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general rules of dogs' feeding. rations.
Dogs' feeding and health unite a lot of relative factors including:
— Nutrition balance
— Caloric content and food presence
— Taste
— Safety
Energy is main link factor between nutrition need and nutrients. Dogs' energy needs depend not on their weight, but on their metabolic mass— 0,75*mass (kg / lbs). In some period of dog's life nutrition need grows, for example, during puppies' growing. Food products combined to ration are given to dogs. Ration shall completely provide dogs' need for energy, protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins considering breed, sex, age, physical state, performed work, and terms of keeping. Ration is composed of available food products, their nutrient and energy value considering their interchangeability.
Using dry dog food with 8—10% food mass humidity count required amount 1/2—11/2 oz for 2 lbs (15—40 g for each 1 kg) of dog weight; for food with 70—75% humidity — 1/2—1 oz for each 1 lbs (30—60 g for each 1 kg) of dog weight.
So, daily food volume for each dog depends on one's age, weight, functional activity, as well as this food nutricient value, taste and physical (humidity) characteristics of food products composing the ration.
Practice proved following average feeding norms for working dog (German shepherd) weighing 55—65 lbs (25—30 kg) on average exertion and keeping in non-heated room: meat — 14 oz (400 g), cereal — 14 oz (400 g), green stuff — 10 oz (300 g), bread — 7 oz (200 g), animal oil — 3/4 oz (20 g), salt — 1/2 oz (15 g).
For example, breed standard live weight of rottweiler is 92 lbs (42 kg) for bitch, 100 lbs (50 kg) for male. So rottweiler bitch live weight is 68% higher than German shepherd's one, male live weight 67% higher. Considering these values define rottweilers' needs (see table Standard ration for working and service dogs)
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FOOD 
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GERMAN SHEPHERD
Weight
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ROTTWEILER
Weight
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25—30 kg / 55—65 lbs
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Male
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Bitch
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50 kg / 110 lbs
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42 kg / 92 lbs
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PRODUCT AMOUNT
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 Meat —
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400 g / 14 oz
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667 g / 231/2 oz
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540 g / 19 oz
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Cereal —
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400 g / 14 oz
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667 g / 231/2 oz
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540 g / oz
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Vegetables —
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300 g / 101/2 oz
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500 g / 173/5 oz
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405 g / 141/3 oz
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Bread —
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200 g / 7 oz
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333 g / 113/4 oz
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270 g / 91/2 oz
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Animal oil —
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20 g / 3/4 oz
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33 g / 11/10 oz
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27 g / 1 oz
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Salt —
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15 g / 1/2 oz
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25 g / 4/5 oz
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20 g / 7/10 oz
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table 1
Standard ration for working and service dogs
Daily picking food for ration use this interchanging scale.
1 oz (1 g) of Meat can be replaced by:
— 3/4 oz (0,75 g) of heart;
— 11/2 oz (1,5 g) of stomach;
— 2 oz (2 g) of bowels;
— 1/2 oz (0,5 g) of meat-bone or fish meal;
— 3/4 oz (0,75 g) of dry fish;
— 11/2 oz (1,5 g) of wholesome milk.
1 oz (1 g) of Cereal can be replaced by:
— 11/2 oz (1,5 g) of bread;
— 3 oz (3 g) of potato;
— 1 oz (1 g) of black bread rusk.
Proper feeding is one when adult dog doesn't change one's weight and keep, has no signs of disorders of appetite, reproduction and health. One of main feeding rules is keeping of feeding regimen (time and number of feedings a day, food portions distribution, etc.).
Proper regimen provides high digestibility of food and ration nutrients, well dog's state. It's recommended to feed adult dogs twice a day in a rest period, 3—4 times a day in breeding period (mating, pregnancy, lactation).
Weaned puppies till 2 month old age shall be fed 6 times a day 5—7 oz (150—200 g) of food each;
2—4 month old — 5 times a day 10—14 oz (300—400 g) each;
4—5 month old — 4 times a day — 171/2—211/5 oz (500—600 g) of food each;
5—6 month old — 3—4 times a day — 211/5—351/3 oz (600—1000 g) each feeding.
Since six month old age puppies are gradually led to be fed twice a day using adult dogs' ration.
Puppies feeding rules are detailed here.
One of signs of proper and wholesome dogs' feeding are values weight and morphometric measures according dog's age. If there's a ration combined which lets dog feel good and have always normal excrements, this ration shall be given every day excluding cases when special changes are required, for example, pet's illness. Dogs feel the best when get food their digestive tract bacterial flora got adjusted to.
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