Feeding the Leonberger

To the development of a beautiful, healthy leonberger, good genetic background and appropriate feeding are necessary. Leonbergers belong to the giant breeds, the adult male can be up to 80 cms at whithers, and 80-100 kg dogs are not rare. The develoment cycle of a giant breed dog is relatively slower, compared to a smaller breed, still in about 1 year the dog needs to build 80% of its skeleton (like a man), and the structure will further develop until the age of 2-2.5 or even 3 years.

When feeding our leonberger, the most important thing, in my opinion, is to ask our breeder's advice. The good breeder has experience with the development of such dogs, from puppies' births in their hands, to preparation for dog shows, and (s)he is willing to share the experiences with the new owners.

After studying international and domestic experiences and opinions, we can find two major directions in the topic of feeding the leonberger: feeding dogfood and feeding natural. There is a general agreement not to mix the two methods, but we can find people who feed dogfood and prepare food at home from time to time. We could have an endless debate which method is better - I'm far from being a judge here, I think everyone should decide which method to use, taking several factors into consideration (i.e. financial background, time, knowledge). I simply try to give an overview of the two methods with its advantages (disadvantages obviously are the negation of the advantages of the other method), and I try to show what Mador eats.

A method - Feed natural

Many people think all necessary ingredients can be found in nature for the appropriate development of the dogs, so cooking at home is enough. Let's be clear here, we do not talk about rest food in the kitchen and spicy human food but a diet based on natural ingredients, especially prepared for the dogs. By feeding natural, we can avoid preservatives, chemicals, colorings etc. thus illnesses can be avoided such as allergies, digestive and skin problems, ear troubles etc. When feeding natural, we keep the balance on a longer basis (i.e. weekly), not daily. It is very important to keep the balance on the long run between the basic ingredients: protein-carbohydrate-fat-vitamins-etc. For me, the most understandable and most exciting books/methods are the following:

• BARF stand for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. Dr. Ian Billinghurst summarizes the advantages of feeding natural with a large scientific background, also adding advices. Books in this topic include: Give Your Dog A Bone, The BARF Diet. For Cats And Dogs, Grow Your Pups with Bones.
• Switching to Raw by Susan K. Johnson gives easy-to-follow advices for beginners how to switch to feed natural and raw, in line with the BARF method.

Additional information and links: http://www.mador.hu/Marzipanenglishlinks#health

Another method - Feed dogfood and add supplements (Mador)

After years of experiments, dog food manufacturers offer a large variety of preprocessed food different in ingredients, size, color and taste. Top manufacturers offer food depending on the size: different food is offered for small, medium, large and lately giant breed dogs. Advantage of feeding preprocessed dog food is to have the right balance between the necessary basic ingredients (protein-carbohydrate-fat-vitamins-etc.) and we need no extra time to cook at home. Of course there are differences between different manufacturer's food, it is worth taking the time to consult the bags for ingredients, percentages, and ask other breeders, dog owners, show people, and follow-up of our own dog's development. In general, preprocessed dog food manufacturers advise not to give any supplements to the dogs, but breeder's experiences convince to the opposite.

Since I personally am afraid of not finding the right balance, we use dogfood plus supplements. In the following I summarize what Mador eats so you can have an overview as to how to feed a leonberger. In my opinion, there is no method for each dog, the owner should find the appropriate method for the dog, in accordance with the breeders.

1. Dog food: following Mador's breeders advices and experiences, we also fed Royal Canin, we used the Giant product family. Up to the age of 8 months Mador received Royal Canin Giant Puppy, then Giant Junior.

• Dosage at 4-6 months: 1-1 cup 3x a day (morning, noon, evening), following the owner's schedule. 1 cup is around 175 grams.
• After 6 months: 2-2 cups per day, noon food can be stopped. Follow dosage instructuions on the bag.
  

About at the age of Mador's 1 year, following the breeders' advice, we've switched to the ProPac petfood that contains less protein and more glucosamin. Mador receives ProPac Large Breed Puppy food (ingredients), and ProPac Lamb Meal and Rice formule (ingredients).

• Dosage from 12 months: 2 cups in the mornings, 3 cups in the evenings (note: in summertime the dog's needs are less, he receives only 2 cups in the evenings).

During the therapy work, we discovered the super premium dry food family Husse from Sweden, containing natural ingredients. Mador receives Husse Optimal elaborated for active medium and large breed dogs (description and ingredients). It's digestibility is 92%. It has a high energy and nutricion content, is rich in minerals, promotes a healthy stomach, strengthens immunity, gives a healthy, shiny coat and is tasty for the dogs. After a short period of time, I can already see that Mador's coat is really beautiful, and I don't have to beg him to eat.

• Dosage from 4 years (adult) of age: 3-4 cups in the evenings (note: in summertime the dog's needs are less, he receives only 2-3 cups in the evenings).

2. Green Mussels Extract (Perna Canaliculus): excellent supplement for the joints, development, we can avoid non-parallel front legs. Green mussels are a good source for protein, minerals and chondroitin as well. We can use several products, following the development of the stomac.

• At the age of 2-3 months: Seatone Sport capsules (produced by Laboratories McFarlane, New Zealand. The breeders started with 1-2 capsules per day, so when I took Mador home, I followed this dosage, then we gradually increased the capsules, in cooperation with the breeders. General advice: when the front feet start to be French-like, increase the dosage by 1 capsule, gradually. (Note: Seatone is a human supplement, when my Mum broke her hand, she took it too).
• At the age of 3-7 months: after finishing Seatone Sport, it is advisable to switch to Seatone Restart since it contains more green mussels extract (235 gr) per capsule. Additional ingredients per capsule are: energy 5.5 kJ (1.3 kCal), protein 185 mg, prolin 20 mg, glycin 20 mg, glucosaminoglicans 17 mg, carbohydrate 53 mg, fat 21 mg, vitamin C 30 mg, iron 3 mg.
• From the age of 8 months: since the digestive system is more developed than at the age of 3-4 months, we can switch to GlycoFlex GF600 capsules containing 600 mgs of green mussels extract each. Advised dosage for 4-6 weeks: 4 tablets per day, after 3 tablets per day. Apart from green mussels, one capsule contain: protein 32%, fat 7%, raw fibres 14%, calcium 0.18%, phosphor 0.4%, magnesium 0.16%, chondroitin sulfate 2.2%.

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3. Bone powder (calcium phosphoricum, CaP): for the healthy development of bones and teeth. Phosphor is essential to keep calcium in.

• Up to the age of 7 months we gave Mador a Hungarian Bone Powder by Sani-Prevent but other products are also available. Dosage: 2-2 capsules per day, then gradually increase dosage up to 6-6 capsules per day. (Human product, too.)
• From the age of 8 months: following the digestive system development, we can switch to Felivacit by Pamax or similar product. Ingredients: dry content 95%, calcium 22%, phosphor 17%.

4. Vitamins. Vitamins play a very important role in the development of the puppy.

• At the age of 3 months, the first 2-3 weeks at home, I gave Mador Polyvitaplex8 tablets (human vitamins by Chinoin), 1 tablet every 2-3 days, 2 boxes. 1 dragee contain: A vitamin 100 I.E., B1 vitamin 5 mg, B2 vitamin 0,5 mg, B6 vitamin 0,5 mg, B12 vitamin 1 microgram, C vitamin 50 mg, D vitamin 1500 I.E., nicotin amid 10 mg.
• At the age of about 4-5 months we switched to VMP tablets by Pfeizer (VMP stand for Vitaminen, Mineralen, Proteinen). Dosage: 1 tablet per 10 body weight kg. Ingredients: protein 30%, fat 5%, ash 28%, calcium 5.4%, phosphor 4.2%, magnesium 1.8%, soy lecithin, minerals, vitamins.
  

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5. Immunovet: Immunovet is a natural based, immune stimulating and roborating product developed by Hungarian researchers to reinforce the immune system, bones and digesting system. Dosage: 1 g per body weight kg, adding to food. Content per kg: calcium 425 mg, copper 0.2 mg, mangan 38.9 mg, iron 70.3 mg, kalium 4920 mg, natrium 98 mg, phosphor 3940 mg, sulphur 1210 mg, selen max. 2 mg, zinc 62.3 mg, vitamin A 0.14 mg, beta-carotin 6,2 mg, vitamin E 31 mg, vitamin D 0.07 mg.

6. Puppy milk: originally added to mum dogs with less milk or at large litter number. In Mador's cases they were 9, plus taking the cold weather into consideration as well, they got puppy milk at the breeders.

• Royal Canin 1st age milk: the puppies received it at the beginning. Can be bought in a 2.5 kg container. Dosage: 1 cup milk powder 1 cup hot water.
• Happy Dog Welpenmilch: Can be bought in a 10 kg container. Dosage: 1 cup milk powder 3 cups hot water. When Mador came to us, I bought him a 10 kg container of Happy Dog puppy milk. When it went out in about 3 months time, Mador went to his milk bowl, sniffed in it (it was empty) and he looked at me so yes, I bought him another container. Since then he drank it all too and now we finished it. I gave Mador 1 cup of powder with water in the morning and in the evening: there is no use to give more since it makes the poo softer. By the end, Mador drank it in one single slurp.

An advice: supplements can be given to the dog using different methods. Unfortunately we hear of owners giving these tablets by force, thus creating an unpleasant experience every morning and evening: this is hard for the dog and for the owner alike. In Mador's case, I give him the supplements as a reward, he always has to 'work' for it (i.e. stay, sit, down). So we not only get forward with the dog training, but also we create a positive experience connected to the supplements, Mador can't wait to get them after his breakfast and dinner. What a difference!

Any method we use to feed our dog, it is very important to have fresh water in his bowl at all times! In summer, due to heat, and in winter, due to frost, change the water at least in the morning and in the evenings, even if there is water left!

Bon appétit, have a healthy dog!

© Mador.hu