What ration of kibble for my dog? – Sports advice
What ration for my dog? This is a question that we have all asked ourselves at some point. Depending on whether your dog does intense physical activity, whether he is in great shape or a little overweight, whether you are on vacation with your dog or at home… Should your dog's food ration be adjusted? And how to adapt it?
In this new Mag article, we are going to address an essential question in the eyes of my dog: his bowl, what I put in it, at what time and how often and above all in what quantity!
My dog is a super greedy labrador but it's a tautology when we talk about a labrador I have the impression. 🙂
Your dog's food is an essential key point for his good health.
Small clarification at this stage, as you know, none of the Mag' editors are veterinarians, so our articles are not intended to replace veterinary advice. If your dog needs a particular follow-up because of any health problem, take stock with your veterinarian, W'ouf course!
What food for your dog?
A beautiful coat, healthy teeth, well-molded poops, healthy weight, good vitality, good health... all of this often goes through your dog's bowl!
But how to find it? Are supermarket and cheap croquettes enough? Should we opt for tailor-made croquettes? Should you buy those recommended by your veterinarian only? Should you prepare your dog's own food to be sure of what's in his bowl? Croquette or pâté?
In general, we humans adapt the content of our plate to our activity. An athlete will not eat the same thing as someone who has less physical activity; normally ! An allergic person will also have to adapt the contents of his plate to avoid getting sick. And with us humans, our convictions and beliefs also play a role in our plate!
So how to choose the best kibbles for your dog ? 100% natural? organic ? with at least 60% protein? based on insects? 100% vegan? sporty dog special? special labrador (when you have a labrador W'ouf race)? special for overweight dog? hypoallergenic? When you start looking closely at the labels of kibble packets, there is enough to get dizzy and lose your mind! Between those that you buy in supermarkets, those available only from your breeder or veterinarian, those available only in delivery... How to choose the best kibbles for your dog? And at what price?
As you will have understood, choosing the right food for your dog is super important and it is a real subject that deserves reflection. I don't have the magic answer you were expecting because: in fact, each dog has its own kibble!
And if you have a difficult dog who is very observant about the contents of his bowl, this is all the more true.
I advise you to take a look at the kibble comparison articles and test several before choosing. This is the only effective way to find out what is best for your dog. And be aware that kibbles that suit him well today may no longer be suitable for his lifestyle in a few months. Musher was eating “active dog” kibble and then our life changed, she got fat and we changed to sterilized dog kibble and since then everything has been back to normal!
That's it, the question of croquettes is solved. Now let's get to the ration! to quantity!
Adapt the kibble ration to your activity
Determining the amount of kibble to give is essential for your dog's health.
Very often, to know how much to give to our doggie, we look at the dosages on the back of the package... Do you eat the same quantity as your spouse? than your little sister? than your friends? than your grandmother? Well no ! So, if the information on the back of the packet is a good reference, it is only a reference. You will have to adapt your dog's ration according to his activity.
Are you on vacation with your dog?
The dose of kibble should be different depending on whether your dog is rather cushy. If your dog is on vacation, it's more like: lazing on the towel and taking a nap in the bungalow; he doesn't need an extra dose!
If on vacation your dog spends a lot more than usual: increase his ration a little; it will compensate for his energy expenditure.
What activities can you do with your dog on vacation?
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hiking: if your dog is in great shape, he will love following you on all your hikes! Attention, hiking with your dog cannot be improvised. Remember to check that you have all the necessary equipment for your outing.
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the paddle: you can of course paddle with your dog. Are you on vacation by the sea or near a river? Test the canipaddle with your dog with your own equipment or by renting a stand up paddle from a dog-friendly paddle rental company. You can also test canoeing with your dog. If your dog can swim and loves the water, he should love accompanying you on your canoe trips.
Are you on a winter sports holiday with your dog? Who says winter sports, says snow and therefore cold! Your dog has to burn a lot more calories to warm up. One of the great activities to do with your dog when you go skiing with your dog is cani-snowshoeing! But be careful, it's an intense activity for him. If your dog is like mine, he won't stay on the path traced by other hikers, he will quickly run in the powder to sniff all the good smells left on the side of the path. Have you ever tried snowshoeing without a snowshoe? Walking in fresh, ungroomed snow is very, very exhausting and intense! Yet that is what your dog does because there are no snowshoes suitable for dogs. This is why you will definitely have to adapt your kibble ration when you return from the outing. Your little companion will most certainly be hungry!
Ah, one last advice on the ration side too… If your dog spends a lot of time outside because he sleeps or lives outside, for example, he will also need to eat more and better. In winter, our body asks us for raclette to compensate for the cold! lol For your dog it's a bit the same thing… I caricature but it's to illustrate the logic a bit.
In short, you will have understood: for a healthy dog that follows you in all your adventures, you have to be demanding about what you put in his bowl and attentive to the quantity you give him by adapting his ration to his activity !