What is Active Dog Food and How Can it Help Your Dog?

There are multiple breeds of dogs out there that have a more active lifestyle, from bouncy Dalmatians to working dogs like Border Collies. These pooches thrive off of exercise and being active, meaning they need to sustain energy throughout the day every day. It is vital for active dogs to gain plenty of energy for the day ahead to be able to cope with all the exercise they need.

Your furry friend bounces around all day and working dogs work their tail off daily, so it’s essential to fuel them fully for their days by providing them with the right nutrients through food. This is where active dog food comes in to give your pooch the correct amount of energy and nutrients their body needs for an active lifestyle.

It can be difficult to find the best dog food for active dogs and to fully understand why active food exists. Pero is here to help answer common questions about active dog food and see how it can help your pooch carry out its duties or burn off their energy every day, so your canine companion can be happy and healthy every day.

What is active dog food?

When you see active dog food, this means that the food is designed to fuel the higher energy and calorie requirements that active dogs require. This type of food typically contains larger portions of proteins and fats to cater to their energetic lifestyle.

It is pivotal to understand that there isn’t a set definition for active dog food and some foods can be very similar to regular dog food, so it’s best to thoroughly check the label and ingredients. Doing this ensures that you get the best high-performance dog food for your active or working pooch that gives them the additional nutrients and calories they desperately need.

Active dog breeds

There are various active dog breeds that can benefit from active adult dog food. To determine if your canine companion is an active dog, you can observe their energy levels throughout the day and take into account their size, breed and age as these all affect their energy levels. Some of the most active dog breeds are:

• Border Collie
• Australian Shepherd
• Jack Russell Terrier
• Siberian Husky
• Dalmatian
• Boxer
• Irish Setter
• Great Dane
• Akita
• Rottweiler.

How to feed your active dog

It can be a struggle for active dog owners to know how to feed them. Firstly, you need to create an adaptive diet for your energetic pooch. This allows you to tailor their diet to meet their energy levels and active lifestyle. If you have a working dog or one that competes in sports, then this is even more vital to match through their diet as they will be working hard to learn new skills and reach goals daily. As well as this, take into consideration your dog’s breed, size and age as this will determine how much they need to eat.

If your furry friend walks for more than an hour a day without getting tired, plays energetically constantly, or competes in sports or works, then this determines you have an active dog. If your dog gets tired after an hour's walk or doesn’t play much and has no interest in exercise, then they are likely not an active pooch.

The more exercise your four-legged friend does, the more calories they will need. Working pooches and other active breeds are usually highly intelligent and their mental activity also uses vital calories as well, so you need to account for this on top of what they burn off physically. For very energetic dogs, you should feed them between 1.5 and 2.5 times more than a normal pooch. To help you calculate this, use the feeding guidelines found on the packaging and add the extra percentage onto it, which will depend on your dog’s breed, size and age. You can also put your active dog on special diets by using active dog food. This contains more calories and provides your furry friend with slow-release energy.

Alongside the quantity of food, you need to provide your active dog with, it’s all about the quality. Your canine companion needs to consume the right calories and nutrients to aid them with their energetic lifestyle and work. You need the right balance of nutrition where they can get energy for the whole day via proteins. If you don’t do this, your busy dog may become lethargic during the day or struggle to maintain peak energy performance. A typical guide to use is if feeding wet food, the protein content must be around 7-10% and a fat content of at least 5% but no more than 10%. For dry food, the protein content should be around 30% or more and the fat content should be over 20% but less than 25%.

What is the best dog food for active dogs?

A common question for owners with an active dog is “What is the best dog food for active dogs?” To answer this, you need to understand the types of ingredients to look out for that support your energetic pooch. The main goal of an active dog’s food is to fuel their body with a generous amount of energy-releasing and high-quality dog food. You don’t want them to be filled up with preservatives and sugar that can all cause your furry friend to crash during the day. Instead, they need plenty of calories and nutrients wrapped up in slow-burning energy foods that support their energetic lifestyle and their recovery time when their body is resting.

Due to this, the best dog food for active dogs should be food that includes protein to support muscle-building and recovery. This can be ingredients like lamb, chicken or other meat, as well as fish. The perfect dog food for energetic pooches should also incorporate a higher fat and calorie content to provide a slow release of energy. It is always ideal to also choose foods with healthy mixes of vegetables, herbs and carbohydrates to give your furry friend vital minerals and vitamins.

The difference between active dog food and normal

The biggest difference between normal dog food and high-performance dog food is usually the higher calorie and fat content, along with the level of protein. This difference can vary significantly between various brands. For example, commercial foods tend to use more filler ingredients and can have a lower protein percentage while organic brands, like Pero, use natural foods with recipes that are specifically made for active pooches.

Can an active dog eat normal dog food?

There is no harm in an active dog eating normal dog food, especially if the food is of a high quality and uses whole foods. But active dogs and working dogs burn a whole host of calories every single day, leading them to wear out quicker if their calorie and fat requirements aren’t met. It is best to use an active adult dog food that fulfils their needs as it is designed to do this so they can feel energised, fast and sharp throughout the day.

Do active dogs need more food?

A hugely popular question when it comes to active canine companions is “Do active dogs need more food?” This is not as straightforward as it may seem, as technically they do need more food than normal pooches, but it is still possible to overfeed these dogs and feed them the wrong stuff.

An active dog should eat at least twice a day. The important aspect of these meals though is when you feed your pooch because it should never be too soon before or after exercising. You need to allow between one to three hours before or after exercising to feed your furry friend. Feeding at these times during the day ensures your dog gains a healthy full meal at an optimal time, preventing them from becoming bloated or getting a twisted stomach which feels like a stitch. It also avoids diarrhoea and other digestive issues as they won’t exercise with a full belly.

Outside of meals, try to avoid spoiling your active pooch with sugary snacks and treats as this will heavily affect their energy levels. It can also make your canine companion put on weight which hinders their exercise ability.

As for portion sizes, this all depends on just how active they are throughout the day. Typically, an active dog or working pooch eats about 1.5 to 2.5 times more than a normal dog.

Active pooches need access to clean and fresh water regularly every day as they are burning so many nutrients and working their bodies hard, meaning they need to drink often.

Benefits of high-performance dog food

There are multiple benefits of high-performance dog food that make this type of food worth it for your busy canine companion. These are:

• Increases energy levels
• Helps in recovery periods
• Improves fur and skin health
• Develops and maintains muscles
• Enhances the immune system
• Provides healthy weight management.

Best dog food for active dogs

Active dog food can fully support your energetic pooch throughout their hectic day. Whether they are busy working their tails off, competing in sports or leading hectic lifestyles, choosing this type of dog food can enrich your dog’s life and give them vital nutrients and slow-release energy they need for peak performance daily.

Pero supplies the best dog food for active dogs that is specially crafted for active and working dogs. Our working dog range has been meticulously designed to meet the unique nutritional requirements of active and working pooches. Our Active formula is enriched with high protein content, tailored to meet the needs of dogs that partake in extensive physical activities. Our range ensures a substantial energy boost that is vital for the energetic day of an active dog and the demanding tasks of working dogs.