Sheepdogs feed

To maintain the health of the dog, nutrition is essential, which must be balanced in the content of BJU, minerals and vitamins. Quality dry food contains everything you need. But you need to select them, taking into account the properties of the breed: anatomical and physiological features, physical activity. Let's talk about the diet for the shepherd dog - one of the most common breeds of working dogs.

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

From the title it is clear that this is the cheapest feed. They are thanks to advertising and the most famous. The amount of meat in their composition rarely reaches even 5%, but it is this component that should be the main one in the diet of dogs.

The remaining components - vegetable and cereal, as well as meat and bone meal and offal. Although economy class feeds are the most affordable, for constant nutrition shepherd dogs, especially puppies, they are not suitable. Besides the fact that due to the lack of many essential trace elements and vitamins in the 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. To their feeding should be treated more carefully. Let's name several brands of this class:

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

Such feeds are, perhaps, the best value for money. They are more balanced in composition and quite affordable. Meat and high-quality offal in them can be from 50 to 70%. The rest is cereal and vegetable components (carbohydrates) and vegetable fats. The presence of flavors and preservatives is possible, but in small quantities.

For adult shepherd dogs, premium-class feeds can make up a full-fledged budget ration if you add mineral-vitamin complexes. It is better to select supplements after consulting a veterinarian. But the normal development of a puppy is unlikely to provide such nutrition.

The middle class line includes food:

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

But the actual meat (not by-products) they contain no more than 25%. Therefore, these marks will be left in the middle class, although their quality is quite good.

These feeds are characterized by the fact that they are based on 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 food to feed dogs, no other additives are required. In addition, an excess of vitamins and macro-or micronutrients may even be harmful.

But not everyone can afford to feed their pet exclusively with such high-quality feed. due to the high cost of these brands. Because 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 appeared on the market relatively recently, but they are already appreciated by consumers and specialists. In general, their composition is not very different from the super-premium class, but there are important nuances:

• the food does not contain cereals, which the digestive system of not every sheep-dog copes with;
• On the packaging, the ingredients indicate what specific animal product is present (meat, fish or poultry), and most often - all 3;
• includes fruits;
• medicinal herbs can be added.

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

The following feeds are holistic:

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

Definitely answer, dry food is better or wet, difficult. The decision will depend on the pet's preferences.

If you make a rating of dry fodder in popularity, then the first place in it, most likely, will be the brand economy class. This situation is explained by the fact that these products are inexpensive and can be bought at any supermarket. 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 food and full-scale holistics, although the price is higher and sell them only in pet stores and special veterinary pharmacies. Therefore, we will not additionally advertise cheap brands, we offer a quality rating of decent products (with an indication of the approximate price range as of 2019):

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

Cubs of dogs for growth and development requires a large, relative to their weight, the number of calories and various nutrients. That the animal was healthy throughout life, on food puppies do not save. Manufacturers of super-premium class feeds and holists produce lines especially for representatives of the younger generation of different ages, but you cannot immediately transfer pets to such a diet, need to act gradually.

Dry feed is recommended to give puppies from about 3 months, but some breeders start feeding like this even earlier. If you use holistic, suitable for age, consisting of small granules, it is permissible and even useful, but in this case there should be no abrupt transition. First, feed is introduced in a volume of 25% of the daily ration or slightly less. It is important to observe the reaction and the condition of a small pet. If everything is good, after 3-4 days the rate can be increased by as much.

It should also be borne in mind that the food may cause an allergic reaction or simply do not like the puppy. Then you will have to try to offer him another brand. The whole process of transferring to such food can take on average from 3 weeks to one and a half months.

The rate of feeding is usually indicated on the package, calculated per kilogram of animal weight, it should be strictly followed. 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.

Since one year old and for later life adult shepherd fed 2 times no matter what kind of food it gets - homemade or produced industrially. The daily rate 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, in order for the dog to receive a more or less balanced diet, the daily amount has to be increased.

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

If you choose ready-made feeds, you should consider the following recommendations:

• you need to buy products that are suitable for your dog (depending on age, health, activity);
• try to acquire the same brand;
• if it becomes necessary to change the feed, it should be done no more than 1 time in 3 months;
• you should not allow a sharp transition to another brand, you should add a new product to the old one, gradually increasing the content in the diet of the administered feed;
• it is necessary to observe the drinking regime, about the bowl with food should always be different - with clean water;
• Introduction of any additives must be discussed with a veterinarian.

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