Understanding whether your dog needs to be fed a high-performance diet can be confusing at times. Working dogs need the added support and energy a performance diet can offer, but very active dogs can benefit from this too. The main differences between high-performance dog food and regular dog foods are the fat and energy levels; however, they also differ in how they benefit your dog.

What’s high-performance dog food?

A high-performance dog food is specially tailored for athletic and working dogs that need to be alert and active for long periods of time. These types of diets help build and maintain muscle mass and sustain energy. These diets can have a higher protein and fat content than regular dog food in order to help working dogs get fuel for their activity. Eukanuba™ Premium Performance formulas have been tailor-made by a team of vets, scientists and nutritionists to help dogs perform at their best. They contain optimal levels of protein and fat, and also include omega-3 fatty acids and nutrients to support healthy joints.

How is normal dog food different?

Normal dog food provides optimal nutrition for regular dogs; dogs that spend their days running around the backyard and napping throughout the day. Of course, every dog is an individual and some dogs will have unique nutritional requirements, but typically a normal dog food will help dogs look after common needs such as digestion, skin and dental health, rather than focusing mostly on energy levels.

What’s best for your dog?

If you have a dog that exercises regularly, whether that’s for sport or as a working dog, it might be worth considering a high-performance dog food such as one of our Eukanuba™ Premium Performance diets. These formulas will provide your dog with the nutrients they need to help them perform at their best. A dog that isn’t exercising regularly or leads a more sedentary lifestyle doesn’t need the amount of calories found in a high-performance diet, so they should be kept on a diet that suits their individual needs to avoid the risk of weight gain. If you are uncertain about whether a high-performance dog food might be right for your dog, consider the number of hours they spend exercising each day and be sure to ask your vet for their recommendation before you switch their diet.