What to feed your Bulldog

The Bulldog developed in the northern farmland counties of the British Empire where it was used in the “sport” of bull baiting.  Fortunately this “sport” is gone and the Bulldog remains.  It was on of the first breeds recognized by the newly organized Kennel Club of England in 1873.  At this time the breed standards were established.  These standards have not changed since.  This breed is very strong (muscled and willed) and has taken more than on child for a walk to wherever they dog decided to go. Nutritionally the Bulldog is a breed of dog that is very slow to mature.  They reach their full adult body size at about 14 months but should be nutritionally treated as a puppy until about the 30th month.  This will help develop healthier bones, teeth, muscles, and coats.

Native food supplies for this breed would have been been and dairy products blended with large quantities of high carbohydrate potatoes and cabbage.  For this reason, today’s Bulldog needs a food with a very high percentage of carbohydrate and fiber by not a very high amount of protein.  For the Bulldog I recommend commercial foods high in potato type carbohydrates with the protein being from a beef, wheat, and yellow corn blend.  You should avoid feeding  a Bulldog any white rice, soy, poultry, or lamb.

Brittany Spaniel

The Brittany Spaniel developed in an area for today’s France that was controlled by the kings of England during the Middle Ages.  This area area was a popular hunting territory for the Norman nobles whose ancestors crossed the English Channel and successfully conquered England in 1066.  These Norman nobles were responsible for the development of ta hunting dog, which is the same Brittany Spaniel we know today.  The primary nutrients of their native environment would have been poultry, fish of  the trout family, beets, potatoes.  I note that this was that led to a critical difference between the Brittany Spaniel’s nutritional requirements and those of the English Springer Spaniel–especially in the area of carbohydrate needs.   Reportedly, the Brittany can utilize a higher starch and carbohydrate to protein ratio than its English cousin (The English Springer Spaniel) when the carbohydrate source is beet pulp or potatoes.  The Brittany also does poorly on blends containing corn, barley or wheat, which are for the English Springer Spaniel.  For the Brittany Spaniel, look for all-breed commercial dog foods which sources of poultry, lamb, and beet pulp.  Avoid foods based on beef or horse meat and their by-products as well as any yellow corn, barley, wheat, or soy products.

What to feed your dog *Dachshund*

This time I wanted to write about a breed which has become increasingly popular and always draws a crowd due to how cute they are.

A short-legged, long-bodied breed belonging to the hound family, the Dachshund originated in Germany. The name literally meaning “Badger Dog” in German, the Dachshund’s short, but long slender body has resulted in numerous nicknames such as Hot dog, Sausage dog, Weiner dog, Doxie, and in modern German they are more commonly known by the name Dackel or, for more hunting oriented dogs, Teckel.

Being bred for hunting the specific parts of Germany where they developed had rocky foothills housing wild boar and burrowing animals like badger and ground rodents. This area also produced many varieties of vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and greens. Nutrients from these vegetable sources have high amounts of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A as beta carotene.

Due to originating in this area, today’s Dachshund will do well on a diet with its vitamin A source coming from beta carotene sources, instead of coming from palmitate or fish oil.

Many breeders claim the dachshund requires a very high fat-low protein ratio in their food. Therefore, a valid suggestion is to feed this breed commercial dog food formulated for puppies during its entire life cycle.

Food sources to avoid with this breed include beet pulp, soy, and both white and brown forms of rice

What to feed your dog *Black & Tan Coonhound*

This time for our What to Feed Your Dog segment, I thought it would be cool to check out a dog breed here in the USA… the Black and Tan Coonhound. The development for this breed was in the southeastern United States *mainly in the Carolinas*. However, it is a descendant from the Talbot hound *now extinct*, Bloodhound and the Black and Tan Foxhound. That said, it is unclear when this Coonhound made its first appearance. In 1945, the Black and Tan became the only one of the six varieties of Coonhound, recognized in the Hound Group by the American Kennel Club. The Black and Tan Coonhound is said to be a very powerful dog that has the courage required to keep a mountain lion or bear at bay until the hunter arrives, as well as the quickness and stamina required to hunt raccoon and deer. Native food supplies for this breed would have been the same as for the early Carolina colonialist. This area provided many meats from deer, bear, wild boar and turkey. Rice was a huge commercial crop in Carolina. Then soy bean and flax would of been used for high amounts of dietary vegetable oil. When you feed your Black and Tan Coonhound I would look at foods that contain lots of rice blended with beef or horse meat, corn, wheat and beet pulp. I would stay away from fish or lamb.

What to feed your dog *Scottish Terrier*

This week for our “What to Feed Your Dog” series, I thought it would be nice to look at the oldest pure breed terrier out there, the Scottish Terrier. Nicked named the “Scottie” this breed has been documented as far back as 1436 and it hasn’t changed at all. They were originally bred to hunt and kill vermin on farms and to hunt badgers and foxes in the rocky highlands of Scotland. Their first appearance in any dog show was in the early 1800′s and they were shown as the “Hard – Haired Scotch Terrier,” mainly because of the wiry topcoat they have. This coat has been prevalent with all sizes of the breed that developed in the highlands. The Scottish Terrier is also very popular in pop culture. They have been owned by a variety of celebrities like the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Also FDR’s Scottie “Fala” is apart of his memorial statue in Washington, DC. The 43rd President George W. Bush also had one as well and the Scottie is also well known playing piece in the board game Monopoly.

The native food supplies for this breed would have included mutton, poultry, and a form of dairy cattle. The vegetation would of been grain crops, potatoes, corn and wheat. For the Scottie we would recommend commercial foods that are high in carbohydrates but low in protein. The foods should have a blend of poultry, mutton, wheat, corn and potatoes. I would avoid horse meat, soy products, beet pulp, white rice and avocado.

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