Silly girl as an fyi -
https://classactionlawsuitsinthenew...dog-or-cat-food-product-class-action-lawsuit/
Not to say Innova isn't a good food, it is and it's still much better than a lot of foods out there but I thought I'd share this in case you didn't know.
To the OP - A one year old dog should be in good health and everyone has a different idea of what foods will help to keep them that way, it's really up to you to find one that balances proper nutrition with what fits your lifestyle and budget.
As mentioned already it's very important to brush your dogs teeth regularly whether you are feeding kibble or wet food. Kibbles do not clean the teeth and there are a few new studies out that are starting to show that kibble may in fact damage teeth more than previously thought both because the baking of kibble can make it very hard for some dogs to break up (causing wear on the enamel) and because it is a food that needs to be chewed and mashed while a dogs teeth are generally meant for shearing and the repetitive chewing motion can cause uneven/improper wear on a carnivores teeth. Providing tendons, bully sticks, etc. can also help to remove plaque buildup between brushings - chicken necks are an inexpensive option and great enrichment for the dog.
When looking at any type of food I'd look at what breed you have and not only what requirements that breed has but what specific issues that breed is prone to and then create an appropriate diet. If the dog is prone to allergies, GI issues, etc. then a few steps in advance may save you both a fortune down the line. For example if you are feeding kibble perhaps look for a few different ones to offer, it is helpful to not have the dog imprint on only chicken when they might benefit from having red meat in their diet. Having your dog readily accept a variety of different protein sources can save you some headaches in the future, if the dog develops an allergy to a food they will readily accept another, also if the formula on a kibble is changed or discontinued your dog will readily accept new foods. Finally of course a dog that eats only one food for it's life is more likely to develop allergies than the dog that has exposure to a variety of foods, also you when you feed variety you are contributing to good mental health (enrichment) as it's not only entertaining for the dog but it helps to develop and maintain the neural pathways associated with identifying certain foods, if the dog is never fed them the body in an attempt to be more efficient will allow those neural pathways to die.
Personally I prefer to feed a dog a mix, having kibble available for times when the dog may need a sitter, travel, etc. and a dry unrefridgerated food is helpful. I also like to ensure the dog eats a canned soft food, something that they could eat when ill, at the vet, recovering from surgery, etc. Then I also provide a certain amount of muscle meat, bone and organ meat to allow the dog to eat what is closest to it's evolutionary diet and to provide greater enrichment. Of course if you do opt for a raw diet (even partial) it's important to learn about food safety not only for your dog but for yourself. It's also very important to learn how to balance a diet, meat alone doesn't provide what a healthy dog needs to grow and develop, the organs, bone, etc. all contain valuable nutrition and I would not recommend a raw diet unless one is ensuring there is proper nutritional content as a dogs needs are very different than our own.
Good luck whatever you opt for, it's good to see someone looking into the animals health and welfare. :great:
