Did you know for the best growth of your German shepherd puppy, how much do you need to feed them? Or will you decide depending on the German Shepherd Puppy’s weight and size? Instead of assuming and making decisions, you may read through the blog to better understand how much to feed a German shepherd puppy.
Knowing how much food you may provide your puppy will help track their habits and canine growth. Therefore, prepare a chart to help monitor the changes in their appetite, development, and weight gain or loss.
General guidelines to feed the GSD pups:
| 8 week old | Spread 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food into four meals regularly |
| 12 week old | Spread 1 to 2 cups of food into four meals |
| 6 to 9 months old | Spread 2 to 3 cups of food into three meals |
| 9 to 12 months old | Spread 3 to 3 1/2 cups of food into three meals |
| 12 months and above | Spread 3 1/2 to 4 cups of food into two meals regularly |
You must consider making alterations depending on the lifestyle of the pup. For example, an active puppy will need more food than others. Also, maintain a strict diet and timetable for the dog.
Serve the food, and leave it in the bowl for 10 to 15 minutes before you remove them. Consider serving them again within an hour to check if they have changed their mind and prefer consumption. It is essential to teach them the basics to ensure good behavior.
The answer to this question will surprise you!
GSD puppies consume twice the calories per pound of weight compared to adults. The amount is doubled to ensure they grow to the best of their ability by developing fully. You must know that the calorie intake must be accurate because that will make them strong and supply the necessary energy for growth.
But when it comes to the adult, the scenario differs. The amount of food consumption depends on the age and the activity of the puppies. But, on average, an adult GSD consumes 1272 to 2100 calories daily. Meanwhile, less active or older ones will require 1300 calories to maintain good health and weight.
However, the calorie of the food varies mainly with the brand and the manufacturer. Therefore, check out the feeding label and nutritional guidelines on the package.
A Chat Depicting the Calorie Intake of GSD Puppies Depending On Age:
| PUPPY AGE | NUMBER OF FEEDINGS | AVERAGE CALORIES |
|---|---|---|
| Weaning to 12 weeks | 4 per day | 1200 to 2400 Calories |
| 3 to 6 months | 3 per day | 2000 to 2200 Calories |
| 6 to 12 months | 3 per day | 2700 to 3900 Calories |
| 12 to 18 months | 2 per day | 3300 to 4250 Calories |
However, these are not written on a stone, meaning you may use this as a guideline rather than the ultimate suggestion. Also, watch your puppy; that will help you decide better.
Look At The Chart To Know How Much To Feed GSD According To Their Weight:
CALORIES CHART FOR 0 TO 4 MONTHS:
| WEIGHT IN POUNDS | CALORIES/DAY |
|---|---|
| 10 | 600 |
| 20 | 1200 |
| 30 | 1500 |
| 40 | 1800 |
| 50 | 2100 |
| 60 | 2600 |
CALORIES CHART FOR FOUR MONTHS TO 1 YEAR
| WEIGHT IN POUNDS | CALORIES/DAY |
|---|---|
| 10 | 400 |
| 20 | 800 |
| 30 | 1000 |
| 40 | 1200 |
| 50 | 1400 |
| 60 | 1600 |
| 70 | 1800 |
| 80 | 2000 |
| 90 | 2200 |
| 100 | 2400 |
A proper analysis will help you realize that these suggestions are provided on the food packages. You may follow those recommendations as the manufacturers suggest after verification from the experts.
Feeding smaller meals to the pups throughout the day will help them behave better and grow steadily. So, learn the process of how many times to supply food to the puppies to ensure their good health.
Most people need help deciding when to provide their puppies with adult food. It is something that you must know to ensure proper health and growth.
So the primary step is to measure the weight of the puppy and when they reach approx 80% of the adult weight, consider providing food that an adult will require. Most pups that are taken good care of require 8 to 10 months to reach this specific level.
No matter what, until 18 months, ensure keeping a check on their consumption and belly size. If they are putting on unusual weight, keep checking their activity and the amount of food intake. Also, keeping your dog on a puppy formula for extended periods is harmful.
Other than this, if you wish to know the best time to feed your puppy, let us look at the additional information.
When you bring a puppy home, they are anxious, scared, and highly stressed. Determining their food habits and time becomes challenging. Let us look at the tips that one can follow while feeding the German shepherd puppy:
You may read a book or get into a different activity while they eat so that they have enough space. If they are diverted, consider feeding them with your hand.
Different people have different opinions, but if you consult a professional, they will suggest that the best time to feed puppies is in the morning before leaving for the day and at least two hours before putting your puppy to bed.
When you bring a German shepherd puppy home, providing them proper quantity food needs specific calculations. So begin by tracking the energy level of the pup along with its daily activity. Serving the food in the bowl does not fulfill your duty. Three tips are:
Other than these, if you follow the chart that suggests how to keep the canines healthy will help you determine the right amount of food and good health.
You must keep your German shepherd puppies healthy, and in the proper condition by providing them the required care and attention. Also, ensure not to overfeed them, as it will prevent lifelong health and joint issues. Health and happy puppies will help you enjoy and have loads of fun while you give them great adulthood.
Therefore, if you are careful about the amount of food you provide, the timetable, and the activity of your German shepherd pup, you will enjoy their company.
