Gun dog breeders who specialize in Chesapeake Bay retrievers are careful about their dogs' diets and they have some tips on what to feed your Chesapeake Bay retriever to keep it in top shape come hunting season.
There is a variety of diets that owners can choose to feed their Chesapeake Bay retriever, but these gun dog breeders have a few suggestions when it comes to choosing a diet.
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While the number of prepared pet food options are staggering, some breeders suggest and do feed their gun dogs a raw diet — consisting of raw meat and bones and fruits and vegetables, and very few grains, if any.
The
breeders at Great Lakes Chesapeake Bay Retrievers have fed their dogs a raw diet because they believed a raw diet greatly increased the proteins and fats dogs need as well as cut down on unnecessary carbohydrates compared to ratios provided by dried kibble.
This gun dog breeder claimed that a raw food diet led to "better weight management" and "higher energy level," two key factors in making sure your Chesapeake Bay retriever is fit for the field.
While some owners may decide against a raw diet for cost, convienence, or safety reasons, the
breeders at Whiskey Creek Chesapeakes said "feeding a raw meat diet can be as easy or as hard as you choose to make it."
Whiskey Creek advised that raw diets are comparable in cost and can be purchased in prepared portions.
For owners that decide on a non-raw diet a diet for their Chesapeake Bay retriever, there are high-quality dried, canned, dehydrated, and prescription options.
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Also, prospective owners who opt out of feeding a raw diet should consider buying from a breeder that feeds their Chesapeake Bay retrievers a commercial pet food for ease of adaptation. Purchasing a raw-fed gun dog will require the new owner to transition the diet away from raw — to dried kibble, for example. Changing a dog's diet suddenly can be painful and messy.
However, you choose to feed your dog, it's important to remember that no matter how good the food, dogs can still develop a sensitive stomach to it and the food may have to be changed as necessary.
With any diet, portion control is absolutely necessary to make sure your Chesapeake Bay retriever is in the best shape for hunting season, so feed accordingly to size and weight recommendations.
Also, always make sure your Chesapeake Bay retriever has plenty of fresh, clean water to drink.
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