How Choosing the Right Food Can Improve Mealtime for Your Dog

If you’ve ever taken our famous Two-Bowl Challenge, then you know that dogs have a natural ability to choose their own food. Simply put, the challenge works by putting two bowls of dog food—one filled with Bil-Jac Dog Food, the other filled with your current dog food—in front of your dog at the same time. From there, your dog will choose which food tastes better. Ever wondered what goes into your pooch’s decision? Below, we’ve answered common questions to help you select the best-tasting dog food for your furry friend.

Can Dogs Taste?

The short answer: yes, dogs can taste. The definition of “good tasting” dates back to dogs in the wild, as it’s instinctive for your furry friend to select his favorite food. The combination of your dog’s sense of taste and smell is what allows your pooch to pick out his favorite food. In fact, it’s possible for dogs to gain more information about food from smell, rather than taste.

Do Dogs Have Taste Buds?

As we alluded to in the last question, a dog’s sense of taste is thought to be relatively poor. Taste largely depends on the number of taste buds your buddy has, which isn’t many. According to the American Kennel Club, humans have about 9,000 taste buds, compared with only 1,700 taste buds that dogs have.

Can Dogs Smell Their Food?

To say that dogs have a great sense of smell is an understatement. The American Kennel Club says that a dog’s sense of smell is approximately 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than a human’s. It’s believed that dogs are hard-wired to detect certain smells as a survival instinct. Dogs can detect bitter, sweet, salty, and sour tastes through their nose, which allows your fur baby to stay away from potentially harmful food.

What Do Dogs Like to Eat?

Dogs are carnivores by nature. In the wild, more than 80 percent of a dog’s diet consisted of meat. Today, our best friends still crave meat like fresh chicken. That’s why Bil-Jac uses 25 pounds of real, fresh chicken in each 30-pound bag of Adult Select.

Nevertheless, some dogs can be picky eaters. For a pooch with an appetite that’s hard to please, try Bil-Jac Picky No More to bring excitement to every meal. Made with fresh chicken and real chicken liver (that’s also used in Bil-Jac Dog Treats), Picky No More triggers a healthy appetite in the pickiest of dogs.

Does Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs Change Over Time?

The right food for your dog may depend on his age. Puppy food is blended with higher protein to meet their young nutritional needs. As his bones develop and energy grows, so does his nutritional needs. After about a year, your pup will likely be ready for an adult dog food that’s packed with lots of fresh protein like chicken. About eight years later, you’ll likely need to switch your dog to a senior formula that’s better suited to their changing nutritional needs and decreased activity.

How to Choose the Best Dog Food

For many dogs, nothing makes them drool more—or their tail wag faster—than seeing a bowl of yummy food coming their way. This kind of excitement all starts with feeding your pooch a super-premium dog food like Bil-Jac that’s specially formulated with the nutrients he needs to thrive. Just take the Two Bowl Challenge to see for yourself!

Even knowing the answers to the questions above can still leave pet parents a little uncertain about which food is right for their best friend. Need help selecting the right food for your dog? Use our dog food product finder to find the right Bil-Jac products formulated for your best friend’s nutritional needs. In the meantime, join our Best Friends Club to receive fun training tips and discounts on Bil-Jac products!