When walking down the dog food aisle at grocery stores the immensity of options may seem funny, if not a little overwhelming. You may even find yourself remixing the Christina Aguilera classic, “What a Girl Wants” to “What a Dog Wants.” The aisle seems to constantly be expanding, as well. For example, with the recent up-tick in human “clean-eating”, you can also easily trace a similar trend with dog foods and treats. Yet, maybe it’s not as over-the-top as one might think for dogs to have an aisle to themselves seeing as how us humans have every other aisle. 

Dogs have options because research has proven that they need just as many options as we do. What we feed our dogs matters. Like humans, what animals eat has a direct correlation to their physical and mental health. Some dog food brands draw us in with colorful packaging or catchy advertisements but what they boast on the front of the bag may prove otherwise on the nutritional label on the back. 

So, it is a lot of pressure to find the “best” dog food. But fret not, BullyFamBam is here to guide you through it. 

First of all, it is important to recognize that there is no universal “best” or “perfect” dog food, or brand for that matter. One size does not fit all. So, here are some things to consider and help you filter down all the options without getting too flustered:

1.) How old is your dog? 

2.) What size is your dog? 

3.) What breed is your dog?

Typically, dog foods are separated and geared towards these above specifications to ensure that your dog(s) is getting the nutrients for his/her/their lifestyle. Just like how there are certain foods that are better for people based on their lifestyle, the same applies to animals. A more active human requires a more protein packed diet— the same can be said for more active dogs. 

Admittedly, I wasn’t aware of this and found myself shocked when I discovered a family member buys four different foods for her four different dogs. Now, after more research it makes sense because a three year old fifteen pound dog is going to need very different nutrients than a ten year old thirty-five pound dog. 

The 2010 handbook Feed Your Pet Right: The Authoritative Guide to Feeding Your Dog and Cat, by Marion Nestle and Malden Nesheim, is another amazing resource for deciphering what your dog(s) need and don’t need in their food. Specifically, the authors urge dog owners to look for labels that read “complete and balanced.” Foods with this label are more likely to meet nutritional guidelines.

At the end of the day consult the packaging and nutrition facts on the dog food before chucking it into your cart. Don’t get swept away by snazzy package designs and clever marketing strategies. Although it may seem easier to just pick a food and go, the long term affects of giving your dog(s) the right food far outweigh the ten minutes of extra label reading you may have to do. After switching foods, people have reported behavioral improvements ranging from more energy to less mischievous tendencies. 

Once you’ve taken into consideration the above you can also begin to think about implementing your own preferences. For example, many dog food brands have kosher, vegetarian, and even raw options now available.  

If you’re still frazzled or concerned, though, consult your vet. 

#bullyfambam