Now the new puppy is home and everyone is adjusting well. If you didn't consider dog food before the puppy arrived, it is time to start thinking about what to feed the new family member, and there surely are a lot of choices. Some breeders send food home with the new puppy; it may or may not be the best food to stay with. Don’t fall for cute ads that show your favorite breed gobbling up a huge bowl of food, don’t buy what is cheap this week, stay away from “house brands”. It is your job to educate yourself so you can select the best food for your dog’s needs.

Dogs need a food that is nutritious, with as few chemicals, dyes, and preservatives as possible. Dogs don’t need a lot of filler products or low quality proteins such as wheat, rice, corn, and soy. Proteins should be quality meats like beef, chicken, turkey, fish, venison, etc., and these should be the first several ingredients listed on the bag. Carbohydrates should be brown rice or sweet potatoes. If there are vegetables listed that makes it even better. There should be vitamins added like C and E. The list of chemicals, dyes, and preservatives should be very short, if any.

Think about the activity level of your dog. Most dogs that are family pets don’t get a lot of exercise unless they jog or run with a family member. These dogs don’t need a food high in protein; avoid the brands that say things like “high pro”, “pro plus”, etc. Those formulas would be better for working dogs, but could provide too much protein for the family pet. A better choice would be a brand that says “adult maintenance”, or “large breed, adult formula”, etc.

Dry kibble is usually considered more nutritious than canned or moist food, unless it is a prescription canned food. Dry kibble also results in far less dental problems as the dog ages. Small breeds are very prone for dental problems so dry food is even more important for them.

What to do about giving your dog human food? As long as you don’t give it at the table, it won’t create a table beggar. Fresh cooked vegetables, and even some raw veggies are quite good for dogs. Don’t give the skin from the chicken or turkey, meat fat, cooked bones, or sweets. But vegetable and most fruits (never give grapes or raisins) are fine in moderation! Dogs don’t digest dairy very well so avoid sharing ice cream, milk, etc. Raw egg whites also don’t digest well, so separate them or give well cooked eggs. There are several very good books available that will help you with how to prepare a homemade diet or supplements for your dog if you are interested in preparing your own dog food.

Selecting the proper food for your dog isn’t as difficult as it may seem. It is very similar to a healthy diet for your family. Talk to your vet, avoid advertising ploys, read and compare labels, make an educated choice.