Dog Energy Requirements

Every dog has energy requirements and diet requirements whether they are an adult dog or a puppy. Your dog needs this energy to support their body functions, to give them energy and to maintain a constant body temperature.

Each dog has it's own individual requirements based on their size and how active they are. For an active working dog, the requirements will be much higher than a dog that prefers to snuggle up on the couch all day long.

The five basics of these energy requirements are protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

1. Protien – Usually Meat – Should be approximately 20% of the diet
2. Carbohydrates - Rice, Corn, Wheat, Soy Should be approximately 50% of diet
3. Fats Approximately 9 – 15%
4. Vitamins - A, B, C, D, E & K Complexes.
5. Minerals - Calcium, Potassium, Sodium & Magnesium & Other Trace Elements

Now you know what to look for in your Dog Food but how much should you actually feed your dog? To determine this, you must look at several factors. First, how much should your dog weigh? There are lots of charts and calculations that you can use to figure this and those are fine but I want to give you something a little more common sensed.

It could simply mean that your dog received a completely different genetic line than your dog and your dog is meant to be bigger. Now, do not use this as an excuse to allow your dog to become overweight!!!

Obesity is currently the leading nutritional disorder in dogs and leads to serious health problems. To determine if your dog is of an average weight, do the following check: a dog of normal weight should have an indented waist when viewed from above with visible ribs that can be felt easily.

If you cannot easily determine either one of these factors then you need to make immediate changes to your dog's diet.

It's also worth noting that genetic differences in body mass, metabolism and energy requirements for different breeds definitely plays a role in determining your dog's weight.

I think the most important rule of feeding your dog is to use common sense. You can clearly see when your dog is being sluggish or beginning to gain weight. When they are experiencing repeated symptoms like these, it's definitely time to re-evaluate their energy requirements.

It's also important to pay attention to their bathroom habits. Check out their stools and see what's coming out the other end. This can tell you more about what your putting in than anything. Are they constipated, too loose, not digesting what they eat? You get the idea.

Don't forget to consider the snacks and any human foods you may be feeding them. Now I don't like the idea of “table scraps” but I'm all for good quality human foods. Dogs will learn to eat fruits and vegetables and of course raw meats and just about anything you teach them to if you give them the chance.

If it's healthy for you, it's probably healthy for them and it definitely meets their energy requirements. I often feed my dogs in the kitchen when I'm cooking. It's a great way to add valuable nutrition to their diets. For more information on feeding your dog from your own kitchen, check out the information HERE.

It's also important to consider more than just your dog's nutritional energy requirements but how often should actually be feeding your dog? For puppies, that should be left completely to the mother of the pups. She is in charge and completely capable of how often, how much and when they are too old to nurse.

It is my opinion and the general opinion of dog industry professionals that puppies should not be separated from their mother's before eight weeks of age. This can lead to malnutrition among other issues.

Once a puppy reaches one year of age, their feeding schedule should have settled into a once a day feeding for the most part. Now this is going to depend on what type of diet you choose to feed your dog and what type of feeding plan you choose to implement. For example a free feeding plan allows for food to be left out at all times for your dogs availability. If this type of plan is implemented correctly, your dog will likely only approach their feeding bowl once to twice a day anyway.

The important thing is that you make your dog food choice with the basic energy ingredients, the ingredient's quality and of course your precious pups personal preferences in mind. Making sure your furry friend gets a quality healthy diet, ensures a happy healthy dog.

Return To Homepage From Energy Requirements

Click Here To Go To Dog Food Brands