When an animal as adorable as a German Shepherd puppy comes home, it’s hard not to immediately fall in love. As a particularly affectionate breed, the German Shepherd will reciprocate that love in abundance. As they grow into a medium to large sized breed of dog, their diet is an important way to ensure they develop properly. Common mistakes when feeding a German Shepherd puppy include overfeeding, underfeeding, and poor quality food.
For Newborn
For a German Shepherd puppy to develop and grow properly, it is essential that it is first fed with mother’s milk. The first milk they get is a protein- and antibody-rich milk called colostrum. This gives a boost to the puppy’s immune system and central nervous system. They then switch to normal breast milk. Pups feed for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks and are weaned at around 4 weeks. We cannot insist on the importance of a puppy’s first milk because it provides 90% of its natural defenses. In addition, a puppy’s first feeding promotes good blood circulation and helps oxygenate the puppy’s organs.
If for some reason the pup cannot feed his mother, do not give him cow’s or goat’s milk. This milk is of very poor quality compared to a puppy’s mother’s milk. If your German Shepherd puppy needs to be weaned early, a veterinarian can prescribe a special formula and determine the proper dosage for your puppy.
For 1 Month
When it comes to feeding a 3-4 week old German Shepherd puppy, we should start by letting him try new foods and tastes. At this point, the German Shepherd puppy’s nutrition plan calls for him to eat special wet puppy food. At around 6 to 8 weeks of age, a German Shepherd puppy should be given a small amount of dry food with water or plain chicken broth between nursing sessions. Starting at eight weeks of age, a German Shepherd should be weaned and fed solidly on special puppy food. The best dog food for a German Shepherd puppy is breed-specific, but may not be available everywhere.
In these cases, your veterinarian can create an appropriate feeding schedule for your German Shepherd puppy. A professional will examine a puppy’s diet, size, and health. At this point, milk should be removed from the puppy’s diet as it can cause diarrhea. If your dog or puppy has an upset stomach, we recommend reading our article on what to do when your dog has diarrhea. Additionally, it is important that puppies have constant access to clean, fresh water.
For 2 Months
From two months of age, you can begin to slowly taper off the fluid intake of your German Shepherd’s dry food. Eventually the puppy will get used to eating the completely dry food. According to the German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart, by the age of 2 to 4 months, a puppy will eat 4 or 5 times a day. This must be done with one very important addition: discipline. A puppy needs to learn not to be fed all day, but at specific times. This is part of a puppy’s early socialization and training.
We start by preparing a bowl of food for 10 minutes, this should give the puppy enough time to finish his meal. After 10 minutes, we recommend removing the food bowl, even if your puppy hasn’t finished eating. A puppy’s food bowl should only be available to the dog for 10 minutes. These 10 minutes should be enough for the puppy to eat all of the food provided. As previously mentioned, you must remove the food bowl after 10 minutes, even if the puppy has not finished eating. This pattern introduces the puppy’s feeding schedule and gives him a chance to get used to specific feeding times.
Acceptance and adjustment to a diet is very important to a puppy’s intellectual development. It also facilitates more complex and demanding workouts. German Shepherd puppy food should be higher in calories, fat, protein and calcium than adult German Shepherd dog food. This is because puppies are still growing and developing and therefore need better nutrition.
For 4 Months
Between 4th and 6th month the number of meals (which we have included in our German Shepherd puppy feeding chart) should be reduced to 3 per day. The amount of food should be increased and an additional 2 minutes should be allowed for eating. The packaging of quality commercial dog food will indicate the appropriate amount of food that is recommended for the puppy based on its age and weight. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian. Over time, you should start mixing fresh foods like meat, fish, or vegetables with store-bought dry food. Beware of forbidden dog food. Some people ask for a raw diet for a German Shepherd puppy, but we recommend that these foods are always cooked and never given to a dog raw. Avoid chicken, rabbit, and fish bones as they can break and damage a dog’s teeth.
Wet food should be given in moderation as too much can lead to plaque build-up and make the dog’s feces smelly. For their part, dog treats should only be used as positive reinforcement during their training and learning periods, never as a dietary supplement. Never give human leftovers to your German Shepherd or any dog. Human food contains salt, sugar and spices, which are very harmful to the dog’s health. Even if you offer your dog your food, it will get in the way during mealtimes[1]. To learn more, take a look at some of the negative effects of treating a dog like a human.
After 6 Months
By the time your German Shepherd is 6 months old, their daily food intake should be reduced to twice a day. If we do this, we can increase food portions and meal times accordingly. A veterinarian can provide you with the right personalized diet and/or feeding plan for your German Shepherd puppy. Our German Shepherd nutrition chart below should be considered based on the age, lifestyle and size of your German Shepherd puppy. At 6 months, you should start giving your German Shepherd puppy unbreakable bones, like beef, to chew on. This should be done to strengthen the puppy’s teeth and gums. More information can be found here. puppy bones.
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