lifestyle, and thus, require a diet that is well-balanced and comprised of the best quality ingredients to ensure optimal health and wellness. The best dog foods for Poodle puppies list suggested serving sizes on the side of the packaging. These can be used as a starting point with adjustments made to reflect the dog’s age, weight, activity, and appetite until the correct portion size is found.
All food for the Poodle puppy should be very carefully weighed and all intake monitored. Though this breed is not prone to becoming overweight, it is still important to avoid free feeding as it can make it very difficult for owners to know how much food the puppy has eaten throughout the day. This can lead to puppies becoming underweight or lacking the nutrients needed to fuel the pup’s proper development.
Dietary Requirements for Poodle Puppy Foods
To support the Poodle puppy through each phase of its development, this breed needs an exceptional quality diet that has been designed to meet the needs of active pups. The best dog foods for Poodle puppies make a meat-based protein the foundation of their diet. Whole meats are considered to be the very best option; however, meat meals also offer concentrated amounts of protein that are ideal to propel the puppy towards health and wellness.
By-products are typically taken from parts of an animal that humans find displeasing to eat. Though some of these ingredients offer some nutritional benefit, others do not. Diets that are based on by-products are best avoided. Additionally, plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, and wheat are undesirable in a food for the Poodle puppy.
Chemicals, additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors and colors are also of no nutritional benefit to the Poodle puppy. Many of these ingredients can trigger recurring allergies in dogs. Foods that include these items in their recipe are best avoided.
Complex carbohydrates help the Poodle puppy to enjoy excellent digestion and a healthy immune system. To date, no evidence supports the claim that Poodle puppies should only be fed a grain-free diet. With this in mind, carbohydrates in the Poodle puppy’s diet can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. The main priority of any carbohydrate included in a diet for this pup is that it be high in antioxidants and fiber.
Healthy fats are the building blocks that assist with coat and skin health, brain and eye development, and maintaining good energy reserves. These are best obtained from animal sources such as chicken fat or oily fish; however, plant-based oils such as canola and safflower also offer ample amounts of these vital nutrients.
The best foods for Poodle puppies also contain helpful supplements. The most beneficial supplements to look for in a diet for this breed include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Poodle Puppies
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Poodle puppy:
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Lean, meat proteins heading up the ingredients list
Since Poodle puppies are carnivores, they thrive on a diet that is based on lean meat. Whole meats or meat meals are the best foundation for this breed. Plant-based proteins and by-products are inferior in quality and are best avoided entirely.
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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 Poodle puppy. Any foods containing these items is best left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
It is always a great idea to select a diet that contains supplements to help a diet be its most effective. The ideal supplements to look for in a food for the Poodle 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 Poodle puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.