Nothing is more essential to good training than good health. And the foundation of good health is a good diet.

The best ingredient is fresh meat, but it depends on your income whether you can afford it or not. Whatever you do, please do invest in a good dry food product. A good brand is not necessarily an expensive brand. From the label you can learn quite a lot...

When checking the label you'll find the ingredients are in a specific order. The more of an ingredient in the food contains the higher it is on the list. If corn is on top of the list it means that the food contains corn more than anything else.

One of the ingredients that you don't want for your dog, but found in many feed because they are cheap, are animal by products. When you see this mentioned on the label you might reconsider buying the brand. Higher quality brands might mention it on the label, but you'll find it normally at the bottom of the ingredient list.

Those 'by products' consist of parts that are not suited for human consumption. That fact doesn't by itself make the product dangerous, but the lower quality will have a long term effect on coats, muscles and bones, and overall health.

Just as one indicator, dogs with healthy coats (particularly, long-haired breeds) will look shinier and shed less. Assuming proper bathing and brushing habits, of course.

Some experts believe that the proper ratio of meat, vegetables and starch should be around 40%, 30%, 30% respectively.

The bigger brands use chicken meat, beef or lamb as a source of protein. All three types of meat are exellent for a vital dog with a shiny coat and a good general health.

Vegetables provide minerals and vitamins that help produce hormones and enzymes, as well as compounds for good bone health and other functions. Carrots and squash, for example are both excellent for almost any dog.

The best starch comes from brown or integral rice. Rice is an terrific carbohydrate, unlike other cereals like corn. Starch is broken down by the dogs stomach and provides energy and aids in cell repair.

Just like humans, some dogs have special diet needs. For example Golden Retrievers are sensitive to wheat products. And in general corn is the worst cereal you can find in a diet, because it is so hard to digest for dogs.

Look for these on the label and discuss with your vet whether it's necessary to avoid them. Some indicators for poor quality feed are soft stools, excessive scratching and frequent gas.

If your dog doesn't like dry food try to make it moist with some water and then warm it up a little. You can add some left overs or moist dog food so he'll like it better. Most dry food manufacturers claim that dry food cleans the dogs teeth, but that is not the case for low quality feed.

Be careful not to give to many treats. Treats usually have a high fat content. This is why dogs like treats in the first place, but if you give more than 2 treats a day, chose a good brand and give your dog less dry food.

The price difference between a supermarket food and a premium food can be high. But the investment in the higher quality brand probably compensates for lower veterinary bills and a much livelier dog.

You'll have a happier, healthier and more energetic dog. But most of all, the training sessions will be more efficient and he'll learn a lot faster. And that is a good investment.