FOOD TO DEAL WITH ZOOMIES, SNOOZES

Feeding your dog is not just about scooping kibble in a bowl and calling it a day.

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If you want your furry bestie to stick around for the long haul—chasing tennis balls, giving sloppy kisses, living their best life—you gotta pay attention to what is going in that bowl. Just like people, dogs don't want to eat the same thing (or need the same stuff) when they are babies, grownups or raising their old-man eyebrows. I got some legit advice from Prithwish Mukherjee, a certified canine nutritionist. He knows his stuff and, honestly, he makes it all sound way less scary than the several free online consultants.

Puppy Power: Tiny Tornadoes Need Fuel

Puppies? They are basically little furry storm-wrecking balls with legs. All they do is eat, sleep, chew your shoes, repeat. They need food that actually keeps up with all that chaos. Mukherjee swears by the holy trinity: protein, fat and carbs.

"Protein builds the muscles, fats (especially the fancy omega things) make their brains and coats awesome," he says. "And carbs? Not evil! Puppies need 'em for all that running and learning." Do not forget calcium and phosphorus either—otherwise, you will end up with a wobbly pup and dental bills that will make you cry. Also, tiny stomachs mean you should break up their meals. Three to four times a day, not one giant food coma.