How and what to feed a German shepherd?

The normal development of the animal, its state of health, energy and well-being largely depend on how well-balanced the diet of the German shepherd is and how balanced it is. According to experienced dog handlers, there is no universal ration suitable for any German shepherd. In each case, dog breeders of this breed are guided by the individual characteristics of their pets: their level of daily activity, age, constitution, and weight. What should be considered when planning the diet of such dogs?

When planning a German shepherd diet, experienced breeders consider not only the physical parameters of the animal, but also its temperament. So, calm phlegmatic dogs, showing moderate activity during the day, spend less energy, unlike their sanguine and choleric relatives. Phlegmatic dogs are not recommended food based on fats. Excessively rich and fatty foods in this case can cause weight gain and, as a result, the possible development of endocrine diseases and disorders.

Most often, typical for German shepherds sanguine type of temperament. Dogs of this kind possess a balanced and flexible nervous system. They are mobile, active, able to quickly switch from one task to another. In most cases, their energy costs are able to compensate for a standard diet, the basis of which is protein products.

Less common among German shepherds are representatives choleric type. Such individuals are characterized by increased excitability, a weakly stable nervous system, outbreaks of anxiety and even aggression. Choleric dogs quickly consume energy reserves, so their diet is usually more nutritious and nutritious. In this case, to compensate for the high energy costs, a food rich in carbohydrates allows.

The basis of the diet of the German Shepherd should be protein products. However, you cannot completely build a dog’s menu on squirrels alone. Excess protein in the diet of an animal often entails the development of diseases of the urinary system.

Some dog breeders prefer to feed their pets with natural food (“natural”), while others prefer dry and wet prepared foods. And in fact, and in another case, there are specific nuances, advantages and disadvantages.

Planning a canine diet based on natural products requires a precise balance between sources of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. All these nutrients are necessary for the animal body for full development, optimal energy metabolism, normal functioning of internal organs and systems.

The list of products that are allowed on the German Shepherd menu includes the following:

• lean meat (beef, ground beef, low-fat boiled pork);
• poultry meat (chicken, turkey);
• thermally processed offal (heart, lungs, stomachs, liver);
• quail or chicken eggs;
• cereals, cereals;
• cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir;
• low-fat varieties of fish (bony, river and lake fish are not allowed);
• in small quantities - milk (if it does not cause an allergy or stool disorder in the animal);
• vegetables.

The table of the approximate ratio of products in the diet of a German shepherd is as follows:

In kennels, the main ration of German shepherds is most often represented by ready-made dry or wet food. They differ among themselves not only in price, but also in composition, energy value. Some types of food are intended for healthy adult dogs, others for puppies, others for allergic dogs, fourth for weakened animals that have undergone surgery or a serious illness, fifth for old dogs, lactating and pregnant bitches.

Modern manufacturers produce finished feed in the following categories:

• economy - the most inexpensive type with minimal nutritional value;
• premium - relatively inexpensive type of feed with high energy value;
• premium plus - An expensive type of feed with high energy value, enriched with vitamins and minerals;
• super premium - An expensive type of balanced feed with high nutritional value, containing a maximum of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Ready-made feeds from brands such as Royal Canin, Happy dog, Bosch, Wolfsblut, Trainer have proven themselves well.In the line of dog food from these manufacturers are presented dog foods of all ages. The daily feed rate is calculated in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Most breeders prefer to feed their pets natural food, independently planning their diet at home. With a competent housekeeping approach, a dog eating natural food receives all the nutrients, vitamins, macro- and microelements necessary for its body. When drawing up the menu, the pet is guided by its age, state of health, level of activity and, as mentioned above, temperament.

The main product in the puppy's diet from birth to one month of age is breast milk. It has a high nutritional value, contains all the vitamins, nutrients, macro- and microelements required by the baby.

If the lactating bitch is short of milk, then It is allowed to feed puppies additionally. To do this, use dry milk mixtures for newborn babies or special milk mixtures for puppies who are breast-fed. Some owners resort to the help of female breeders who are raised by other breeders. It is important that puppies at the female nurse are born 2-3 days earlier than puppies requiring additional feeding.

3-4 weeks of lifewhen the teeth begin to appear in the babies, the first feeding is allowed. Scalloped beef is used as complementary foods. After a week, it is recommended to introduce a second type of top dressing in the form of cottage cheese. When the puppy's digestive system adapts to protein foods of animal origin, sources of vegetable protein are allowed to be used as additional food.

From two months of age puppies begin to gradually lose interest in mother's milk, and therefore their menu should become a little more diverse. It is necessary to introduce lean types of meat (rabbit meat, chicken), the first cereals (rice, oats, buckwheat) into it. By the age of three months, it is allowed to add marine white fish (halibut, cod, pollock, hake) to the puppies ’diet. It is given to animals with caution, in a very limited amount.

At the age of 5 months German shepherd babies need to be given about 500 grams of meat, 250 grams of fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir), 250 grams of vegetables and the same amount of porridge (rice and buckwheat) daily. It should also be remembered that as puppies grow, they need additional sources of vitamins and minerals: fish oil, ground eggshells, brewer's yeast, bone meal.

From the age of 6–7 months, the puppies menu should be adjusted so that the animals grow stronger and develop, but do not gain excess weight. For this purpose, cereals are limited in the diet, but the amount of protein products and fiber is increased. At this age, puppies can be given up to 750 grams of meat and 250-300 grams of vegetables daily. Twice a week it is allowed to treat the dog with a chicken egg, 1-2 times a week it is recommended to treat the pet with cottage cheese. It is advisable to adhere to this diet until the puppy is 12-15 months old.

Adult German shepherd dogs are large hardy animals with excellent appetite. Actively spending energy throughout the day, dogs of this breed need high-calorie, high-quality and wholesome food.

Daily animal must receive at least 700 grams of meat, 350-400 grams of cereals, 350 grams of vegetables, 400 grams of other sources of protein (cottage cheese, chicken). In addition, the dog needs additional sources of vitamins and minerals. Animals of mature and old age also need chondroprotectors - special drugs that protect joints and bones from the development of destructive diseases. Among the most well-known chondroprotectors, one can note here such as Stride Plus, Stoparthritis, Hyalutidine.

Serving volumes of the adult shepherd must be controlled and adjusted, focusing on the activity of the pet. In seasons when the animal moves less often, it tries to spend more time alone (for example, in winter), the amount of servings is slightly limited so that the dog does not gain excess weight. In the summer, when the shepherd moves more, walks longer and more often, the daily volumes of food slightly increase.

Newborn puppies are able to eat breast milk 7 or 8 times a day. Experienced dog handlers believe that breast milk is the best nutritional option for babies up to three weeks of age.

At the age of 4 to 8 weeks, the frequency of feeding puppies is 6 times a day. Starting from 2 months of life, babies are transferred to five meals a day. When puppies turn 3 months old, the number of feedings is reduced to 4 times a day. Three meals a day animals are transferred at the age of six months.

Three times a day, dogs eat until they are one year old. Starting from the age of 12 months, young animals are fed 2 times a day. It is considered that the one-year-old dog is quite old and able to withstand long intervals between meals.

Any owner of a German shepherd must know in detail the list of products that should in no case be present in the diet of the animal. These prohibitions and restrictions have arisen and exist by chance. Some foods that are not allowed to be fed to dogs can cause severe allergies, others can cause long-term digestive upsets, and others may even cause dangerous injuries to internal organs. therefore no need to deviate from the recommendations of experienced dog breeders, even if you really want to pamper your pet with an unfamiliar delicacy.

So, in the menu of the German Shepherd the following products are strictly prohibited:

• fatty meats;
• tubular and chopped bones containing fragments;
• any meat semi-finished products (dumplings, khinkali);
• all sweets, including chocolate, sweets, ice cream;
• legumes (peas, beans);
• white bread, muffin;
• canned food (intended for people, not animals);
• sausages, sausages, sausages, barbecue;
• River fish;
• beet.

Some inexperienced dog owners often mix natural and ready-made dry food in one bowl. According to experienced dog breeders, doing this is undesirable. “Natural” and dry food should be given separately from each other. In rare exceptions, "naturalku" may be mixed with wet dog canned food, halving the recommended single amount of each type of feed.

A single dose for each type of specialized wet and dry food is individual. Choosing the optimal amount of feed for your pet, you should focus on the recommendations of the manufacturer, and on the characteristics of the animal, its age and constitution.

It is not recommended to overfeed the dog. This is especially true for animals kept in urban areas and significantly limited in movement. German shepherds are quite easily gaining weight, which can cause health problems.

It is necessary to feed the dog at the same time. For feeding, use bowls fixed on special stands. They will not allow the animal to hunch over and slouch while eating.

Appetite is one of the main indicators of the shepherd's health status. If the dog stopped eating, lost interest in others, became apathetic and inactive, then this may indicate the development of a disease. For this reason, it is important to control the pet's appetite, to monitor how much it eats, whether it leaves unnourished food after feeding.

It is advisable to feed the pet after a walk. During the walk, the dog will have time to relieve need, frolic, play with other animals. It will be quite difficult and uncomfortable for the pet to show activity on a full stomach. In addition, by feeding the dog to the paddock, the owner runs the risk of not bringing it with a crowded intestine, bladder and stomach to the site. In this situation, there is an increased risk that a well-fed dog will relieve need right at home.

On how to properly feed the dog, see below.