Diet
You own, or are thinking of owning, one of the largest breeds of dog, so you need to be conscientious about diet. A puppy grows about ten times bigger in its first year, so it needs plenty of good fuel – the better the fuel, the healthier the hound. Our pedigree, breeding and rearing give our puppies a good foundation, but continuing that good start is what really counts.
We each have our own way of feeding our Wolfies, and here we share ours – not the only way, and not the only right way, but one that has suited our puppies and adults well. Take into account the exercise you give, the conditions you rear in, and the individual dog. Change any diet slowly and with patience, and observe: energy levels, coat shine and texture, overall condition, behaviour – and yes, stools too, which are a very good indicator of health.
Your puppy will have been fed three to four times a day with us (not every puppy eats at every meal), and it is best to keep to a similar diet for a while before changing anything. We believe strongly in feeding giant breeds as much natural, raw food as possible. If you would rather not prepare your own, a good-quality adult chicken-and-rice food will do well – but please do not feed commercial puppy food, as the protein is too high, and never add milk.
Our own mix is simple: raw mince, meat scraps, chicken or fish, combined with dog biscuits or kibble that has been softened in boiling water – about half meat, half biscuit. While it is still hot, we stir in two tablespoons of suet. Then we add one to two cups of chopped fresh or cooked vegetables and table scraps, and let it cool. Finally, we add half a teaspoon of a calcium supplement from the vet, and feed. We use a deliberately lower-grade biscuit, so the puppy does not get too much protein.
Puppies will not overeat, and should have as much as they can manage – check that a little is always left in the bowl, and remove and wash the bowl after every meal. Reduce the frequency of meals as your puppy grows; by a year old, two meals a day is right.
Adults do far better on two meals a day than one large bowl: eating less at a sitting helps prevent torsion, or bloat, which affects most giant breeds. You can slow down a greedy hound by placing a large stone in the middle of the bowl, so it has to eat around it. Keep your hound quiet for an hour after eating, and be careful with water too – too much, too soon after a long walk, can also trigger torsion, so offer small amounts several times rather than a large bowl all at once. Feed and water at a comfortable height for your hound's size, especially while it is still growing, so that it does not need to splay its elbows to reach the bowl.
