How Much Food Should German Shepherd Puppy Eat

Week Old German Shepherd Puppy

At 2 weeks old, your German Shepherd puppy will still be with his mother. He should be reliant entirely on his mothers milk. These small pups will begin to open their eyes to take in the world, but otherwise will not be straying anywhere.

In larger litters, make sure that all of the puppies are growing and gaining well. Pups that dont seem to be getting enough milk might need to have formula supplemented to them in order to get their weight up to a healthy level. If you are worried about this at all, contact your veterinarian.

Feeding A German Shepherd Puppy Raw

BARF stands for biologically appropriate raw foods. These diets do not include cooked or otherwise processed foods.

There is some evidence that German Shepherds fed a raw diet may have a reduced risk of hip dysplasia.

However, it may be more difficult to regulate a BARF diet to ensure a slow and steady growth rate in young puppies.

If you find this option intriguing, you can check out our article on feeding your dog a raw diet.

Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs

While I am not a vet, and I certainly cant speak for all animals I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made the world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.

On traditional dog food Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. He was also low in his weight class, weighing in at just 64 pounds for a full sized male Golden Retriever.

Since the dog food switch he has been energetic, focused, and calmer. He has also put on about 15 pounds in just one year after switching to homemade food. On a traditional diet were vacuuming at least once a day but now 1-2 a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.

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What Raw Meat Is Best For German Shepherd

Raw meaty bones from chicken, lamb, beef, rabbit, pork, game, venison, usually feed one of these most days eg Day 1/chicken back, Day 2/ lamb bone, Day 3/chicken back, Day4/beef bone, Day 5/chicken back, Day 6/ pigs trotter Muscle meat from chicken, turkey, lamb, rabbit, beef, pork, venison, game eg pheasant.

German Shepherd Feeding Chart

So youve got yourself a German shepherd, and you think you can take care of them just fine without any knowledge. However, this will be your undoing. Youll come to a realization that you cant get by without studying about German shepherds.

German shepherds are similar to humans in the sense that they need to eat consistently. And just like us, they, too, have a specific feeding amount and nutrient requirements. You cant just make them eat whatever you lay your eyes on. However, as their owner, you cant always rely on your keen observation.

They can be a bit dishonest sometimes. They may even hide their hunger. Thats why you wont figure out their needs by simply observing. Thats why you need to have clear standards, especially on how you feed them. Overeating can cause sugar levels to spike. The opposite can cause malnutrition.

Either way, this German shepherd feeding chart will be a helpful asset when taking care of these dogs.

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How Much Should Newborn German Shepherds Eat

In the place of a German Shepherds mother, you should feed newborn German Shepherd puppies every two hours for the first few weeks of their lives. Feeding your puppy every couple of hours will emulate how the ease of accessibility it would have had with its mother.

Feed your German Shepherd through a baby bottle or feeding syringe. The syringe can be easier to measure out. On the other hand, the baby bottle is a great way to give your pup a natural experience!

After six weeks old, German Shepherds should begin eating between ½ cup and ¾ cup of warm, goat milk, soaked kibble 3 to four times per day.

German Shepherd Feeding General Guidelines

Most vets will tell you to watch the dog and not the bowl when deciding how much to feed a German Shepherd. What they mean by this is that you should always be aware of your dogs body size, shape, and condition, and not being too strict with charts and graphs of food measurements.

If your dog seems to be gaining weight, reduce the number of calories they consume. Start with reducing treats or any table scraps you may be feeding him.

If he is still gaining weight, you can slowly reduce the amount of food you give him during his regular meals.

On the other side of the spectrum, if your dog is overly thin, lethargic, and not doing well, you may be feeding her too little. Increase the amount of food in each meal by small increments. ¼ cup at a time is usually sufficient.

Do not make drastic changes to your dogs feeding schedule or the amount you give. Do not suddenly remove an entire meal. All changes to your dogs diet should be made gradually, ideally over the course of several weeks.

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What Human Foods Can A German Shepherd Puppy Eat

Sometimes, your German Shepherd puppy deserves to be given a treat, and certain human foods are great options. There are proteins, veggies, fruits, carbs, and nuts eaten by humans that can you feed your puppy.

Proteins such as chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, and beef are great sources to help your puppy gain lean muscle and become strong.

Safe fruits for your puppy include blueberries, apples, strawberries, watermelon, coconut, bananas, and mangos. They are packed with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Safe veggies for your German Shepherd puppy include green peas, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, and cucumber. Safe nuts for your puppy are peanuts but they should be plain. Safe carbs for your puppy include rice and sweet potatoes because they are easily digestible.

How Much Should I Feed My 8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy

An 8 week old German Shepherd puppy should be weaned from his mothers milk and be consuming puppy food. Offer food to him 3 times a day, but do not leave it out after feeding times in order to get him on a solid schedule for meals. You can offer up to 2 cups a day, but dont be surprised if he cannot eat it all.

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Best Homemade Cooking Practices

When making homemade food for a German Shepherd , make sure you are diligent and adhere to your veterinarians recommendations.

Here are some general guidelines to follow when cooking for homemade dog food for your German Shepherd:

• Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for your dog
• Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
• Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
• Research every ingredient before using it for safety
• Follow the recipe as instructed
• Add supplements to their diet as needed
• Understand the impact of dietary changes
• Run any questions by a veterinary nutritionist

NOTE: When in doubt, ALWAYS research an ingredient. You dont want to add food that is toxic to dogs.

We strongly advise discussing your dogs nutritional needs and concerns with your vet before adding or changing your dogs diet.

Did You Make This Recipe

Tag on Instagram and hashtag it #thismessisours

Home Made Dog Food recipe for the Holidays

This 100% human grade home made dog food recipe utilizes some of the best fall produce for your dog like sweet potatoes, cranberries, rosemary, and sage. Its perfect for every day feedings and does double duty as a really delicious holiday meal for your dog!

Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs Recipe

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us, even our dogs! Get your dogs day off to a great start with a healthy dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals by feeding him/her a delicious Pumpkin and Yogurt Bowl for Dogs. These yogurt bowls are filled with good for your dog ingredients like fat free Greek yogurt, 100% pure pumpkin puree, plant based vitamin and mineral powder, and my Homemade Dog Food Seasoning which is a blend of 5 herbs that have extraordinary health benefits for your dog!

Homemade Dog Food Seasoning Blend recipe

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Benefits Of German Shepherd Raw Diet

So, what are the benefits of a BARF diet for german shepherd?

Among the benefits of raw dog food, according to veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst and other proponents of raw feeding dogs, are:

• Shinner coat
• Increased agility
• Brihgt eyes

In the largest study to date on the effects of raw food on dogs, Belgian researchers Dr. Gerard Lippert and Bruno Sapy examined more than 500 dogs over a period spanning five years concluded that raw feeding dogs could add as much as 32 months to a dogs life5.

Dr. Peter Dobias, who has 30 years of veterinary experience and has advocated for raw pet diets since 1995, agrees with the study and says,From my experience, if people feed a raw diet, they will increase their dogs lifespan by 25 percent, Generally, raw-fed dogs are so much healthier. The changes are profound.7

Month Old German Shepherd Puppy Weight

When your GS puppy is 2 months old, you can expect him or her to weigh between 16 and 20 pounds, depending on the sex of the puppy. Females will always be a little lower on the scale than their male counterparts.

They are bigger dogs and do gain weight quicker than other breeds, but you still want to watch for signs of gaining too much too quickly or being underweight.

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Months Old German Shepherd Puppy Feeding

At two months of age, you can start to slowly decrease the moistening of your German Shepherds dry food. Eventually, the puppy will be used to eating the food completely dry.

Following the German Shepherd puppy food chart, from 2 until 4 months old, a puppy will eat 4 or 5 times a day.

This has to be carried out with one very important addition: discipline. A puppy needs to learn that it will not be fed constantly throughout the day

Accepting and adapting to a diet plan is very important for a puppys intellectual development.

Food for German shepherd puppies should be higher in calories, fats, proteins, and calcium than adult German Shepherd dog food.

This is because puppies are still growing and developing and therefore need better nutrition.

Meal Plan / Feeding Guide By Weight

There are lots of German Shepherd food brands out there. However, you need to look for foods that meet your petâs unique dietary requirements.

A few great recommendations from Hungry Bark include:

• Superfoods with Chicken, Turkey + Brown Rice
• Superfoods with Turkey + Duck
• Superfoods with Lamb + Turkey
• Superfoods with Salmon

If you doubt how much food your dog needs, you should check the meal pack. Most dog food brands provide feeding calculators to help you work out how much your pet needs.

Dry Foods

Hungry Bark recommends these daily serving amounts for your German Shepherds.

• 3lbs: 29-43 grams daily
• 80lbs: 431-517 grams daily
• Above 36kg : You should add half a cup for every additional 7kg .

Lactating German Shepherds need more calories than other adults. So If your female pet is lactating, you should visit your vet or pet nutritionist to recommend the best feeding schedule and amounts for your pet.

Puppies typically need three times the amount of food as adults. And Hungry Bark recommends thrice of daily adult servings for German Shepherd puppies. However, if your puppyâs activity level is low, you should stick to twice the daily adult servings to avoid obesity.

If you are transitioning to Hungry Barkâs dry food, you should feed your pet 75% of the old food and 25% of the new food in the first three days. Within the next 4-6 days, you can serve your pet 50% of the new food and 50% of the old food.

Wet Canned Foods

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German Shepherd Raw Food: Cooking Handling & Serving Tips

In order to cook, plan the best raw food diet for german shepherds here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Separate all raw pet food from human-grade food. Prepare and store raw pet food separately from human-grade food as a preventive measure against cross-contamination. Use separate cutting boards and different cooking utensils to prepare your food and your dogs food.

2. Wash produce but not raw meat. Contrary to popular belief, raw meat should not be washed or rinsed because it increases the spread of bacteria and increases the risk of cross-contamination, says the USDA.

3. Freezing and storing. Place raw dog food in secure packaging and store it in the freezer. Keeping raw food frozen at a consistent temperature of 0 °F will prevent the growth of microbes and kill parasites if frozen for up two weeks.

4. Never thaw raw pet food in water or the microwave. Thaw raw dog food by placing it in the refrigerator or a bowl on the countertop. If placed in the refrigerator for thawing, the temperature needs to be consistently 40 °F or below. Ideally 35 °F. According to the USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service , bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 °F, the Danger Zone.

Thawing in water is not recommended. If the container or bag has holes, the nutrients will leach into the surrounding water. Lastly, do not microwave raw food for pet consumption as this will begin cooking the food.

How Much To Feed A German Shepherd Per Day

It differs between puppies, adults and seniors.

Weve listed rough amounts above.

As a reminder:

A vet should be able to tell you how much to feed a dog per day, and the number of meals they should have in a day

The packaging of the dog food usually also tells you how many cups of food to feed them per day which you might space out over the number of meals they have. This is helpful when using commercial dog brand products nutritionally formulated for dogs of different sizes and life stages.

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German Shepherd Puppy Feeding Amount

Figuring out how much to feed a German Shepherd puppy is not an exact science because your puppys genetics and environment also factor in to how hungry your puppy is and how much he or she eats.

For example, canine researchers now know that male German Shepherd puppies typically grow up to be quite a bit heavier and taller than female GSD puppies.

So if you are caring for a boy puppy, your pup may eat more and grow faster than if you were caring for a girl puppy!

Also, your puppys parents can influence adult size regardless of sex.

As well, your choice of when to neuter or spay your puppy can influence appetite and development.

If you spend a lot of time playing with your new puppy, he may burn more calories than if your pup is more sedentary, and this can influence mealtime hunger and overall growth.

When People Find Out We Make Our Own Dog Food At Home They Always Ask Us What About A Raw Diet So Lets Get That Out Of The Way First

There are LOTS of thoughts and theories on feeding your dog a raw diet especially a dog that is living with kidney disease. Our vet however, was personally opposed to feeding a raw diet due to the fact that dogs, just like us, are very susceptible to food poisoning. Besides that, a raw diet can be tricky to get just right! You run the risk of giving your dog a horrible belly ache by mixing a raw diet with cooked treats, so if you decided to go raw it is important to have both raw meals and raw treats planned for your pup at all times. NO MIXING the two! Since raw and cooked foods digest at different rates any combination of the two can wreak serious havoc on your pups gut which can lead to some pretty unpleasant situations for you if you get my drift.

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Feeding And Exercise Warning

Give your dog the time to digest its food after hes had a meal.

Never let your pup play hard right after you feed them.

Wait 2 hours before and after feeding your dog its meal before heaving exercise or playing hard with them to avoid any gastric problems.

A light, slow walk is fine after eating if its not long and doesnt stress your dog.

Be sure to use these best exercises for a growing German Shepherd puppy to avoid injury and teach your dog valuable coordination and balance skills.

These gentle exercises keep your puppys joints healthy and help them learn confidence skills while getting to bond with their favorite person

YOU!

How Often Should You Feed A German Shepherd Puppy

Break their total cups of food into multiple feedings spread thorughout the day for easy digestion.

How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level.

Feeding smaller meals throughout the day also supports your puppys blood sugar and energy level which helps them grow steadily and behave better in your home.

When you know how many times to feed a German Shepherd puppy per day its easy to see the need for a regular feeding schedule to keep track of his meals!

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