Hello, I'm new not only to the site, but to life with a German Shepherd. I'm in the process of adopting a lovely year old female from her previous owner, and while I plan on asking him what he's been feeding her, I thought it would be wise to ask the masses of experianced owners what tends to be the healthiest diet.
For some extra info -
She will be an indoor dog, particularly in winter, and I've been told that cuts down quite a bit on portion size, since she doesn't need as much food to moniter her core body temp. Is this actually true?
She will be exercised regularly - That is, at the very least once a day, even in winter. Summer she will be even more active, since we have a huge yard and the temperatures will be reasonable again. (I live in Alaska, so in many of the winter months, leaving an indoor dog outside for extended periods of time is simply unreasonable, since they're adapted to warmer temps.)
Specific questions -
How often should I feed her? Most sources say German Shepherds eat only once a day, but I've found several owners here that feed their dogs several times a day.
How much should be a serving? This is a major question I haven't been able to find an answer to. I want my dog to be happy and healthy, not starved or over-weight.
There have been mentions that German Shepherds need a very specific diet - is this true? If so, what should it entail? I know most new owners go out and buy the cheapest large dog kibbel they can find, but is that really a smart way to go?
I know that the owners here have probably faced these questions a thousand times, but I appreciate you all taking the time to look over my questions and give me the help I need. I'm hoping to keep my new baby with me for many years to come and I want to her to be the healthiest she can be.
For some extra info -
She will be an indoor dog, particularly in winter, and I've been told that cuts down quite a bit on portion size, since she doesn't need as much food to moniter her core body temp. Is this actually true?
She will be exercised regularly - That is, at the very least once a day, even in winter. Summer she will be even more active, since we have a huge yard and the temperatures will be reasonable again. (I live in Alaska, so in many of the winter months, leaving an indoor dog outside for extended periods of time is simply unreasonable, since they're adapted to warmer temps.)
Specific questions -
How often should I feed her? Most sources say German Shepherds eat only once a day, but I've found several owners here that feed their dogs several times a day.
How much should be a serving? This is a major question I haven't been able to find an answer to. I want my dog to be happy and healthy, not starved or over-weight.
There have been mentions that German Shepherds need a very specific diet - is this true? If so, what should it entail? I know most new owners go out and buy the cheapest large dog kibbel they can find, but is that really a smart way to go?
I know that the owners here have probably faced these questions a thousand times, but I appreciate you all taking the time to look over my questions and give me the help I need. I'm hoping to keep my new baby with me for many years to come and I want to her to be the healthiest she can be.
