The teetering towers of dog food, advertising everything from vegetarian to grain-free, is quite the sight for anyone to take in when they first step into a pet store. However, picking out a diet for your dog doesn’t have to be riddled with anxiety. Like humans, dog diets have general ground rules with a few additional considerations and, when all is lost, you can always ask a vet.

Should you make your dog’s meals yourself?

You might think that to show the ultimate love towards your pet, you need to extend the same care and attention you’d show yourself, up to and including homemade meals. In actuality, this might not be the best option: canine dietary requirements are very different from human ones and, if not planned correctly, the meals you make for your dog may be filled with love but lack the sufficient and appropriate nutrients to cater to their biological needs. That isn’t to say that you can’t feed your dog fully homemade meals, but you’ll likely have to do extensive research and/or consult a vet first before planning a whole separate diet for them.

Which type of food should you buy?

A simpler option would be to buy ready-made food from the pet store. Besides being made to spec according to what your dog will need, it also makes for more time – and energy-efficient meal times. Then comes the next big question: wet food or dry food? The general answer is both. Both are good. As long as you make sure to purchase foods listed as ‘complete’, you can feed your dog entire meals consisting of that food and rest assured that your puppy is getting all the nutrition it needs. You can however supplement the food with the appropriate meat, vegetables and fruit, so long as you check if they’re safe for dog consumption.

Commercially available dog food is often also separated according to factors like size, age and sometimes even breed. Where possible, your dog’s diet should adhere to these categorisations as the food is formulated with different combinations of nutrients to suit different dogs. This is to ensure that your pet gets the nutrition it needs, depending on its life stage, size and genetic predisposition to certain biological features that may result in medical conditions if not properly cared for.

What about supplements and treats?

Things like vitamins and supplements are available, but should only be given after consulting with a vet, and only to address any specific health issues your pet might have. Just like humans, a dog’s mental state can also determine their overall health. Luckily, pet stress is increasingly gaining attention. Products like calming sprays have been developed and clinically tested in order to provide pet owners with a natural and unobtrusive way to mitigate stress in their beloved animals. Meanwhile, it can be tempting to spoil your pup with treats, but just like snacks and junk food with kids, treats must be given sparingly. There’s a reason dogs go nuts for them and they are not nutritionally beneficial to give in anything beyond moderation.

Ultimately, you’ll probably have to cycle through a few different diets and monitor your dog’s response to each before deciding on one to stick to. Considering the range of options open to you, with patience and time you’ll have no trouble finding the best possible diet for your pooch.