There are many puppy foods to fit every budget, but the quality of the food you give your puppy matters. Seelenvoll Puppies have been raised on a mix of two high quality dog foods - Inukshuk Pro 26/16 and Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula (mixed about 50/50). We feed ½ - ¾ cup three times a day per puppy, depending on the puppy until they are at least 6 months old. We like to mix in a tablespoon or so of canned dog food for taste, although most puppies are more than happy to dive in without it. Not all puppies will clean up their whole meal, so make sure to pick up the bowl so that they know when feeding time is, and don’t learn to “graze” throughout the day.
Shepherds are considered deep-chested dogs, so can be at risk for a stomach twist, or “bloat”. This is when the dog’s stomach twists, causing a painful blockage that needs to be treated by the vet right away. If not caught in the early stages, Bloat can be costly to fix, and more than likely fatal. To avoid this, we encourage puppy owners to not exercise their puppy an hour before or after their meals.
Choosing the right food, and the process of switching over.
When choosing a new dog food, make sure to research any recent recalls, and make sure that it is a high quality food. We recommend brands such as Inukshuk, Taste of the Wild, Fromm, Merrick or Acana. The best resource to see the rating and recalls on all of these brands is https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ . We always try to direct people to this site. With the availability of dog food through online ordering, it is easier and easier to get a more high-quality food than what most grocery stores sell. If you are ordering online, we recommend using chewy.com over Amazon, because their warehouses seem to be more reliable when they have to store their food.
We recommend keeping the puppy on the same food (Inukshuk or Taste of the Wild) for at least 3 weeks after they are home. This is a stressful period for the puppy, so their system is very easily upset. Switching too early can cause diarrhea at any age. Once those three weeks are up, gradually start mixing in the new food. It should take about a week to properly switch over. You can also give them plain yogurt to help the transition along.
When to switch from puppy to adult food.
In general, we recommend switching your puppy to an adult formula food between 8 - 11 months of age. Some research is suggesting that the added calcium in puppy formulas can cause your puppy to grow too fast, resulting in growing pains such as Panosteitis (Bone inflammation).
Common Questions and Answers
What do I do if my puppy isn’t eating? If your puppy did not finish it’s meal, take the food bowl away. This will teach him to eat when the food is available.
What do I do if my puppy refuses to eat for more than a day? If your puppy is lethargic, vomiting, shows other signs of illness, or hasn’t eaten in three consecutive meals, call your veterinarian. It may be a sign of a health problem.
My Puppy sometimes spits up after eating, is this normal? Puppies sometimes eat or drink water too fast. This can cause them to throw up their meal. We recommend feeding through a Kong Weeble-Wobble Treat Dispenser to slow them down, or purchasing an anti-gulping bowl. If vomiting happens after every meal, call your veterinarian.