As you may know, each breed of dog has its own unique set of nutritional requirements which have been passed on from generation to generation down through the ages. Just exposing them to a different diet for a small amount of time or for a few generations will not change their genetic needs. The Doberman’s diet should contain nutrient sources which are similar to those found in the native environment of the breed’s ancestors and the proper balance of protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals which match the breed’s specific nutritional requirements. One breed can require ten times what a different breed requires per pound of weight but this amount may simply be toxic to the next breed of dog.
The Doberman was developed in the shadows of Germany’s beer breweries. When compared to other breeds, it requires higher amounts of certain amino acids so the proteins you provide should be high in Phenylalanine and Thyrosine. Since the bulk nutrients of the area where the Doberman developed were high in these essential amino acids, this breed requires the same protein make-up today. Food sources found in the Doberman’s native environment included grain crops used for brewing beer with beef and pork as meat sources. Therefore, the best protein sources for Dobermans is a blend of beef, pork or horse meat. Conversely, the worst blend would be chicken and fish. The balance and amounts are not listed here because each individual animal can have different requirements depending upon such factors as sex of the animal, age, activity level, stress levels, medical conditions and other dietary factors (i.e. does the water supply contain high amounts of minerals?). The amount of vitamins and minerals the Doberman needs may have already been supplied or exceeded by the amount which is in most all-breed/any-breed commercial foods so owners should not supplement what may already be TOO MUCH. This can be toxic and just as harmful (or more so) than too little.
Good food is more expensive but owners who feed their Doberman CORRECTLY can save a lot of money. Many dogs are taken to the vet suffering from nutritionally related problems and the vet bills can be huge! So time spent learning about your puppies needs and then selecting the proper diet is like money in the bank. The basic idea here is to feed your friend "good food". When I say good food, I don't mean the type that costs about $5 for a 20 pound bag. When you look for a good food, fatty acids and oils are important. Test the food you are considering by placing about a cup of food in a brown paper bag for about an hour then check the bag. If the food has lots of oils in it, you'll see the evidence absorbed by the now oily bag. Remember the old axiom: You get what you pay for... and so does your canine friend.
Feeding Schedules:
Start your new puppy off with 4 daily feedings using the same brand of feed the breeder has used and, if you plan to change it later, begin mixing in a little of the new brand until the puppy has had time to adjust to the new diet. Paper training or housebreaking a puppy with diarrhea is not much fun and abrupt dietary changes can virtually assure you of not having much fun. At about 10 weeks, the puppy can usually tolerate a feeding schedule change to 3 times a day instead of four. You must feed a puppy regularly during those first 10 weeks because of its rapid growth and the resultant nutritional requirements of that growth. Obviously, a brand name puppy food is essential. Adult dog foods usually do not have all the nutrients the puppy needs. By 5-6 months, the puppy will more than likely be eating twice a day with a possible snack treat or two between feedings.
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