What Type of Food Is Best for Your Dog?

There are dogs that are always in a good mood and seem very balanced. They're up for any fun, whether it's raining, storming, or snowing. Despite the joy of activity, they are also patient and always cheerful when you are with them. They show little distrust of anything new and can adapt well to new circumstances, even interacting with other dogs is often easy for them. Their radius of action can be quite large, as sometimes they may even run a little "naively", "clumsily" or "thoughtlessly" ahead. They are hard to ruffle and stress does not seem to affect their mood or their digestion. They can easily cope with changes such as food changes. However, if the "sunshine" shows problems, then it must be something serious and you should take action.

General feeding recommendation

The "Sunshine" usually copes very well with different types of food (also in different combinations). If allergies or intolerances play a role, care should only be taken to ensure that the food is allergy-friendly. He can be fed Canis Plus® Cold Pressed Dry Food for Adult Dogs or Canis Plus® Cold Pressed Dry Food for Puppies & Young Dogs, Canis Plus® Complete Meals, Canis Plus® Puppy Meals, Canis Plus® Meat Pots or Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruits and oil as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder - every feeding concept is possible - even in combination.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog

• Always in a good mood, often for no apparent reason

This characer type can appear a bit distant and reserved. His initial reaction is to always get an overview of a situation and to keep an eye on the situation. He can be sceptical about new things at the beginning - therefore getting into contact with other dogs is often more difficult for him than for the "Sunshine". The "Attentive" dog can also have a large radius of action, as this is important to maintain a large overview. If uncertainties come into play, contact with the owner is very important so that situations can be mastered without stress. Stress easily affects the "Attentive" dog's digestion - therefore it can happen that he often struggles with soft faeces or eating grass.

General feeding recommendation

With the "Attentive" dog, it is often better to decide on one feeding concept and feed either wet food or dry food. In stressful situations, the attentive dog usually copes better with a wet food. Canis Plus® Puppies & Young Dogs Salmon, Canis Plus® Puppy Meals, Canis Plus® Salmon, Canis Plus® Beef, Canis Plus® Rabbit, Canis Plus® Complete Meals, Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder, are usually very well suited for his feeding.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Stress-related diarrhoea - if your dog suffers from soft faeces you can support him with our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot or Canis Plus® Vit/Min Variety Flakes. These can be mixed into the food for a few days. You can find out more about diarrhoea in dogs in our guide "Diarrhoea in dogs – causes and feeding tips".
• Stress induced grass-eating - in cases of increased grass eating, feeding Canis Extra Mineralmoor, for at least 30 days, can provide valuable support. You can find out more about grass eating in dogs in our guide "My dog eats grass - what can I do?".
• Higher energy requirement - for the "Attentive" dog, the fat content in the food plays a very important role. The latent "alert position" often requires a higher energy supply on the one hand, and on the other hand it needs high-quality fat sources to promote strong nerves. Canis Extra Salmon Oil or Canis Extra Organic Coconut Oil can be fed to support the high energy requirement of the "Attentive" dog. You can find out more about valuable oils in our guide "Beneficial oils for dogs".

You just want to cuddle the "Delicate One" and ressure him that everything will be all right. He can be very big or very small, either way you often recognise his tenderness by his body shape and body posture, which can remind you of a shy deer. He needs a particularly loving bond with his owner and frequently seeks to make eye contact with him. Stress can quickly cause digestive problems. The "Delicate One" can be sensitive to any kind of change. 

When handling, it is important to be affectionate, as even raising your voice can cause upset or a stress reaction resulting in diarrhoea. He reacts to new things and situations in a startled way and is generally rather reserved and cautious, especially at the beginning when he is not yet able to properly assess a new situation. It that situations it easily happens that the "Delicate One" completely refuses to eat, which can even lead to hyperacidity and vomiting.

General feeding recommendation

Often the "Delicate One" copes better with one feeding concept and mostly it´s wet food that he tolerates better than dry food. Canis Plus® Complete Meals or Canis Plus® Puppy Meals offer a practical feeding option here. However, the "Delicate One" enjoys feeding even more if the owner prepares the food himself. If the smell of the owner sticks to the food, this also strenghtens the bond between dog owner and the dog. For this reason, Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder are also very suitable for feeding the "Delicate One". However, it should not be too varied when it comes to feeding. If you choose, e.g., 3 different types of Complete Meals that are well tolerated, the "Delicate One" will be well supplied and his sensitive digestive tract will be relieved by the consistent feeding.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Food refusal –  a change or a fright is often responsible when the "Delicate One" refuses to eat and that´s why at first you have to find out what happened. Is the food bowl placed somewhere else? Was the dog disturbed the last time he ate or did something else happen? Sometimes the "Delicate One" just needs a little time until he will eat normally again. However, if he is very thin or suffers from hyperacidity, you can support him by feeding a portion of our Canis Plus® Grass Fed Lamb with Millet and Goat’s Milk. General information on the subject of food refusal can be found here: "The dog does not eat: causes for the unusual behaviour".
• Fear of loss/insecure behaviour -  if necessary, it is possible to help the "Delicate One" dog gain more self-confidence through targeted dog training with clear rules. It is useful if you use treats for training that the dog rarely gets and particularly likes. In this way, the dog will develop a joy in training with a positive sense of achievement and therefore quickly find more self-confidence. Treats such as Canis Plus® Starry Fish Treats or Canis Plus® Mini Lung Treats made from beef, horse, lamb or goat are suitable for this. If you want to spoil your dog even more, it's best to use our Canis Plus® Grass Fed Lamb with Millet and Goat’s Milk or one of our Canis Plus® Meat Rolls. The rolls are firm and easy to cut into small pieces and most dogs find them delicious.

The "Beanpole" is a normal to above average active dog whose most striking feature is that the amount of food consumed just never seems to be enough. He has difficulties maintaining body weight and loses it very quickly. Endoparasites such as worms have been ruled out as the cause of this problem. He does not build up any reserves even when the amount of food is greatly increased. His basic character type is usually lively and he is usually very curious, but can also react shyly when confronted with new situations.

General feeding recommendation

The "Beanpole" benefits from a high calorie dry food such as our Canis Plus® Beef or Working Dog - Sport. As a young dog, however, he should be fed our Canis Plus® Puppies & Young Dogs food. In fact, this dog often needs even more energy in his food - although you need to check individually whether he needs more meat, more fat or more carbohydrates. You can combine the feed fabulously with our Canis Plus® Complete Meals, our Canis Plus® Puppy Meals or our Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder. Dry- and wet food should be fed in separate meals.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Increased energy requirement - as mentioned, the energy requirement is often higher than in other dogs. You just have to find out which energy source is utilised most effectively:
• Canis Extra Salmon Oil - provides energy in form of pure salmon oil. Other possible sources of fat are beef fat or goose fat. 
• Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls provide more energy in form of protein and fat. Another possible source of protein and fat is raw meat. 
• Canis Extra Vit/Min Variety Flakes - provide energy with additional carbohydrates. Other carbohydrate sources include millet flakes, buckwheat flakes, oat flakes or pearl barley.
• Giardia infestation as a young dog -  it is noticeable that many "Beanpole" dogs suffered from giardia when they were young. If there are any abnormalities in the faeces, it makes sense to have a faecal sample examined to see if giardia may still cause problems. More information about giardia can be found in our guide "Giardia in dogs".
• Weak digestion - if increasing the amount of food only leads to increased faeces, this is a sign of a poor feed conversion. This can occur after the use of antibiotics, worm treatments and other chemical substances. These may have irritated the digestive tract. Intestinal rehabilitation, e.g. with Canis Extra Mineralmoor and Canis Extra Petflora, can help to improve food conversion. You can find more information about intestinal rehabilitation in our guide "Intestinal rehabilitation in dogs – improving the quality of life for your dog".

The "Activist" is very impulsive and usually runs most of the time because of all the excitement. He loves to be kept busy and gets stressed if he does not get this activity. The dog can then communicate his frustration to the world, for example by barking or howling loudly, or engage in self-invented games that can even lead to obsessive behaviour. In the worst case scenario, the dog becomes so unbalanced that behavioural problems manifest themselves. The "Activist" is without limits and could run until all his strength leaves him and he simply falls asleep. Great care must be taken here to ensure that the owner finds the right balance between periods of activity and resting, as the dog often cannot find the balance on his own. He tends to have stress-induced, recurring diarrhoea or his faeces becomes a little softer during the day.

General feeding recommendation

With the "Activist" you should keep an eye on the energy content of the food.  If it is too high, this can contribute to overexcitement. In this case, our cold pressed Canis Plus® Lamb or Canis Plus® Salmon is more suitable. For puppies & young dogs both types of our cold pressed Puppies & Young Dogs are suitable, as well as our Canis Plus® Complete Meals and our tinned Canis Plus® Puppy Meals.  Also suitable are our Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder. However, it is often better to choose one feeding concept and not combine the different types of food.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Stress induced diarrhoea - if the faeces become softer during the day, adding Canis Extra Granulated Carrot or Canis Extra Vit/Min Variety Flakes to the feed in the morning can bind excess fluid during intestinal transit and thus help to keep the faeces firm throughout the day.

The well-trained "Athlete" needs to be kept busy and can show signs of stress if underchallenged. However, the "Athlete" is not a restless, hectic companion, but simply has a lot of power that must somehow be utilised. This "rocket" type dog can go from 0 to 100 very quickly and is also prone to excess. However, less caution is required as with the "Activist", because the well-trained "Athlete" simply needs an "extra" amount of exercise without showing mental overstimulation. Of course, activity and resting phases are also important for the "Athlete" and the owner should offer them in a balanced way.

General feeding recommendation

The "Athlete" benefits from our Canis Plus® Beef or Canis Plus® Working Dog - Sport which you can also use as a treat outside for any kind of search games. Mental work like search games etc. is very good for the dog and offers a healthy and easy way to exercise and get rid of excess energy. For puppies and young dogs we recommend our Puppies & Young Dogs Poultry or Puppies & Young Dogs Salmon. The “Athlete” often needs more energy in his food. You can combine the feed fabulously with our Canis Plus® Complete Meals, Canis Plus® Puppy Meals or our Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder. A regular feeding of our Canis Plus® Turkey Complete Meal or Canis Plus® Pollock Complete Meal is particularly recommended here.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Increased energy requirement - the feeding of our Canis Extra Salmon Oil provides extra energy. You can find out more about healthy oils in our guide "Beneficial oils for dogs" while our guide "Sport dog food for the agile animal" explains the special needs of sporty dogs.
• Increased nutrient requirement – feeding Canis Extra Tausendgrün Organic Herbs for BARF and Canis Extra Berry Power will add valuable nutrients to the weekly meal plan and they can be supplemented regularly. Would you like to learn more about nutrients for a strong immune system? Then take a look at our guide "Strengthening the dog's immune system naturally". 
• Additional activity-related strain on the musculoskeletal system and associated joint wear and tear - as "Athletes" often put a higher strain on their musculoskeletal system, we advise feeding Canis Extra Green-lipped Mussel Powder, Canis Extra Gelenkvital, Canis Extra Organic Rosehip Powder or Canis Extra Krill Oil every now and then, for 4-6 weeks, preferably in alternation.
• High strain on the metabolism - the cardiovascular system as well as the musculoskeletal system are subject to greater strain. Canis Extra Krill Oil stabilises the cardiovascular function and increases the condition.

Clever and cunning, the "Rascal" likes to take advantage of every situation that presents him as a chance to do what he wants. He loves to wrap you around his finger and when he dislikes something, he often tells you clearly, by barking until he gets what he wants or "accidentally" damaging your stuff, for example your furniture. The "Rascal" wants to be challenged and needs a lot of mental stimulation. Learning gives him pleasure and is very important to keep him balanced. He can usually assess situations quickly and independently and he is usually very open-minded towards new things, but can also become overconfident and then lapse into insecurity. He makes a very charming companion and on dog walks it is not unusual to smilingly reprimand him for misbehaving.

General feeding recommendation

The "Rascal" usually gets along with every feeding concept without any problems, even in combination. However, as he can be almost too independent, using a food dummy every now and then or even on a regular base may help to show him that patience and teamwork can be extremely worthwhile - and the food dummy can best be filled with our cold pressed Canis Plus® Dry Food for adult dogs or our Canis Plus® Dry Food for puppies & young dogs. Overall, the owner can decide whether to feed cold pressed Canis Plus® Dry Food, Canis Plus® Complete Meals, Canis Plus® Puppy Meals or our Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder. In fact every feeding concept is possible - even in combination.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Boredom and underchallenged - the "Rascal" benefits from head- and nose work. With fragrant snacks, such as our Canis Plus® Sprats, our Canis Plus® Mini Lung Treats made from beef, lamb or goat or our Canis Plus® Starry Fish Treats, it is possible to create wonderful trails that he can follow with great pleasure.
• Behavioural- or stress-related grass-eating as a displacement activity - in the case of increased grass-eating, feeding Canis Extra Mineralmoor, for at least 30 days, can provide valuable support.
• Low frustration tolerance level and constant barking - "Rascals" learn very quickly which behaviours serve their advantage and can react with frustration when they are stopped and taught boundaries. Loving and consistent training can help them develop a higher frustration tolerance limit.

The "Gentle Giant" often has a large frame and in many cases loves a cuddle. His powerful build usually leaves a lasting impression, although it often seems as if he is absolutely unaware of his own body size. He usually gets along very well with other dogs and is generally more tolerant than other dogs. In an argument with a cuddly toy, he would probably get the short end of the stick and let the cuddly toy go first. He can be very affectionate and his family often means everything to him. He can also be quite leisurely and sometimes needs to be pushed a little when it comes to sporting enthusiasm, but when the enthusiasm is there, it is amazing the top form he can reach.

General feeding recommendation

It can be beneficial for the "Gentle Giant" to be fed fish regularly, because due to their massive build, their musculoskeletal system is constantly subject to extra strain, such as when jumping or climbing stairs. Canis Plus® Puppies & Young Dogs Salmon or Canis Plus® Salmon provide a good basis for feeding. However, it is often the case that a combination with our Canis Plus® Complete Meals, Canis Plus® Puppy Meals or our Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder is also very well tolerated. A regular feeding of our Canis Plus® Turkey Complete Meal or Canis Plus® Pollock Complete Meal is particularly recommended for the "Gentle Giant".

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Mass-related increased strain on the musculoskeletal system and associated joint wear and tear -  as "Gentle Giants" often take on a higher strain on the musculoskeletal system, we advise feeding Canis Extra Green-lipped Mussel Powder, Canis Extra Salmon Oil, Canis Extra Gelenkvital, Canis Extra Organic Rosehip Powder or Canis Extra Krill Oil every now and then, for 4-6 weeks, preferably in alternation.
• High strain on the metabolism - the cardiovascular system is under greater strain, as is the musculoskeletal system - Canis Extra Krill Oil can stabilise the cardiovascular function.
• Avoid being overweight - go easy on regular and large treats, as this can prevent the "Gentle Giant" from gaining excess weight. The low-calorie Canis Plus® Beef Gullet or the reduced-fat Canis Plus® Mini Lung Treats made from beef, lamb or goat are good snacks for the "Gentle Giant". More information on feeding overweight dogs can be found in our guide "Food for overweight dogs: When is a dog too fat?".

The "Cosy One" has a calm nature – following the motto: "If I don't do it today, I'll do it tomorrow". He is very reluctant to be disturbed or get upset. If you ask him to come out of the woods, you need the right arguments and incentives, so on a rainy day it can be very difficult to get him out of the house for a walk. He loves good food – unfortunately, his waist line shows an excess of food really quick. Due to his prevailing reluctance to exercise, it can also be difficult to get rid of any pounds gained, so it is important that he does not develop excess weight in the first place.

General feeding recommendation

The "Cosy One" needs a food that does not provide too much energy. Canis Plus® Poultry, Canis Plus® Lamb and Canis Plus® Salmon are therefore particularly suitable. Puppies and young dogs can have one of our cold pressed puppies & young dogs dry food varieties. Wet food such as our Canis Plus® Complete Meals, Canis Plus® Puppy Meals or our Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder can also be fed - even in combination with the cold pressed dry food. However, the amount of wet food should not exceed 2.5 - 3 % of the dog's body weight for adult dogs.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Be sparing with treats - fewer and smaller treats can prevent the "Cosy One" from developing obesity. The low-calorie Canis Plus® Beef Gullet or the reduced-fat Canis Plus® Mini Lung Treats made from beef, lamb or goat are therefore appropriate snacks. If they are fed in moderation, the daily food ration does not necessarily need to be reduced, otherwise the amount of food should be adjusted according to the number of treats fed. More information on feeding overweight dogs can be found in our guide "Food for overweight dogs: When is a dog too fat?".

The "Glutton" has a huge problem – he is always hungry! The advantage: You can achieve pretty much everything with food when training the "Glutton". The disadvantage: If the "Glutton" can, he will pick up anything he finds outside (for example food waste etc.) and it can also happen that the "Glutton" steals food in the house, opens the rubbish bin, etc. when he feels unobserved. This can lead to digestive problems every time something is ingested - but that doesn't stop the "Glutton" from showing the same behaviour again and again. He literally devours his food and then begs for more.

General feeding recommendation

The "glutton" needs food that does not provide too much energy, but at the same time the food should have a high fibre content, as these promote a feeling of satiety. Canis Plus® Poultry, Canis Plus® Lamb and Canis Plus® Salmon are therefore particularly suitable. Puppies and young dogs can have one of our cold pressed puppies & young dogs dry food varieties. Wet food such as our Canis Plus® Complete Meals, Canis Plus® Puppy Meals or our Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder can also be fed - even in combination with the cold pressed dry food.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Constant hunger - our Canis Extra Vit/Min Variety Flakes add fibre to the food and thus support the feeling of satiety for longer. The flakes can be supplemented daily.
• Eating grass and rubbish - If something has been ingested outside, it is worth having Canis Extra Healthy Bowel at home to prevent digestive problems. You can find more information about dogs eating faeces in our guide "My dog eats faeces - what can I do?".
• Recurring diarrhoea and soft faeces – as the "glutton" eats things he finds outside again and again, he often has problems with diarrhoea - our Canis Extra Granulated Carrot can quickly help to get feeding-related soft faeces under control. Additionally, our Canis Extra Mineralmoor can promote the digestive tract and thus help to ensure that the dog ingests less outside, as well as protecting the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. You can find more information about diarrhoea in dogs in our guide "Diarrhoea in dogs – causes and feeding tips".
• Recurring worm infestations - if the dog ingests a lot outside, there is an increased risk that he will come into contact with endoparasites. Canis Extra Vermprevet® can help with internal intestinal care, creating a resistant intestinal environment so that worms do not settle in the first place, while Canis Extra Vermcurat® helps to eliminate existing worms nutritionally. Would you like to learn more about the topic of "worms in dogs"? Then take a look at our guide "Natural deworming supplements".

The "Problem Child" can have one or more of the traits that have already been presented in the previous groups. But there is one special feature that meant the "problem child" had to be given its own group: Unfortunately, it has the "talent" that it always has something and is never completely healthy. The ears are a bit red or inflamed, the belly is scratchy or it has diarrhoea and when things are physically fine, then it is parasites like ticks, fleas or mites that cause problems and if it is not them, then worms or giardia cause problems. As an owner, there is always the next "catastrophe" to expect. Despite everything - or maybe because of everything - the "Problem Child" is an absolutely lovable, sensitive character who builds up a strong loving bond with it´s owner and knows that it will always get help and care from him.

General feeding recommendation

With the "Problem Child" it is useful to check how well it actually tolerates its current food, as it repeatedly shows signs of food intolerances. This is why Canis Plus® Meat Pots and Canis Plus® Meat Rolls with air-dried flake mix or fresh vegetables/fruit and oil, as well as a calcium source such as our Canis Extra Organic Eggshell Powder are very suitable for feeding at the beginning. It is best to start with one meat source and feed this for 4-6 weeks, then add another meat source. Additionally, the proportion of meat in the daily feed should be slightly reduced to around 60%. Once you have found 3-4 well-tolerated meat sources, you stay with these and increase the meat content to 70%.

Common type-specific issues with this character type of dog and how you can support the dog

• Behavioural stress, anxiety problems and inner restlessness resulting in dysbacteria in the digestive tract - with this type of dog, it is noticeable that often during puppyhood or at a young age, problems were present that massively affected the dog’s intestinal flora. It could have been stress-related, for example due to frequent changes of owner or other formative, traumatic experiences such as birth by caesarean section, recurring problems with giardia or a strong reaction to antibiotics, vaccination, chemical deworming treatments and the like - it appears that the digestive tract was continuously subject to stress, as a result of which a stable immune system could never develop. It is then recommended to support the organism in finding its balance through an extensive 3-6 month intestinal rehabilitation with appropriate detoxification and intestinal rebuilding. You can find more information on intestinal rehabilitation in our guide "Intestinal rehabilitation in dogs – improving the quality of life for your dog". If you are interested in natural products to strengthen the immune system, please take a look at our guide "Strengthening the dog's immune system naturally".
• Recurring problems with parasites such as fleas, ticks, mites, worms or problems with giardia - despite the fact that there are constant problems with parasites, you should try as gently as possible to protect the "Problem Child" from them. As it has a weakness in it´s immune system, it reacts particularly sensitively to any additional strain on its metabolism. So feel free to call our team of experts if you have any questions on this topic. Would you like to learn more about natural help for ticks, worms or giardia? Then take a look at our guides "Natural help against ticks", "Giardia in dogs", "Natural deworming supplements". General information on natural dog grooming can be found here: Grooming – the natural way
• Food intolerances and allergies - it is possible that problems with the "Problem Child" arise from the fact that an intolerance or allergy is present, which does not show itself symptomatically very strongly, but constantly causes irritations in the digestive tract. Therefore, it makes sense to try an elimination diet. Change to a food that contains only one animal protein source and only try another meat source after a few weeks. If you would like more information on the subject of allergies in dogs, please take a look at our guide "My dog is allergic - What to do?".