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Best Dog Food for Hunting Dogs
- Authors
- Name
- ChewyChoice team
Introduction
Selecting the dog food for your hunting companion is essential. This ensures they possess the vitality, endurance and overall well being necessary for their challenging duties. Hunting dogs serve as more than pets. Dog owners must fulfill their unique dietary requirements for them to excel in their roles.
Whether your loyal partner is trailing game in woodlands retrieving waterfowl from frigid waters or indicating game birds, in expansive fields a proper diet can have a significant impact. The physical exertion and mental acuity demanded by gun dogs are significant. This necessitates a diet that sustains their heightened energy levels and keen senses.
Our guide highlights the quality dog food options that meet these needs, ensuring your working dog stays strong and energetic. Read on to discover the best food option for your furry companion.
Understanding the Nutritional Needs of Hunting Dogs
Considerations for Selecting the Best Dog Food for Hunting Dogs
Hunting dogs requires a diet that supports their active lifestyle and provides the necessary nutrients to maintain their health. The best dog food for hunting dogs should contain high-quality proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to fuel their energy levels and support their muscle growth.
High Protein and Fat Content
Hunting dogs require a diet that supports their lifestyle by providing ample energy. A high protein intake is essential for building and repairing muscles after days in the field.
Including animal-based proteins such as chicken, beef and fish in their diet helps maintain muscles and promotes a glossy coat. Look for protein levels around 25–27% on a dried matter basis.
High-fat content is also crucial for hunting dogs as it serves as a source of energy. Maintaining a content of 20-22% in their diet can significantly enhance their performance during outdoor activities.
Opting for fat dog foods ensures sustained energy levels keeping the dog alert and agile during scent tracking or game retrieval. Adding quality fats from sources, like fatty meats can boost fuel intake without compromising taste or overall health benefits.
Joint and Bone Health
Providing hounds with sufficient levels of protein and fat is essential. However, looking after your dog's joint and bone health is equally crucial. Hounds could experience significant joint strain because their lifestyle includes running, jumping, and sudden movements.
To counteract these strains, the dog food you choose must contain nutrients such as glucosamine and chondroitin. These components help preserve cartilage and reduce the likelihood of joint problems as your dog ages.
Maintaining bones is vital for active hounds too. Calcium plays a role in keeping bones sturdy and supporting an energetic routine. Phosphorus works alongside calcium to enhance bone density. This is especially important for working breeds that often encounter challenging outdoor environments.
To ensure your furry companion remains agile and robust during their activities, look for premium dog food that incorporates these nutrients.
Vitamins and Minerals
Hunting dogs not only need high levels of protein and fat to stay healthy and active but also require a mix of nutrients to sustain their energy levels and overall well-being. Essential vitamins like B12 play a role in metabolism while Vitamin E supports cell function.
Minerals like calcium and phosphorus are key to keeping bones strong. They ensure these dogs can handle rigorous physical activities. What's more, Iron is also crucial for keeping their blood healthy and facilitating oxygen transport.
Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oils can improve brain function and reduce inflammation. This not only helps hunting dogs sustain their endurance during long hunts but also aids in their recovery afterward.
Incorporating these rich supplements into their diet is essential for their performance and health in the field.
Best Dog Food for Hunting Dogs July 2024
1. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Protein
Fat
Carbs
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Salmon
- Whole Herring
- Chicken Liver
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- High protein level: This food has chicken, turkey, salmon, and others as ingredients offering excellent animal-based protein options for active great danes.
- Carbohydrates for energy: Lentils, pinto beans, navy beans and others provide complex carbohydrates and fiber for steady energy.
- Essential fatty acids: Omega fatty acids from sources such as pollock oil are present, with guaranteed levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Joint support: Contains glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate which can help aid in maintaining joints and mobility for the large great danes breed.
- Probiotics for gut health: Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product provides probiotics to support digestion and immunity.
Cons:
- Potential allergens awareness: Chicken, egg, lentils, and peas could be potential allergens for some great danes.
- Pricy dog food: This dog food is on the expensive side.
Sample Review from buyers
Orijen Original has been my primary choice of dog food for many years. Occasionally if it's not available I'll purchase other Orijen formulations, but overall I trust that Orijen dog food is high-quality and nutritious.
2. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Protein
Fat
Carbs
- Deboned Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Brown Rice
- Oatmeal
- Barley
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Top-notch protein sources, like deboned chicken and chicken meal can help your active German Shepherd build muscles and grow.
- Complex carbohydrates provide enough energy support needed by Shepherds.
- Ingredients like Fish meal, flaxseed, and fish oil provide omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to keep your Shepherds coat shiny and skin healthy.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin are included which is beneficial for the skeletal development and overall health of Shepherds.
Cons
- A bit pricey compared to lower-quality options.
Sample Review from buyers
Recommend the Large Breed Puppy formula over the regular formula. My Lab puppy had digestive issues with the other, but not with this. She loves it and she looks beautiful at age 8 months.
3. Blue Buffalo True Solutions Jolly Joints Mobility Support Formula Dry Dog Food
Protein
Fat
Carbs
- Deboned Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Oatmeal
- Brown Rice
- Barley
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Good sources of protein: This food has chicken, shrimp meal and others as the ingredients offering excellent animal-based protein options for active great danes.
- Carbohydrates for energy: Oatmeal and brown rice provide complex carbohydrates and fiber for steady energy.
- Essential fatty acids: Omega fatty acids from sources such as flaxseed, canola oil and fish oil are present, with guaranteed levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Joint support: Contains chondroitin sulfate which can help aid in maintaining joints and mobility for the large great danes breed.
Cons:
- Potential allergens awareness: Chicken, egg, peas could be potential allergens for some great danes.
- Plant protein resources: We found that this food contains peas which is a plant-based protein source.
Sample Review from buyers
I'm not really sure if this is going to help my dog Buddy. But he does seem to enjoy the food. Buddy is 15 years old and has bad arthritis in his back legs. He is on Adequan and I am hoping that will help him but I thought I might as well try the dog food as well.
4. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Protein
Fat
Carbs
- Water Buffalo
- Lamb Meal
- Chicken Meal
- Sweet Potatoes
- Peas
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Good sources of protein: This food has chicken meal, lamb meal and others as the ingredients offering excellent animal-based protein options for active great danes.
- Carbohydrates for energy: Sweet potatoes and peas provide complex carbohydrates and fiber for steady energy.
- Essential fatty acids: Omega fatty acids from sources such as chicken fat, ocean fish meal are present, with guaranteed levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Probiotics for gut health: dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product and other probiotics provides probiotics to support digestion and immunity.
Cons:
- Potential allergens awareness: Chicken, egg, lentils, peas could be potential allergens for some great danes.
- Plant protein source: This dog food contains peas.
Sample Review from buyers
I have been feeding this dog food to my dogs for 8 years. I have had up to 5 dogs at once-they all love it! I currently have 2 dogs and both of them sit and drool when I am preparing their food. I like the limited ingredients, the high protein and that most of the protein is from red meat animals. Dogs are supposed to eat meat and not grain. As long as I can afford to buy Taste of the Wild, I will do so.
5. Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Dry Dog Food
Protein
Fat
Carbs
- Chicken Meal
- Chicken
- Ground White Rice
- Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
- Cracked Pearled Barley
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Good sources of protein: This food has chicken meal and chicken as the ingredients offering excellent animal-based protein options for active hunting dogs.
- Carbohydrates for energy: White rice and cracked pearled barley provide complex carbohydrates and fiber for steady energy.
- Essential fatty acids: Omega fatty acids from sources such as chicken fat, flaxseed are present, with guaranteed levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Probiotics for gut health: Dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product provides probiotics to support digestion and immunity.
- Joint support: Contains chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine which can help aid in maintaining joints and mobility for the large great danes breed.
Cons:
- Potential allergens awareness: Chicken, egg product could be potential allergens for some hunting dogs.
- Plant protein source: This dog food contains miscanthus grass and chia seed, which are plant-based protein sources.
Sample Review from buyers
Smokie loves his Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Formula Dry Dog Food and switched from Gentle Giants due to having more Protein in the food.
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