Health & Nutrition

The breed has predictable vulnerabilities: hips and elbows, digestion, degenerative myelopathy, and bloat. Knowing the baseline lets you spot the deviation early.

How we approach it

Step 1

Feed for slow, even growth

Large-breed puppy formulas with controlled calcium. Rapid growth is a joint risk, not a sign of health.

Step 2

Weigh, do not guess

Body condition scoring monthly. A lean shepherd carries measurably less load through the hips.

Step 3

Build a veterinary baseline

Annual bloods from three years old. Trends across years reveal more than any single result.

Step 4

Know the emergencies

Bloat, heatstroke and spinal trauma. Rehearse the route to your nearest 24-hour clinic before you need it.

Guides in Health & Nutrition

6 articles

Performance

Conditioning the Adult Working Dog

Structured cardio, hind-end awareness and rest days. Fitness protocols that protect joints instead of grinding them down.

Care

Coat, Skin and the Twice-Yearly Blowout

Grooming schedules, undercoat rakes, and when shedding patterns point to thyroid or allergy problems rather than season.

Intermediate

Managing a Sensitive Shepherd Gut

EPI, food trials and fibre adjustments — a methodical approach to chronic loose stool instead of endless food switching.

Emergency

Bloat: The Ten Minutes That Matter

Gastric torsion is the breed emergency. Recognise the posture, the unproductive retching, and act without waiting for morning.

Essential

Hips and Elbows: Reading a Screening Score

What OFA, BVA and SV scores actually measure, what counts as breeding quality, and what it means for your dog at eight years old.

Essential

Feeding a German Shepherd by Life Stage

Protein, fat and calcium targets from twelve weeks to senior years, with portion maths for a 32 kg working-line adult.

Continue reading

Obedience, drive & handling

Training Guides

Weeks 8 to 20

Puppy Care