The role of a guard dog in today's society is valuable and important. Whereas a watchdog will alert its owner to the presence of an intruder, the guard dog will actually attack or restrain the intruder. Guard dogs are employed in a variety of different situations from protecting a residential mansion right through to participating in the control of a riot. They are highly intelligent and go through sustained, hard training to become the useful dogs that they are. The job of a guard dog requires that he has boundless energy; for this he needs to be fed the correct types of food to maintain his strength and resilience in order to work efficiently and effectively.

Unfortunately, there is no commercially manufactured dog food in the current marketplace which matches the requirements of a guard dog's diet. This is because guard dogs need food with a content of 2000 calories per pound, the correct balance of nutrients which equate to approximately 40 calories per pound of body weight and a total digestibility value of 80% or more. If you take the time to look at commercially available food some has the correct calorie content but not the nutrients and vice versa; some moist products have the digestibility requirements but not the calorie content. It is vital to get the diet formula right.

Many guard dog owners make the mistake of feeding their guard dogs dried food, which although high in calories does not contain sufficient nutrients or the required digestibility ratio and, in any event, still doesn't have enough calories. If a guard dog on sentry duty is fed complete meal dry food there is an unpleasant consequence of this in that when he defecates the smell is appalling - and guard dogs will defecate anywhere within their working space. Employees of the company where the dog has been overnight are not best impressed when they go outside, perhaps for lunch, and have to sit in an area surrounded my the mess.

Dry food will not serve the requirements of a guard dog's diet so the least amount there is - the better. A guard dog needs wet food supplemented with ingredients to achieve his diet formula. There are a number of supplements available which can be purchased on the internet and through certain specialist pet stores including:-

* EpiCor 500mg 30 cap - an all-natural, high-metabolite immunogenic that supports the body's immune system

* Phosphatidylserine-containing muscle development diet supplement and anti-catabolic dietary nutrients

* PEMMIKAN ENERGY BARS - an energy feed block, which contains approx. 6000 Kcal/Kg (The maximum daily ration needed is 100 to 200 grams depending on the size of the dog and its activity)

Usually a dog is fed at specific hours but the guard dog is an exception because he may not work the same hours every night or day. Hence, he should be fed no less than 3 hours before he is due to work, or after he has finished his duties. If you adhere to this schedule of feeding the guard dog will become accustomed to it very easily.