What Should You Feed Your Dog?

A happy dog fills a happy home and here at Maxime, we believe that a happy dog is a healthy one. One of the fundamental factors in ensuring that your fur buddy is healthy is by giving him the proper nourishment he needs.

Whether you’re a new fur parent or thinking of switching your dog’s current diet, choosing a dog food for your furbaby can be overwhelming with all the options available in the market. With our team of experts, we’ve cracked down the top things that you should consider when deciding what to feed your dog.

The formula of a good dog food

Commercial dog food is often categorized into two — canned wet food and dry kibble. Most dog owners either feed dry kibble or wet food to their doggos, or a combination of the two. Regardless of the category they fall in, all pet foods must pass regulatory standards and undergo rigorous testing from veterinary specialists before they can be sold in the market.

Many of these regulations are based on the recommendations of the Association of American Feed Control Official Standards. The AAFCO sets the standards by providing a “guaranteed analysis”. This guaranteed analysis gives the minimum amount of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture to ensure that pet foods are minerally balanced and offer complete pet nutrition.

When choosing a dog food, at the bare minimum, look for the label that says the product was formulated in accordance with AAFCO’s standards.

A dog’s nutritional needs

Your dog’s nutritional needs will vary depending on his breed, age, weight, and size. For example, large-breed dogs are more prone to joint and skeletal problems, which is why they require dog food rich in nutrients that promote musculoskeletal health. 

Doggos also have different nutritional needs as they go through different stages in their life. Puppies require more calcium and carbohydrates than adult dogs, and senior dogs also often have a different set of nutritional requirements formulated based on their needs, which usually require lower calories, higher protein, and reduced carbohydrates. 

A good quality dog food should be able to provide these essential nutrients:

Proteins

Fats

Carbohydrates

Vitamins and minerals

Choosing the right dog food

When it comes to choosing the right dog food for your fur babies, it’s still best to consult a veterinarian to make sure you are providing them proper nourishment according to their age, size, and breed. 

Go for high-quality dog food that meets regulatory standards formulated with optimal nutrients to keep your fur buddies healthy, active, and happy. Maxime Dog Food is especially made to provide complete and balanced nutrition while delighting your doggo’s palate.

#LiveTheBestLifeTogether with your doggos and help them live to their full potential by giving them the right nourishment and care. 

Reference links:

• VCA Animal Hospitals
• American Kennel Club
• RSPCA Pet Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the two main categories of commercial dog food, and how should dog owners approach choosing between them?
Commercial dog food is broadly divided into canned wet food and dry kibble. Dog owners commonly feed one type exclusively or combine both. The choice between wet and dry food is less critical than ensuring whichever product is chosen meets established regulatory standards – all commercial pet foods must pass testing from veterinary specialists before being sold. Rather than focusing primarily on format, owners should evaluate a product’s compliance with AAFCO standards, its nutritional profile, and whether it matches their dog’s specific breed, age, weight, and size requirements.

Q2. What is the AAFCO guaranteed analysis, and why does it matter when reading a dog food label?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials sets nutritional standards for commercial pet food through what is called a guaranteed analysis – a label disclosure that specifies the minimum levels of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture in a product. This analysis is designed to ensure that pet foods are minerally balanced and provide complete nutrition rather than simply listing ingredients without accountability for their proportional presence. When selecting a dog food, the most important baseline check is confirming that the product label states it was formulated in accordance with AAFCO standards.

Q3. How do a dog’s nutritional needs change across different life stages, and what does this mean for feeding decisions?
Nutritional requirements shift meaningfully as dogs age. Puppies have higher needs for calcium and carbohydrates to support rapid bone and tissue development. Adult dogs require a balanced maintenance profile. Senior dogs typically need lower caloric density, higher protein levels, and reduced carbohydrates to account for changes in metabolism and muscle maintenance. Large-breed dogs carry additional considerations regardless of age – they are more prone to joint and skeletal problems, making it important to choose foods specifically formulated with nutrients that support musculoskeletal health. A dog’s breed, weight, and size further modify these baseline stage-based requirements.

Q4. What are the four essential nutrient categories that any quality dog food must provide?
Four core nutrient categories are identified as the foundation of complete canine nutrition. Proteins are essential for tissue repair, muscle development, and immune function. Fats provide concentrated energy and support healthy skin, coat, and brain function. Carbohydrates supply readily available energy and support digestive health. Vitamins and minerals underpin virtually every physiological process from bone strength and blood formation to nerve function and immune response. A dog food that is deficient in any of these four categories – regardless of how premium its marketing claims are – cannot be considered complete nutrition.

Q5. What are the key takeaways for dog owners choosing the right food for their pet?
Three principles stand out. First, regulatory compliance is the non-negotiable baseline – a product formulated in accordance with AAFCO standards is the minimum acceptable starting point, regardless of price point or marketing. Second, nutrition is not one-size-fits-all – breed size, life stage, weight, and health conditions all require different nutritional profiles, meaning a food suitable for a healthy adult Labrador is not automatically appropriate for a growing puppy, a senior small breed, or a large dog with joint risk. Third, veterinary guidance is irreplaceable – consulting a veterinarian is recommended as the most reliable route to matching a specific dog’s individual needs to the right product.