No breed of dog works harder than the brave, majestic German Shepherd. As you read these words on your computer screen, all over the world German Shepherd dogs are guarding people and property, working alongside police and military officers in perilous conditions, guiding the blind, assisting the disabled, standing by for search and rescue missions, and relaxing with their owners as beloved pets. That’s how it has been since the breed originated as a herding dog.

German Shepherds tend to suffer from skin allergies, a problem that can be exacerbated by not paying attention to German Shepherd nutrition. You can help your dog avoid allergy problems by feeding your dog premium quality German Shepherd dog food recipes that you make yourself, in your kitchen, from ordinary ingredients available at any grocery store.

Nutritious dog food recipes that your German Shepherd will love can be found in dog food cookbooks. Proper German Shepherd nutrition is made up of five components: protein, starch, vegetable, fat, and seasoning. If you like to cook, once you know the basics you can improvise and create dozens of meals that your German Shepherd will enjoy.

For the protein component, brown lean meat like ground turkey, chicken, beef, or lamb. The starch component can be met with wheat germ, breadcrumbs, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, cooked rice, or boiled noodles. Experiment with different vegetables to see what kind of vegetables your dog likes.

A dog food recipe that your German Shepherd might enjoy could include these ingredients: Lean ground beef for the protein, oatmeal for the starch, carrots for the vegetable, corn oil for the fat, and molasses and salt for the seasoning. A German Shepherd dog food recipe for a working dog or a dog with skin allergies should also include an egg for additional protein to keep the skin from drying out.

Any changes to a German Shepherd’s care should be made gradually to give your dog time to adjust to the change. The same is true of changes to German Shepherd nutrition. When you pick your puppy up from the breeder, contact the breeder in advance and ask for a sample of your puppy’s food so you can continue feeding your new puppy the food to which it is accustomed.

Ask your German Shepherd breeder for a sample of puppy food so you can continue to feed your new puppy the same dog food as the breeder fed it. Add a little bit of nutritious homemade food to the breeder’s food every day, until finally your dog is eating one hundred percent homemade food.

If your dog has been diagnosed with a medical condition or is undergoing treatment for any medical problems, you should consult with your dog’s veterinarian before you make any changes to your dog’s diet. Similarly, if your dog is taking medication, you should ask your vet about changing your dog’s diet. You vet can alert you to any foods that interact negatively with the medicine your dog takes.