How to Choose the Right Food for Your Dog’s Breed Size and Life Stage

Dogs are amazing, but only you know your dog the best. Personality, activity level, even what kind of treat you use when sneaking them a vitamin - no one understands your dog better than you. 

Although you two are close, it can still be difficult to find the right food for your best friend. There are so many brands of dog food on the shelves and so many flavours to choose from. There are even foods for different life stages (puppy, adult, senior). Selecting the best food for your dog’s life stage and breed size can be a daunting task, even when you know them better than anyone. 

When choosing a food, consider a couple of key factors. Let’s start with the basics:  

• Your dog’s health history 

• What stage of life they’re in (puppy, adult or senior) 

• Activity level (wild child, couch potato, or somewhere in between) 

• Their size and physical characteristics - little fluffballs have different needs than gentle giants, surprise surprise! 

Your dog’s health 

Does your dog show any signs of health issues, like a dull coat, chronic upset tummy, ear infections or persistent scratching? If so, they could be suffering from food allergies or sensitivities and may benefit from a change in diet. Our sister brand, Go! Solutions, has nutritionally tailored recipes that can help support issues including food sensitivities.  Just don’t forget to transition your dog’s food slowly over a 10-day period to help avoid any digestive upset.

Is your dog at a healthy weight? Obesity is increasingly common in North American pets and can lead to many health issues including diabetes, heart disease and joint problems. Feeding a recipe tailored to senior pets can be a great option for any pet who needs to lose weight, with lower calories, fat, and protein than our adult recipes. 

Nutritional requirements for your dog’s life stage 

Puppy Food 

Let’s start with puppies. Most of their growth occurs during the first year of life. A larger breed will increase in size 70-fold in the first year, which makes sense when you remember that your 70-pound (or more) dog only weighed a few pounds at birth.¹ 

This makes feeding your playful pup a balanced diet very important, as it must meet the nutritional needs of their rapidly growing body. Read up on what you need to know about feeding your large-breed puppy including how to determine the amount of food they need, and which nutrients can help their muscle, bone and joint development. 

Now Fresh’s minimally processed puppy foods have been designed to provide balanced nutrition to your little one. Nutrition that will help nourish their body and give them all the energy they need to play and explore their new world. 

Now Fresh puppy kibble includes: 

• Balanced protein & fat to support growth and development 

• Essential omega 3s & 6s to support healthy brain development 

• Controlled levels of calcium & phosphorous for healthy bone development 

Adult Dog Food 

Once your dog is ready to switch from puppy food to adult food (around 9-15 months, depending on the breed), you’ll want to maintain the same level of quality and targeted nutrition that you started with. Like our puppy food, Now Fresh adult dog food is minimally processed and developed to provide your best friend the perfect blend of nutrition their body needs.

Now Fresh adult dog food contains: 

• Balanced protein & fat to help maintain a healthy weight 

• Added L-carnitine to support heart health and fat burning 

Senior Dog Food 

Nutritional needs change as our human bodies age and the same is true for dogs. Switching your dog’s food to a recipe designed for seniors when they are around 7 years old is a great way to provide the nourishment they require, helping keep your pup healthy and active as that muzzle starts to gray.   

Now Fresh senior dog food contains: 

• Moderate protein & fat to help maintain a healthy weight 

• Fibre from pumpkin and probiotics to support good digestion 

• Glucosamine & chondroitin to help support hip and joint health 

Now Fresh’s life stage-based recipes mean you can give your furry best friend the nutrition they need at any stage of their life. 

Breed Size 

Your dog’s size may indicate far more about them than how much room they take up on your bed - it may mean he requires specific nutritional needs for his body type.  

Now Fresh Large Breed Dog Food 

Large dogs mean large appetites, which makes the quality of the food you feed your big buddy that much more important. A quality food can also improve the quality and firmness of the... well... you-know-what you have to pick up. It also gives them enough energy to play or lounge all day, whatever fits your life. 

Now Fresh large breed dog food contains: 

• Balanced protein & fat to help maintain a healthy weight 

• Large, ridged kibble to slow chewing (adult & senior recipes) 

• Glucosamine & chondroitin to help support hip and joint health  

Now Fresh Small Breed Dog Food 

Obviously, your little furry friend will eat significantly less than their larger counterparts. Nutritious food will give them the energy to stay active, healthy, and to use those big doe-eyes to milk even more treats out of you – you know the look we’re talking about. 

Now Fresh small breed dog food contains: 

• Balanced protein & fat to help maintain a healthy weight 

• Small, clover-shaped kibble for tiny teeth and mouths (adult & senior recipes) 

• Peppermint & parsley to help freshen breath 

Now Fresh All Size Kibble 

Hungry dogs of all sizes will enjoy our renowned adult dog food.  

Our minimally processed delicious food contains: 

• Balanced protein & fat to help maintain a healthy weight 

• Added L-carnitine to support heart health and fat burning 

• Glucosamine & chondroitin to help support hip and joint health 

A well-fed dog is a happy dog. As no two canines are alike, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to food. By using the above as a guide, you will be able to provide your pooch with the nutrition to keep them happy and healthy throughout their life stages and regardless of size or breed. 

Have more questions? Our team of health and nutrition specialists are standing by to help you out, contact us today!