Throughout the history of the German Shepherd breed, these dogs have served as loyal, faithful companions and servants for humankind. As you read this article on your computer screen, thousands of brave German Shepherds the world around are on duty as watchdogs, police dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, bomb dogs, drug dogs, sheepherders or military dogs. No other breed works harder than the German Shepherd. Your German Shepherd deserves care fit for a king or queen, including a high quality diet to sustain this hard-working dog's complex nutritional needs.

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.

Providing for your German Shepherd's care means you should provide the best dog food you can afford. An economical solution to high-priced premium dog foods is to make your own dog food. Start with five basic ingredients, and turn them into a collection of German Shepherd dog food recipes that your dog loves.

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!

German Shepherds have sensitive stomachs, so an important aspect of German Shepherd nutrition is to make any dietary changes gradually to allow the dog sufficient time to adapt its system to the new diet. This is true even when the dogs are very small. 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.

Consult your veterinarian before you make any changes to your German Shepherd's diet. If your German Shepherd has been diagnosed with a medical condition or takes prescription medication, consulting your vet is extremely important, as ingredients in dog food may interact with your German Shepherd's medications. The more information about your German Shepherd's care you can learn, the better care you can give your dog.