Building Muscle with Dry Dog Food | What to Do and What to Expect

For some dog owners, our pets aren’t just our lovable companions. There are thousands of dogs in the country known as “working dogs,” performing important jobs on farms, in the police force and as service dogs. Working dogs need to make sure their muscles are strong and healthy in order to carry out their jobs properly, and the wrong diet can hinder that goal. There are various dry dog food options out there to help muscle growth in dogs, but it is important to pair dry dog food with fresh options such as raw meat and eggs to really boost your dog’s protein intake. But where do you start?

Our guide will explain which dry dog food brands are ideal for muscle building in dogs, and how you can feed your dog for muscle building, including the portion sizes you should feed them. We will also discuss the other ways you can help build up your dog’s muscles, and how our dry dog food options at Fetch can help you.

What Dry Food is Good for Dogs to Build Muscles?

Whether you own a working dog, or your dog needs to build muscle following an illness, there are different dog food options out there to maintain a healthy diet. When looking for dry dog food products that can help build your dog’s muscles, pay attention to the protein content. Dog food with a high protein level is ideal for muscle building, and is tasty to your dog too. Our top choices at Fetch include:

• Nourish Rite, Regular and Premium: a popular brand boasting a range of different flavours for adults, puppies and senior dogs alike, Nourish Rite contains natural ingredients and is packed full of protein. For instance, Nourish Rite Grain Free Chicken is a novel, single protein source, with 55% responsibly sourced chicken.
• Sana: an air-dried option that has all the benefits of raw food without the mess, Sana comes in a range of different flavours. Their beef option contains 57% beef, 20% beef hearts and 3% beef liver, and is packed full of protein, ideal for working dogs and dogs that need to put on a little bit of weight.
• Canagan: all of Canagan’s dry dog food options that we stock at Fetch are perfect for working dogs. Their grass-fed lamb dry food contains 59.5%, providing the correct ratio of protein and carbohydrates. Before feeding Canagan for the first time, you should introduce it gradually into your dog’s diet. For example, on the first day, mix 25% of Canagan with 75% of your dog’s current food.
• DARF Cold Pressed Dog Food: a popular option here at Fetch, cold pressed dog food is minimally processed and comes in pellet form, making it much easier for your dog to digest. We recommend the turkey variant, which contains 60% turkey.

Although we recommend dry dog food with a high protein content, dry food alone may not be the best choice if you’re wanting your dog to build muscle quickly. Try our meal toppers such as eggs, leafy greens and raw meat to bulk up your dog’s diet.

If you’re having trouble building up your dog’s weight, consider a nutritional wellbeing consultation with our experts here.

How Do I Feed a Dog to Build Muscles?

As previously mentioned, your dog’s diet should consist of protein rich foods if you want them to gain and maintain muscle strength. Vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids also play an important role in building up your dog’s muscle mass, so you need a dog food brand that ticks all of these boxes.

You should also make sure your dog is adequately hydrated, with fresh water provided all day. As well as providing 50% meat, Nourish Rite Angus Beef grain free dry dog food contains sweet potato, a vegetable perfect for helping your dog gain weight and muscle. Nourish Rite also contains Omega 3 for healthier skin and a shiny coat.

Meal frequency and portion control is also key when looking at building up your dog’s muscles; providing too much or too little can have negative effects on your dog, so getting the portion amount just right is crucial. We recommend choosing raw food to accompany your dog’s dry dog food diet to give them the muscle build you’re looking for.

What Portion Sizes Do I Feed my Dog?

The portion sizes you should feed your dog to help build up their muscles all depends on the age, size and activity level of your dog. Each dog is individual, so you should consider their personal needs before feeding them. For instance, a working Border Terrier will need a different diet to a German Shepherd on the police force, so consider your dog’s size when choosing their food.

On our dry dog food product pages, we have created a feeding guide for each dog food brand based on your dog’s weight and size. You can browse our full collection of dry dog food here.

What Other Ways Can I Help my Dog Build Muscle?

As well as feeding your dog a balanced diet, there are various different ways in which you can help your dog build their muscles.

• Regular walks and running: dogs need plenty of exercise and walks in order to stay healthy, and to avoid putting on too much weight. If you want to build up your dog’s muscles, consider taking them on long walks and play fetch in open spaces so they can run around, always being mindful of other dog owners.
• Swimming: taking your dog swimming is a great, fun way for your dog to build up their muscles. Dogs with weak muscles can also benefit from hydrotherapy sessions. There are dedicated swimming pools and classes just for dogs, so it is worth looking in your area for a doggy swimming pool. It’s a great way for your dog to socialise too.
• Cross training: a more intense form of exercise for your dog, cross training allows activation and strengthening of the muscles that support your dog’s joints and bones too. Cross training can get your dog into a routine and prepare them for a working life.
• Playing: it might seem simple, but little sessions of play to break up your dog’s day can help them build up their muscles in subtle ways. Whether it’s in the garden or in your home, taking time out to play and interact with your dog can not only provide them with valuable exercise, but can improve your bond too.

Muscle Building Dry Dog Food at Fetch

At Fetch, we stock a varied collection of dog food perfect for building muscles for working dogs and regular dogs alike. With a range of tasty flavours and dry dog food packs tailored to different ages and sizes, we’ll have the best choice for you, and can provide expert advice to help you choose the right diet. We also have a varied stock of raw food and meal toppers perfect for adding much needed extra protein to your diet.

To discover more about our range of muscle building dry dog food options, get in touch today.

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