Choosing a Dog Food

Dog food can be really confusing. There are so many options, and everyone has an opinion, which makes it even harder to know what to choose.

The main thing to remember is that puppies and adult dogs do not always need the same thing. Some foods are labeled for all life stages, which means they can be fed to both puppies and adults. That is fine in some cases, but I usually prefer a puppy food for the first 8 months to a year or so, then a gradual switch to an adult formula.

Puppies are growing quickly, so they need good nutrition, but they also should not be pushed to grow too fast. Slow, steady growth is best for joints and overall structure. When puppies grow too quickly, it can put extra stress on their bodies and may contribute to painful growth issues like panosteitis or increase the risk of joint problems.

Food really does matter. It affects your dog’s weight, stamina, coat, digestion, and overall health. If we only ate fast food every day, eventually we would feel it. Dogs are not that different. What they eat over time matters.

When choosing a food, here are a few things to look at:

Has the company had a lot of recalls? You can look this up online.

Are the first ingredients mostly filler, or does the food start with a good meat source?

Is the first ingredient whole meat or at least a named meat meal or meat by product meal? That is what I prefer to see.

Is most of the protein coming from peas, lentils, legumes, or pea protein? I would avoid foods like that.

Is the ingredient list full of things that make no sense and mostly look like filler? Some corn is not the end of the world, but if the food is mostly filler, I would stay away.

Bergamascos can be picky eaters, and some can have a hard time keeping weight on. Because of that, some foods I might not normally choose for another breed may actually work well for Bergamascos. My recommendations are based on either the ingredient profile or what I have seen Bergamascos do well on over time.

I do recommend staying away from grain free foods. There have been concerns about a possible link between some grain free diets and cardiomyopathy in dogs. We still do not know everything, but for me, I do not see a good reason to avoid grains unless a dog truly cannot tolerate them.

Below is a list of foods our dogs have done well on, or foods I would feel comfortable feeding. There are many other good choices too. If you are unsure what to feed, just ask. I am happy to help you sort through it.

Bag of Inushuk professional outdoor charcoal on a beige background.

Packaging of Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain dog food with a background of wheat fields, featuring images of chicken, pomegranate, and oats, indicating ingredients and flavor.

Pink packaging for Wild D-Caught Salmon and Ancient Grain Recipe dog food from Open Farm, showing a countryside scene with a dog running in a field and farm buildings in the background.

Front packaging of Purina Pro Plan Performance dog food with an image of a German Shorthaired Pointer, indicating it's for all ages, with 30/20 protein-to-fat ratio, chicken and rice formula, 37.5 lb bag.

Bag of S describer active joints dog treats with a picture of a happy dog and branding information.

Dog food package labeled Whole Grain Beef Recipe, with illustrations of a dog, beef, carrot, oats, carrots, and a bun, indicating it makes 8 pounds of homemade dog food by just adding water.

Feeding Puppies

For puppies, I keep it pretty simple. I use Open Farm Ancient Grains Chicken and Salmon puppy food for the first year. I want a solid puppy food that gives them what they need while they are growing.

You can choose another good large breed puppy food if you prefer, but the important thing is to transition very slowly if you are going to switch. Take at least a week, and longer is fine. Sudden food changes are one of the easiest ways to end up with stomach upset.

Open Farm is usually easy for puppy families to find, which makes it simpler to continue after your puppy goes home. Inukshuk also makes an all life stages food, so for Canadian families, that may be a good option as your puppy gets older.

In addition to kibble, we feed dehydrated patties. For picky dogs, these can work really well as a meal topper. They are also great for travel and can be broken into smaller pieces for treats.

Our favorite dehydrated supplemental foods:

Barkworthies RAWBBLE freeze-dried beef recipe dog treat package with a red illustration of a dog

Bag of O'Mas Pride Pet Food Turkey Hearts freeze-dried raw for dogs and cats.

Open Farm grain-free freeze-dried raw harvest chicken recipe dog treat package with a picture of a chicken and a dog, showing the product is humanely raised and sustainably sourced.

Recommended Treats

We use some of these supplements to enhance the health of our dogs. I do not recommend the supplements for puppies. I consider an adult a dog over a year of age for the purposes of nutrition. The treats are fine for puppies but it’s best to break them into tiny pieces for training.

Package of Oma's Pride Lamb Lung dog treats, dry dehydrated lamb lung in small batch, 8 ounces, suitable for dogs and cats.

A wonderful source for all natural made in the USA treats is THE QUIRKY PET in Montpelier, VT. This unique pet supply shop is owned by one of our puppy families. Cindra and Richard Connison have actually had 4 of our Bergamascos over the years, making them the inspiration and mascots for the shop. Here is a link to shop if you would like to see their inventory and treat your dogs to some high quality chews!

Container of Zesty Paw Mobility Bites for dogs, with orange lid and label, designed for hip and joint health.

Supplements for Senior Dogs

Bergamasco Owned and Approved!

Bottle of Omega-3 Pet supplement for dogs and small breed dogs with a blue label and black cap

A person standing next to two large dogs inside a store filled with various textiles, hats, and accessories.