As a dog owner, providing your pup with the best possible nutrition is one of the most important things you can do for their overall health and wellbeing. Sometimes choosing the right dog food can seem like a daunting task, with countless options available on the market, including the growing popularity of raw food diets. Advocates believe that raw foods offer more natural nutrients, mirroring what dogs might eat in the wild. However, it is super important to find a food, whether raw or processed, that meets your dog’s nutritional needs.

When selecting a dog food, consider your dog’s age and activity level. Puppies require more calories and nutrients to support their growth and development, while senior dogs may require a lower calorie diet due to their reduced energy needs. If you know you have a very active pup, make sure to research the appropriate caloric intake they may need – and if you are ever in doubt, especially about venturing into raw diets, check with your local vet.

While it is important to select a food with high-quality ingredients, your dog’s willingness to eat is equally important. Although some dogs may eat whatever you put in their bowl, others may be a bit more picky or even refuse to eat altogether. If you are struggling to get your dog to eat their food, here are some methods that may be useful to try:

• Mix in some wet food – adding a spoonful of wet food to your dog’s kibble can make it more enticing and flavourful. Just be sure to adjust your dog’s overall calorie intake accordingly.
• Add some chicken broth – pouring a small amount of low-sodium chicken broth over your dog’s food can make it more flavourful and appealing. Be sure to use broth that does not contain onions or garlic which can be harmful to dogs.
  • In our boarding facilities we also find that adding water to your pups kibble can enhance the smell, making it a bit more enticing to eat!
• Try a different brand or flavour – if your dog isn’t interesting in their current food, simply trial another brand or a different flavour in the brand you know they have eaten in the past.
• Make it into a game – some dogs enjoy playing with their food. You can try hiding small pieces of kibble around the house for your dog to find, or feeding them from a puzzle toy such as a kong where they have to use their brains to move it around to obtain their kibble.
• Schedule feeding times – if your dog is not interested in their food, try scheduling feeding times. This will help to establish a routine and allow your dog to associate a specific time with eating.

Feeding your dog a high-quality diet, whether it’s kibble, wet food, or a raw food regimen, has numerous benefits. It can help support their immune system, maintain a healthy weight, and promote healthy skin and coat. Additionally, high-quality dog food can provide your dog with necessary vitamins and minerals to support their overall health, wellbeing and happiness levels. Conversely, feeding your dog a poor-quality diet can have the opposite effect, leading to multiple potential health problems. In general, it is good practice to avoid food that contains artificial preservatives, colours or flavours.

At Paddington Pups we stock a variety of hypoallergenic dog food brands (including Meals for Mutts, The Complete Pet Co, and Ziwi) that are highly nutritious and minimally processed. We use these products for our boarding dogs and are proud to offer them in-store for purchase because of their low likelihood of causing allergic reactions as well as their high-quality ingredients, making them a great fit for most pups. Another reason why we love these brands is that they have the added benefit of their strong and enticing smell, making it more appealing to picky eaters, ensuring that all pups receive the nutrition they need to have a healthy and happy stay.

We will absolutely try our best to help you out in-store about the dog food we stock, including information on raw food diets. However, if you have specific nutrition-based questions pertaining to your pup, we strongly recommend seeking professional advice from your vet or a pet nutritionist.

While it can be a challenge to find the right dog food for your dog, it is crucial to select a brand that meets their nutritional needs. By providing your dog with a high-quality diet, be it processed or raw, you can help ensure that they live a long, happy and healthy life.