All of our puppies are offered and weaned onto soft food as soon as they begin to open their eyes around 2-3 weeks of age.
We feed them 75% complete adult dry food and 25% puppy wet food all mixed together into an appetising mush that mimics what Mum would provide herself if left to her own devices.
Adult food is much easier on the pup’s digestion especially when they are very young, stops them getting diarrhea (which can be fatal in young puppies as well as unpleasant to have to deal with) and helps prevent growth abnormalities.
Pups are fed 3 times a day until they leave us.
At 5 weeks of age the dry food is semi-soaked.
At 8 weeks of age meals are reduced to twice a day.
When pups reach 5 weeks of age we will slowly begin to transition them over to puppy food, so that when they leave us they have fully transitioned. It’s very similar to the adult food so easy to transfer to, but by this age they can tolerate puppy food much better.
We recommend new owners then feed the puppy food twice a day.
*Do not feed puppy more than twice per day as this can encourage fussy eating habits, feed the first meal of the day at 10am and then the second meal at 4pm, leaving at least 6 hours between meals* ~ Dogs love routine and so sticking to the same meal times every day will be a form of comfort and stability for them, as well as making it easier for you to work out when they will need to go to the toilet!
Always wait an hour or two before any exercise or walks after feeding your dog, as exercising on a full stomach can cause bloat (twisting of the stomach that requires emergency surgery to fix).
We always recommend owners stick with the CSJ puppy food until pup is at least 6 months old before switching their diet onto something new, if they plan to feed something different long term.
At around 12 months of age pup can be moved onto adult food. Every puppy is an individual and some may have matured quicker than others, these puppies should be transferred onto adult food sooner whereas slower maturing pups can be kept on puppy food a little longer.
Raw (never feed dogs cooked bones), meaty bones are fantastic for puppies and adult dogs to keep their teeth clean and to encourage strong jaws and upright ears. We recommend starting pups on something like this and then progressing to something like this. ALWAYS supervise your pup or adult dog when they are chewing bones. It is perfectly normal for the dog’s stools to be firmer or have bits in them after eating a bone either the same day or the following day.
The chart below shows average weights for German/Swiss Shepherd puppies as they grow to adulthood. Keep in mind that dogs grow at different rates, so they might not reach the next weight milestone by the designated month, or they may reach it sooner.
Should pup begin to experience loose stools at any age, we advise reducing the amount of food given, add tripe to their food as well as supplementing their food with tree bark powder (this coats the lining of the intestines and helps with nutrient absorption) and pumpkin powder, also hydrating them with Oralade throughout the day (this provides electrolytes and glucose into the bloodstream quickly, both of which can be lost through liquid when pup has diarrhoea and can cause lethargy and weakness) until they recover.
Do not stop feeding a puppy with diarrhoea, they should always be offered food and not starved. Keep checking the dog’s gums, they should be a nice healthy Pink colour (if they look Grey, pale or White, you need to see a vet immediately) and do the skin test check to check for dehydration.
Lift the skin gently on the back near the the neck area, the skin should quickly drop back taut into its original position, if it hangs in the air or very slowly makes its way back to position, this is a clear sign of dehydration and the dog needs fluids immediately.
Diarrhoea is a common occurrence when pups relocate to their new homes but usually clears up quickly, try and keep them as stress free as possible and do not overload them with too many visitors, too many treats and too much going on all at once. Let them settle in first of all and get used to their new surroundings and family.
Vaccinations and drugs can also cause loose stools, which is why we recommend vaccinating your puppy once at 12 + weeks of age with DHP only and using only natural and non-toxic parasite prevention.
When switching to a new food always do so gradually over the course of a week, slowly adding in a little more of the new food at each meal.
As with any other concerns or questions we are always here for the life of your dog and should you wish to discuss feeding or anything else we are here to help you. Please don’t put off asking us something even if you feel it’s trivial, disgusting or embarrassing, we have seen it all and no question is a stupid question.
Dawn & Phil 🐾
