OMG! He gained 11 lbs.!!!!

[Raven1]

I recently started feeding Taste of The Wild I love it and my dogs love it. I have had some skin issues in the past but now everyone's coats are much better and weights are better on a lot less food.
Becky

 

[sgtmom52]

I feed my 2 GSD's Taste of the Wild too. They are picky eaters, but they really like it a lot better than the Solid Gold Wolf Cub I fed them in the past. An added advantage is that I can buy it at TSC when I pick up my chicken feed!

 

[gritsar]

Well, we are limited on our choices of food for him based on geography.
The farmer's co-op only sells what I consider to be junk foods and we would have to travel more than an hour's drive to a bigger town to find more choices.
That's why we are feeding Iams. It beats Ol' Roy at the walmart.
We're going to travel to Texarkana this week, so we'll see what's available there.
P.S. My DH is already a member on the german shepherd forum.

 

[Bluemoon420]

The key is to find a dog food that has meat listed as the first ingredients. Check your feed stores, and look at the listed ingredients. I live in a very rural area too. I managed to locate a feed store that had decent line of dog food. Look for large breed puppy food for now.

"A GSD or German Shepherd ( either way ) will only eat what they need and not be gluttonous as long as their food is always available. Do not limit food or measure food. Keep dish full. German Shepherds will never over-eat or get fat if they are not made to worry over their food."

That's from are breeder she's been breeding and training her GSD's for 30 plus years. She trains, and raises her dogs for search and rescue, therapy work, and leader dogs for the blind. Never had an over weight dog.

Bluemoon

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yep, as I've said before Jax is not a gobbler. He doesn't finish what is in his dish most times now.
I checked on the prices of some of those "premium" foods. Found out some were available just over the line in Oklahoma. $60 for a 30 lb. bag?!? We're living on a cop's salary!
I looked on the breeder's website. Jax is the same size as one of his brothers and their Dad is absolutely huge! Absolutely beautiful too!

Our recently adopted siamese on the other hand. She was starved and feeding kittens before the humane society took her in. She's definitely going on a diet.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

I respectfully but vehemently disagree with free choice feeding of dogs.

Canids are designed to eat large amounts at one sitting like most predators.

For me I do not free feed ever, for several reasons:

I need to know how much my dog is eating

Being off food is one of the first indicators many times of something amiss. I have to know if my dog is off in appetite as soon as possible.

Providing and controlling resources is a part of being a kind and effective leader. I bring the food. I am the leader.

Plus 2 minor reasons, my dogs really enjoy their mealtimes, and I feed a fresh food diet, so it can not be left out.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

Is it just me. It seems that because gritsar's pup is growing like a weed people automatically assume she's not giving it proper feeding and needs to be educated about her dog. If they were able to ask her Charlie girl what she thought of her master she'd say she was grateful to have such a wonderful caring master while she walked this earth. If they read the threads on her new pup and saw the pictures they'd agree and not wag their fingers at her. And I guess I'd be chewed out because I don't feed my dogs any of the feeds mentioned yet they are healthy and happy. Go figure.

 

[lorieMN]

Quote:
I have to agree with you..sounds like she is doing fine with her GSD..and while Iams isnt the best,,it is by far not the worst so I say keep doing what you are doing..he sounds about right for 4 months old to me..you dont want to keep them to lean either other wise people will freak out and call the HS on you..

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Part of the reason many people make replies is so that others reading the thread can have the information.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

There were times in Charlie's life when I couldn't afford to feed myself, but that dog never went without and never had to eat junk food. I owed her that much.
I try not to make comparisons. It wouldn't be fair to Jax, but if he turns out to be half of what that wonderful dog was he'll be an extraordinary dog indeed.
I'm not going to worry about Jax's rapid growth. He's happy and the vet says he's perfectly healthy.