I recently came across a question in a forum asking what the best food was for a Samoyed. A high quality, well-balanced diet is the best food for a Samoyed. Breed specific foods are a myth, and really just marketing. That being said, there are a few things to look for in a food that will help optimize your dog’s health.
Related: Is the Samoyed Breed a Hypoallergenic Dog?
What to Look for in Food for Your Samoyed
As I seed, breed specific food is simply a marketing ploy. At their core, all dogs generally require the same things in the same proportions. However, because a Samoyed is a larger dog, there are a few things to look for in a food that can support parts of its body that are prone to wear and tear.
Grain Free
First and foremost, all dogs should be on a grain free diet. Dogs were not meant to eat grains. They are carnivores. Their bodies weren’t designed to process the gluten and carbs of grain. Grain is only added to dog food because it’s a cheap source of carbohydrates, not because it’s good for them.
Ideally, you’ll want to look for a food that uses potato, sweet potato, peas, brown rice meal, and oatmeal as a carb source. Although brown rice and oats are grains, dogs tend to do very well on them in the meal form. I personally still try to avoid those two.
A Fish Based Diet or a Diet High in Omega Fatty Acids
A fish based diet or a diet containing high levels of fatty acids is a great choice for your Samoyed. As a larger dog, it will be prone to joint issues. A fish based food or a food with added Omega Fatty Acids can help support joint health. As an added bonus, Omega Fatty Acids are good for the skin and the coat.
No Bargain Basement Foods
No dog, including your Samoyed, should eat cheap food. Those foods are cheap for a reason. They use cheap ingredients. Bargain foods use protein sources such a chicken meal and meat by-products, both of which are nasty and disgusting. It’s basically sweeping everything off of the floor and out of the machines to feed your dog.
In addition to horrible protein sources, the carbohydrate sources are equally bad. You’ll find corn and wheat gluten as the main carb source in cheap foods. Both of these carb sources are unnatural to your dog, and both are two extremely common offenders in food allergies in dogs.
Joint Support
There are some dog foods out there geared towards joint support. These foods are an excellent idea for a larger breed like a Samoyed. These foods will contain high amounts of Omega Fatty Acids, which I referenced earlier. In addition to that, they contain glucosamine to support healthy joints. Joint support is always a good idea for a larger dog like a Samoyed, as the joints will take a lot of punishment over the life of a larger dog.
Samoyed Food is Mainly Just Good Food
The main thing to remember when looking for food for your Samoyed is to get a high-quality food. Don’t get anything with kibbles or bits or that costs next to nothing. These foods are terrible for your dog. Instead, opt for a high-quality food such a Science Diet, Natural Balance, Blue Buffalo, Purina One, and the like.
When you choose these foods for your Samoyed, be sure to get a fish based food to support the skin and joints. Alternately, look for a high-quality food designed to support joint health. Anything that can keep your Samoyed’s joints in good working order for as long as possible is always a good choice.
And most important of all, remember than breed specific food is nothing more than a marketing ploy. You do not need to buy food that has the word “Samoyed” on the cover to keep your Samoyed healthy. It’s just a gimmick to charge you more.
