Shepherd feed

To maintain the health of the dog, nutrition is essential, which should be balanced in terms of the content of BZHU, minerals and vitamins. High-quality dry feeds contain everything you need. But they need to be selected, taking into account the properties of the breed: anatomical and physiological characteristics, motor activity. Let's talk about the diet for the shepherd - one of the most common breeds of service dogs.

Today, the market offers a large assortment of dog food, various in quality and cost. Specialists divide them into several classes.

From the name it’s clear that this is the cheapest feed. Thanks to advertising, they are the most famous. The amount of meat in their composition rarely reaches even 5%, however, this component should be the main in the diet of dogs.

The remaining components are vegetable and cereal, as well as meat and bone meal and offal. Although economy class feeds are the most affordable, for constant nutrition of shepherds, especially puppies, they are not suitable. In addition, due to the lack of many essential trace elements and vitamins in such a composition, such a diet will not be useful, it is also capable of causing harm.

This is especially undesirable for those types of shepherd dogs (German, East European) in which the physiologically relatively short digestive tract. Their feeding should be treated more carefully. We will name several brands of this class:

• Pedigree;
• Chappi;
• Baron;
• Cesar;
• "Our brand";
• "Meal."

Such feeds have, perhaps, an optimal price-quality ratio. They are more balanced in composition and quite affordable. Meat and quality offal in them can be from 50 to 70%. The rest is cereal and vegetable components (carbohydrates) and vegetable fats. The presence of flavorings and preservatives is possible, but in small quantities.

Premium shepherd feed for adult shepherds can make up a full-fledged diet, if you add mineral and vitamin complexes. It is better to choose additives after consultation with the veterinarian. But such a diet is unlikely to provide normal development of the puppy.

The line of the middle class includes feed:

• Advance
• Dog chow;
• Brit Premium
• Nutra Nuggets.

But actually meat (not offal) they contain no more than 25%. Therefore, we will leave these brands in the middle class, although their quality is pretty good.

These feeds are characterized in that their basis is natural meat. Also in the composition there are vegetables and cereals in small quantities. There may be minerals and vitamins. When using only super-premium feeds for dogs, no other additives are required. In addition, an excess of vitamins and macro- or micronutrients can even be harmful.

But not everyone can afford to feed their pet exclusively with such high-quality feeds due to the high cost of production of these brands. Therefore, many owners combine them in the diet of dogs with self-prepared natural products. In this case, some supplements may be required, but they should be included in the diet strictly on the recommendation of a veterinarian. The most famous super premium brands:

• Eukanuba;
• Brit Care;
• Arden Grange;
• Bosch

Holistic products have appeared on the market relatively recently, but they are already appreciated by consumers and experts. In general, their composition is not very different from the super-premium class, but there are important nuances:

• feeds do not contain cereals, which the digestive system of not every shepherd copes with;
• on the package the ingredients indicate which particular animal product is present (meat, fish or poultry), and most often all 3;
• fruits are included;
• medicinal herbs may be added.

Among them, you can choose suitable options for weakened or elderly animals, for pets, prone to allergic reactions or obesity or having any disease, as well as for pregnant and lactating dogs. But the cost of such products is higher than the price of packages of other classes of similar weight.

The following feeds belong to holistic:

• Orijen;
• Acana
• Pronature Holistic;
• Savarra;
• Grandorf.

Definitely answer, dry feed is better or wet, difficult. The decision will depend on the preference of the pet.

If you compile a rating of dry feeds by popularity, then in the first places in it, most likely, will be the economy class brands. This situation is explained by the fact that these products are inexpensive and you can buy them at any supermarket. Yes, and advertising, on which manufacturers spend a lot of money, helps them a lot.

But the responsible owner should pay attention to high-quality super-premium feeds and full-dose holivics, although the price is higher and they are sold only in pet stores and special veterinary pharmacies. Therefore, we will not additionally advertise cheap brands, we offer a quality rating of decent products (indicating the approximate price range as of 2019):

1. Acana - 1200-1500 rub. (2 kg);
2. Orijen - 1600-2000 rub. (2.3 kg);
3. Arden Grange - 1100-1300 rub. (2 kg);
4. Bosch - 500-650 rub. (1 kg);
5. Eukanuba - 500-650 rub. (1 kg).

Young dogs need a large number of calories and various nutrients, relative to their weight, for growth and development. To keep the animal healthy throughout life, it’s not worth saving on eating puppies. Manufacturers of feeds of super-premium class and holistic produce lines specifically for representatives of the younger generation of different ages, but you can’t immediately transfer pets to such a diet, need to act gradually.

Dry food is recommended for puppies from about 3 months, but some breeders begin to feed this way even earlier. If you use holistic, suitable for age, consisting of small granules, this is acceptable and will even be useful, but in this case there should not be a sharp transition. First, feed is introduced in the amount of 25% of the daily diet or a little less. It is important to observe the reaction and condition of the small pet. If all is well, after 3-4 days, the norm can be increased by another as much.

It should also be borne in mind that the food can cause an allergic reaction or the puppy just does not like it. Then it will be necessary to try to offer him a different brand. The whole process of switching to such food can take on average from 3 weeks to a month and a half.

The feed rate is usually indicated on the package, calculated per kilogram of animal weight, it should be strictly adhered to. Puppies need to be fed more often than adult dogs. The number of feedings according to age is recommended as follows:

• up to 2 months - 6 times;
• 2-4 months - 5 times;
• 4-6 months - 4 times;
• 6-12 months - 3 times.

From the age of one year and throughout life adult shepherd is fed 2 times, no matter what kind of food she receives - home-made or manufactured industrially. The daily norm of dry food for an active healthy animal is 600-750 grams, which are divided into 2 doses. For a slow-moving, old or weakened pet, this dose should be reduced to about 500 g.

When using cheap brands that are not enriched with vitamins and minerals, so that the dog receives a more or less balanced diet, the daily amount must be increased.

Dog owners often ask the question: is it possible to use a mixed food system, that is, use both natural products and dry food. Some experts are categorically against it. But most veterinarians and experienced breeders find this acceptable. And everyone agrees that different types of products should not be mixed in one meal.

If you choose ready-made feed, it is worth considering the following recommendations:

• you need to buy products suitable specifically for your dog (depending on age, state of health, activity);
• try to get the same brand;
• if there is a need to change the feed, it should be done no more than 1 time in 3 months;
• do not allow a sharp transition to another brand, you should add a new product to the old one, gradually increasing the content of the input feed in the diet;
• you must comply with the drinking regime, near the bowl with food there should always be another - with clean water;
• the introduction of any additives must be discussed with the veterinarian.

The following video will tell you about the proper feeding of German Shepherd puppies.