Further to yesterday's first puppy blog, let's jump into the lion's den!
What's the best puppy food for a German Shepherd Puppy - a fast-growing medium sized dog. And what if the breeder feeds brand X and you want to feed brand Y how do you transfer the pup over?
And what if you want to feed raw and the breeder doesn't and vice versa!
Come on - tell us what you would do if it was you that was about to get an adorable bundle of GSD!
Beverley Cuddy, Editor
Dorothy Cullum, GSD Information Group, says...
I feel if the breeder has taken to time to wean a puppy correctly onto food that they have found suits their stock why should the less experienced person add STRESS to the pup's life by changing it? There are more people who are of the opinion they know better who have a puppy who then has tummy problems as a result who contact the GSD Information Group than I have had hot dinners. Please do not even think this way - the vets earn vast amounts of money from a problem caused by human error than anything else. Then starts the tests and the re-establishing of a correct gut.
I am a great believer in giving something sensible to chew. Large chews, bones (42 years and I have never had a problem, but large not silly sizes.) Teeth then come through and it
saves damage to furniture and hands.
Katrina Stevens, Kesyra German Shepherds, says...
I use Arden Grange Junior (Medium Breed), which I mix with Naturediet Puppy. I advise adding Protexin Bio Premium, to boost the pups' immune system in the early days also. I would always advise staying with the food recommended by the breeder for the first month, so long as it suits the pup. If the owner particularly wants to change brands once the pup has settled in, then I would do this gradually over the course of one week ie: Day 1&2 give 3/4 usual diet and 1/4 new; days 3&4 give 1/2 old diet and 1/2 new; days 5&6 give 1/4 old diet and 1/4 new; day 7 change to new diet.
“What food should I feed my puppy” is probably the most common question I get asked in the shop, and unfortunately, there are no easy answers as the choices range from commercial dry, to BARF and everything in between.
First and foremost I would recommend keeping your puppy on the same diet he has been weaned on for at least two weeks after his arrival. Puppy’s go through enormous amounts of stress as they adjust to their new homes, and a change of diet can increase those stress levels to the point where you may end up with a poorly puppy.
Responsible breeders take great care in choosing what food they feed their dogs, but you may wish to change to a different brand for a variety of reasons including cost, availability or on ethical grounds. Most breeders will have a “back up list” of foods they also recommend should their first choice not suit, so it may do no harm to discuss your dilemma with the breeder.
If you are still unsure about which brand to chose, or if you want to go down the BARF route, please don’t let anyone bully you into making a decision that you are uncomfortable with. Whether it be a pet shop sales person, food brand sales rep, or any other interested party, at the end of the day this is your dog, and the choice remains solely yours to make. So long as you are feeding the best quality food you can find, or implementing a sound BARF/Natural Feeding plan, I’m a firm believer that guilt trips play no part in canine nutrition.
Perhaps the best advice I can give is for you to write down all the pros and cons that you see with the various feeding options. Then discuss those points with someone who is not aligned to any food company, or holds a specific agenda. Once you have done that, (and you feel comfortable that you have answered all your questions) research the variety of brands/ feeding methods within your chosen area and select the best food/method that suits you and your dog.
Bear in mind that not all commercial dog foods are created equal, and there is an enormous difference between the brands you find in the supermarket, and those that are only available in top quality Pet Shops. This is also true of commercially available BARF diet meats/bones, and meat sold in supermarkets or at the Butcher’s. Also, please don’t forget to include your Vet in these discussions, as not all of them are prescription diet pushers.
Best of luck, and keep us posted!
Claire Goyer BA(Hons.), HND Canine Nutrition Therapist, The Haslemere Pet Company
Feelwell’s have developed a puppy feeding program based on their Probiotic Puppy Treats and their brand new Low GI Complete Puppy Food. None of Feelwell’s products contain any artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and the products are only made with high quality ingredients making them natural, healthy and hypo-allergenic.
The Low GI Food is made with Duck and instead of rice, it contains barley, oats and peas. These foods are lower down the Glycaemic index and therefore the puppy takes longer to digest the food, feels fuller for longer between meals and also releases its energy slowly. Barley is also very gentle on the digestion. In addition the food contains prebiotics to aid digestion.
The Probiotic Puppy Treats can be fed from 6 weeks old and are the ideal training aid for a growing puppy and contain Omega 6 & 3 to aid the puppy’s development. The probiotics help the digestive system to develop and function properly and when fed in conjunction with the food which contains prebiotics they are particularly effective at ensuring that the puppy takes all the nutrients from its food.
All Feelwell’s products are available from their own online shop and are also widely available in Pets at Home and good pet shops across the UK.
Helen Booth, Feelwells MD
You don't say how old the pup is, or when it transfered from breeder to owner. If the puppy is only recently gone to the new owner, I would suggest waiting until it is settled in to it's new home, as it is likely to be stressed with the changes, and changing the diet could be a tipping point into poor health.
ReplyDeleteAny breeder worth their salt would be giving specific information in the puppy care instructions and advising how often the puppy should be fed and how that might be changed/when if wished, but obviously making a case for why they feed as they do. Once the sales agreement is signed the new owner can legally speaking do whatever they like. However, hopefully if their is a rapport built up between breeder and owner the new owner will heed the advice of someone who presumably has experience of the breed, although that is not always the case and new owners can and do go ahead with changes and disregard the advice of the breeder.
From a personal point of view I do not have experience of feeding a GSD , but would opt for a high quality raw meaty bones, meat, and steamed vegetables as the diet choice to keep a dog healthy. Providing there is a balance between calcium and phosporus intake it is feasible to feed any sized dog on this diet successfully and their are many resources, from books, web sites and courses to help those wanting to learn more about raw feeding.
Doreen Simpkins
I agree with the above lady, As a breeder I would never advise my new parents to change the diet of their puppy without 1. taking the advice of their vet or 2. leaving it for at least a month until the puppy has settled into its new home enviroment, Then as you are asking a question for a specific breed , I would definatly contact the breed advisor for GSD s in dogs today and ask their advice on what they suggest is a good food for the breed, after all they have more experience than most, remember though the golden rule, no food should be changed over night, always introduce a new brand over at laest a week or even two, mixing it in with the foods that the breeder has provided for you.
ReplyDeleteYou will be pressurised to ensure that the puppy grows rapidly and puts on weight to conform to breed expectations but you should resist this. As you are doubtless aware, GSDs are prone to developnmental defects, most notably hip dysplasia. A lean puppy which grows slowly is the best way to minimise the risks of these disorders. Should you decide to feed a commercial food rather than home-prepared, I recommend that you avoid foods which are high in fat and protein. You should also control the amount of food you give as the puppy's appetite is not a reliable guide to its needs.
ReplyDeleteJohn Burns BVMS MRCVS
Burns Pet Nutrition.
GSD's thrive on tripe - I have had several friends who have raised their GSD's on tripe including one who took on a rescue with awful stomach issues which were totally resolved by feeding a tripe purely of tripe. It is a low fat diet and perfectly balanced for protein. Throw in some raw meaty bones as well to get the mineral levels right and when the pup is used to this you can add other raw meats to the diet.
ReplyDeleteI have been raw feeding dogs for the past 15 odd years and have never had any trouble switching all the rescues I have had in that time - usually day one of arriving. Unlike commercial foods it is much easier to switch a dog to raw food which it's stomach is designed to cope with than a different brand of dry food.
Hi wonderful news!! Liz is getting a GSD puppy.
ReplyDeleteOne question was about what to feed your puppy. Out of my own experience with a GSD puppy with feeding problems, which is not unusual in this breed, ending up sitting hours on the kitchen floor trying to feed her something she likes, I finally found the solution.
It is a German cold pressed complete dog food called Markus Muehle, since my bitch choose it ( not me) 3 years ago our life has changed. She had litters of healthy puppies since , all fed on the same as natural as possible dog food. All puppies live with their first owners, were house trained from day one and are healthy as anything with good hip scores and everyone is happy. What else do you want.
I wish Liz the same with her puppy.All the best! Beate
I would agree with the comments that building on what the breeder has fed and don't change anything until the puppy has settled in. Raw feeding is a great way to go if you feel happy to do so. Along with raw you can feed a grain free kibble such as Orijen which will compliment perfectly. I feed my large breed dogs Orijen with some raw. I strongly believe that a diet as close to nature intended, with good quality protein will see you dog thrive rather than simply survive.
ReplyDeleteKind regards
Karen Rodger
I agree that tripe is a great food for GSD's and they seem to thrive on tripe over other raw meaty foods. If you are worried about reliable supplies then don't fear because Prize choice tripe is readily available in the freezers at Pets at home along with the new natures menu tripe, vegetables, liver and rice complete BARF foods which are a little less smelly and ready to serve.
ReplyDeleteAlways take a gradual approach to changing diets and especially to raw foods whilst the puppy's stomach gets used to a really natural diet.
Good luck and be brave.
25% of our enquiries are from people asking about feeding our Natural Instinct BARF Ready Meals to puppies. There is an enormous variation in the size of puppies depending on their breed, what is easy for a 3 week old large or giant breed puppy to eat may not be so easy for a toy breed puppy of the same age. Consequently, we are now developing a finer grind of Natural Puppy called Natural Weaning which will have a maximum bone size of 6 mm as opposed to 10 mm in our present ready meal for puppies, Natural Puppy. This will make it very acceptable to puppies of all breeds from 3 weeks of age. Breeders may wish to keep their small breeds on this mix for a slightly longer period before switching to Natural Puppy.
ReplyDeletePuppies take to eating raw meat incredibly easily and the difficultly most breeders have is to restrain themselves from giving puppies too much. As soon as a puppy has tasted raw meat their natural instinct takes over and, when they smell it, they frantically search for it. Allow your puppies to nurse from their dam so that their stomach has milk in it before offering a little of the finer ground meal on your fingers or in the palm of your hand. Do NOT give too much regardless of how keen your puppy is to eat it. Only give a small amount as this will mix with the milk in the puppy’s stomach and make it easy to digest. You do not want to overload your puppy’s system as he will need to adjust to this new food. Offer the same amount the next day and then, on the third day, give it twice. Gradually increase the amount of Natural Weaning but always give this after the puppies have fed from their dam.
Puppies love to chew on raw bones and these can be offered from 4 weeks of age. Some small breeds may find them a little difficult to chew but large breed puppies will thoroughly enjoy them. Bones give puppies lots of enjoyment and exercise for their jaws.
We like to wean puppies naturally and do not believe in removing a bitch from her litter in order for her to “dry up”. Weaning can start anytime after the puppies are 5 weeks old, by this time many bitches chose to sleep away from their puppies so the pups are used to not having anything during the night (except fresh water). Allow the bitch to feed her pups first thing in the morning then follow this with some Natural Puppy. Fresh water should always be available. During the day give the puppies Natural Puppy then allow them to nurse after they have eaten. As they get older they will take less from their dam and she will slowly and naturally begin to dry up. The dam will decide whether or not she wants to feed her pups, leave it to her.
Puppies can go to their new homes with Natural Puppy and raw lamb bones.
For new puppy owners who wish to change to the BARF diet and your puppy is not used to the taste and texture of raw meat then you will need to introduce this slowly as his digestive tract will need to adjust to this new food. We suggest that you start by replacing 1/4 of your dog’s daily food with the BARF puppy ready meal and gradually increase this amount, over a period of seven to 10 days, until you are feeding 100% BARF. As it takes longer to digest kibble than raw food, it is advisable to feed these as two separate meals. Lamb is the easiest meat for a dog to digest and we suggest that you introduce this meat first.
Forget about food bowls initially.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend feeding the puppy by hand for the first month or so. This increases the important bond between the handler and puppy. Also you can turn feeding time into a stimulating game.
My favorite exercise teaches the importance of eye contact. This probably works better with dry kibble. Put puppy's food into both hands, make the puppy aware you have it there and move your hand to your sides. As soon as the puppy makes eye contact with you, mark it with a 'good' and open your hand to allow him to have some. Build this exercise up and very soon you will have a puppy that always checks back to you.