The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a breed of dog that evolved in Turkey's Asia Minor sector.
They were used to protect livestock as well as people and their belongings.
Although they are a huge dog breed, they have a reputation for being calm and kind.
The average height and weight are between 27 and 29 inches and 80 and 150 pounds, respectively.
Because the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a large breed, it requires high-quality dog food that can be purchased or cooked at home.
You will learn what to feed, how much to feed, the nutrition required, and supplements in this post.
How Much Should An Anatolian Shepherd Puppy Eat?
The amount of food you should feed your Anatolian Shepherd is determined by his or her size, age, and degree of activity.
Because they are a huge dog breed, they require more food than tiny dog types.
Because the Anatolian Shepherd puppy is in a developmental period and requires a lot of food, it should be fed roughly 2-3 cups three times a day.
Only give them puppy food that is nutrient-dense to aid in their growth and development.
On average, the adult Anatolian Shepherd should be fed 3-4 cups of adult dog food three times per day.
If they engage in a lot of physical activity, their usual food intake should be increased as needed.
Overfeeding them will just cause them to acquire weight, which will lead to obesity. Obesity will cause difficulties with their joints and bones.
Anatolian Shepherd Puppy Feeding Chart
Here Are The Feeding Suggestions For An Anatolian Shepherd Puppy
• 0 to 30 days: Puppy is completely reliant on his mother's milk, but if he isn't gaining weight, you can give him puppy milk formula.
• 4 to 6 weeks: Introduce softened puppy food gradually. Weaning the puppy is not recommended at this time.
• 8 to 12 weeks: Three meals should be given to Anatolian Shepherd Dog puppies aged 3 to 6 months every 24 hours.
• 12 weeks to 6 months: Three meals should be given to Anatolian Shepherd Dog puppies aged 3 to 6 months every 24 hours.
• 6 to 15 months: Puppies aged six months to one year should be fed two meals every day.
• 1st Birthday: One bowl per day is plenty by the time the anatolian shepherd dog reaches his or her first birthday.
• Adult Dog: Anatolian shepherd dogs may eat two lighter meals at a time. It's your responsibility to figure out when your Anatolian shepherd dog eats
Diet for Anatolian Shepherd Dogs
The Anatolian Shepherd diet, like that of all breeds, must include lots of animal proteins and carbs for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immunological health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin health.
This implies that premium dry dog food, especially brands intended for large breeds, is the ideal choice for Anatolian Shepherd Dogs.
While this high-quality food is more expensive and difficult to come by, it contains balanced portions of the above-mentioned components that your ASD requires to stay healthy in the long run.
Cheap, generic dog food is not advised for this breed because it contains primarily empty “filler” components that are unhealthy, difficult to digest, and may even decrease the dog's lifetime if fed everyday.
Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Hill's Science Diet are three brands that are highly recommended for their quality dry food for large breeds.
And, as you can expect, your ASD will consume a substantial amount of food.
Depending on its age, size, and activity level, an adult Anatolian Shepherd will require about five cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals.
Until nine months of age, an ASD puppy will require slightly less: around 312 cups per day, divided into three meals (rather than two).
See this Anatolian Shepherd Dog food chart for more information on feeding these dogs from puppyhood to maturity:
If at all possible, stick to the sections stated above.
Though these dogs are not particularly prone to obesity, if they are consistently overfed and under-exercised, they can easily become overweight, resulting in joint, digestive, and breathing problems, as well as a potentially shortened lifetime.
Consistent feeding and exercise routines, not feeding the dog table scraps, and not keeping food in the dog's bowl all the time, allowing it to eat whenever it wants can all help regulate your ASD's weight.
It's best to set your ASD's bowl down only when it's ready to eat, then take it up a few minutes later.
If you're concerned that your Anatolian Shepherd is overweight, run your palm along its side and if you don't feel any ribs, it's time to diet.
Reduce the dog's daily food intake by one-fourth and increase its daily activity routine by an extra walk, jog, or play session.
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What Is The Best Anatolian Shepherd Dog Food?
Because these are enormous dogs when fully grown, you should give them large-breed puppy food and then transition to adult food sooner than you would for many other smaller dogs (I recommend at around 5-6 months of age).
The purpose of these special diets is to keep growth stable and under control.
Growth spurts can be excruciatingly uncomfortable.
Also keep in mind that as a veterinarian for the past 20 years, my view has been that most dog diets are suitable for most dogs.
Use the most appropriate and advised diet by your veterinarian for those dogs who require a specific diet (due to a health problem such as a food allergy or inflammatory bowel disease).
For my suggestions, I prefer large dog food companies because they've been around longer, have fewer recalls, invest more in research and development, and are generally less expensive than some of the newer “boutique” diets.
Please don't be swayed by pet store salespeople who try to persuade you to buy a grain-free meal for your dog.
There's no science behind it, and veterinarians are now finding problems linked to grain-free diets.
Anatolian Shepherd Dogs' Best Puppy Food:
- Large Royal Canin Puppy
- Puppy Eukanuba Dry Dog
- Natural Health Complete Wellness
Anatolian Shepherd Dogs' Best Adult Food:
- Large Breed Purina Pro Plan
- Adult Eukanuba Dry Dog Food
- Adult Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed
- Merrick Dry Dog Food Classic Healthy Grains
Anatolian Diet And Food
Anatolian Shepherds eat a wide variety of foods.
They should be fed roughly 1,200 calories per day, which is around three cups of food.
As a huge breed, they have a big appetite and should be fed around three cups of food every day.
To be sure you're feeding them the proper quantity, double-check the back of the dog food package against their size.
Their meals should be divided into two portions per day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Because they are so busy, their meal should also have a high meat content, therefore make sure meat is one of the first three items on the package.
You can provide treats to your Anatolian Shepherd as long as you maintain them healthy.
This dog loves fruits and veggies as a reward!
Why does my Anatolian Shepherd need to eat only raw food?
It's critical to consider the anatomy and digestive system of the Anatolian Shepherd while deciding on the finest meal for them.
Dogs' digestive tracts haven't altered much since they were wild wolves, and they're best suited to consuming fresh, high-protein prey.
This is what we mean when we say “species-appropriate nutrition,” and it's what a natural, raw diet aims for.
The stomach of a dog isn't built to digest and ferment carbs (the main ingredient in kibble).
Even grain-free food, such as beans, peas, and lentils, sometimes contain high levels of starchy carbohydrates.
Giving this to a dog puts their system under stress, causing metabolically demanding insulin, glucagon, and cortisol spikes throughout the day, as well as inflammation and stress on vital organs, all of which can lead to a number of serious health issues.
There's no doubt that the canine species is tough, and that even if they eat a diet lacking in natural components, they will adapt and survive for a long time.
However, there is a distinction to be made between surviving and thriving.
Whether you choose Prodog Raw's no-fuss, no-nonsense raw dog food or make your own DIY raw food recipes at home, the switch to a natural species-specific diet will fuel your dog's well-being, regardless of breed.
What Dog Food Should Anatolian Shepherd Dogs Eat?
Nearly all major dog food producers in the United States develop products to meet the nutritional criteria set out by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Never feed your anatolian shepherd dog anything that doesn't satisfy these minimum requirements.
If you read the review on our website or look for a nutritional adequacy statement on the product's package, you can tell if it's AAFCO approved.
Once you've found the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for a certain dog food, double-check that the life stage listed is correct for your dog.
Puppies of anatolian shepherd dogs should not eat foods that fulfill the AAFCO Adult Maintenance nutritional guideline.
It's also critical to offer premium dog food that is primarily composed of meat.
To save money, several pet food manufacturers now use concentrated vegetable proteins. Non-meat proteins, on the other hand, frequently lack the amino acids that dogs require.
The ingredients on dog food labels are listed in order of precooked weight (heaviest first).
As a result, the first few components account for the great majority of the recipe's content.
Select premium dishes with high-quality meats included among the first few ingredients.
At a bare minimum, an animal-based protein source should always be the first element (chicken, turkey, salmon, duck, beef, etc).
Puppies of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs Eat the Best Dog Food
The amount of protein in puppy food versus adult food is the key difference.
It is critical to provide enough protein to anatolian shepherd dog puppies in order for them to grow properly.
Regularly feeding adult dog food to anatolian shepherd dog puppies can result in irreversible injury.
As a result, you should always check the AAFCO statement on the dog food label to make sure it clearly specifies that the food is formulated for all life stages.
To summarize, the ideal dog food for anatolian shepherd dog puppies must exceed AAFCO growth guidelines, contain primarily high-quality meat-based protein, and be affordable.
Best Dog Food For Allergy-Prone Anatolian Shepherd Dogs
Allergies are an overly aggressive or pathological immune response to a chemical.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of many allergies frequently overlap.
As a result, identifying and treating dogs with allergies can be challenging.
Food allergies and food sensitivities are frequently confused by dog owners.
Food sensitivities, on the other hand, do not trigger an immunological response.
Food sensitivities, on the other hand, induce a progressive reaction to a specific substance.
Itching, ear infections, foot infections, vomiting, and diarrhea are common symptoms in anatolian shepherd dogs with food allergies or sensitivities.
Beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish are the most common culprits.
If you know which components to avoid, utilize the advanced options on our food finder to look for goods that don't contain those ingredients.
Consult your dog's normal veterinarian or dermatological veterinarian if you don't know which substances your dog must avoid.
You might also try feeding a limited-ingredient diet that is free of the most common allergies.
Are Anatolian Shepherd Dogs Healthy on a Fresh Food Diet?
Only if they're evenly distributed.
Many well-intentioned Anatolian Shepherd Dog owners spend a lot of time cooking meals at home, but if meals aren't correctly portioned and balanced with all the nutrients dogs require, health advantages are lost
. Several organizations have recently done a fantastic job of guaranteeing appropriate quantities and nutrient balance by sending pre-prepared fresh meals according to your dog's size and needs.
Our nutrition staff has validated Farmer's Dog, Ollie, and Nom Nom as delivering truly high-quality, well-balanced meals.
They can be pricey (typically 3-4 times more per day than kibble), but many people believe the increased health advantages are worth it.
If you'd like to try one out, they do give discounts to new clients.
What Human Foods Can An Anatolian Shepherd Puppy Eat?
- Salmon
- Meat, both cooked and raw
- Bread
- Shrimps
- Eggs
- Broccoli
- Popcorn
- Watermelon
What Human Foods Are Dangerous For An Anatolian Shepherd Puppy?
- Chocolates
- Ham
- Tea
- Coffee
- Grapes
Anatolian Shepherd Background
An Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a tough, strong flock guardian with a long history.
These strong avengers are revered as working guard dogs without comparison.
They are protective and territorial, as well as intelligent, patient, and devoted.
The Anatolian Shepherd Dog has a shoulder height of 27 to 29 inches and can weigh up to 150 pounds.
Anatolians are powerfully built but nimble on their feet, making them more than a match for the predators and hard terrain of their homeland.
Anatolians are descended from some of the earliest domestic dog bloodlines known.
This gives the species a timeless character, a no-frills, unadulterated quality that transports us 6,000 years back to the Bronze Age.
Anatolians are intelligent, loyal, responsive, and adaptable people.
They will fiercely defend their flock, including cattle, children, smaller dogs, and even the family cat.
Owners of Anatolians must be strong leaders who are willing and able to handle a dog that is as domineering and demanding as he is peaceful and loving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much should I feed my Anatolian Shepherd puppy?
Anatolian Shepherds should be fed the same food as most large breeds because they are working dogs.
They aren't prone to overeating, so two or three times a day with a high-quality dog food should suffice.
How many cups of food should an Anatolian Shepherd eat?
This breed typically requires four to six cups of high-quality dry dog food per day, divided into two feedings.
This, however, will vary depending on the activity level and age of your Anatolian Shepherd.
How much should a 3 month old Anatolian weigh?
At three months of age, a male Anatolian Shepherd should weigh between 35 and 45 pounds. They'll probably weigh between 69 and 85 pounds at 6 months (pounds).
How much should my Anatolian Shepherd puppy weigh?
40–55 kg for females
50–65 kg for men
How much space do Anatolian shepherds need?
The Anatolian Shepherd is a one-of-a-kind canine with distinct requirements.
He is not fit to be a first-time dog owner due to his obstinacy.
He's a big kid who requires a big house with at least 2-4 acres of fenced-in area.
As a flock or livestock guardian, the Anatolian Shepherd should be utilized.
What is the best dog food for Anatolian Shepherd?
Anatolian Shepherd Dogs' Best Adult Food:
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Purin
Adult Eukanuba Dry Dog Food
Adult Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food is a dry dog food made by Merrick.