Why you don’t need a show dog to feed like one

Crufts is on this weekend, which means it’s that time of year when our inner dog nerd comes out even more (or maybe that is just us).

It’s hard not to get drawn in as there’s something about seeing all those shiny coats, bright eyes, tidy teeth and dogs trotting about looking their best.

What most people don’t realise, though, is that Crufts judges aren’t just admiring a pretty face. Crufts is the biggest dog show in the world, and the judges are looking at the whole dog, their health, condition, how they move, muscle tone, coat, teeth and overall shape. All the things you can’t fake with a quick bath and a bow on the collar! Those dogs look that good because they’re built from the inside out.

And whilst Crufts is proudly sponsored by Mars… sorry, Royal Canin (yes, it’s the same Mars that makes chocolate bars)… many experienced breeders will tell you that true show condition comes from proper nutrition, not heavily processed diets.

Behind the scenes, the breeders whose dogs look effortlessly brilliant tend to keep things simple. They feed proper animal protein for muscle, natural fats for energy and coat shine, raw meaty bones for teeth and minerals, and omegarich foods like oily fish. No gimmicks. No supermegaultrapremiumplus labels but food that makes sense for a dog’s body.

And the coat never lies. If something’s off, it’s usually the first thing to show it, for example dull fur, flaky skin, shedding, greasy patches and brittle ends. Healthy fats and omega3s make a world of difference, and you can’t groom your way out of a nutritional gap, no matter how good your brush is.

So as Crufts takes over the telly this weekend, remember this: you don’t need a show dog to feed like one. Good nutrition isn’t just for the dogs with rosettes, it’s for the dogs who sleep on your sofa, steal your slippers and make your life better just by being in it!

If you could change one thing about your dog’s condition - coat, teeth, energy - what would it be?