How to properly feed your Miniature Pinscher natural food

Selecting the power type

The Miniature Pinscher can be fed natural foods or prepared foods. Each diet has its pros and cons. When choosing, be guided by your preferences and financial capabilities.

Dry food

Many owners prefer to feed their Pinscher ready-made formulas. High-class industrial formulas have a number of advantages:

• contains all the nutrients dogs need;
• formulas are developed taking into account the needs of a specific breed, the age of the pet, and its physiological characteristics;
• the optimal balance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants eliminates the occurrence of vitamin deficiency, hypervitaminosis, and allergies;
• elite food is well digestible, satiates for a long time, the dog is not tormented by a constant feeling of hunger;
• the presence of prebiotics in the composition prevents the development of flatulence and digestive disorders;
• easy to dose;
• convenient to use when traveling.

Dry food improves health and protects your pet from many diseases. But this applies only to quality products.

When purchasing croquettes, adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Choose food from the holistic or super-premium category. They are not cheap, but they allow you to save on veterinary fees.
2. Cereals should be in second or third place on the ingredient list.
3. Check the expiration date and integrity of the packaging.
4. Do not take feed in bulk.
5. Focus on the age and physiological characteristics of the pinscher.
6. Ask the breeder what he fed the puppies.

Natural nutrition

This is a cheaper feeding option. Its main advantages should be noted:

• variety of diet;
• the owner knows what exactly the pinscher eats;
• the ability to feed only fresh foods;
• You can pamper your pet with various delicacies.

Disadvantages of natural feeding:

• food must be prepared separately and every day;
• it is difficult to independently calculate the size of portions so that the miniature pinscher is full, but not overfed;
• due to the lack of micro- and macroelements in conventional products, it is necessary to additionally feed the dog with vitamin-mineral complexes;
• Animals may become allergic to regular food.

To create a complete diet, be sure to include meat, fish, offal, and vegetables in the menu. If the animal does not have allergies, boil healthy grains: rice, buckwheat, oats.

From time to time, the descendants of the German Pinscher need to be fed cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk, and boiled eggs.

The diet must include raw fruits, such as apples and carrots. They replenish vitamin deficiencies, improve intestinal function, and clean teeth.

Basic Rules

Regardless of the chosen diet, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

1. A dog should not be abruptly transferred from one type of feeding to another, and production formulas should not be mixed with natural products.
2. Monitor the health of your miniature pinscher. Perhaps “natural” or the selected ready-made mixture is not suitable for him.
3. Follow the schedule, feed your miniature pinscher at the same time.
4. Provide free access to clean, fresh water.

Industrial feed

Dry and wet food for miniature pinscher can be used from the age of two months. The lines of well-known companies include products for puppies. It is designed taking into account the growth of bones, teeth, high physical activity and is packaged in a portioned pack. Before feeding, gravies and pates must be heated to 40°C, and granules must be softened in milk or water.

The advantage of ready-made food is the ability to choose granules for dogs of different sizes, coat lengths, activity, and ages.

The developers also created products for pets with poor health: allergies, obesity, urolithiasis. However, the transition even to special nutrition should be carried out gradually, over 10-14 days.

Only the highest quality premium and super premium food is suitable for miniature pinscher. You can identify such products according to the instructions. The first component in the composition is always meat, and its share is 30-40%. Veterinarians recommend the following companies:

Recently, Holistic products made from environmentally friendly products (Innova, New, Acana) have been gaining popularity.

Diet from birth to one year

The development of puppies can be divided into three periods:

• breastfeeding – up to 1.5–2 months;
• intensive growth – 2–6 months;
• stabilization of growth - from six months to a year.

Therefore, your miniature pinscher should be fed only breast milk for 1 month after birth. If it so happens that the bitch has problems with lactation, the puppies are fed with goat's milk. Heat food to approximately 38 degrees.

At the age of 1–2 months, the Pinscher puppy begins to be fed raw beef. The meat is cut into small pieces. To ensure that the baby sleeps well, proteins are given before bedtime.

Feeding frequency depending on age:

2–3 months

Usually at this age the puppy goes to new owners. Do not rush to switch him to another diet. Find out what the little pinscher ate from the breeder and stick to the same menu for the first time. When the baby adapts to the new environment, you can gradually transfer him to the chosen type of food. This should take at least a week.

If you choose dry food, buy lines for miniature breed puppies. Stick to the recommended dosage. It is usually indicated on the back of the package.

When breastfed naturally, the basis of a miniature pinscher’s diet should be the following products:

• ground beef (a tablespoon per day);
• boiled ocean fish without bones (instead of meat);
• egg;
• cottage cheese;
• kefir, fermented baked milk;
• cereals;
• chopped greens;
• grated carrots with sour cream.

What to feed your miniature pinscher: dry or natural diet

The diet of an adult dog must contain the necessary set of vitamins and minerals, the proportion of meat is reduced, and fish, cottage cheese, eggs, and greens are actively introduced into the food. The dog's preferences are well understood by the owners, and, as practice shows, the pinscher is more likely to teach the owners what and how to cook.

The diet of an adult miniature pinscher includes meat, fish, and vegetables.

You need to make sure that your diet is simply balanced: vegetables, fish, and cereals are a must. Many dogs do not digest dairy products well, but kefir or fermented baked milk should still be poured into the bowl periodically.

A hard, raw green apple will perfectly cleanse the teeth, carrots or beets will cleanse the intestines, so it is better for the owner to insist on his own and force the pinscher to eat vegetables or fruits, rather than gnawing on a beef bone all day, which is more suitable for playing.

When choosing the type of food for your dog, there are many nuances to consider. Much depends on the financial situation of the owners and their preferences.

Natural food from vegetables, cereals and other products takes time to prepare, but it is certainly fresh and requires less financial outlay. However, you will need to additionally purchase vitamin and mineral complexes so that the dog grows and develops normally, receiving everything it needs.

Dogs eat wet canned food very willingly; the norms and age categories are clearly written on each package, so it is impossible to make mistakes with the calculations of portions, calories, vitamins and minerals. They are convenient to store in refrigerators, buy for future use, and divide into portions. Such food is produced for dogs from 1 month of life, so there is no need to buy fresh milk every day or prepare porridge.

Dry food is the most convenient from the owner’s point of view; pinschers themselves adore it. They can be stored for a long time, are convenient for travel, and contain everything necessary for energetic kids and adult pets. It will take some time to accustom the puppy to them, soaking them in milk or warm water in the first weeks of complementary feeding.

When starting to feed your dog according to one type, you should not mix canned food with natural food or dry food, or transfer from one type to another, so as not to spoil the dog’s stomach or intestines.

Feeding your miniature pinscher with natural products

The natural type of feeding is closest to natural nutrition, but requires time for cooking every day, since the maximum storage time for food is 24 hours.

The photo shows prepared natural food for a miniature pinscher.

For 100 g of dry porridge you need 40-60 g of meat (fish), 100 g of steamed or raw vegetables, 1 egg 2 times a week, 100 g of cottage cheese (kefir, fermented baked milk) 1 - 2 times a week. Bones (beef or large pork, so that the dog cannot chew into small, life-threatening fragments for the little brave man) can also be given no more than once a week.

Feeding your Miniature Pinscher dry food

When deciding what to feed your miniature pinscher, many people choose dry food. “Drying” is good for many things: it is convenient to store and use, it contains everything necessary for a balanced diet. I just poured it into a cup and the animal contentedly gobbled up everything down to the crumbs.

You should not believe everything that is written on the packaging. And even if a product is positioned as consisting of natural meat, it contains all the microelements, this does not mean that this is true.

Here are the main criteria that you should rely on when choosing food:

1. Good food is perfectly digestible, that is, the pinscher will not be bothered by gases, he will eat well and will last until the next feeding, and there will be a minimum of discharge during bowel movements.
2. You should not buy food from manufacturers who produce food for people, this can only mean that all the production waste that belongs in a landfill, after being processed, has become food for dogs. Well, if there is simply no benefit, such products often cause harm to pets.
3. Not promoted, but professional food (veterinarians will tell you about them) is necessary for the dog. This food is not cheap, but it allows you to save on visits to veterinarians.

Choosing dry food for your miniature pinscher is a crucial step.
High-quality food can be found in pet stores (not all), or rather, in stores specializing in food. There are specialists here who will select food that is ideal for the dog, depending on its age and individual characteristics.

Dry food comparison

Read, read and read again what is written on the packages. Soy, corn flour and other poorly digestible ingredients, especially dyes and flavor enhancers, are contraindicated for dogs of toy breeds.

Food with an unclear composition: poultry, offal, soy flour - all this means only one thing - there is no real meat, no nutrients, only low-quality protein filler.

You can buy a lot of cheap food and calm down for a long time, believing that the dog is getting everything it needs. But basically they are made from corn or soy flour, legumes, instead of meat and offal, introducing chopped chicken paws, feathers, skins, using those obtained from dead or sick animals as a fat filler.

Only a few manufacturers include real and healthy meat and fish products that dogs need so much. They are much more expensive, but they have a truly balanced composition.

Purina food contains, for example, corn flour, offal, and beef fat, which means it is unlikely to contain meat. But Timberwolf Organics, a lesser-known product, but much more expensive, includes elk meat, salmon, potatoes, as well as oats, spinach and many other ingredients, all clearly and clearly stated.

There are several classes of dry dog ​​food: economy, premium, superpremium, holistic.

Science Diet, the first to include grain, does not hide the fact that the fee is taken mainly for a cheap filler, which gives only a short-term feeling of fullness. It's hardly worth paying for such a product.

Dry food is divided into classes:

• Economy class on the packaging means extremely low quality; such foods do not contain any vitamins or minerals (such products include Oscar, Trapeza, Chappi, Darling foods).
• Premium - a significantly higher content of animal proteins plus a truly balanced vitamin complex (Chicopee, Araton, etc.).
• Super-premium - the inscription means that the composition contains natural meat, fats, eggs, and healthy additives with which there is no need to fear for the dog’s health (Forza-10, Guabi Natural, Porcelan).

It is the quality of the product that determines its price, so you should not harm your pet with economy-class food. If your financial capabilities do not allow you to purchase dry food of the “holistic” class, it is better to choose those that are a step lower, but balanced in composition and made from high-quality raw materials.

Many dog ​​breeders consider the following foods ideal for miniature pinschers:

1. ProNature Holistic is a super premium food from Canada.
2. American premium food Hills.

The Czech Brit Premium, the Swedish Bozita, the Russian-French Royal Canin of high quality, and the American Diamond, also of high quality, are perfect for pinschers.

Many miniature pinscher owners feed their pets Hills dry food.

It is worth paying attention to the American Nutra Gold (super-premium) and the Italian Almo Nature of the same class.

Nutrition for an adult pinscher

After a year, the skeleton, teeth, and internal organs are fully formed, so the dog does not need such a high-calorie menu as in childhood. Due to the tendency to become overweight, adult and elderly Pinschers should be fed moderately, in small portions.

When feeding dry food, the portion is measured according to the instructions. The volume of natural products is 25 grams per kilogram of dog weight.

To prevent the pinscher from playing with food or begging for delicacies, the bowl is left for 15-20 minutes and immediately removed after feeding.

The diet of an adult miniature pinscher is based on the following scheme:

Once a week, meat can be replaced with boiled sea fish. You should add a little vegetable oil or kefir to the porridge. You can give cottage cheese a couple of times a week. Periodically offer your pet a boiled egg, but no more than 4 quail or 2 chicken eggs per week.

Sample menu:

Care and maintenance of the miniature pinscher

Caring for representatives of this breed consists of:

• correct feeding regimen;
• hygiene;
• preventive examination at a veterinary clinic;
• timely vaccinations;
• walking;
• active games while walking;
• good conditions of detention.

Compared to other breeds, caring for a Miniature Pinscher is not difficult. The dog is small in size and innately clean. A small puppy will have to be taken outside several times a day to be toilet trained. And also from an early age he must be able to patiently endure water procedures, ear cleaning, and coat care.

Hygiene

Clean the dog's ears with a soft cloth soaked in warm water and wrung out well. It is necessary to accustom him to this procedure, since dirt in the ears can become a source of severe infection.

It is necessary to groom your Miniature Pinscher's coat regularly. It needs to be brushed out. During this procedure, dead hair and dirt are removed. The touch of the brush acts like a massage, improving blood circulation in the hair follicles. As a result, the coat will grow better and look great. Dogs love to be petted or brushed, so grooming will not be burdensome for the owner.

Usually, after a walk, only the dog’s paws, belly and butt are washed. It is not necessary to completely wash your dog very often. To do this, use dog shampoos that contain useful substances and proteins. Some types of shampoos are designed to remove fleas. In addition to caring, give your dog a piece of your soul. Dogs are extremely loyal to their owners. Show your companion often that the feelings are reciprocated.

Feeding an older dog

The lifespan of miniature pinschers is 12–14 years. From the eighth to ninth year, representatives of miniature breeds are considered elderly, their activity decreases, and age-related changes begin in the body. From this moment on, the dog's diet should change.

Adhere to the following rules:

1. Reduce the amount of fat in your food.
2. The basis of nutrition is lean boiled chicken or beef.
3. To improve metabolism, add fresh herbs and grated vegetables to porridge. Additional intake of prebiotics normalizes digestion.
4. If you have dental problems, food should be crushed.
5. You can return the pinscher to three meals a day.
6. To prevent arthritis and other bone problems, feed your pet cottage cheese and give mineral supplements with calcium.

If the pinscher eats dry food, there is no need for vitamin complexes, because all micro- and macroelements are already included in the production formulas. Just at 8 years old, switch your dog to special mixtures for older dogs.

Popular brands

Small breed formulas are suitable for miniature pinschers. Choose holistic and super premium: they occupy top positions in food ratings.

Dry food

They should form the basis of the diet. Pay attention to the following formulas:

• Royal Canin for miniature breeds;
• Akana Heritage Adult Small Breed;
• Grandorf Mini;
• Pronature No. 26;
• Eukanuba Adult Small Breed;
• Bozita Robur Adult Maintenance Mini.

Wet food

Canned food makes up 10 to 25% of the daily diet. They are used as a delicacy to diversify the diet, please the Pinscher, and stimulate appetite after illness. Choose wet food from the same brand as dry food. High quality canned food is suitable:

• Monge;
• Bozita;
• Royal Canin;
• Belcando;
• Almo Nature.

Feeding miniature pinscher dry food

It makes no sense to focus on one or another brand of dry food. Those pellets that make one dog's eyes roll back in pleasure may not be to the taste of another. This is an individual matter. Quality and world famous foods have product lines suitable for dogs of various sizes and ages. For a certain type of dog, granules that are special in size and composition have been created, which contain micro and macro elements, vitamins and minerals. In addition, there are both regular feeds, that is, for daily feeding, and feeds intended for the treatment of certain diseases. There are products for spayed and neutered animals, overweight dogs and those who lead an overly active lifestyle. Therefore, it is very important that the miniature pinscher receives nutrition according to its age, weight, lifestyle and clinical picture of diseases (if any).

What products should be on the menu

If a dog is naturally fed, its diet should always include:

• proteins;
• fats;
• carbohydrates;
• cellulose;
• vitamins, minerals;
• water.

Squirrels

Strong muscles and strong jaws require raw meat in the diet. It should make up a third of the total protein. To avoid helminth infection, the meat is first frozen and then doused with boiling water to remove the smell of blood.

The remaining proteins are boiled and added to porridge and steamed vegetables. Choose lean varieties:

• beef;
• chicken;
• turkey;
• lamb

An additional source of protein in the Pinscher's diet is fish, cottage cheese, and eggs. Choose low-fat fish, serve it boiled, without bones.

Fats

Lipids and healthy fatty acids come into the dog’s diet from fish oil and vegetable oil. They are added in small quantities to porridge.

Carbohydrates, fiber

Grains should make up a third of a healthy dog's diet. Buckwheat, rice, oatmeal are boiled in water and served along with meat and vegetables.

Vitamins, minerals

Vegetables, fruits, and berries not only saturate the body with essential micro- and macroelements, but are also an additional source of fiber. For vegetables use:

• grated carrots;
• pumpkin;
• zucchini;
• cucumber;
• tomatoes;
• bell pepper

What is forbidden to feed

The list of products harmful to health includes:

• pork;
• raw fish;
• tubular bones;
• fatty cheese;
• pasta;
• fresh bread;
• potato;
• legumes;
• seasonings, spices;
• salt;
• sugar, any sweets;
• caffeinated products;
• citrus;
• grape;
• dry food is of poor quality.

If you want to pamper your miniature pinscher with delicious food, it is better to give him fruits and berries.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

To replenish nutrients during natural feeding, it is recommended to give the following complexes to miniature pinschers:

• Irish Cal from the company Beafarm - calcium supplement;
• 8 in 1 Excel Small Breed for miniature dogs;
• 8 in 1 Brevers - brewer's yeast for healthy skin and coat;
• 8 in 1 Glucosamine for the musculoskeletal system;
• Canina is a series of multivitamins for dogs of different ages.

Please consult your veterinarian before starting. If the pinscher eats high-quality dry food, there is no need to take additional vitamin complexes.