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.

Unfortunately, the German Shepherd breed has been known to suffer from allergies that manifest themselves in skin problems. By feeding your beloved German Shepherd a special diet that you prepare yourself, in your own kitchen, using German Shepherd dog food recipes that incorporate ordinary ingredients that you can purchase at the local grocery store, you can help alleviate some of the problems caused by your German Shepherd’s nutrition and allergy issues.

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.

The five main ingredients found in nutritious dog food are protein, starch, vegetable, fat and seasoning. Have fun with these components to find the combination of ingredients that get the most excited reaction from your German Shepherd.

When putting together dog food recipes for your German Shepherd’s nutrition, use eggs or lean meat for the protein. There are dozens of ingredients you can use for the starch. Start with oatmeal, breadcrumbs, baked potatoes, steamed rice or boiled noodles. Try different cooked vegetables until you find one your dog likes. Some dogs like tomatoes while others like peas, carrots or celery. You’ll know you’ve found the right one for your German Shepherd’s nutrition when your dog begs for more!

Drastic changes in German Shepherd nutrition can cause health problems that require veterinary care for your family pet. Therefore, make any changes in your German Shepherd’s dog food gradually.

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.