A menu for every age
Needs change over time
Puppy : Choose a food for a large-breed puppy and control growth without excess energy or calcium.
Active adult : Adjust energy and fats to the workload while maintaining a lean silhouette.
Rest period : Gradually reduce the ration when outings and hunting decrease in order to avoid weight gain.
Senior : Maintain quality proteins, monitor weight and adapt the texture or energy density according to health status.
Which food?
Kibble, wet food, or home-cooked diet?
Complete kibble for a large active dog, rich in quality animal proteins and providing digestible lipids, is generally suitable. A home-prepared ration can also be considered, but it must be formulated by a veterinary nutritionist in order to precisely cover the needs in energy, minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids.
Amounts
How much should you give?
The ration depends on the energy density of the food, weight, age, neutering and workload. The manufacturer's guidelines are a starting point to be adjusted according to body condition. During hunting season or sustained training, the increase must be gradual and spread over several meals.
| Weight | Daily amount | Meals/day |
|---|---|---|
| 34 kg | 330 - 450 g | 2 |
| 35 kg | 340 - 470 g | 2 |
| 34 - 35 kg en travail intense | 420 - 600 g | 2 - 3 |
Change
Managing the food transition
Any change of food must be carried out gradually over seven to ten days by mixing an increasing proportion of the new food. A slower transition is preferable if soft stools, gas or a decrease in appetite appear.
Hydration
Water: do not overlook it
Fresh water must remain available at all times. During long outings, offer small amounts at regular intervals and let the dog recover before a substantial meal. Monitor hydration more closely in hot weather or when the diet is mainly dry.
Little extras
Treats, in moderation
Treats are useful for recall, cooperation with care and tracking exercises. They must remain small, be deducted from the daily ration and not represent more than 10 % of energy intake in order to preserve dietary balance.
Good habits
For a top-notch bowl
- Weigh the daily ration rather than measuring it by volume.
- Divide the food into at least two meals.
- Avoid a large meal just before or just after intense exertion.
- Adjust the ration each week during changes in workload.
- Monitor stools, weight and body condition.
Never give
Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion, garlic in large quantities, xylitol, alcohol, caffeine, macadamia nuts and cooked bones are dangerous. They can cause poisoning, digestive disorders, kidney or neurological damage and lesions of the digestive tract. In case of ingestion, quickly contact a veterinarian or a veterinary poison control center.
