How and what to feed the shepherd dogs?

The digestive system functions in almost the same way in all dogs. There are small nuances in feeding, which depend on the breed and genetic predisposition. They should be taken into account when choosing food for your pets.

For large dogs, such as shepherds, protein in the diet is important for proper muscle growth, as well as proper weight gain and healthy bones and joints.

There are two types of dog feeding:

• natural products;
• ready-made dry food.

For shepherd dogs, eating natural products is a very good option. If the diet is properly balanced, the dog will receive all the necessary micronutrients, vitamins and proteins.

In addition, in addition to proteins that are needed by the dog's body, carbohydrates are present in this type of feeding. Large dogs do not need them in large quantities, since with insufficient physical activity they will be deposited in fat, which is unacceptable and dangerous for the health of the animal and its physical characteristics.

You need to know that some foods can only be given after pre-cooking, for example, such as river fish and liver, as they can contain helminths.And in sea fish there are substances that gradually destroy the B vitamins in the dog's body, which leads to a slowdown in its growth and physical development. Therefore, it is also recommended to cook it before serving.

First of all, the diet should include meat - this is the main source of protein. This breed is suitable for meat products of the second category, it contains connective tissue that is useful for dogs. The notch puts too little stress on the teeth. Pork should not be given to the dog, as it is too fat. Better to give preference to beef, lamb and horse meat.

From poultry, turkey in the form of minced meat is suitable, especially for monthly puppies when transferring from breast milk to age-related nutrition, or chicken, finely chopped into pieces.

Fish is a source of Omega-3s. It is essential in feeding shepherd dogs. The only one suitable for their food is pink salmon. But it is also better to give it to pets no more than twice a week and separately from meat food.

Groats are suitable for buckwheat, rice, oatmeal, corn, wheat. It is a source of slow carbohydrates that are good for your dog's digestion and overall health. Cook porridge until cooked. It is better to exclude barley and barley, they are poorly absorbed.

It is better to give dairy products in the form of kefir. Cottage cheese is needed for development of puppies up to six months. Boiled eggs will be an excellent addition to the diet, but not more than three times a week.

Vegetables and fruits can be offered raw to the dog, or added to the dish when cooking. You can try to feed your pet with porridge with carrots or pumpkin. You can also mix cereals and meat. Chicken porridge makes a good meal for your dog.

In the manufacture of ready-made dog food, manufacturers try to use all the substances important to the health of the animal. However, at an early age, it is better to feed puppies with natural foods, as dry foods can lead to digestive problems.

There are four types of food.

1. The most harmful feed is economy class. There is almost no protein in them, it is replaced with animal fat, and bone meal is also used. With such food, the dog is not saturated, it attracts her with flavoring additives. This type of food is very consumed.
2. Premium class. Balanced feed with mineral and nutrients without substitutes for taste and colors, but using additives and stabilizers approved in the European Economic Union. The composition uses real meat ingredients. The source of vegetable protein is corn.
3. Super premium class. They include only high quality components, natural products. Eggs, beets and rice are used as a high-value protein as a source of fiber. Protein and carbohydrates are taken from primary constituents. This feed is made using special equipment.
4. Holistic. For the manufacture of this food, only environmentally friendly products are used. For example, some parts of lamb and salmon. It contains biologically pure additives, vegetables and fruits. The only kind of ready-made feed that is close enough to natural nutrition.

Animals do not need a varied diet every day. Only the balanced composition of microelements is important.

When buying food for shepherd dogs, it is important to pay attention to the fact that it has the inscription "Active". This is the kind of food that is suitable for large dogs that expend a lot of energy every day. Some premium and super premium foods suitable for shepherd dogs are named: Brit Premium, Purina Dog Chow, Royal Canin.

You can not give salty, sweet, smoked, pickled sheep dogs.Spices, legumes, potatoes, chocolate, citrus fruits, as well as rutabagas, grapes and olives are harmful for them. Long bones are very dangerous for pets.

When planning a dog's diet, it is necessary to take into account the ratio of calcium and phosphorus. in it, since the second element helps to wash out the first from the animal's body.

It is not allowed to feed the dog from your table. The following can be used as an incentive:

• a slice of dry bread, poured with sunflower oil;
• small amount of cheese;
• apple, divided into wedges.

To avoid problems in the future, you need to properly feed the cubs and observe their diet. Up to 4 months old, puppies are fed 4 to 5 times a day, gradually reducing the number of feedings and increasing the portion. By the age of one, the dogs are transferred to two meals a day.

Always feed the puppies at the same time. After feeding, the food bowl is removed, leaving only a container with clean water. The duration of the meal should be approximately 20 minutes. Anything left on the plate is unnecessary for the dog's stomach.

At home, it is better to feed babies with natural food. Complementary feeding is started at the age of one month.

Starting from 1.5 months, the puppy should eat about 250 g of meat per day. From 2 to 4 months - 400 g, 4 to 6 months - half a kilogram, from six months to a year - about 1 kg per day.

Fish is introduced into the diet from the third month, only boiled sea fish, it is given instead of meat twice a week. From the age of three months to 5 months, meat trimmings are given, since there are many tendons in it for training the jaw. Also this is the period of changing teeth. Once a week, they treat the dog with a marrow. From six months, they begin to offer the dog by-products and liver after heat treatment.

From birth to one year, the animal is taught to eat cottage cheese, fed with fermented milk products - kefir, fermented baked milk.

Table with nutritional norms depending on the age of the puppies.

A two-month-old puppy up to 4 months old is fed 4 times a day, from 4 to 6 months - 3-4 times a day, from 6 to 8 months - 3 times a day, from 8 months to a year - 1-2 times a day.

In summer, dogs that have reached one year old are fed once a day, and in winter for better heat exchange of the dog's body - 2 times.

Normally, the diet of a shepherd dog is almost the same as that of any other large dog, although it has its own characteristics.

The diet of the animal must be observed throughout its life. An adult should not be overfeeded, as excess food may cause volvulus. It is imperative to feed the shepherd dog at the same time. The portions must be the same. Eating should take place after a walk, so as not to put a strain on the digestive tract, which can end badly.

In winter, you can give, in addition to the main meal, warm broth. Animals of this breed can be fed twice a day throughout the year. The portions will be small, which is ideal since shepherds have small stomachs.

At the request of the owner, you can transfer the dog from natural nutrition to ready-made food. But it is imperative to first consult a veterinarian and choose premium and super-premium food.

The food should not be hot or cold, the best option is the room temperature of the food. There should always be a container with clean water. The feed should be thick. Wet food is poorly absorbed by the dog's stomach. Suitable feeding utensils are also important so that the animal's posture does not deteriorate when eating.

A pregnant shepherd should be fed a special dog food in position. If this individual is on a natural type of diet, then more cottage cheese, eggs, fish and meat should be included in its diet. From the fourth week of pregnancy, she is transferred to three meals a day, without increasing the amount of food, and from the eighth week, meat is removed from the menu, replacing it with sea boiled fish to avoid cramps.

Immediately after giving birth, you should not give the dog meat so that there is no poisoning. She is offered a weak broth or thin porridge. Subsequently, the bitch is fed 4-5 times a day, without restricting food. The diet should include vegetables, raw meat, cottage cheese and fish so that the puppies get the necessary amount of microelements and vitamins from breast milk.

After a year, the age of the shepherd does not affect its menu and diet. Throughout the dog's life, the owner must follow the feeding standards and follow all the necessary nutritional recommendations so that his pet is healthy and energetic and meets all the characteristics of the breed.

How to feed your dog properly, see below.