The appearance of a puppy in your house is absolutely identical to the appearance of a small child in it. This furry creature also needs affection and care, attention and great accuracy. But most of all he needs quality food. Many owners ask what to feed the Spitz. Today we will try to answer it.
Pomeranian breed
These are miniature dogs that fascinate people with their appearance. Like foxes with a dense and fluffy skin, they look like soft toys in the arms of their owners. However, it must be remembered that, despite the tiny size, in front of you is a real predator that requires proper nutrition. But the question of how to feed the Spitz, each breeder and owner to answer differently. Some people think that natural food is best, others prefer balanced dry food. Today we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of these different systems.
The person who purchases the Spitz usually assumes that this is a typical sofa ottoman that will sleep throughout the day. However, you must be prepared for the indefatigable energy of these dogs. They can play day and night, and therefore it is extremely important to answer the question in advance what to feed the Spitz. This little "perpetual motion machine" requires constant recharging.
Breed types
In fact, they are quite different, and before buying a pet, you need to properly understand the varieties of these dogs. The most famous is Pomeranian, aka German Spitz. However, this formulation is not entirely correct. The simpler representatives of the breed are called German, and the oranges are called show-class dogs, with luxurious dense coat. This is a miniature dog, which reaches 20-25 cm at the withers. His homeland is Pomerania. This is where the name of the breed came from. However, several types of dogs stood out already during breeding. Some with sharper, fox muzzles, and others with a rounder head and flattened muzzles. This is a spitz of a bear type, which gained wide popularity due to its peculiar appearance. They look more well-fed, and it seems that their coat is thicker and more luxuriant. However, the type of breed is finally formed only in adulthood, which means it is safe to say about the puppy which type it belongs to is impossible.
American spitz
It’s hard to believe, but they have the same roots. The ancestors of these dogs (they are also called Eskimo spitz) were their relatives from Pomerania, who were introduced to America in the early twentieth century. Today there are three types of these dogs. The smallest weigh no more than 4 kilograms, the smallest weigh up to 9 kg, and the standard Spitz are the largest, their weight is more than 16 kg and their height is 48 cm at the withers.
A puppy appeared in the house
From the very first days, you are obliged to provide decent feeding for your pet, so even ask the breeder what to feed the Spitz. He probably can tell a lot about these dogs. In addition, taking the puppy home, you must continue to feed him what he is used to, only then gradually starting to add new types of food. Up to three months, puppies are fed 4-5 times a day, by six months they can be switched to three meals a day, and starting from 7 months - to two meals a day.
Spitz puppy food must include a lot of dairy products. Porridge is boiled in milk, milk and kefir are given. It is very useful to give the baby cartilage, it develops the jaw and gives a lot of useful trace elements. Do not forget to give fish and meat, this is the main diet of your pet. Vegetables are also very useful, do not forget to give them raw and boiled, you can, seasoning with a spoon of sour cream.
Approximate diet for spitz: natural feeding
With each month of life, the puppy should receive less and less milk and more meat and meat products. Your pet is a real predator, despite its small size. At least 50% of the diet should consist of animal products. The daily rate is easy to calculate if you weigh your pet. For every kilogram of weight, at least 25 g of meat is put. It is best to give veal and beef, chicken is also acceptable. This is the best food for Spitz, but it must be supplemented with cereals (buckwheat and rice), as well as vegetables. It can be salads or stews. Do not give bones to spitz, chicken or any other.
What you need to immediately exclude from the diet
Feeding such crumbs from your table may seem very convenient, but it is fraught with all kinds of health problems. Therefore, understand in advance that you can not give the dog pasta and fatty meats. Fatty fish is also not suitable for them, only river fish. It is strictly forbidden to give them white bread and pastries, sweets and legumes. Any smoked meats, salted or pickled products, beets and mushrooms, raisins and grapes, persimmons and potatoes, sausages, corn, pearl barley, millet and semolina.
Dry feed
It is very convenient to feed a small dog with prepared feeds. This is a balanced food that meets all the requirements and allows you to maintain the health of the dog in order. When choosing ready-made feed, carefully read its composition. The product that is most in it should be the very first. It certainly should be meat. If you see the inscription offal or protein products, then feel free to put it aside. Cereals should not prevail. It is best to choose premium food, because your puppy deserves the best. Specialists recommend brands such as Hills, Royal Canin, Bosh, Happy Dog. These are quality feeds that contain well-balanced, quality ingredients. However, today a new type of feed has appeared on the market - holistic. These are Pronature Holistic, Acana, Felidae, Orijen, Canidae, ANF, Innova, Holistic Blend. They are distinguished by the fact that they are created solely on the basis of fresh and high-quality products, without dyes and flavors. This food contains a lot of meat and fish, which means your pet will be fun and healthy for a long time.
Combined type of food
It is often used by the owners, giving their dog a portion of dry food in the morning when there is no time to cook a normal breakfast. At the same time, for dinner she is waiting for a serving of fresh cereal with meat, vegetables or cottage cheese. Veterinarians do not approve of this diet. The assimilation of fresh and dry food is very different, and the body every time has to be rebuilt.