Let’s Talk About Dog Food

Dog nutrition is a topic that often sparks debate, and rightly so. Before we get into it, a little background on where my opinions come from.

I have previously worked within the canine nutrition industry, and I am currently a stockist and sponsored handler for Cairngryffe. Through both my work and my own dogs, I’ve spent years learning about what fuels dogs properly and what simply fills a bowl.

Before we go any further, it’s important to be transparent. I am currently a Cairngryffe stockist and sponsored handler, and I am grateful for their support. However, the views and opinions expressed in this article are based on my own experiences working, training, competing with, and feeding dogs over many years, as well as my previous experience within the canine nutrition industry. As with anything dog related, there are many different approaches, but these are the conclusions I have reached through both professional experience and practical application.

So, let me start with a simple question:

What do you feed your dogs?

More importantly, what do you feed yourself?

Most of us pay attention to the quality of food we put into our own bodies, yet many dog owners never look beyond the front of the bag when choosing food for their dogs.

Take a look at the ingredient list on your dog’s food. If the first ingredient is simply listed as “cereals”, what nutritional value is that really providing? In reality, not a great deal - particularly for active or working dogs.

On busy training or working days, large amounts of cereal based ingredients can sit heavily in a dog’s stomach while providing relatively little usable nutrition. Often, the next ingredient listed is “meat and animal derivatives”. But what does that actually mean? What type of meat is it? Which parts of the animal are included? What nutritional value does it offer?

The truth is that these vague ingredients often make up a significant proportion of lower quality feeds, with cereals accounting for anywhere between 50% and 70% of the recipe.

Dogs evolved from carnivorous ancestors and continue to thrive on diets rich in high quality animal protein. While modern dogs are classified as omnivores and have adapted over thousands of years of domestication to digest a wider range of foods, their bodies remain highly efficient at utilising animal protein as a primary source of nutrition. A balanced diet can include both plant and animal ingredients, but quality meat protein should remain the foundation of what we feed our dogs.

As a general rule, I believe you should be looking for a food that contains at least 50% meat content, or at the very least, lists a clearly identified meat protein as the first ingredient.

“Dog Food Is Too Expensive”

This is probably the most common argument I hear.

And yes, quality dog food is expensive.

However, in my opinion, that isn’t a reason to compromise on your dog’s diet. When buying a puppy, it’s worth considering not only the initial purchase price but also whether you can continue providing a high quality diet throughout its life.

The reality is that the price of a low quality 15kg bag of dog food today is often similar to what a premium quality feed cost just five years ago. Prices have risen dramatically across the board, but the same can be said for our own weekly food shopping. Unfortunately, it’s a cost that responsible dog ownership requires us to absorb.

Is Premium Food Really More Expensive?

As the owner of multiple dogs and a stockist of a high quality feed, I regularly hear comments such as:

“That’s too expensive.”

Or:

“Brand X is much cheaper.”

But when you break down the actual feeding costs, the difference is often far smaller than people think.

Lower quality foods generally require you to feed significantly larger quantities. In some cases, owners are feeding double or even triple the amount compared to a premium quality feed.

Why?

Because poorer quality diets often do little more than fill a hole. Much of what you’re feeding passes through the dog before substantial nutritional benefit can be gained. With a higher quality food, every mouthful contains more usable nutrients, meaning smaller portions can provide the fuel your dog actually needs.

When you calculate the daily cost per dog rather than simply looking at the price of the bag, premium food often becomes much more competitive.

Consistency Matters

Many owners increase feed quantities during the working season or switch foods entirely as the seasons change.

With a high quality, well-balanced diet, this shouldn’t always be necessary.

Last season, I fed eight adult working Spaniels that were out being shot over five to six days per week. Throughout the season, I didn’t alter their food, change their diet, or significantly increase their rations. They maintained condition, held their weight, and never started fading after the second drive.

In previous years, I experimented with various feeds in an attempt to reduce costs after receiving recommendations for considerably cheaper brands.

The result?

My dogs lost weight, I was feeding almost three times as much food, and their performance suffered. They simply didn’t have the same stamina throughout long training days, trials, and shoot days.

That experience taught me that saving money on dog food wasn’t actually saving me money at all.

Debunking a Common Dog Food Myth

One comment I hear regularly is:

“High-protein food makes my dog noisy.”

In reality, protein itself does not make a dog vocal.

Protein is one of the fundamental building blocks of life. It supports muscle development and repair, helps maintain a healthy immune system, contributes to energy production, and promotes healthy skin and coat condition.

If your dog is making noise, the cause is more likely to be one of the following:

A. Genetics (hereditary traits)

B. Training methods

Now, playing devil’s advocate, there is potentially a third factor.

C. Excess energy intake

Unlike protein, fats and oils are the dog’s primary source of concentrated energy. They provide roughly twice the energy of protein or carbohydrates. If a dog is consuming more energy than it is using, this excess could contribute to increased excitement and anticipation.

However, even then, I’d still encourage people to look closely at point B.

Anticipation and excitement are often training related behaviours.

This is where careful diet management becomes important. High quality feeds frequently contain higher levels of fats and oils, but when fed correctly and matched to the dog’s workload, that energy should be used effectively rather than stored unnecessarily.

If you’re feeding the correct amount for your dog’s work schedule and activity levels, they should be using that energy productively rather than carrying excess reserves that could potentially contribute to over excitement.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, providing your dog with a balanced, high quality diet is an investment in its future health, wellbeing, and performance.

Whether you choose dry food, raw feeding, or a specialised diet, the key is ensuring that it genuinely meets your dog’s nutritional requirements rather than simply filling a bowl.

I’ve seen first hand the difference that quality nutrition can make, not only in condition and performance, but also in overall health and longevity. Feed the best quality diet you can reasonably afford, understand what is actually in the bag, and remember that good nutrition is one of the most important foundations you can give your dog.

After all, our dogs give us their best every day. The least we can do is give them the fuel to do it.