How to Feed a German Shepherd Puppy, Rules and Features
Probably, there is no person who has not heard aboutShepherds. These animals guard the border and look for people under the rubble, accompany the blind and smell drugs, pursue criminals and genius play in the movies. And shepherds are wonderful watchmen and become loyal and faithful friends. This breed is one of the most popular in the world. But to grow an excellent dog, you need to follow certain rules. This is especially true for food. The owner must know exactly how to feed the shepherd puppy, and follow the recommendations clearly.
One of the peculiarities of German shepherds is thatthey are rapidly gaining weight. Newborn baby for 10 days of his life doubles it, and by three weeks triples. A five-month-old, properly contained puppy should have half the adult weight, which in males varies between 30-40 kg, and in bitches - 22-32 kg. Naturally, during such an intensive increase in weight and the skeleton is formed intensely. Therefore, the nutrition of a growing puppy should be as balanced as possible.
But the rule, how to feed a puppy, includes not onlydiet, but also diet. Usually up to a month of babies the mother feeds, so it is important to provide a full-fledged bitch feed. From the month of the puppies the shepherds begin to eat on their own. During this period they have six meals a day. After 10 pm give the baby food is not recommended. From the age of 1.5 months they are transferred to four meals a day, from three meals - three times a day, and from six - only twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Only if the dog carried out a great physical exertion, it is added one more feeding. Determine that she ate, you can by behavior. A hungry animal, having emptied a bowl, will not depart from it, but will continue to lick. Means, at the following feeding it is necessary to increase the portion. But you can not overfeed a dog.
The second rule is how to feed a German puppyShepherd, is that his bowl should not stand on the floor, because in this case the dog forms a hump, and the pelvis is lifted up. The bowl must be at the level with the muzzle, that is, the height of the stand with the growth of the pet increases.
The food offered to the pet should be warm. Strongly cooled or heated food leads to diseases of the digestive system, and sometimes to the death of the animal.
Now about the diet. It should be high-calorie and nutritious, contain the necessary vitamins and trace elements. If the puppy grows on ready-made feeds, only higher grades are needed, since the first and second-class foods do not give the growing body all the necessary substances. It is important when feeding with ready-made food to give the puppy a lot of water, so as not to burn his stomach walls.
How to feed a puppy properly if you cook foodyourself? First, the proportion of proteins in the diet should be at least 30%. If this is not adhered to, the dog will grow weaker, and its body will not be sufficiently developed. The source of proteins is meat and its derivatives. Secondly, the diet should include raw and boiled vegetables, fruits, boiled eggs, cottage cheese, dairy products, cereals, greens, radish tops, beets, trout, boiled nettle, black bread. Porridge is better to cook from a mixture of cereals. So dogs eat more willingly.
How to feed a puppy with meat? Babies older than 1.5 months are given cooked and chopped rabbits and chicken, as well as raw beef. Minced meat is better not to give, as it sticks together in the stomach and it is poorly digested. By-products up to 4 months are also better not to give, and the liver needs to be boiled even for adult dogs in order to avoid infection with worms. When the puppy turns 1.5 months old, you can give him raw beef shoes. In five months they need to be replaced with ribs, because at this age puppies have root very strong teeth. They will be able to bite the bones, so sharp fragments will injure the mouth, pharynx and stomach. At the age of 4 months, meat in the morning or evening menu can be replaced with fish. It is better to give sea food raw in order to keep useful substances in it. River fish can be given only thermally treated.
How to feed the puppy with vegetables? Carrots, white cabbage and sea cabbage, beetroot, onion, rutabaga, cucumber, pumpkin, sweet pepper must be included in the diet, as they are sources of microelements. All vegetables can be boiled, only the potatoes are raw, since boiled is poorly digested. Carrots can be boiled, and you can give raw, grinding it on a grater and mixing with sunflower oil. Tomatoes must enter the menu necessarily, because they play an important role in cleaning the teeth. Beans from the diet should be excluded altogether. As antihelminthic and a source of vitamins, it is desirable to give puppies a small chunk of garlic every day.
Of course, it is very important to add vitamins to the diet. The best source of calcium is the crushed egg shell. Two months old puppies are given half the teaspoon. When the age reaches 4 months, the dose should equal 1 teaspoon 3 times a day. Another source of vitamins is honey. It is added to the milk for 1 teaspoon, starting from two months. Also in the diet add crushed grains of sprouted wheat and other cereals. A good bait is also bone meal, which is poured into a separate bowl so that the puppy will eat when he wants. A significant benefit is brought also by brewer's yeast, which are added to the diet, according to the attached instructions.
