Feeding a Belgian Shepherd Malinois

The Belgian Shepherd Malinois is a large dog , with a athletic and well-muscled body , that gives it an imposing beauty.Of course, we must bear in mind that, as with all dogs, the Belgian shepherd Malinois should receive adequate preventive medicine and care adequate to maintain your good health and your balanced behavior.

Did you know that the nutrition of a Belgian shepherd malinois is one of the most determinanates aspects for his physical and mental health ? Surely, you want to give the best diet to your beautiful hairy to see him always healthy and well disposed.And that is why, in this new article of Animals and Pets Online, we explain how the feeding of a Belgian shepherd should be Malinois puppy and adult .

Characteristics of the Belgian Shepherd Malinois

Knowing our dog is essential to know what are your nutritional needs and the care you need to present an optimal state of health.The Belgian shepherd Malinois stands out for its high energy, Privileged intelligence, great sensitivity and excellent predisposition to work.Well trained, it performs with great ease and remarkable dexterity functions of grazing, tracking and dog sports.

The temperament of a Belgian shepherd Malinois is naturally balanced , alert, devoted and obedient .However, we must be clear that the behavior of each dog depends fundamentally on the education, the environment and the care offered by its tutors.A Belgian shepherd Malinois must be correctly socialized to Learn to interact with people, with other animals, with their toys and the elements of their home.The training of the Belgian Shepherd Malinois will also be essential to keep him physical and mentally stimulated, in addition to teaching you to respect the rules of the home.

Belgian Malinois pastors have excellent health and hardly get sick when they receive adequate preventive medicine.enormous advantage in relation to the other shepherd dogs.As their cognitive ability was historically more valued than their physical appearance, the Belgian shepherd Malinois was not exposed to a process of aesthetic/genetic standardization as intense as the Bern buoy or the German sheep.Therefore, it presents low genetic predisposition to most degenerative diseases, however, being a large dog that has accelerated growth, the Belgian shepherd Malinois can develop hip and elbow dysplasia.

Belgian shepherd puppy feeding malinois

It is important to highlight the importance of respecting the age of weaning when adopting a puppy.A dog that is separated from its parent before the appropriate time, usually demonstrates learning and socialization difficulties, in addition to a more fragile immune system.From birth to 2 or 3 months of age, the ideal food for a puppy is breast milk .Therefore, if for some reason you adopted a prematurely weaned puppy, you should offer infant formula to nourish it until you can start trying wet and solid foods.

Between its 6th or 7th week of life, a puppy would naturally begin to share food with his mother, stimulated by his own curiosity And after 2 months, you can already try new foods and be introduced to the diet that you will maintain during your childhood, always slowly and gradually.At this time, you should choose to offer your puppy a natural food or base your diet on an industrialized feed.It is very important that you have the guidance of a veterinarian you trust, to clarify the pros and cons of each option.

If you opt for the second option , you should choose an excellent quality feed for puppies (usually commercially labeled " Puppy " or " Junior "), preferably Premium line ( high range), as the basis of your diet.Its composition must be highly energetic and contain the proportions adequate of the 5 essential nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.To help you decide, we recommend you know the 15 best dog feeds on the market.

How it is a large dog and muscular, it is important that your child nutrition includes an extra dose of calcium.Therefore, do not forget to consult your trusted veterinarian to incorporate supplements in your diet and ensure complete nutrition for your child.Also, it will be a good idea to supplement your puppy's diet with homemade recipes that provide flavor, texture and moisture, but remember never to mix the feed with fresh or cooked food, since they require different digestion times.

How many times should a puppy belgian shepherd malinois eat? And how often?

As important as ensuring the excellent quality of your puppy's feed, it is to respect the amounts suitable for your optimal physical and mental development.They bring in their packaging the dose indication according to the age, size and weight of each puppy, but the ideal is to consult your veterinarian to confirm the appropriate dose for your Belgian Malinois during each stage of its growth.

Generally, the distribution of the shots and the adequate amount of food for a puppy will be:

• 2-3 months : 150 to 200 gr.per day, distributed in 4 daily rations.Ideally, these portions are offered as a porridge, softening the commercial feed with warm water before offering it to the puppy.
• 4-5 months : 250 to 300 grams per day, in 3 daily servings.At this time, the puppy can already chew the feed well, no need to temper or soften it.
• 6-8 months : 300 or 400 grams per day, divided into 2 or 3 daily rations.
• 8-12 months : from 400 to 500 gr.per day, in 2 or 3 daily doses.

If instead you decide to bet on homemade diets , Ideally, consult a veterinarian about the foods to be offered, the amounts and the use of supplements.The specialist will calculate the dose of food and its composition according to its development and particular needs to avoid nutritional deficiencies .

Feeding a Belgian Shepherd Malinois Adult

From its 12 months of life , the Belgian shepherd malinois will already be considered an adult dog, and the time will come to change his feed for puppies for a line feed also Premium for dogs " Adult " of large size.It is essential to consult your veterinarian before choosing a new feed and make any changes in your dog's diet.You can find on the Internet I think for Belgian shepherd Malinois and his opinions, but the ideal is that you guarantee that it is a quality product valuing the composition of the feed and consulting with a professional.

Like any active dog with well-developed muscles., the Belgian shepherd malinois should receive a diet rich in proteins and carbohydrates of high quality and easy assimilation.It is recommended that the minimum protein index of the feed should not be less than 25% , and carbohydrates should be present in moderate doses so as not to poison The animal's organism.These 2 nutrients are the energetic base of every dog's organism, and will allow your Belgian shepherd Malinis to gain muscle mass more easily, maintain an active metabolism, and improve his physical endurance.Good fats, such as Omega 3 and 6, will be fundamental, in moderate proportions, to strengthen your cardiovascular system and stimulate your cognitive ability.Already the fibers, vitamins and minerals, should complement your diet, favoring your digestion, strengthening your immune system, your bones and your joints.

We recommend that you also consult with your trusted veterinarian about the possibility of offering supplements and vitamins that help strengthen the joints of your Belgian shepherd Malinois, to prevent the emergence of symptoms of hip dysplasia, and improve your performance as a sports dog (whenever you choose to start it in a canine sport, logically).

Feeding a Belgian Shepherd Malinois Elder

When your Belgian shepherd Malinois reaches 7 years old , he will have reached his third age.Then, you should change his feed " Adult " to one " Senior " with Premium quality.Elderly dogs require special attention to their diet to avoid the development of overweight and contemplate the natural loss of muscle mass they experience., your feed should contain a caloric index lower than that of adults and be easily digestible.You should also look at vitamins for elderly dogs, which will allow you to keep your immune system stable.

Is the BARF diet recommended for the Belgian shepherd?

Fortunately, more and more tutors choose to offer their dogs homemade and natural food.The BARF or ACBA diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) is based on the balanced consumption of raw bones with meat and muscle (60%), lean and raw meat (25%) and moderate portions of vegetables, fruits, eggs and viscera (15%).It is very important to remember that bones should never be cooked, to avoid danger of splintering and injuring the digestive tract of the dog.

This type of food offers numerous benefits for the health of your best friend, improving their digestion, facilitating oral hygiene, and strengthening your immune system.In addition to bringing freshness, flavor and texture to your food and eliminating the consumption of artificial preservatives.Any dog, whether mixed breed or defined breed, can enjoy the benefits of the BARF diet.

Logically, your tutors should adjust the daily amount of food according to the age, weight and size of your hairy following the recommendations of the veterinarian , to avoid again the possible occurrence of nutritional deficiencies.

It is also important to highlight that The transition from a traditional diet (based on dry feed) to the BARF diet should be carried out slowly and gradually so as not to damage the digestive tract of the dog, and if you decide to offer a natural diet to your pastor Belgian Malinois, don't forget to know our examples of BARF diet for dogs.

Key tips for the good nutrition of a Belgian shepherd malinois

Next we will show you some general advice to ensure a good diet of the Belgian shepherd:

• If you choose to offer a dry feed Based on top quality feed, remember to choose a product with a good concentration of animal protein .Many feeds bring a large percentage of vegetable protein, such as soy flour, rice or corn.Although these foods are not prohibited for dogs, their excessive consumption intoxicates the dog's organism, hinders their digestion and favors the formation of gases.
• If you choose to offer a BARF diet a your best friend, it is important to bet on fresh foods of organic origin.It is also essential to pay close attention to food preservation , to avoid the proliferation of bacteria and pathogens in your hairy food.If you prepare meals for 2 or 3 days, remember to keep them in the fridge and n hermetically sealed containers.
• Every dog ​​should be fed in a quiet environment, where he feels safe to enjoy his food.The impact of stress is highly negative on the digestive process and the immune system of our dogs.As our mothers and grandmothers used to teach us with great reason, the mealtime is sacred.
• A dog must learn to respect its meal schedules, preferably when it is still a puppy.This is a a fundamental part of their education that avoids unwanted behaviors, such as the dog jumping on the table, barking or crying while we are eating, or trying to steal food from the kitchen counter, for example, so avoid offering food while you eat or reinforce that rises to the table in a "funny" way.Remember that if you teach a puppy well, you will not have to correct the behavior of an adult dog.
• Remember that the physical activity and mental stimulation of your Belgian shepherd malinois are as important as its optimal nutrition.If exposed to sedentary lifestyle, your dog may present behavioral problems or symptoms associated with stress and boredom.In addition, daily exercises help maintain good weight management, preventing an obesity and health complications.
• If your Belgian shepherd Malinois presents Acute diarrhea or do not eat directly , go to the veterinarian.

If you want to read more articles similar to Feeding a Belgian Shepherd Malinois , we recommend that you enter our Balanced Diets section.