FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS
FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR NEW PUPPY
Of course, your dog must be properly vaccinated and kept free of internal and external parasites, but every day he/she is going to depend on the food and water you provide. You have the opportunity to positively affect your pup’s health and growth by feeding a highly nutritious diet made from quality ingredients. All of our dogs are fed in such a way as to obtain optimum nutrition. Your puppy’s Sire and Dam were raised and maintained using one of the FROMM Family Nutritional Foods formulas.
Accordingly, your puppy was raised on FROMM’s Puppy Gold. The various FROMM formulas, when used appropriately, provide all the nutrition required to develop good muscle, bone and coat. We recommend them highly.
For assistance in finding a FROMM supplier in your area, please call (800) 325-6331. Or, be sure to check their website link on our LINKS PAGE. Please be sure to tell them you have a Shewana pup. It doesn’t help us, but they may be willing to ship the food right to your door if it is necessary.
If it is not possible for you to obtain FROMM products, the only alternative we currently feel comfortable recommending is the EUKANUBA (Large Breed Puppy) formula. We cannot rely on the effectiveness of any other foods we have not used or tested.
RECOMMEND FOODS (listed in the order of preference):
(NOTE: There is no way for us to keep up with the constant changes in the Pet Food Industry.)
New products are constantly being developed. Some, no doubt, are quite good. All we ask is that you don’t turn your pup into a test specimen for new, unproven products. If you make the wrong choice, it will be your pup’s health and growth that will suffer the consequences.
Please remember our kennel is breed-specific. We won’t tell you how to raise any other type of dog. WE BREED GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS! Moreover, having had hundreds of them in our care, we have learned how to best bring them to their full potential.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
WE REQUIRE YOU
TO CLEAR ANY PROPOSED CHANGE
TO YOUR PUP’S DIET WITH US FIRST.
NOT DOING SO WILL AFFECT OUR GUARANTEE!
OUR PROVEN RECIPE FOR OPTIMAL GROWTH
The formula for feeding your pup should be carefully maintained. DO NOT CHANGE IT.
Puppies under 10 weeks of age should be fed 3 times per day if possible. Free feeding (food available at all times) is not recommended. After 10 weeks feedings can be reduced to 2 times per day. Start your puppy with about ˝ cup of the dry food floated in warm water and add the following to the bowl:
˝ Can Evaporated Milk (Not regular milk in bottles)
2 TBLSP OF PLAIN YOGURT (Not low-fat)
2 TBLSP OF COTTAGE CHEESE
4 oz. good quality canned beef dog food
As you observe your pup eating, it will be up to you to determine if he/she needs more food. Since we feed pups as a litter we have no way to know exactly how much any particular pup is eating. The best rule is to watch your puppy. If he gobbles it all gone, there’s not enough. If he leaves a lot, there is too much. Once you determine that your pup needs more or less food per portion, you are only to increase the dry feed part of the feeding instructions.
Ideally, your pup will always leave just the least little bit of food in his bowl. Then you know he is completely full. I use the expression “Leave a crust of bread and a pickle on the plate!”
As a breed, German Shepherds are not gluttons. They will eat what they want and leave the rest. Seldom have I ever met a Shepherd who will continually overeat. If they do, it should warrant a trip to your vet. There could be a problem.
As your pup grows and his/her ears stand up, you can gradually eliminate the evaporated milk from its diet, over a two-week period. The yogurt, cottage cheese and meat remain until he/she is full grown (i.e. 18 months for females/24 months for males).
When your pup is full grown, you may change to one of the FROMM adult foods. In addition, you may safely delete the cottage cheese. Yogurt and meat should be permanently maintained in your dog’s diet.
ALL FOOD IS TO BE “FLOATED” FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR DOG!
HINT: Puppies are accustomed to eating in a group setting. Just like us, they like (need) company to enjoy their meal. If your pup doesn’t want to eat when it first arrives, just keep it company for a while. He/she will soon get accustomed to the idea that they are the only one eating from this bowl.
"When it comes to food you can pay for quality, or pay the price!"
FASTING YOUR DOG
It is our opinion that once your dog is full-grown and in good health, an occasional “fast day” with no food being eaten is beneficial. However, use this practice sparingly (e.g. 1-2 days per month).
Water, of course, must always be given daily, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS!
“CLEAN, FRESH WATER MUST BE AVAILABLE TO YOUR PUP AT ALL TIMES!”
We have all heard this rule. The problem is that it makes it impossible to housebreak a young pup. Until your puppy is reliable in that department, I suggest you govern when, and how much, he/she drinks.
A common complaint is that puppies piddle outside, come in, and piddle again. I can tell you that until your pup is a lot older, he/she will have no idea it has to go until it is too late! Please understand that water intake and output are directly related. Since your pup cannot fill his/her own water dish (not just yet), it is your responsibility to monitor the amount of water given.
You will find
housebreaking a lot easier, if you follow this rule:
A dog needs one ounce of water for every one pound it weighs every 24 hours,
give or take a few more ounces to adjust for temperature or activity level.
EXAMPLE:
Puppy weighs 20 pounds. Measure 20 ounces of water plus 6 ounces in a jug
and that is your pup’s water drinking water supply for the day. When
he weighs 35 pounds, you increase to 35 ounces plus 6 ounces and so forth as he
grows. Most people give dogs far more water than they need, or can
utilize. Still, I beg that you use common sense and watch that your pup
always has ENOUGH WATER. It is better to err on the side of “too much”.
We have well water at our farm, and ask that those buyers who live in towns and cities gradually wean their new puppy onto “city water” very carefully. Fluoride and Chlorine are often added, and your pup must get accustomed to these chemicals very slowly. I suggest bottled water at first. Gradually add 1 oz of tap water each day.
EXAMPLE:
7 oz. bottled water 1 oz tap water – second day
6 oz. bottled water 2 oz tap water – third day
5 oz. bottled water 3 oz tap water – fourth day
4 oz. bottled water 4 oz tap water – fifth day
Continue doing this until all the water provided to your pup is plain tap water. If you follow these directions, any time your pup’s water supply changes, you will avoid a lot of problems.
Also, we always offer warm drinking water to our puppies (room temperature) so they won’t become chilled (i.e. get a “cold rush”).
ICE COLD WATER WILL GIVE YOUR PUPPY STOMACH CRAMPS!
20420 Windy Hill Road / Harvard, IL 60033 / Phone: 815-943-2020 / Fax: 815-943-0878 / Email: shewana@sbcglobal.net
SHEWANA SHEPHERDS
"Where
only the best and the brightest are bred...
We guarantee it!"