Nutrition of puppies and young dogs
The foundation for a healthy life
The first few months of our dogs' lives are an immensely important time in every respect - a key period that lays the foundation for their entire future development. In addition to intensive socialization and imprinting, our dogs go through a phase of growth and physical adaptation that forms the basis for their entire life.
Macro and micronutrients
Proper nutrition plays an absolutely crucial role in physical development and health. During this phase of intensive growth in the first few months of life, puppies and young dogs need a balanced diet to ensure the development of the skeletal and entire locomotor system, the immune system and the entire energy metabolism.
In addition to the macronutrients proteins, fats and carbohydrates, the micronutrients vitamins and minerals (bulk and trace elements) are essential in a balanced ratio for puppies in order to support growth and at the same time prevent excessively rapid skeletal development (which could lead to problems later on, especially in fast-growing large breed dogs).
Clean Recipe
Thanks to the balanced composition of our puppy menus with high-quality meat, fruit and vegetables and natural additives such as brewer's yeast, iodized salt, oyster shell and sango coral, we achieve a “clean recipe” that does not require the addition of any artificial mineral or vitamin supplements. The innovative preparation also contributes to this - the gentle, short cooking process preserves a high percentage of the valuable ingredients. The bioavailability of natural minerals and vitamins is significantly higher - they are therefore much better absorbed by the body.
Thanks to these natural additives and our extremely gentle production process, we can do without artificial additives - unlike is often the case with puppy food.
Puppies generally have a higher nutritional requirement than adult dogs - but in relation to their body weight, they also eat more food per day and therefore more nutrients.
Proteins
Proteins represent a fundamental class of macronutrients and are an essential nutrient for puppies. High-quality protein forms the basis of an optimal diet for puppies and young dogs.
- Structure: Proteins are valuable building blocks for muscles, tissues and organs. During the growth phase, puppies need an increased amount of protein to meet the structural requirements of their growing bodies.
- Enzymes and hormones: Proteins are an integral part of enzymes and hormones that regulate a variety of metabolic processes. During growth, enzymes and hormones are crucial for the smooth running of various bodily functions.
- Immune system: Antibodies, which are responsible for fighting pathogens, consist of proteins. An appropriate protein content supports the puppy's immune defense and, above all, the development of a powerful immune system.
Fats
In addition to proteins, fats are another essential component of a puppy's diet for various reasons.
- Calorie requirements: puppies have a higher energy requirement in relation to their body size than adult dogs. Fat is an energy-rich food source and provides more calories per gram compared to proteins or carbohydrates.
- Physical development: fats also play a crucial role in the development of the nervous system, brain function and the formation of cell membranes. They provide building blocks for cell structure and contribute to the development of healthy skin and a shiny coat.
- Vitamin metabolism: Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K are better absorbed in the presence of fat. Puppies need these vitamins for healthy growth and efficient functioning of their immune system.
- Hormone balance: fats serve as precursors for the production of hormones. During the growth phase, hormones play a key role in the regulation of metabolic processes and development. Healthy fats from high-quality sources contain essential omega-3 fatty acids, which also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Carbohydrates - Grain-free
In addition to proteins and fats, carbohydrates are another important nutrient and an important source of energy for puppies.
Vegetables and fruit are therefore all-rounders that also correspond to the natural nutritional concept and, with a high content of micronutrients, antioxidants and important fiber, have a moderate calorie content that optimally meets the energy requirements of most dogs. That is why we supplement all our menus with a varied range of fruit and vegetables and completely avoid any cereals or pseudo-grains.
Vegetables and fruit not only provide energy, but also fiber, which supports the digestive system.
- Energy: according to their nutritional physiology, our dogs are quite capable of efficiently converting certain amounts of carbohydrates into energy. During growth, puppies need a lot of energy - high-quality carbohydrates play an important role here.
- Digestion: fiber from carbohydrates is also important for healthy digestion. They promote intestinal health, regulate the consistency of feces and contribute to the development of a healthy digestive system.
Feeding recommendation
For the amount of food per day, multiply your dog's current body weight in grams by the specified factor.
For a dog that currently weighs 10 kg, the calculation would therefore be: 10,000 grams x 0.08 = 800 grams.
Please weigh your dog weekly and compare the weight with a professionally created growth curve (which was created based on the expected ideal weight). This is the only way you can react quickly and individually to any deviations and ensure that your dog grows up healthily.
| Age / Current body weight | < 5 kg | 5-10 kg | 10-20 kg | > 20 kg |
| < 4 Months | 0,1 | 0,08 | 0,07 | 0,06 |
| > 4 Months | 0,07 | 0,06 | 0,04 | 0,04 |
In consultation with your veterinarian, switch your dog to adult dog food at an age of 8-18 months, depending on breed and weight. Smaller breeds sometimes complete their skeletal growth at 8 - 12 months and can then be fed according to the requirements of adult dogs. For larger dog breeds, this time of completion of skeletal growth can be months later. So please always seek veterinary advice before changing your dog's diet.
Vegan nutrition for dogs
In recent years and decades, more and more people have been opting for a predominantly or entirely plant-based diet. The reasons for this are many and varied - but most often such a decision is based on ethical considerations. However, health reasons and sustainability considerations sustainability also play a major role. Especially the dog owners who opt for a plant-based diet themselves, naturally also think about the nutrition of their dogs.
While the idea of feeding dogs a completely vegan diet is still the subject of some controversy among vets and nutritionists and the studies do not yet provide definitive scientific evidence, there are many good arguments for considering at least a partially vegan diet or the occasional meat-free meal. Nutritionally, our dogs have requirements for energy and essential nutrients, but they have no recognized requirements for animal ingredients per se. Thus, regardless of the ingredients, a diet that meets a dog's nutritional requirements for a particular life stage would be considered nutritionally adequate according to current understanding.
Our dogs are omnivores
The physiology of their digestive tract makes our dogs omnivores.
Even their wild relatives, the wolves, do not eat meat exclusively. Although wolves are primarily carnivores, they are able to consume a certain variety of foods. Wolves also enrich their diet with plant components such as fruit, berries, grass and roots. The stomach contents of their herbivorous prey are also naturally plant-based.
In the course of their evolution, our dogs have adapted more and more to their life and habitat with us humans and are therefore basically very flexible in their diet - they can consume different types of food to meet their energy and nutritional requirements.
So it's a good option to offer our four-legged “occasional vegetarians” a purely plant-based meal every now and then - whether it's one meal a day several times a week or as part of a “Meatless Monday”.
Ethical considerations
As already mentioned in the introduction, the decision to reduce meat consumption is an ethical decision for many people. Factory farming and the slaughter of farm animals are often associated with massive suffering. By reducing their consumption of animal products, dog owners can also help to create a more animal-friendly world.
Sustainability
By using sustainable sources, a plant-based diet conserves resources, causes fewer greenhouse gas emissions, protects biodiversity, requires less water and reduces environmental pollution.
Flexibility
As already mentioned, as opportunistic omnivores, our dogs are quite flexible in terms of which foods meet their nutritional requirements. We can therefore use this flexibility to reduce their meat consumption.
A vegan meal for our dogs must, of course, meet all of the dog's nutritional requirements, just like meals based on animal protein.
At Dog's Heaven we have created a balanced vegan menu based on high-quality soy protein. Just like our meat-containing menus, our vegan menu naturally covers all the nutritional requirements of our dogs - and is also extremely tasty. Meatless Monday couldn't taste any better!
Soy protein - an alternative for a healthy diet
Soy is a high-quality and versatile plant-based food that has long been established and proven in the human diet. Due to its nutritionally high-quality composition and abundance of healthy nutrients, soy is also a great food for our dogs and a wholesome alternative to animal protein sources.
Rich in healthy nutrients
Soy contains a wealth of essential nutrients, micronutrients and polyunsaturated fatty acids that are vital for the health of our dogs. These nutrients play an important role in supporting the dog's immune system, heart health, skin and coat quality and overall vitality.
High quality protein
Soy is an excellent source of protein that contains all the essential amino acids that dogs need for healthy growth and optimal muscle function. The high protein content and balanced amino acid structure make soy a valuable alternative to animal protein in dog nutrition.
The proteins in soy are easy for dogs to digest and have a high bioavailability, which means that the body can use them efficiently to support important functions such as building muscle, repairing tissues and maintaining the immune system.
Dogs need various essential amino acids for optimal health. Since soy contains all essential amino acids in balanced amounts, it is a high quality source of protein for dogs. Branched-chain amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine and valine are important for the muscles and general health of dogs. The high content of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in soy protein can therefore contribute to muscle development and maintenance.
Incidentally, compared to lentils, lupins and peas, soy has a more balanced amino acid composition that is closer to the protein profile of animal foods. This makes soy a high-quality source of protein for a balanced diet.
Gesunde Fettsäuren
Soy contains a considerable amount of unsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid. These fatty acids are important for cell membranes, hormone production and the immune system. Soy also contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is important for brain, heart and eye health.
Low in starch
Compared to some other plant-based protein sources such as lentils, lupins and peas, soy contains a very low amount of starch but is also rich in fiber, which aids digestion, promotes gut health and can help control weight by providing a longer-lasting feeling of satiety.
A rich source of vitamins and minerals
Soy provides a wide range of vitamins, minerals and trace elements such as vitamin B complex, vitamin E, iron, calcium and zinc, which are essential for the general health and well-being of dogs.
Isoflavones
Soy contains isoflavones, a group of secondary plant substances that have antioxidant properties and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
The estrogenic effect of isoflavones in soy, which is repeatedly discussed in human nutrition, is also a recurring theme in dog nutrition. However, studies show that the amount of phytohormones ingested by a dog through the consumption of soy products is normally many times too low to have any hormonal effect at all. In one study, dogs were fed exclusively on soy for a year and no effects on their health, skin and coat quality or behavior were found.
Low in allergens
Contrary to common assumptions, soy has a low allergenic potential for dogs. It is important to emphasize that soy is only not recommended if there is a proven intolerance to soy. In most cases, however, soy is a safe and well-tolerated source of protein for dogs.
Sustainable origin
Our soy comes from the EU and is grown sustainably and without deforestation. It is non-GMO soy that is environmentally friendly and ethical.
So overall, soy offers a variety of health benefits for dogs and is a sustainable, easily digestible source of protein that helps meet the nutritional needs of plant-based dogs.
Salt content in dog food
The natural nutritional concept of wolves can serve as a basic model for the diet of our dogs. In nature, wolves literally eat a prey animal with skin and hair - and with bones and blood. The latter has a not inconsiderable salt content in the form of the electrolytes sodium and chloride. These are essential for our dogs' organisms and play an important role in maintaining electrolyte balance, regulating the water balance and other physiological functions. When feeding meat in combination with vegetables and fruit (without blood), it is therefore essential to substitute sodium and chloride or salt. We use high-quality iodized salt for our Dog's Heaven fresh menus in order to add sufficient iodine in a completely natural way.
Why real human-grade quality for dogs
The dog, a carni-omnivore
If we take a look at the ancestors of our dogs, the wolves, we can see that the carnivore-omnivore wolf generally prefers to eat freshly killed prey. If hunting success fails to materialize, they have a certain flexibility due to their nutritional physiology and, as so-called “opportunistic eaters”, can also get by with carrion, carcasses or plant food. However, their nutritional requirements are basically met by eating fresh prey. This means that their diet can hardly be surpassed in terms of freshness. Only the stomach and intestinal contents of their mostly herbivorous prey have been pre-digested to a certain extent - but the fiber, pre- and probiotics they contain are also a nutritionally valuable part of the wolves' diet.
Maximum freshness and naturalness
If we were to transfer the principle of freshness of a predator such as the wolf to our human diet, this would mean that we would have to eat meat immediately after killing or slaughtering the animal and fruit and vegetables immediately after harvesting. From then on, the nutrient content and freshness of the food gradually decreases.
Human-Grade Quality
Based on the absolutely natural and fresh nutritional concept of wolves, we only use raw materials for our Dog's Heaven Fresh Menus that are of food quality at the time of processing in our production, as this guarantees a high level of naturalness and the highest possible nutrient content.
Human-grade quality means that the ingredients used meet the same standards that apply to human nutrition or the production of food for human consumption. Here you can find out more.
