Baby feeding german shepherd

All You Need to Know – The German Shepherder

Like all dogs, German Shepherds have specific nutritional needs. While it’s possible to feed them the cheap, dry kibble found in your local grocery store, that’s not the best diet for this loyal, graceful, obedient breed.

But the ideal food might not be the most expensive or fanciest either.

With all these options to choose from and enough slick marketing to make your head spin, how do you pick the right food?

Below, we’ll cover the different types of diets available, the specific nutritional needs of the German Shepherd, and what you can do to ensure your GSD gets the delicious and nutritious food they need at every stage of life.

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Nutritional Needs of German Shepherds

All dogs deserve healthy, nutritious, and satisfying food, but generic “dog food” isn’t going to be right for most of them. Every breed has its own special dietary needs.

Small dogs, for example, need something totally different than our big, hard-working GSDs.

For maximum health and energy, keep these things in mind when deciding what to feed your German Shepherd.

Size Considerations

According to the AKC breed standard, German Shepherds can be as tall as 26 inches at the shoulder. While males can be around 66 to 88 pounds, females fall into the 49 to 71-pound range.

Though the AKC considers this to be a medium to large breed, in everyday life, that’s a pretty big dog, which means it’s going to have a big appetite to match.

Don’t just stuff your dog full of the cheapest thing you can find—go for the quality products.

Age Considerations

With such a large body and high energy level, it’s imperative that you provide your GSD with appropriate nutrition levels at each stage of development.

These dogs grow fast, so they’ll need specific nutrients provided at specific times in their lives.

Puppies will need different nutrients—such as protein and calcium—than a senior GSD, for example.

Be sure whatever you’re feeding your German Shepherd is not only high-quality and healthy, but it should also be suitable for the age of your dog.

Activity Level

Just as activity level affects how much humans should eat, so too does it affect dogs. As a working breed, German Shepherds are active, muscular, and agile.

All of these aspects contribute to a higher caloric need and should be addressed through the feeding of a high-quality diet.

To put this into perspective, a professional human athlete would not subsist entirely on fast food burgers and soft drinks.

These high fat and sodium foods do not provide the variety of nutrients these athletes need to perform at top capacity.

Cheap, fatty, highly-processed foods produce a sluggish body and mind. The same goes for German Shepherds.

If you want your dog to perform well and stay healthy, you can’t feed them the equivalent of fast food burgers and soft drinks in the form of cheap, generic dry kibble every day.

Health Considerations

Because this breed is prone to a handful of health issues, it’s important to understand each issue and begin preventative treatments through a healthy diet.

It’s always better to try preventing problems right from the start rather than waiting until they crop up and trying to treat them.

One such health issue that may be prevented or mitigated by diet is arthritis, often caused by hip or elbow dysplasia.

Since this is generally an inherited predisposition, you may not be able to fully prevent it from happening, but starting with an excellent diet and maintaining it through your dog’s life has a good chance of helping.

Several musculoskeletal disorders can cripple your GSD if you don’t take appropriate precautionary measures right from day one.

Many of these disorders come from inflammation and malnutrition, including a deficiency in calcium. In fact, the balance between calcium and phosphorus is imperative.

Kidney problems can happen due to an overabundance of protein in the diet, pancreatitis can come from poor-quality foods that are too high in fat, and heart disease can shorten your GSD’s life if you feed them too much salt and fat.

These aren’t all the health considerations to keep in mind, but you should have a pretty good idea by now of how important nutrition is to your German Shepherd.

Low-quality foods may save you money in the short-term, but in the long run, they could cost you thousands in vet bills and a whole lot of heartache watching your fur baby suffer.

German Shepherd Feeding General Guidelines

Most vets will tell you to watch the dog and not the bowl when deciding how much to feed a German Shepherd.

What they mean by this is that you should always be aware of your dog’s body size, shape, and condition, and not being too strict with charts and graphs of food measurements.

If your dog seems to be gaining weight, reduce the number of calories they consume. Start with reducing treats or any table scraps you may be feeding him.

If he is still gaining weight, you can slowly reduce the amount of food you give him during his regular meals.

On the other side of the spectrum, if your dog is overly thin, lethargic, and not doing well, you may be feeding her too little.

Increase the amount of food in each meal by small increments. ¼ cup at a time is usually sufficient.

Do not make drastic changes to your dog’s feeding schedule or the amount you give. Do not suddenly remove an entire meal.

All changes to your dog’s diet should be made gradually, ideally over the course of several weeks.

Dog Food Measurements

Most commercial dog foods will have some kind of feeding guide on the back of the package. These are just suggestions, however, so don’t be too strict on following these guides if your dog isn’t responding well.

Generally speaking, adult dogs in ideal health and fitness should be fed approximately this much:

WEIGHT	AMOUNT
10-30 pounds	1 ¼ – 2 ¼ cups per day
30-50 pounds	2 ¼ – 3 ½ cups per day
50-80 pounds	3 ½ – 4 ½ cups per day
80-100 pounds	4 ½ – 5 cups per day
Over 100 pounds	5 cups plus ½ cup per additional 10 – 20 pounds of weight

Remember that these are daily suggestions, not per meal. Split the daily total into as many meals as you plan to feed.

You’ll notice these charts have a wide variance in weights and amounts. This is where most of the confusion comes in, and it’s also why vets tell you to watch the dog and not the bowl.

It’s best to start on the low end of the average and increase the amount as needed. Unless your dog is incredibly active or a working animal, then you should start with the highest amount and lower as needed.

German Shepherd Feeding Guide by Age

As mentioned above, the age and development stage of your German Shepherd will play a big part in what foods are best suited for him.

To make your research easier, we’re breaking down the GSD feeding guide into age-based categories. Simply find your dog’s age or developmental stage below to find the right information at the right time.

Be sure to check with your vet before beginning, switching, or stopping a feeding program.

The information provided here is for research purposes only. Always take your vet’s advice for your individual dog’s needs.

German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guide: Birth to 12 Weeks

All dogs should stay with their mother for no less than eight weeks, ideally up to ten weeks. During this time, the mother will nurse the pups until they are old enough to begin eating puppy mush.

Puppy mush is usually regular dog kibble that’s been soaked in water, formula, or homemade “puppy milk” made with human-grade ingredients.

After the puppies are fully weaned from their mother’s milk, they will get all of their nutrition either from puppy mush—made progressively drier every few days—or other puppy-safe foods.

It’s important to continue feeding your puppy whatever the breeder started them on, at least for the first few weeks. This will help prevent gastrointestinal distress.

Also, be certain it is food intended for puppies and not adults or senior dogs. Adult dog foods do not have the proper nutrients to support a growing puppy.

Once your German Shepherd puppy is home—between 8 and 12 weeks—you may begin weaning them off of the breeder’s food and introducing their new food—if you’ve decided to switch, that is.

Over the course of the next few weeks slowly introduce the puppy’s new food into her old food, adding more of the new food each day.

Start with ¾ of the serving of the old food and ¼ of the new food. After a few days, make it half and half. After the first week or so, make it ¾ the new food and ¼ the old food.

Then by two to three weeks, your pup should be fully on her new food.

Puppy Mush Recipe

If you find yourself caring for a puppy before 8 to 10 weeks of age, it might be helpful for you to have a puppy mush recipe. This recipe assumes you have access to suitable dry puppy kibble, water, and/or puppy formula.

Equal parts boiling water or hot puppy formula and dry puppy kibble
Place kibble in a glass bowl
Add boiling water or hot puppy formula
Stir until all the kibble is wet
Let stand until the kibble has absorbed all of the liquid—kibble will have grown in size
Mash the soaked kibble with a fork until no chunks remain

If the puppy doesn’t have many teeth yet, add more water or puppy formula to make the mush soupy, like a thin stew. She will be able to lap it up easily. Just be sure it has cooled to body temperature before serving.

If the puppy has all or most of her baby teeth, you may not need to add more liquid after the initial soak.

Just be sure to watch a young puppy at all times when she is eating—puppies are prone to choking or even falling into the food dish and aspirating liquid.

Feed a young puppy four to six times per day, according to your vet’s recommendations. Allow the puppies to eat as much as they like at each meal.

A fully fed young puppy will have a round, firm, warm belly. There is no reason to limit food intake at this age.

German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guide: 12 Weeks to 6 Months

After approximately 12 weeks of age, puppies can be trained to eat fewer meals a day, at set times, and with set amounts.

While you still don’t want to limit their food too much at this age, it’s also not a good idea to just let them pig out whenever they want.

Large breed puppies have a tendency to overeat, and concerned puppy parents often give in to their pup’s cries for more.

This sets your German Shepherd up for obesity, heart problems, liver issues, joint pain, and a host of other medical conditions.

Instead of letting your puppy have a free-for-all on a bag of kibble, ask your vet what they recommend. They’ll look at your German Shepherd puppy as an individual as well as considering the breed as a whole.

The vet will also consider the pup’s overall health, activity level, and metabolism.

While your vet’s recommendation should overrule anything you read online, here is a decent middle ground feeding guide for most German Shepherd puppies.

By 6 months of age, you can reduce the feedings to 3 per day, paying attention to total calories consumed. The caveat to this is if your puppy still looks round and tubby with a potbelly.

This potbelly baby stage means she is not quite mature enough for reduced feedings.

Watch her body composition, shape, and weight. When she starts to look more like an older puppy and the potbelly is slimming down, you can reduce the feedings to 3 per day.

How Much to Feed a German Shepherd Puppy

Depending on your puppy’s current weight, activity level, and metabolism, you should plan to feed your puppy 3 or 4 times each day.

Older puppies can be fed fewer times per day, but be sure not to limit the caloric intake below the recommended amount.

Smaller, more frequent meals will help prevent bloat—gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat) is a potentially life-threatening condition.

Frequent meals will also help stabilize your puppy’s blood sugar and energy level to help them grow steadily, not in fits and starts.

Puppies need two or three times the number of calories as adult dogs do. This may seem strange considering puppies are much smaller than adults.

However, German Shepherd puppies grow extraordinarily fast, so their caloric intake needs to support that.

To figure out how much to feed your German Shepherd puppy, look at his or her weight. Females will be slightly smaller and lighter than males.

AGE	WEIGHT
2-3 months	between 11 and 30 pounds
3-4 months	between 17 and 40 pounds
4-5 months	between 31 and 49 pounds
5-6 months	between 35 and 57 pounds

Using the weight chart above, the general food chart in the previous section, and considering the gender and activity level of your puppy, you can calculate the approximate amount of food to feed daily.

Split that daily amount up between all meals. For example, if your 3-month-old GSD puppy is a male and weighs 30 pounds, you should feed him approximately 2 cups per day.

If he is eating 4 times per day, that would be ½ a cup of food at each of 4 meals.

If he doesn’t seem to be gaining weight fast enough or seems to be ravenous at every meal, you can slowly increase the amount of each meal until he stabilizes.

German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Guide: 6 Months to 12 Months

At this stage in your German Shepherd’s development, growth will be considerably slower.

Since she no longer needs the extra calories to help support her fast growth period, you can safely reduce her feedings to 2 or 3 meals per day.

You’ll still want to watch her weight, health, and activity level, but now you can split her daily total calories over fewer meals.

While she should still be eating puppy food at this point, you may consider purchasing a bag of her eventual adult formula.

You can use individual kibbles from the adult formula for treats or training rewards. This will help her get used to the new flavor and texture.

Around 9 months of age, you can begin slowly adding a small amount of the adult formula into her puppy food, though she should still be eating primarily puppy chow.

By 12 months, it’s generally okay to transition fully to an adult formula.

Again, it’s imperative that you speak with your vet before making any changes to your GSD’s diet.

Only your vet will be able to tell you when your dog has reached maturity and can be safely moved to adult food.

Some GSD’s stay on puppy food for a whopping two years! So, make sure you are in close contact with your vet to be sure that your feeding plan is individualized for your specific dog.

German Shepherd Feeding Guide: Adult Years

Once your German Shepherd has ended his puppy stage and transitioned into adulthood, he’s ready to eat a balanced adult diet.

Adult dog food will have a different ratio of calcium, protein, phosphorus, and other nutrients than puppy food does.

Feeding an adult dog a puppy formula can cause obesity as well as put too much strain on kidneys and other vital organs. Long term use of inappropriate food for an adult dog can have catastrophic consequences.

That said, there is no need to panic if your adult GSD eats a bowl of puppy food now and then.

Adult German Shepherds should be fed twice a day. They can get by on once per day, but it’s always better to split daily caloric intake between smaller meals instead of feeding it all at once.

Again, bloat is a real problem for large breed dogs, and large meals seem to be a big cause of this.

If you’re not home for twice-daily feedings, you can use an automatic feeder. These will dispense the proper amount of food at set times each day so your dog isn’t left waiting for meals.

Throughout the years, I’ve fed a number of different high-quality dog foods to my German Shepherds.

One of my consistent go-to’s is Royal Canin Adult Breed German Shepherd dry dog food. I feed my adult dogs this particular blend for a number of reasons.

The blend is designed specifically with German Shepherds in mind, as it uses high-quality, animal-based nutrients to counter the extra stress put on the joints of GSDs and to help the development strong lean muscle to keep your dog in peak physical condition.

In addition, this blend also uses optimal levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to make a GSD’s coat “pop,” so to speak. You really can see the difference.

German Shepherd Feeding Guide: Senior Years

Large breed dogs, such as the German Shepherd, age faster than most smaller breed dogs.

This is evident by the fast decline in health, joint flexibility, and energy in older large breed dogs compared to same-age smaller breeds.

Because of this, it’s important for your dog’s longevity and happiness to pay attention to signs of aging. When your GSD moves from the adult life stage to senior, you need to adjust her diet.

Large breeds reach the older stage (not quite senior, but close) around half of their assumed life expectancy.

A German Shepherd’s life expectancy is anywhere from 10 to 15 years, which means they’d be considered older and borderline senior at around 5 or 6.

This is a good time to ask your vet if you should make any changes to her diet or if it’s okay to continue with her normal adult meals.

Inevitably, your GSD will need to switch over to a senior diet. Older large breed dogs have lower energy needs. They move slower or less overall and therefore won’t need as many calories each day.

Older dogs also tend to slow down their digestion, so an increase in fiber might be a good choice for your senior GSD.

Since the calories in senior-specific dog food have already been adjusted, you’ll likely still be feeding the same measured amount based on your GSD’s weight.

Do be sure to confirm this with your vet, however. Not all foods are created equal.

For treats, senior dogs should avoid calorie-dense milk bones and high-salt or fatty treats. Opt for healthy, whole-food treats such as apple slices or carrots.

Some senior dogs begin to develop health conditions that will require special care. This is often a result of poor nutrition early in life, but can sometimes simply be genetics and old age catching up with them.

It’s never too late to start a healthy, low fat, low sodium, and nutrient-dense diet for a GSD. But for GSDs with health issues such as kidney disease and joint pain, diet can play an even bigger role in the quality of their lives.

Tips for Feeding a German Shepherd Dog

You can find a ton of dog feeding guides online, and while they each hold merit, it’s best to talk to your vet about your dog’s specific feeding needs.

Getting a personalized recommendation from your veterinarian is worth the time, expense, and effort. That said, there is still plenty of good information in this article that should give you an idea of your dog’s nutritional needs at each stage of life.

It’s likely that your vet will give you plenty of options, including suggesting you follow this guide and make small adjustments as needed.

What About the Chart On Dog Food Bags?

You’ve likely seen the feeding chart on the back of commercial dog food bags. These charts can seem pretty straightforward at first glance.

However, they don’t take into consideration the size, weight, activity level, or overall health of each individual dog.

For that reason, it’s best not to treat these dog food packaging feeding guides as gospel. Instead, use them as a starting point.

Observe your dog, see how he looks and feels, and note any changes in his bathroom habits, weight, or energy level. Adjust his meals accordingly.

The other problem with these packaging guides is that they aren’t clear on how to feed your dog. Generally speaking, they talk about daily intake, not per meal.

For example, if the guide says you should feed your dog 3 cups, it’s not suggesting that your dog eats 3 cups at every meal. It means to split that 3 cups total over the entire day.

If your dog eats 3 times per day, that would be 1 cup at each meal for a total daily intake of 3 cups.

To further confuse dog parents, some manufacturers do list per-meal serving sizes, not the total daily intake! In these cases, if you read it incorrectly, you would end up underfeeding your dog.

To help mitigate some of this confusion, it may be helpful to ask your vet how many calories your dog should be consuming each day.

Then you can check the calorie content in the dog food and measure things from there.

Raw Diets, Cooking for Dogs, and Other Alternative Feeding

This article has been focusing mainly on commercially available dry kibble since that is what most pet parents ultimately choose for their dogs.

However, there are many dog owners that choose to feed alternative diets. These include raw diets and cooking regular people food for dogs.

There are many viable options for feeding your healthy German Shepherd, but there are just as many harmful fads, too.

As with commercial foods, be sure to speak with your vet before starting your dog on a raw diet or home-cooking her meals.

What’s healthy for humans isn’t usually healthy for dogs.

That means you’ll need to learn a lot about canine metabolism, life stages, and nutritional needs before you embark on that journey.

We’ve covered the holistic diet approach right here if you’re interested in learning more.

Feeding your dog an alternative diet can be a fun way to bond with your pup and feel good about providing whole, nutritious, natural foods that support your GSD’s health and wellness.

Supplements for German Shepherds

The vast majority of commercially available dry kibble is complete and balanced for your dog, assuming it’s a high-quality food.

That means there is almost never a reason to supplement your dog’s diet with additives, vitamins, or herbal supplements. In fact, adding these things to a healthy dog’s diet can cause a lot of harm.

Never supplement your dog’s diet unless directed by a veterinarian. In those cases, they will prescribe or suggest canine-safe products to cover your GSD’s special needs.

Human supplements are often unregulated, minimally effective, and often contain substances harmful to animals. Never use a human supplement for your German Shepherd.

Final Thoughts

What you feed your German Shepherd is just as important as how much you feed them. High-quality foods will have meat listed as the first ingredient, little to no “animal bi-products”, and low grain content.

Pay special attention to the first 4 or 5 ingredients listed on the back of the packaging. If you wouldn’t eat it, why should your dog?

Choose high-quality, safety-tested foods with clear ingredient and nutrition labels. While this often comes with a bigger price tag than cheap, generic food, it is an investment in your dog’s health, wellness, and happiness.

We think that’s priceless!

How do You Feed a German Shepherd

When a pet as endearing as a German Shepherd puppy arrives at our home, we immediately and naturally turn our affection and affection towards him. All dogs, puppies and adults, need to feel loved, but German Shepherds are a particularly sensitive and receptive breed to our displays of affection.

They are very intelligent and emotional dogs at the same time. They need to feel like full members of a family; a human herd in which they have a place, even if it is their last. However, sometimes our displays of affection are wrong. A clear example is when we feed our puppy too much, or with inadequate food, which, although they like it very much, is detrimental to their health.

If you continue reading this article of Dogalyo, we will show you the main keys to feeding a German Shepherd puppy.

For a German shepherd to develop harmoniously and healthily, it is essential that he feeds his mother colostrum, first of all, and then the rich mother’s milk. It is recommended that the puppy be breastfed until 6–8 weeks of age.

The importance of colostrums is caudal, as they provide the puppy with 90% of its natural defenses. They also help to ensure that blood flows properly throughout the puppy’s body and that its organs are properly oxygenated.

In the event that for any reason the puppy cannot be breastfed by its mother, it will never be given cow’s or goat’s milk, very poor in relation to the bitch’s milk. In this case, the veterinarian will prescribe special formula milks, appropriate for the type of puppy and its dose. It will not be exactly the same for a Chihuahua as for a German Shepherd, for example, both dogs have different nutritional needs.

From 3–4 weeks, the German Shepherd puppy should begin to try new flavours, outside of breast milk. Basically it will consist of them licking some kind of porridge or special wet feed for puppies. Later, at about 6–8 weeks, you will be given between feedings a little bit of dry feed moistened with water.

From the eighth week onwards, the German Shepherd should be weaned and begin his totally solid feeding with special types of feed for the puppy and if they are specific to the specific breed, much better. The veterinarian should set the appropriate feed intake, quantity and type of feed for the German Shepherd puppy. Milk should be removed from your diet, as it will cause diarrhea. It is vital that puppies have clean water and enough to drink at all times.

Dry feed will be reduced in hydration with water (or unseasoned chicken broth) until the puppy gets used to eating it completely dry. The usual practice from weaning to 4 months will be for the puppy to eat 4–5 times a day, but with one very important exception: discipline. The puppy will need to get used to the fact that his ration will remain on the plate for 10 minutes. Enough time to eat it all up. After this time, the dish should be removed, even if there are still traces of feed left on it. This will educate the puppy to be alert when it’s time to eat, and he won’t be able to get lost if he doesn’t want to stay hungry.

Accepting the order of things will be very important for the puppy’s intellectual formation, and will later facilitate more complex and demanding training. Feed for the German Shepherd’s puppy should be more caloric, fatty, protein-rich and calcium-rich than feed for adult dogs.

From 4 months to 6 months, the number of meals will be reduced to 3 times a day. Obviously we’ll increase the amount, and we’ll also give you 2 more minutes of room to eat it all without overwhelming you. In the feed containers come the amounts suitable for the age and weight of the dog. If in doubt, consult your vet. Eventually we will mix fresh food (meat, fish or vegetables) with the dry feed. These foods should always be cooked, never raw. There should be no chipping bones (chicken and rabbit) or fish with bones. Wet feed will be used restrictively, as it produces tartar and foul-smelling feces. The sweets should only be used as a positive reinforcement to their learning, never as a food supplement. Under no circumstances should we give them leftovers of our food, as salt, sugar and other seasonings are very harmful to the health of our dog. Besides, if we did it, the only thing we would achieve would be to turn our German shepherd into a pedigree dog that would bother us during our meals.

When our German Shepherd puppy reaches the age of 6 months, the food intake should be reduced to 2 times a day, increasing proportionally the amount and also slightly the time of intake. The vet will give us the correct and specific nutritional guidelines for our dog. Whether it is male or female and the puppy is more or less active will influence the type of feed and the daily amount. It will be convenient that from the age of 6 months onwards we give our German Shepherd puppy shatterproof bones such as the calf’s knee, so that it can gnaw and strengthen its teeth and gums.

Our puppy’s food and drink containers should always be clean. Hygiene is important to avoid insects that can cause intestinal parasites in our German Shepherd puppy. If you notice that your puppy hasn’t eaten for three times in a row, take him to the vet. You may have swallowed something that causes intestinal obstruction or stomach pain. Don’t forget that puppies are very sensitive and weak living beings. Letting too much time go by in the face of symptoms of illness can be very serious and harmful to your life.

In addition….

The German Shepherd puppies must be socialized and trained from the first day they live with us. They must be obedient and open-minded to get them to learn the great wealth of things they are able to do.

All this will be achieved more easily through proper nutrition and exercise in line with your development. The harmony between exercise, food and affection will make us enjoy a healthy, balanced and happy German Shepherd Dog.

Originally published at www.chienmag.com on September 4, 2018.

How to feed a German shepherd: rules for feeding an adult shepherd

German Shepherd

01.01.1970

The German Shepherd is considered one of the most popular and widespread breeds. These are excellent guards, strong and hardy animals. However, this breed has a very sensitive digestive system, and an unbalanced diet often causes intestinal upset.

To avoid these problems, breeders need to carefully consider the menu for their four-legged pet. Consider what to feed the German Shepherd, how often and how much food should be given.

German Shepherd Feeding Principles
German Shepherd Nutrition
What to feed a shepherd dog
Industrial feed
Natural nutrition
How many times a day to feed a German Shepherd
Nutrition for dogs with special needs
Vitamins and mineral supplements
What foods should not be given to a shepherd dog
What to feed puppies
Peculiarities of breed
General Feeding Rules for German Shepherd Puppy
What to choose - industrial and natural food?
Peculiarities of feeding by months
Norm and power plan
Food options for German Shepherd puppies

German Shepherd Feeding Principles

An adult Shepherd is a large active pet. In order for the dog to remain healthy and energetic, it is necessary to strictly observe the chosen type of food. An adult pet is considered after reaching 1 year. It is during this period that the type and diet is formed, which the breeder will have to observe until the dog reaches old age.

How to properly feed a German Shepherd? The composition of the diet should include the following elements:

Protein - 50%: meat, offal, dairy products, eggs;
Carbohydrates - 30%: cereals and vegetables, fruits;
Fats - 20%: derived from animal and vegetable products.

The ratio of the listed ingredients in the daily diet can be changed, depending on the pet's lifestyle. For example, active dogs need more carbohydrates, calm animals can reduce their fat content.

Proper diet involves feeding the dog right after the walk. The time of eating should not exceed 20 minutes. The food remaining in the bowl is thrown away, and the one-time portion is reduced.

German Shepherd Nutrition

Representatives of this breed actively grow and develop up to 12 months. During this period, dogs require enhanced nutrition, which is necessary for the proper formation of muscles and bones. After reaching 1 year, the diet changes. Consider how the accents are correctly shifted depending on the age of the dog.

Until the age of 3, the dog continues to build muscle mass, becomes more calm and balanced. At this age, you can reduce the consumption of fats and carbohydrates, but give more protein, mineral supplements and vitamins.
Age 3-6 years. This is canine maturity, when a pet develops certain habits and favorite foods. Therefore, the nutrition of the shepherd dog becomes uniform, a sharp change in diet is not allowed. When transferring a dog to another food, the novelty is gradually added to the usual portion in order to avoid intestinal upset and allergic reactions.
Age 6-12 years. Elderly shepherds are recommended to give food rich in protein, phosphorus and calcium. In addition, it is useful to give magnesium and vitamin complexes. To reduce the risks of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, drugs containing chronoprotectors are included in the diet. This component helps to strengthen bone and cartilage tissues.

What to feed a shepherd dog

Veterinarians offer 2 main types of feeding: natural food and industrial food. Each of the options has its own characteristics. The owner decides how to properly feed a German Shepherd, but you need to remember: you can’t change and mix a straight woman and a ready-made menu!

Industrial feed

Ready rations are divided into canned meat and dry granulated feed. The advantage of this type of nutrition is simplicity and balance: manufacturers develop portions taking into account the age and physiological needs of dogs, so in most cases, the pet does not need to be additionally fed with vitamins.

All recipes are veterinarian designed and contain carefully measured proportions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Ready-made diets attract breeders with a wide range of lines: there is special food for large dogs, for a specific breed, and even veterinary lines for dogs with diseases.

Wet food benefits:

The product is as close to natural nutrition as possible;
Contains nutrient broth essential for proper digestion;
Are issued in a convenient portion packing;
High palatability.

The benefits of dry diets:

Solid structure to help strengthen teeth;
Contribute to full saturation: the dog often swallows soft food without chewing;
Economy consumption;
Long shelf life when opened.

What kind of food to feed a shepherd dog is up to the breeder. When choosing a ready-made menu, doctors recommend combining dry and wet diets.

Natural nutrition

Homemade soups and cereals. This diet option helps to diversify the pet's menu and, according to many shepherd dog owners, is cheaper than ready-made feeds. However, here the balance of the diet falls entirely on the shoulders of the owner.

To avoid indigestion, a serving of natural products should include the following ingredients:

Meat - chicken, beef, lean pork, rabbit meat;
Fish - pollock, flounder, tuna;
Eggs - chicken, quail and turkey;
Milk - natural yoghurts, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk;
Kashi - buckwheat, oatmeal, barley;
Vegetables - carrots, courgettes, beets, celery;
Greens - parsley and spinach;
Fruit - apricots, watermelon pulp.

How many times a day to feed a German Shepherd

How often to feed a pet? The recommended feeding scheme is twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. It is better not to disturb the established diet.

The nutritional norm of an adult German Shepherd depends on what it is fed: natural or ready-made rations. When feeding with natural food, the recommended daily intake of food is 1.5 liters. This portion is divided into 2 parts.

When choosing industrial feed, follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging.

Nutrition for dogs with special needs

A pregnant shepherd dog is transferred to 3 meals a day, starting from the second month of intrauterine gestation. The basis of the diet should be bone meal, dairy products and fresh meat. This principle of compiling the menu is also observed during lactation.

Dogs that have had an illness or surgery are placed on a low-calorie diet. During the rehabilitation period, pets do not differ in physical activity, therefore, in order to exclude the possibility of obesity, the diet is based on lean meats, dairy products, and vegetables.

Older dogs are advised to give vegetable porridge, foods rich in vitamins and protein.

Vitamins and Mineral Supplements

German Shepherds of all ages need the following vitamins for full development:

Retinol;
Ascorbic acid;
Calciferol;
Tocopherol;
Folic acid;
Phylloquinone;
Nicotinic acid.

Of the bioactive complexes, we can recommend Nutri-Vet, Kanvit and Beaphar.

Under no circumstances should shepherd dogs be given the following foods:

Sausages and sausages;
Potato;
Long bones;
Fatty meats, eg lamb;
River fish, raw;
Semolina, millet and barley;
All legumes;
Sweet, fatty and smoked;
Any marination;
Pasta.

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What is the best food for a German Shepherd puppy? It is very important to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, at what age and what absolutely should not be given to him.

Balanced feeding from puppyhood contributes to the proper formation and development of the musculoskeletal system, joints, normalization of the work of all internal organs, immune and other systems.

Peculiarities of the breed

The main standards of the breed are erect ears, developed long limbs, pronounced hocks. The performance characteristics of the pet depend on the correct development and proportionality of the body, so it is very important to choose a balanced healthy diet, supplement it with vitamins and microelements. It is necessary to select food for German Shepherd puppies or natural products, taking into account the age, individual characteristics of the dog. The optimal norm and schedule of food intake, which must be adhered to, is determined.

General rules for feeding a German Shepherd puppy

When feeding a German Shepherd puppy (2-4 months), care must be taken that the food is not cold or too hot. The best option is food at room temperature.
Supervise the correct position of the dog when feeding, so that he does not lean too low. During active growth, sometimes you need to be near your pet in order to adjust the height of the bowl to a comfortable level for the dog. The puppy's head should be parallel to the floor during feeding, otherwise his spine may be deformed.
When forming the feeding regime, it is necessary to select such a time that 1.5-2 hours pass after an active walk. After eating, you need to give your little four-legged friend a rest for 2-3 hours. If you walk the baby immediately after eating, she may develop intestinal volvulus.
20 minutes after the start of feeding, remove the bowl so that the puppy does not overeat (even if the pet has not finished eating everything).
After eating, the remains of food from the muzzle of the dog should be wiped with a napkin.

For feeding, it is recommended to purchase a metal or nickel-plated bowl with an adjustable base. After eating, the bowl should be washed.

What to choose - industrial and natural food?

What to feed a two-month-old German Shepherd puppy? There are options: cook natural products or give ready-made food. It is quite difficult to feed a “German” with a straight woman, because. all ingredients must be fresh, correctly selected for the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

You cannot mix canned food and natural food, you need to choose one thing.

Dry food starts to be given to the pet from 3-4 months. Ready-made feeds of holistic and super-premium classes have a high percentage of animal protein, useful omega acids, vitamins and trace elements to strengthen the ODS, joints, coat, teeth and claws.

Features of feeding by months

To find out how to properly feed a German Shepherd puppy, ask the breeder what he was given in the first months of life. The first 10 days in a new place he is fed with food to which he is accustomed, then gradually he can be transferred to another diet. A sudden change in diet can lead to digestive disorders. Food should be warm, mushy or in small pieces.

Features of feeding by months:

1 month. If possible, up to a month, puppies should be fed with mother's milk, in case of its absence - with milk (goat / cow), milk mixtures. The number of feedings is 5-6 times a day.
2 months. “Adult” food is gradually introduced - oatmeal and rice porridge, twisted boiled meat, vegetable purees or ready-made wet food. Feed small pets 4-5 times a day.
3-4 months. You can transfer the baby to ready-made food: dry or soft. At this age, the pet's joints and ligaments are actively developing, teeth are changing, so you should choose calcium-containing foods. The number of meals - 4 times a day.
5-6 months. The puppy is transferred to 3 meals a day, and the portion increases to 750-800 ml. In order for the skeleton and posture to form correctly, chondroprotectors (glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate) are included in the diet, for the timely change of milk teeth, the dog needs to gnaw the brain bones.
Feeding up to 1 year. From six months, a pet can be transferred to 2 meals a day, increasing the amount of food to 1.2-1.5 liters.

Do not give your dog smoked, fried, salty foods, sweets, chocolate, fatty meat, tubular bones. It is forbidden to give spoiled and stale food.

Norm and diet plan

The nutritional norm of a German Shepherd puppy is determined taking into account the weight of the pet, but you also need to monitor its build. If the dog is too thin, it means that she does not have enough food (or parasites have wound up in her), being overweight indicates overfeeding. Eating a portion too quickly can also indicate that the dog is not full.

The feeding pattern is determined taking into account the amount of feeding per day. No need to accustom to night eating. Time is distributed at regular intervals between feedings (the maximum gap is 8 hours). The first meal of the puppy up to six months can be set at 7 am, the last - at 10 pm.

Information on how much dry food to give a puppy is indicated on the package (the higher the energy value of the product, the smaller the portion size).

Food options for German Shepherd puppies

To choose the best food, you need to consider the dog's age, activity level, individual health characteristics. Manufacturers offer feed in different price segments.

German Shepherd puppies are suitable for Royal Canin, Proplan, Akana, Farmina. Especially worth mentioning is Royal Canin. This brand was originally created specifically for German Shepherds.

If you prefer other brands, you should choose rations designed specifically for puppies of large breeds of dogs.

The composition of the finished menu should correspond to the needs of the dog, which differ at different ages. If your pet has allergies, health problems, or is overweight, you should contact your veterinarian. Only a doctor can determine what kind of food to feed the animal. It is also necessary to add complexes of vitamins and microelements to the pet's menu.

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What to feed a shepherd dog: diet, prohibited foods, advice on choosing food

German Shepherds are hardy, massive dogs with good health. But this does not mean that their nutrition can be treated negligently. In order for the shepherd dog to maintain good condition and remain strong, it must be properly fed. We tell you what nutrition systems exist, what are their features, what products are absolutely impossible for a shepherd dog.

German Shepherd Feeding: General Principles

For a shepherd dog, not only the quality of nutrition is important, but also the observance of the feeding regimen. A strict meal schedule helps to establish the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and develop a behavioral stereotype that is important for raising a dog.

Very young puppies (1-2 months old) are fed 6 small meals a day. From 3 months, the number of feedings should be gradually reduced, reducing them to three by 4 months of age. By six months, the puppy is transferred to two meals a day, and after a year the dog should eat once a day, always after a walk.

Do not leave food in the bowl for more than 20 minutes. Even if the dog hasn't finished his portion, clean up the leftovers and wash the dishes. Don't try to "coax" your pet into eating something else or feeding outside school hours. This will lead to a violation of discipline and may adversely affect the appetite and character of the dog.

If a shepherd dog lives in an open-air cage outside, in the cold season it needs to be fed more. The portion is increased by about a third. And vice versa - in the heat, the dog can eat much less, and this is normal. In special cases (illness, pregnancy, age over 8 years, etc.), the diet also needs to be adjusted, but it will be better if a veterinarian helps you with this.

There are two types of German Shepherd food: commercially prepared food or natural products. Combining both systems is unacceptable, as this will adversely affect the dog's digestive tract and lead to a serious imbalance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins in the body. If necessary, one nutrition strategy can be changed to another, but this should be done slowly, smoothly, preferably after consultation with a veterinarian.

How to feed a shepherd dog with natural products

The natural diet of a German Shepherd will require some effort from the owners, because the pet will have to cook food separately. Products from the "human" menu are not suitable for dogs, their body is not adapted to the absorption of fatty, fried, baked foods with the addition of salt and spices. Equally harmful are both the best pieces from your plate and the leftovers of food, “carefully” collected in a dog bowl and given to a pet. You can't feed a shepherd like that!

The basis of the dog's natural diet should be meat: chicken, beef, turkey, rabbit, horse meat. The meat is boiled for puppies, it can be given raw to adult dogs, provided that the pet has no problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The meat is cut into pieces or ground into minced meat. It is advisable to keep the raw product in the freezer for several days, and before serving, defrost and scald with boiling water. A convenient option for blanks: divide the chopped meat into portions and store in the freezer, taking it out as needed.

Together with meat, a shepherd dog is given porridge cooked in unsaturated meat, bone broth or plain water. Buckwheat, rice, wheat, oatmeal are well suited, but barley is poorly absorbed by the dog's body. A little vegetable oil or fish oil is added to the cooked cereal. In the "stew" of porridge and meat, you can mix chopped vegetables: zucchini, beets, carrots, pumpkins. If the dog's body perceives raw vegetables without problems (there are no negative reactions from the gastrointestinal tract), then there is no need to boil them.

Two egg yolks are included in the menu once a week. If the shepherd tolerates fermented milk products well, you can pamper her with kefir, yogurt, yogurt (not sweet, without fruit or cereal additives), low-fat cottage cheese.

2-3 times a week meat can be replaced with boiled offal: beef lungs, heart, liver; turkey or chicken hearts and ventricles. Once a week, the menu includes sea fish, boiled and deboned. Suitable salmon, hake, trout, mackerel, cod.

What foods should not be given to a shepherd dog:

garlic, onion, cabbage, legumes;
nuts, mushrooms;
sweet fruits;
pork;
sausages and other meat preparations;
whole milk;
river fish;
flour products, sweets;
any fried, smoked, fatty, spicy, pickled foods;
bones (Contrary to popular belief, this product is not recommended for dogs. Bones clog the gastrointestinal tract and often lead to injury to the esophagus and intestines.)

Natural nutrition is often not able to fully cover the needs of the sheepdog in vitamins, so there may be a need for vitamin and mineral supplements. Please consult your veterinarian on this matter.

How to feed a German Shepherd with prepared food

Not all dry food is suitable for Shepherds. The product must meet several conditions.

The feed should contain no more than 20% fat and 40% carbohydrates, but animal protein, i. e. meat, can be up to 70%.
It is better to choose foods of at least premium or holistic class (holistic foods are made from products that are suitable even for people).
The composition should be described in as much detail as possible: what kind of meat was used and how much of it is in the product, what vitamin supplements are present in the feed, are there plant components and which ones, etc.
For puppies, sick dogs, pregnant or lactating bitches, dogs over 8 years old, you need to buy special food. The doctor will help you pick them up.

Shepherd dogs can be fed dog food of the same brand as dry food no more than twice a week. It is very important that the dog's water bowl is never empty. You need to update the water once a day or more often, and each time the dishes must be washed thoroughly.

Pets usually don't need additional vitamins, since they are in sufficient quantities in good food, as well as minerals. But special treats can be given (tendon snacks, dried beef ears, etc.