i just got a 110 lb german sheperd from the dog pound, how much do i feed him?

Question

the dog food bag says how much to feed, compared to weight, but not how often. how many meals a day? please help,

Answer 1

The chart on the bag is for the day. Some people prefer to split it into two meals, although some dogs do fine with once daily feedings. I think it depends on the animal. My animals have been fed both ways, and they seem to adapt very well.

Answer 2

That sounds like a good weight on a rescued dog. I do not know what, if any, vetting was done by the pound. Or how long it was there. I would highly suggest that you take your new dog and have it checked over at the vet. Some shelters just do a rabies shot, others spay/neuter. Any dog could have picked up something from other dogs at the pound.

That is really a priority. Then you know you have a healthy dog. Many situations don't show obvious for some time.

I would suggest starting with a full bowl food/water at all times to provide a sense of security for this dog. Not knowing what kind of situation it came from. That discourages food agression and gulping down too much at one time. This dog may have gone hungry. This will allow it to eat at leisure and make up for having been hungry. It is a mental health issue for many dogs from pounds/shelters. It can take some time for these dogs to settle in and feel safe in a new home, can be stressful. He needs to know there is always food/water there for him. After a few weeks then you will have a better idea of eating habits. But right now he may need to know he can eat all he wants.

The feeding charts do not take a lot of factors into account. If he is active and going to be able to run the yard alot then he will burn the food faster and need more. Obviously, the same amounts might be too much for an older dog that lays around a lot. Use a bowl that wouldn't insult a 110 lb. shepherd! Fill it up and see how fast or slow he eats. There are no set rules on this. Each dog is different. A lot of how much to feed depends on quality of food!! They will tend to eat less of a good quality dry food and poop out less also.

Thanks for getting a shelter dog!!

Answer 3

This probably isn't the stock answer but it's what I do. I fill up a bowl and let him eat however much he wants. If he starts to gain weight, then I cut him back. I've found that the advice on the bags is worthless. I have a 65 pound female that eats what the bag says a 25 pound dog should eat and a 55 pound female that eats what a 75 pound dog should eat. It depends on their metabolism and activity level.

One other thing, 110 pounds is quite large for a German Shepherd Dog (the max weight on the international standard is about 85 pounds). This size puts him in greater danger of bloat so be sure not to feed him with an elevated dish and it would be better to feed a couple of small meals rather then one large one.

Answer 4

A lot. Get a dog bowl from the pet store and would say feel it up two to three times a day. If he is that big than he'll probably scarf down a bowl full in an instant. My friend adopted one from the pound roughly three years ago and he was about the same size. That dog was a beast. We didn't walk him he walked us. If you took him out on a leash then you just had to go along for the ride. They're also very smart dogs I might add. He was nine months old at the time and we taught him to sit, lay down, and shake in less than a week.

Answer 5

If you look on the back of the bag of solid food it should tell you how much and how often. However I usuall do two cups in the morning and two cups in the evening. If this does not seem to feel him up you might try the system I use with pups and that is to fill a bowl and let them eat til they walk away then put it up til the next feeding. however because Sheperd's have bad hips often you need to watch that yours doen't get over weight.

Answer 6

The bag will tell you how much to feed, and most dogs do better when it's spread out over 2 meals. It's hard on them to eat only once a day.
Is he chubby, or a well muscled solid 110 lbs?

Answer 7

I have found with my dogs that "IAMS" is the best brand because a better dog food will cut down on the frequency that the dog needs to go to the bathroom. Most dog food bags tell you on the bag how much to feed them based on the weight of the dog.

Answer 8

I would start of with about 4-5 cups of dry food a day split into 2 meals, one in the am and one about 3 hours prior to bedtime.

Answer 9

I usually fed my dog 2 times a day and gave him alot of treats. Since he's 10 you might want to make sure the food is made basically for older dogs or has chicken and rice as main ingredients because it's easer for them to digest. Give him plenty of water with his food(make sure he has water throughout the day) and make sure you let him out when he needs to go out.

Answer 10

you should feed him at least three times a day and around the same times a day. Good luck