What and how to feed a dachshund - diet. Feeding a dachshund puppy What to feed an adult dachshund when the liver hurts

It is well known that a dog’s nutrition is a key factor influencing its health, mood, and appearance. The condition of your pet will depend on how well you balance the diet in terms of essential vitamins, microelements and other useful substances.

Dachshund puppies are no exception - they need not only food, but also a properly composed menu. Therefore, new owners should collect as much detailed information as possible on how to feed a Dachshund puppy at different stages of life.

Nutrition is a key factor in keeping any dog ​​breed.

Basic Rules

There are several different approaches to feeding pets - owners select the one that best suits the dog. However, from the very beginning it is necessary to continue the type of nutrition that the breeder practiced - this will help avoid various allergic reactions and other unpleasant consequences.

After some period, the puppy’s feeding can begin to be gradually transferred to the selected diet. It is important not to rush here and under no circumstances mix two types of food - this is strictly prohibited.

Below are the basic rules on how to organize the nutrition of a dachshund puppy:

• Until the baby is 3 months old, he should be given food 4-5 times a day with equal intervals between meals;

• Dachshund puppies should be fed immediately before you go for a walk with them - this is explained by the fact that after eating they need to fulfill a physiological need;
• On the contrary, it is recommended to plan the nutrition of a mature dachshund in such a way that it has the opportunity to sleep after eating;
• Make sure that the dachshund puppy moves little during the walk at first - too much activity and jumping can cause volvulus;
• Feeding dachshund puppies at any age should not be excessive, so as not to lead to obesity. The norm is planned, as a rule, at the rate of 40 g of food per 1 kg of dog weight;
• Dachshund puppy food should be at room temperature - no salt or spices should be added to it.

Age from 1 to two months

Until the baby turns 1 month old, his menu consists of mother's milk, baby food, fermented milk products and meat broths. It is recommended to diversify the diet of a 1-month-old dachshund with cereals - buckwheat or rice, as well as vegetables.

It is very good to feed a 2 month old dachshund puppy rice soup with grated carrots. By the way, at 2 months it will be useful to simply give your pet a piece of raw carrot to chew on - it’s good for the teeth. Sometimes give not very fatty baby kefir.

Feeding a dachshund at this age means food that is neither liquid nor solid in consistency - do not forget how useful vitamins are for a growing body.

Age 2 to 3 months

After two months of age, feeding puppies should be varied with meat - chicken, turkey or beef mixed with rice or buckwheat are suitable. The meat should be boiled and its quantity should be no more than one third per serving.

You can refuse chicken - if the puppy suffers from allergies, eating it can lead to unpleasant consequences. Also, try to include less fatty pork in your diet to avoid causing stomach upset.

Don't forget about vegetables and fruits - if a dachshund puppy doesn't see a lot of them on his menu, he doesn't get enough nutrients. Cottage cheese mixed with a raw egg is an excellent addition, but you should not give it at night.

When deciding what you can feed your pet, pay attention to its stool - if it is too liquid, it means that the food is not fully absorbed and the diet should be reconsidered.

Age up to 5 months

By this point, your pupil has matured enough that he can begin to be given adult food. His digestive system is already functioning normally and eating raw meat will not only not be harmful to him, but even beneficial. However, don’t get carried away and gradually give him lean beef and veal.

From this age, by-products can also be introduced into the dog’s diet - however, they should not be given raw; heat treatment is required. In terms of other foods, dachshund puppies eat the same things - soups, cereals, vegetables, etc.

Nutrition for an adult dog

After talking about what to feed a Dachshund puppy, we will look at how to feed a mature Dachshund. A variety of factors play a role here - what to feed the dachshund, how many times a day, etc.

To begin with, it should be noted that there are three main types of feeding for such dogs:

• Specialized dry food - they are convenient because they do not require preliminary preparation, contain a full range of useful substances and are designed to meet the needs of specific species;
• Natural food - its supporters adhere to the point of view that not a single dog will be happy if it is constantly given ersatz. Therefore, it is much more correct to create a menu of natural products that will be both tasty and healthy at the same time.
• Mixed type - in this case, the dog is fed both dry food and natural products. There is one “but” here - you shouldn’t give your pet both in one meal.

Whichever of these methods you choose, accustom your dog to it gradually, take your time, let his body get used to the new food - while watching how the dog reacts to the new food. If you see any inconsistencies with the stool or the condition of your pet, abandon the chosen method and look for other options. No one has yet canceled individual preferences - they are no less common in dogs than in people.

Diet for an adult dog

If you have chosen a natural or mixed type of feeding, it will be useful to understand the components that must be on the dog menu:

It is recommended to prepare all ingredients for dishes separately - they are mixed immediately before giving to the dog. Broth is not considered a separate dish - it is a liquid base with which other, too hard or viscous products are diluted.

What you shouldn't give your dog

After we talked about healthy and necessary products. It would be useful to provide a list of those that should not be given to your pet:

• Chocolate – it can lead to poisoning of your pet;
• Rabbit and chicken bones - they have a tubular structure that will not bring any benefit, in addition, there is a high chance of injuring the palate or intestines;
• Sausages and sausages - they contain saltpeter, which contributes to the development of liver cirrhosis in dogs;
• Garlic and onions - they negatively affect the intestinal walls, corroding them. Therefore, do not listen to those who claim that this is a good anthelmintic;
• Smoked meats, salty and fried foods, fatty foods - all this has a bad effect on the liver.

And, of course, keep in mind that dogs, like people, should not eat spoiled foods - this can cause serious health problems.

Dachshunds are one of the most beloved breeds of dog owners. These dogs are quite small in size, which is important in city apartments, and besides, this greatly facilitates the process of transporting the animal while traveling. These dogs are not aggressive, clean and playful; they get along easily with children of any age; There is little wool on them, so caring for and cleaning them is not difficult. And everyone who decided to get just such a pet for the first time is primarily interested in what they can feed the dachshund so as not to harm it, so that it will delight the family for many years with its lively character and spontaneity.

What your pet can't do without

Many dog ​​owners prefer packaged or loose ready-made food. They can be understood: it is believed that all the necessary substances are harmoniously combined in it. However, no less number of animal lovers are inclined to natural feeding, because in this case you know for sure that the food is fresh and of high quality. This is especially important when deciding on a dachshund, since the health of newborn puppies depends on its diet.

However, for all dogs, regardless of gender, age and health, there is a strictly defined set of products that the menu should consist of. The presence of meat is a must - dogs are still predators. And no pork or lamb - they are too fatty. But sea fish will be very useful. Sometimes you need to “serve” offal - liver, tripe, heart, lungs. All meat should be at least scalded with boiling water. Before dachshunds (as well as elderly, pregnant or sick pets), it is better to cook the meat altogether. Vegetables should supplement the diet; they should be given raw. Different representatives of the canine tribe like different vegetables - some zucchini, and some salad, so if you want your friend to willingly replenish himself with vitamins and at the same time clean plaque from his teeth, find out which vegetable or fruit he likes. Porridge can be changed daily; Just avoid rolled oats: there is no consensus on whether it is suitable for dachshunds or not, and it is not worth the risk. Cottage cheese or kefir will not be superfluous.

What you should never do

It is important to know not only what, but also how to feed your dachshund correctly. Potatoes and all spicy, spicy, sweet, smoked, salty and leguminous products are strictly prohibited. Do not give your dog tubular bones - they break into sharp fragments that can injure the intestines or stomach. Do not combine “natural product” and ready-made food in a bowl. Do not give your dachshund hot or cold food straight from the refrigerator. If you treat him with something as a reward, take into account the volume in the next feeding, otherwise you will overfeed the animal. And keep in mind - it’s better to “praise” your pet with a pinch of raisins, a special dog cracker or a piece of cheese. Sweets or smoked foods are not for him!

If the dog became a mother

Sometimes the owners of females deliberately lead them to mating, and sometimes this process happens against the desire of the owners. In any case, after some time you have to worry about what to feed the nursing dachshund. Just like women, nursing dogs should have a different menu from what they were previously offered. First of all, you need to add milk to it. If in the normal state dogs cannot absorb it, then lactation even increases from milk. The amount of meat will have to be increased, since the dog feeds not only itself, but also the children, and this requires a lot of effort, the main source of which is proteins. “Sour milk” remains in the diet as before, but vegetables will now have to be boiled (of course, if they are subject to this process; the same salad can simply be scalded). Having solved the problem, ask your veterinarian what vitamins he recommends. Those that the body receives from vegetables will not be enough for everyone. And the young mother will have to give food little by little, but much more often - this way the dachshund will digest it better, and her stomach will not stretch.

Start of complementary feeding

You can give food other than mother's milk to puppies from the moment they stand on their paws fairly confidently. You can start with baby food (meat, of course, and under no circumstances take baby formula). Taxes up to a month yet? Thin porridges, semolina or rice, cooked in milk (it is well absorbed by small puppies) would be appropriate. At the same time, you can give low-fat kefir and soft unsweetened cottage cheese; Boil lean meat - poultry for starters - boil it, pass it through a blender or meat grinder and dilute with broth. Babies need to be fed 5 times a day, between mother’s feedings.

When the kids grow up

The babies are now one month old. The list of what to feed a Dachshund puppy is supplemented with buckwheat and vegetables or chicken soup with finely grated or boiled carrots and well-cooked rice. Some babies willingly gnaw on raw whole carrots - they can be given as a toy and a dental exercise machine. If you are going to feed your puppies with ready-made food in the future, you can gradually accustom them to it from the age of one month. However, most veterinarians and experienced dog breeders advise feeding Dachshund puppies natural food for up to six months; If desired, you can switch them to food later and without any particular difficulties.

is a small, smart dog of a hunting breed, which today is more of a companion pet than a hunter. Of course, animals have come to terms with this function and cope with it very well. However, the call of blood has not gone away, and at heart these cute creatures are still hunters. Therefore, in all areas, including nutrition, it is worth taking this feature into account. What to feed your dachshund so that the food is beneficial and satisfies all the body’s needs?

Most dog owners, not just dachshunds, find themselves in a dilemma - which is best? There is no single correct answer here. Dachshunds can be fed special food based on their size and age. In addition, proven brands, trusted by renowned breeders, have already been tested for balance and suitability. In this case, food becomes convenient for the owners - there is no need to take into account the balance of elements, calculate the size of portions, and generally no time is wasted on preparation.

If the owners of the dachshund are inclined to another option, then “natural” food for dachshunds is also not contraindicated. The main thing is that the food is healthy and nutritious. In this regard, dachshunds are quite picky, and ordinary porridge with meat, with the addition of vegetables and herbs, may well be a successful diet.

It is advisable that dog owners decide on the type of feeding before the pet crosses the threshold of the house. In this matter, you can focus on what food the breeder fed the dachshund. It is advisable to stick to just such a diet for the first time, this will help avoid unnecessary stress for the baby and possible complications. If it was ready-made food, then you should inquire about its brand and purchase it for the first time.

If you want to change the type of feeding your dog, then you need to introduce new products gradually - starting from once a day. You should not mix food and give ready-made food with natural food in one feeding. The same rule applies when switching a dog to dry food.

Range of prohibited products

Veterinary specialists have developed a whole food set that is not recommended to be included in the dachshund’s diet:

Important and necessary foods in your pet's diet

Since the dachshund does not have any pathological features of the digestive tract, there are quite a lot of foods allowed for feeding it:

• Meat – the diet should contain several types of meat; the dog must receive it daily, preferably raw. Suitable lamb, veal, beef, rabbit. Poultry meat can also be given, but it is better to boil it first.
• Fish should be present in the diet, but one or two feedings per week are enough; before serving, the fish must be scalded with boiling water.
• Cereals - the following types of porridges are suitable for feeding dachshunds - rice, millet, buckwheat, rolled oatmeal. Cereals can be flavored with any type of vegetable oil, for example, sunflower, soybean, olive, etc., and you can also add chopped fresh herbs. It is not advisable to give porridge made from semolina and pearl barley. The first is not healthy, the second is very difficult to digest.
• Pasta can sometimes be given to dachshunds, but the product must be made from durum wheat.
• Bread – occasionally you can pamper your pet, but the baked goods should not be too fresh and rich.
• Fermented milk products - low-fat kefir, yogurt, natural yoghurts without additives, cottage cheese, cheese - all this can be present in the diet of your beloved pet. But milk can be given if the dog does not develop diarrhea after it.
• Eggs can be given boiled, separately, or added to a dish. Only the yolk is offered raw to the dog, since the protein is practically not digestible.
• Vegetables and fruits - except for grapes, you can offer your pet everything, if, of course, the dog will eat. Most often, dachshunds love raw potatoes and carrots.
• The bones are given exclusively raw (the main thing is that they are not tubular).

Sometimes you can treat your dachshund with a cracker, biscuit or unleavened cracker.

Basic rules for feeding a dachshund

One of the main questions of dachshund owners is: “How many times a day should I feed my dachshund?” Puppies up to 3 months are fed every three to four hours; from 3 to 8 months, three meals a day are sufficient; from 8 months, the dog can be switched to adult feeding twice a day. It is not recommended to feed adult dachshunds more than twice a day, and portions should be small.

Babies need to be fed before going for a walk, since they need the toilet almost immediately after eating. For adult pets, everything is different - they should be fed just after walking. The pet must rest after eating, this is due to the peculiarities of its physiology. Active games after eating can cause volvulus. Regardless of the time of day or type of food, the dog should have access to water.

There are a number of breeds that are at risk of becoming obese, including dachshunds. They have a good appetite, so it is imperative to ensure that there is a balance between the amount of food consumed and the dog's physical activity.

If the pet receives a heavy load and expends a lot of energy, the portion of food can be increased; if it is less active, it can be reduced. To calculate the amount of food for a dachshund, you can use the following formula - 40 grams of food per kilogram of body weight.

Did your pet not finish his food? Under no circumstances should you leave it in the bowl, since the dog has satisfied its hunger and everything remaining is already superfluous. Food for a dog should be warm; hot food, like cold food, is harmful to the pet’s body. But you should not salt it, nor should you add various seasonings and spices.

Often dogs of this breed suffer from a lack of phosphorus and calcium. To include dietary supplements in your diet, you need to consult a veterinarian. Under no circumstances should you do this yourself.

For a dachshund, dairy products are complete nutrition, from which it will get everything it needs, which means it should not be supplemented with other food. You should not sweeten your dog's food. Sugar, honey, sugar substitutes – all this will only harm your pet’s health.

Dachshunds are prone to allergic reactions. If your pet suddenly develops dandruff or begins to itch more often than usual, then most likely he has a food allergy. It is necessary to remove from the diet all new dishes that could provoke such a condition. Most often these products are fermented milk, fish, smoked meats, and flour products. If the condition does not improve, you should seek help from a veterinarian.

It is necessary to follow a diet, this will have a positive effect on the pet’s digestive system, and will also wean the dog from begging. A dachshund's appetite is one of the most obvious indicators of its well-being. Any change, both an increase and its absence, should alarm the pet owner.

What to feed a dachshund puppy

Owners of a Dachshund puppy are undoubtedly asking the question: “What to feed a Dachshund puppy?” The puppy must receive a sufficient amount of food, and during some periods of its growth, a small pet can eat a portion of an adult dog. This should not be scary, the baby should be moderately well-fed, at least his ribs should not stand out. In any case, underfeeding your puppy can be a greater threat to his future health than overfeeding him.

The food should be of medium consistency. Very small babies can be given meat baby food, with the addition of cereals, ground in a blender or twisted in a meat grinder. Often, novice owners feed a dachshund puppy less than it should, in the hope that it will not grow rapidly and will remain a miniature size. This will not affect the dog's growth in any way, the dachshund will be the same as its parents, however, the lack of food will lead to various problems.

You should never offer your puppy food from your table. Dachshunds, like other breeds, quickly get used to this and later turn into beggars, and often into kitchen thieves. The full development of the pet depends on the balance and richness of the diet.

If you want your Dachshund to develop properly, be vigorous and healthy, you need to know what to feed your Dachshund puppy and how to do it correctly.

A well-thought-out diet, rich in microelements and vitamins, guarantees excellent physical condition and a long life for your pet.

Some dachshund owners choose special food for their dog based on convenience: all you need to do is pour in a certain amount of the contents of the pack.

In addition, when making their product, manufacturers always take into account the tastes and needs of specific breeds, so you don’t have to worry about whether your four-legged friend is getting enough nutrients.

Other owners are distrustful of dry food, and therefore prefer natural products in this matter and put the same thing in the dog’s bowl that they themselves eat.

No matter what food you choose, it's worth finding out what your puppy ate while he was with the breeder.

The best solution for a newly brought home puppy is to continue the diet followed by the breeder.

This will eliminate the possibility of allergic reactions, and will also help your new roommate quickly adapt to an unfamiliar place.

Having decided on food for your dachshund, begin to slowly retrain it to food that the dog will eat on an ongoing basis (from the age of one month).

This transition should be carried out smoothly, that is, at first only one meal will be replaced by another food.

By gradually increasing the proportion of one food and decreasing the proportion of another, you will achieve what you want. In this case, the pet will not experience any discomfort.

Important! Under no circumstances should you mix old and new food. Each one is received separately.

Basic rules for pet nutrition

The frequency of feeding of small dachshunds up to 3 months is almost the same as that of other breeds: 4 - 5 times a day at equal intervals of 3 - 4 hours.

It is better for a puppy to eat immediately before a walk, since after eating food, young dogs are stimulated to need to go to the toilet.

Mature individuals, on the contrary, prefer to eat after a walk, so that they can slowly empty the bowl and rest peacefully.

In addition, the dog always needs clean water, especially if you have chosen dry food for your pet, as well as during the hot summer period.

In dog nutrition, the “more is better” principle does not work. Exceeding nutritional standards will lead to obesity, which will cause poor posture and the development of the skeleton in general.

To calculate the amount of food, use the formula: for every kilogram of weight, 40 grams of food.

For normal absorption, food should be at room temperature. Of course, forget about adding spices, including salt.

What to feed a puppy from 1 to 2 months

If before one month of age the puppy’s menu, not counting mother’s milk, consisted of meat baby food (turkey, beef, etc.), thin semolina or rice porridge, broths with meat minced through a meat grinder, as well as fermented milk products, then from this month food should be diluted with vegetables and buckwheat.

A good dish would be rice soup with carrots, grated or well-cooked.

Raw carrots are good as a toy for your puppy to chew on.

A small dachshund puppy can drink low-fat kefir.

The consistency of the prepared food is not liquid, but not too hard. You can feed cabbage soup with meat cut across the grain or chopped.

Low-fat children's kefir is welcome.

What to feed a puppy after 2 months

At 2 - 4 months, a dachshund puppy can already be fed turkey, beef, etc., mixed with buckwheat or rice.

Meat must be boiled, and its share should be one third of the total diet, and it is better to avoid chicken (can cause allergies) and fatty pork (can cause intestinal upset).

There are no restrictions on the varieties of vegetables and fruits.

The main thing is to watch your dog's stool. If it is watery, then the new product has not been absorbed. Then it’s worth postponing the idea of ​​expanding your diet. In general, products are introduced gradually and little by little.

You can give cottage cheese with a beaten egg no more than once a week, but not at night, as this is a difficult to digest dish.

Remember that kefir and other fermented milk products are considered complete food, but fruits and cheese, one piece at a time, are served as treats between meals.

Be aware that baked goods will not be digested.

What to feed a puppy from 3 to 5 months

At this stage, the dog can digest raw meat without problems, but this only applies to lean veal and beef. Again, it is introduced gradually, with grated carrots and herbs.

After 3 months, a dachshund puppy can eat raw meat.

After 4 months, by-products become relevant, but only those that have undergone heat treatment.

Everything else is the same as before (buckwheat, soups, etc.).

Strictly prohibited products

A dachshund puppy should not be fed the following foods:

• chocolate: highly likely to lead to poisoning;
• chicken and rabbit bones: since they have a tubular structure, their fragments will damage the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, or lead to constipation and broken teeth;
• sausages and sausages: the saltpeter they contain will certainly trigger the development of liver cirrhosis;
• onions and garlic: do not fall for the idea that they save you from worms. These products lead to corrosion of the walls of the stomach and intestines and the appearance of ulcers;
• fried, salted and smoked foods: the liver suffers greatly from such food;
• spoiled food: as a matter of course.

Vitamin supplements for a puppy

Of course, for proper development and active growth, an immature pet needs vitamins. As a rule, the dog gets enough of these substances from food.

A change in its behavior and condition can tell you about a lack of a particular vitamin in the dachshund’s body.

If the coat dries out and becomes stiff, abnormal tear production, redness or clouding of the cornea, and slow growth are noticed, then there is a lack of vitamin A.

Dachshunds can only absorb it in oil, so add a little vegetable oil to the grated carrots. An alternative source of this vitamin is liver and sea fish.

If the hair falls out completely, the skin peels off and dandruff occurs, then provide the puppy with food with vitamin “B”, which is responsible for the pigmentation of the coat. It is found in meat products.

It is better to combine their use with seaweed or cabbage (a pinch each) containing natural iodine.

If your pet doesn’t have much of an appetite, and he looks lethargic, then add vitamin C to his food. Its source is greens, fresh fruits and vegetables.

When your dachshund eats dirt, bricks, plaster and picks up dog feces, you need to provide him with calcium and trace minerals.

How do you think, Which dachshund has a harder life?? A working dog that risks its health while hunting? A show star who travels in a cramped carrier, either by air or in a car, collecting titles? Or maybe from a female breeder who bears litter after litter? No, the hardest thing is for pets, who process mountains of tasty and nutritious food every day.

All canine printed publications and especially “dog” forums on the Internet are full of questions and opinions about feeding puppies, about dry dog ​​food, supplements, food allergies, questionable and even dangerous diets (for example, BARF based on chicken bones).

Strange, but true: at the same time, there are owners who are absolutely dense in matters feeding the dog, sincerely surprised that Dachshunds should not be fed pork or treated with chocolates.. But it seemed that the image of the lady with Pug on her pillow, who drinks coffee with cream and eats cakes with the hostess, has become a thing of the past along with the artist Fedotov... What can we say? about the amount of feed: quite often the daily norm is exceeded by two or even three times.

When selling each puppy from our kennel, the owner is given a “Memo”, which states in detail what he eats and how many times a day at the time of sale, specific products for “natural” feeding are listed, and proven dry food is named.

Why both natural and dry food at the same time??

This decade coincided with the active promotion of dry food to the market, and all this time we tried, without going to extremes - without succumbing to aggressive advertising, but also without unnecessary conservatism - to evaluate this method of feeding. The conclusions are as follows:
1) Dry food from a good company- the same normal food for dogs as traditional natural products.
2) There is no dividing line between dry and natural food: a healthy dachshund can get its portion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates from any combination of dry and natural food.

Let me be clear: we believe that dry food can be mixed with natural food in one bowl, but you can give only dry food at one feeding, and only natural food at another, and in any proportion. That is, flavor a correspondingly reduced daily portion of dry food with a piece of meat or a sip of kefir, or, on the contrary, feed with natural products for a whole week, and on the only day when there was no time to cook, add dry food, etc.

This is what our experience of feeding young (and not so young) healthy dachshunds with excellent appetite says. But!
All this is true under one simple and very, very difficult condition for many owners: do not overfeed. The volume of the daily diet is what becomes a painful moment in the relationship between the family and the beloved fat man or fat woman.

Our dachshunds, as it should be according to the standard, a strong constitution, in other words, a dense build. This means that all the extra calories that a lean greyhound (our previous dog was an Afghan hound) would “fly through” in transit without leaving a trace will be deposited in a dachshund’s powerful body. If the dachshund is actively loaded physically - by adding muscle mass, but more often - by increasing the fat layer.

Our dachshunds have an excellent appetite, they eat almost everything and are almost always hungry. And the majority of dachshunds belong to this type. Therefore, it is difficult for me to respond to complaints that the dachshund does not eat well, I limit myself to the most general words: drive away the worms, increase the calorie content of the food and do not feed frequently. Most of us have seen the hungry eyes of a dachshund all our lives. And that's okay.

In fact, everything is not so tragic: a reasonable combination of exercise and feeding discipline makes the dachshund quite happy. In nature, a predator first prowls in search of prey, then spends serious physical and “intellectual” efforts to catch it, and only then satiates and rests. For a domestic dachshund, this load is to some extent replaced by baiting in the hole, training, including exhibition handling, and going into the forest. Then, on the best days of his life, the dog gets his bowl of food after “work” and goes to bed happy. And when the owner leaves for work, only after hanging out with the dachshund at the entrance, we believe that our “predator” was caught by bad weather and he was forced to “sleep in a hole” all day. Just try not to let your dachshund’s entire life turn into a series of such “inclement days.”

“But she asks, and serves, and suffers from hunger!” - the owner sometimes says. And he serves, and begs, and knows all the home and outdoor loopholes for “extra food”, moreover - dachshund may take food from a small child and steal from the table. Because eating behavior is the most important aspect of the life of any animal. And if a voracious dachshund gets a weak-willed owner, things often get ugly.

In addition, humans also have strong instincts, including parental instincts, which force us to diligently feed the little creature and be touched by how it smacks its lips and falls asleep satiated. So it shouldn’t be too surprising that almost everyone overfeeds their puppies. But don’t lose your head - I’ve also seen such an extreme situation as a 6-month-old puppy who was so overfed that he couldn’t run normally due to shortness of breath.

But I am very upset when the owners cannot properly organize the dachshund’s nutrition after the end of the growth period - this means that all its life it will be overweight, ugly and unhealthy, by the age of five the overloaded spine may suffer, and then - with all the stops: pathological childbirth, heart failure , hormonal disorders, diabetes mellitus...

Why 1 time? When feeding once after an evening walk at another time, the dachshund does not beg and does not even react to the knock of his native bowl, because he knows that he will not receive anything (of course, if he really never receives anything). With a single feeding, it is easier to control the daily intake. It is very important that the volume of the bowl corresponds to this norm - this makes it easier not to exceed the “dose”. I understand that it is sad for a working person to leave without feeding the dog, and it is almost impossible for a housewife to wait until the evening without giving the dachshund a crumb, but our recommendation is: 1 feeding per day.

What does a “correct” diet mean?? I mean a moderately varied diet so that the dachshund receives all the necessary substances. Often, dogs begin to pick up on the street not just out of hooliganism, but with passion - this almost certainly means that the body is catastrophically lacking in some substances. But this variety must certainly be limited to the assortment that is natural for dogs. Both on the Internet and in any brochure on raising a puppy, you can easily find a list of “dog” products.

I remembered the tragicomic experiment that Larisa Minakova once spoke about. After putting the last batch of pies in the oven, she gave a large pan of leftover yeast dough to one of her dachshunds to lick. The dough continued to ferment in the stomach, and soon the dachshund’s belly swelled to such a size that even this experienced MOOiR breeder panicked. As they say in the television credits: repeating is not recommended!

How to ensure a balanced diet? Read about the notorious proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and so on. And trust your common sense and intuition. For example, if your dachshund loves raw potatoes, he probably needs it, even though raw potatoes are not a traditional dog diet. This diet can be expanded only due to the fact that “it is more useful than harmful”; this does not apply to buns, boiled bones, which grandmother would be sorry to throw away, and father’s roach. And every potato, every cracker eaten that day before the main feeding must certainly be taken into account during the only evening feeding, and the portion in the bowl is reduced.

Concentrate and count - perhaps, taking into account the treats fed during training, “bonuses” from the grandmother who prepared lunch, and the cookies picked up for the child, planned feeding will not be needed at all. Will your dachshund be offended that he was not fed at the usual time? Pour in 50 g of low-fat kefir, and feeding will be indicated.

A special point - bones. For some reason, many people think that a bone is more of a toy for a dog, and it complements the daily portion. A raw bone with medium-sized meat remains, which an adult dachshund eats entirely, replaces the WHOLE daily diet. It is not easily digested (there will be more piles the next day), and at the same time, nothing can be given on this day along with such a heavy and nutritious meal.

How to create a normal diet without delving into the jungle of feeding theory?

Our advice: remember two numbers: 40 grams and 22%.

40 grams refers to natural food: 40 g per 1 kg of the dachshund’s own weight is the volume of the daily portion of natural food in grams. That is, for a dachshund weighing 9 kg it will be 360 ​​g of food per day. This means you buy a bowl with a volume of 300 g. 60 g are left for “pieces” - for example, cheese for feeding during show training and an apple, which you and your dachshund will eat in half.

22 percent refers to dry food. On any package of dry food or in a special booklet (ask if you buy loose food), there is a food composition sign. Columns of numbers dazzle your eyes - it’s not necessary to delve into all the indicators if you don’t have the inclination to do so. We strongly recommend that you master one single indicator: PROTEIN, aka RAW PROTEIN. This figure fully characterizes the nutritional value of the food, since the remaining ingredients are balanced in protein.

Our experience shows that for an adult dachshund this figure should be around 22%. We find the same figure in the book “Clinical Nutrition of Dogs and Cats” (Guide for a Veterinarian. Authors: J. Simpson et al. - M.: Aquarium, 2000).

The Royal Canin company offers a protein content of 27% for adult dogs of small breeds, Purina (Pro Plan) and Eukanuba - 26-27%. For dachshunds with a strong build and urban housing, this is too much!

Now we like Nutro food - we use “Lamb with Rice” and “Chicken with Rice” (22% protein), a diet for senior dogs (21%), and for those for whom this is too fatty, we periodically put them on lightweight Adult Light (15%).

For many years, “Diamond” helped out when it came to inexpensive feed, and “Baron” before that. We have never stooped to the low-grade “Chappy” and “Trezor” and we do not recommend it to you. Even our Afghani woman started to get dandruff from Pedigree, so it was never tested on dachshunds.

The bag usually states how many grams per day are recommended for a dog of a certain weight, but how do you know how much 120 g of dry food is for a 9-kilogram dachshund? Measure with a measuring cup (or divide the kilogram into 8 parts), see how much is in the bowl. I strongly advise you to have a bowl of such a size that a single serving fills it to the brim, then there will be no temptation to add too much.

It is very useful to conduct an experiment once - soak the daily portion of food for several hours. Only when it swells to its maximum will you be able to visualize how much food will be in the dachshund’s belly. This helps some people believe that the dachshund receives not a “handful of pebbles”, but a full, voluminous portion of food.

When you feel normal dachshunds in the form of natural products (remember: 40 g per 1 kg of weight) and in the form of dry food, you can easily supplement one food with another - for variety or as needed. I’m not at all insisting that this is the best option; I won’t argue with either the “naturals” or the dry food apologists. The main thing is not to feed to satiety; A dachshund can only eat from the belly in one case: if it is nursing a litter.

Accustoming suckling puppies to solid food- this is a separate topic, but a few words about it to make it clearer, but why mix different types of food?

After making sure positive properties of dry food- convenient, harmless, piles of excrement are small and shaped - we began to slowly use it for small puppies (a special product in the form of porridge or heavily soaked ordinary granules). But my intuition suggested that it was not worth giving up dairy products, meat, and chicken completely: no matter what the manufacturers of ready-made food said, milk is a unique natural liquid, and meat has been the basis of puppy nutrition since time immemorial.

Therefore, our puppies learn to eat both dry food and natural products, while growing well and coming to the home of their new owners, ready for any type of food, except for those that are abnormal for a dog.

Unexpectedly, the correctness of this approach was confirmed by correspondence with the American nursery Aro-Hil. The nursery's dachshunds eat dry food all their lives (and live happily until they are 14-16 years old), and Sally Rubin adds yogurt and meat to the puppies.

What about the intimidation of manufacturers, that any addition to dry food upsets the perfectly calculated balance? Dear comrades, as a mother who raised three healthy and beautiful human children, I assure you that there is no need to calculate calories and the balance of ingredients, common sense and periodic weighing are enough.

And nutritional physiology says that proteins, fats and carbohydrates are largely interchangeable, and the enzymes produced in the body to digest one or another type of food change their composition with changes in the type of food. Just don’t rush from side to side, from the “Hollywood Diet” to Montignac, and from Montignac to vegetarianism - this is harmful for a child, an adult, and a dog.

There is a large category of owners who are not psychologically satisfied with feeding dry food: they want to spend much more effort and time on caring for their dog. For God's sake! But within the limits of 300-400 g and limiting ourselves to products suitable for dogs. Example from the dog.breeder.ru forum:
“Ricky eats twice a day. In the morning after his walk, his breakfast consists of two dishes, the first is porridge with finely chopped meat with the addition of the broth in which it was boiled.

Porridges alternate every day: rice, buckwheat, rolled oats. Now that my stomach is stronger, I also buy brown, unpolished rice, which I alternate with regular rice. The meat is only lean beef, boiled in one piece for a short time, about 10 minutes, then cut into small pieces. When buying fresh meat, I replace boiled meat for 3-4 feedings with raw, non-frozen meat, which contains the necessary enzymes and vitamins. After all this has been eaten with appetite (the portion is small), finely grated carrots are offered, sometimes with an apple, with a finely chopped piece of local blue broth chicken, without skin and bones! Broilers and imported chicken legs contain hormones and growth stimulants, which should be avoided. I definitely add a teaspoon of flaxseed oil, which contains antioxidants, corn or sunflower oil, otherwise the carotene in carrots will not be absorbed.

In the evening after a walk, the same porridge with meat, for the second course, alternate every other day, either cottage cheese, which I prepared 5 minutes before meals, I always give it with the very healthy whey obtained when making cottage cheese, or a piece of boiled sea fish with vegetables and a spoonful of sour cream, I also add it vitamins and nutrition. We eat the following vegetables: raw coarsely grated zucchini, boiled pumpkin, cauliflower, broccoli - the healthiest, Brussels sprouts. Sometimes I give hard cheese and yeast-free bread. Ricky's treat is small unsweetened snacks, no sweets or cookies! Occasionally we give a piece of boiled liver as a treat, although our doctor does not recommend it, all harmful substances are deposited in it.

We eat one egg a week Instead of breakfast in the form of an omelet, during the day and late in the evening we like to chew fresh cucumber, apple, other fruits, and dried apricots in winter. I definitely add greens to my food - finely chopped lettuce, spinach, dried nettles in winter. Everything is cooked without salt. There is always water in a bowl.”

Is this system not suitable for you? To be honest, me too, although in terms of the composition of the products, only sour cream raises objections.

Look for your system, but feed your dachshund for its benefit, and not for your own pleasure. Focus not on appetite, but on her appearance and well-being. If as a result your dachshund looks like the best show representatives - in optimal condition (neither fat nor thin), with shiny coat, with free energetic movements, and at the same time cheerfully responds to offers for a walk or play - which means you are doing everything right.