A menu for every age
Needs change over time
Puppy : A growth diet for a medium-sized dog helps support bone, muscle and immune development without excess.
Adult : The ration must cover endurance and daily activity while maintaining a stable weight and good muscle mass.
Senior : With age, the diet can become more digestible and better suited to joint maintenance as well as weight control.
Which food?
Kibble, wet food, or home-cooked diet?
A complete, good-quality diet, dry or mixed depending on the dog's tolerance, generally suits this breed well. The chosen formula must support muscle mass, endurance and recovery, without unnecessary excess energy when activity decreases.
Amounts
How much should you give?
Quantities must be adjusted to weight, exercise level, age and individual metabolism. A very active dog on varied terrain will not have the same needs as an individual living more quietly on a daily basis.
| Weight | Daily amount | Meals/day |
|---|---|---|
| 20 - 22 kg | 331 - 455 g | 2 |
| 22 - 23 kg | 355 - 487 g | 2 |
| 23 - 25 kg | 378 - 519 g | 2 |
Change
Managing the food transition
Any change in diet must be made gradually over several days in order to limit digestive upsets. A slow transition makes it possible to check good tolerance of the new kibble or the new ration.
Hydration
Water: do not overlook it
Clean, fresh water must remain available at all times, especially after exertion, in hot weather or during long outings. Hydration is essential for a working or hiking dog.
Little extras
Treats, in moderation
Treats can be useful for training and recall, provided they remain moderate and are included in the calculation of the daily ration. It is better to favor simple, digestible rewards adapted to its size.
Good habits
For a top-notch bowl
- Split the daily ration into 2 meals
- Adjust the energy intake to hunting days or days of intense activity
- Weigh the ration regularly to avoid excess
- Limit rich treats if activity decreases
Never give
As with other dogs, chocolate, onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, avocado, alcohol, yeast dough, cooked bones and sweeteners such as xylitol should be avoided, as they can cause serious digestive, neurological or toxic disorders.
