Feeding 9 week old shepherd puppy, scared away from raw/homecooked?

I have seen unhealthy dogs on both. Some people have luck with raw or homecooked, and some don't...some people have luck with kibble and some don't.

Some people are constantly switching from this to that to the other and often these same people, have picky dogs and I wonder which came first LOL. IMO and just mine...you should feed the dog what you feel good about and what makes the dog, thrive.

It;s not about what a vet says or what we say...it's about what your dog is telling you, and how you feel about it. That's just my .02 tho. Congrats on the new pup BTW

I know balancing a homecooked diet is tricky even for an adult dog.  So, unless you have a professional help you I'd probably think it safer to wait until he's grown. 

As far as raw, I'd also wait on that unless you are an experienced raw feeder. 

I don't know, just my opinion, but I wouldn't start learning these feeding methods on a puppy.   

There's a whole sub-forum on raw/BARF diets on the GSD board.  They might be able to help you.

I've never tried either, but I suppose I too would be cautious to start on a young pup.  Nikon was weaned to Nature's Variety Prairie kibble and I fed him that until my bag ran out and I switched him to California Natural which is what all my dogs get and what he's eaten since about 14 weeks.  Never bothered with a puppy food since some are too rich in certain things for a GSD pup.

If I had a pup like yours, I would feed a high quality kibble that he did well on (good coat, stool, energy) and add in extras (cooked meat or poultry or fish, ground veggies and yogurt or eggs rotating) But just a spoonful mixed in with each kibble meal. 

That is what I prefer doing, although I have 2 very allergic bichons that I'm trying to work something out for now- waiting on results of allergy testing. 

But my minpin does VERY well on the above way of feeding, toppers with kibble.  And unless there is a major allergy issue, when I get a big dog, he'll eat that way too :)

 

Having raised a number of gsd pups, both my own and fosters, I have always started them fairly young on one homecooked meal per day, and raw meaty bones periodically.

As Gina said, this is an individual choice and not one that anyone else should make for you.  I agree with her that constant switching can create very picky eaters.

Even though I've got some experience with fresh from scratch diets, Sam came with some nutritional challenges and I just didn't feel comfy going it alone with him. I fed him Orijen puppy until just a month ago. Then we went to an adult formula (Horizons Legacy). This week I've started him on a mostly fresh diet but working off a base of Honest Kitchen. All along I've also been supplementing with fish oil, and raw meaty bones, plus lots of other extras. I love Wolf Cub and am actually using it in Ted's diet right now. I did avoid grain based products with Sam until now to minimize inflammatory exposure during his formative months. My pups get tons of variety and are quite the opposite of picky. Sam eats anything that doesn't try to eat him first, seriously. The only time I had picky eaters was back in my kibble only, dogs should never eat people food or they will get spoiled days. ;)

glenmar

I agree with her that constant switching can create very picky eaters.

 

I have one of those picky eaters. I would give a chicken quarter to my guys in the morning and kibble at night. Well Fynn got to where he wouldnt touch kibble. He'd eat his chicken no problem but come supper time he said no thanks! And I put toppers on kibble but he prefers his raw food. Now the others have no problem eating both.

Good luck!

I'm not saying in every case, but how often do we see folks saying they have several bags of food opened because when poochie won't eat one brand, they run out and get another?  I firmly believe that THAT sort of constant switching is what creates picky eaters.

I think I will substitute raw/meaty bones a few times a week and just make "toppers" for his kibble instead, out of blanched egg, salmon, brown rice, etc. Do you guys think this is okay? My breeder said when she boils vegetables she uses the water to pour over their food, and it adds extra vitamins! I think this is a good idea.

I know very little about dog nutrition, but around here we have to be very careful with salmon b/c of mercury and the Great Lakes.  So, I guess that would depend on how much fish and where it is from.

Beejou

I think I will substitute raw/meaty bones a few times a week and just make "toppers" for his kibble instead, out of blanched egg, salmon, brown rice, etc. Do you guys think this is okay?

 

That should be fine as long as he gets most of his calories from the kibble. It's very important to feed puppies a well balanced diet and if you're not going to have one formulated by a nutritionist it's best to stay with commercial food.My dog is fed a home cooked diet but she's not a puppy and her diet was designed by a nutritionist. Your puppy is really cute.