Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Schipperke Food Calculator
- Schipperke Feeding Chart
- Best Food for Schipperke. Schipperke Feeding Guide
- How Much Food to Feed the Schipperke
- How Many Times to Feed the Schipperke a Day
- Conclusion
Introduction to Feeding the Schipperke
Most dog owners do not know how to properly feed their dogs.
Also, most dog owners overfeed their dogs.
That explains why 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, according to research.
Overfeeding your Schipperke will make your Schipperke overweight and obese. Obesity leads to worse health problems for your Schipperke.
Unfortunately, the Schipperke is a dog breed that can become overweight very easily.
Therefore, you need to pay careful attention to what you feed your Schipperke and how much food you feed your Schipperke.
Furthermore, when you overfeed your Schipperke, you waste dog food. Wasting dog food is the same as wasting money. Dog food is a recurring expenditure that adds up to a lot of money over the lifespan of your Schipperke.
The average lifespan of the Schipperke is 13.0 years.
When you feed your Schipperke the right type of food and the right amount of food, your Schipperke will be of the right body weight and the right body condition (not overweight or underweight).
Similarly, underfeeding your Schipperke is as bad of a problem as overfeeding your Schipperke.
When you underfeed your Schipperke or feed your Schipperke an incomplete or unbalanced diet, you reduce your Schipperke`s quality of life.
The right amount of food that your Schipperke needs depends on six important factors.
You need to take all these factors into account when developing a meal plan for your Schipperke. These six factors are:- The life stage of your Schipperke (puppy, adult, or senior)
- The current weight of your Schipperke
- The body condition of your Schipperke (normal weight, overweight, underweight)
- How active your Schipperke is (inactive/obese prone, or active/athletic)
- If your Schipperke has been spayed/neutered
- The type of dog food that you feed your Schipperke
This article will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly feed your Schipperke based on the above factors as recommended by veterinarians.
This article also includes the Schipperke food calculator that you can use to estimate how much food to feed your Schipperke based on the six factors we have just mentioned.
Our Schipperke food calculator uses the dog food formula and feeding guidelines developed by the veterinarians from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center and by veterinarians from the Mark Morris Institute.
Moreover, our calculator knows the calorie content per cup in over 800 popular dog foods (data from the Frankin Animal Clinic). Thus, the calculator can automatically calculate the right amount of each popular dog food that your Schipperke needs daily.
Importantly, since the nutrient requirements of the Schipperke puppy are different from the nutrient requirements of the adult Schipperke, this article contains recommendations on the best food to feed the Schipperke at different ages.
Schipperke Food Calculator
The Schipperke Food Calculator above lets you estimate how much food to feed your Schipperke.
Similarly, to calculate how much water your Schipperke needs, check out our Schipperke water calculator
.Our dog water calculator lets you estimate how much water your Schipperke needs to drink in a day.
How to Use our Schipperke Food Calculator
To use the dog food calculator:✔ Select the name of the dog food that you feed your Schipperke from the list.
✔ If the name of the dog food that your feed your Schipperke is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.
✔ Enter the current weight of your Schipperke.
✔ Select your Schipperke`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.
✔ If your Schipperke is overweight or underweight, and you want your Schipperke to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your Schipperke for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your Schipperke is of normal weight.
To know how much Schipperkes typically weigh at different ages, check out our article and calculators on Schipperke weight and growth.
CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.
How the Schipperke Food Calculator Works
First, the calculator estimates what is known as the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Schipperke.
The RER is the amount of energy that your Schipperke needs when it is `resting`, that is when doing nothing. The calculator uses the current weight of your Schipperke to calculate your Schipperke`s resting energy.
Next, the calculator scales up the resting energy by a factor that corresponds to your Schipperke`s life stage (puppy or adult) and lifestyle (activity level, spayed/neutered, etc). This scaled up energy value (called the maintenance energy) is the energy that your Schipperke needs to maintain its life when not resting.
Finally, the Schipperke food calculator divides the maintenance energy by the amount of energy in one cup of dog food to calculate how many cups of dog food your Schipperke needs.
Monitoring Your Schipperke`s Growth
The answer from the Schipperke food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Schipperke.
Start by feeding your Schipperke the amount of food recommended by the Schipperke food calculator every day.
While feeding your Schipperke this daily amount of food, weigh your Schipperke at least once a week to ensure that your Schipperke is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Schipperke is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Schipperke`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Schipperke grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Schipperke body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Schipperke body condition score here.
Schipperke Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Schipperke. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Schipperke.
If you want a more accurate estimate of how much food to feed your Schipperke, use this Schipperke food calculator.
| Age | Typical Weight | How Much Food |
|---|---|---|
| 15 weeks | 7.4 lbs (3.4 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 16 weeks | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) | 1.4 cups per day |
| 17 weeks | 8.3 lbs (3.8 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 20 weeks | 9.4 lbs (4.3 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 5 months | 9.4 lbs (4.3 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 6 months | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) | 1.2 cups per day |
| 7 months | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) | 1.2 cups per day |
| 8 months | 12.2 lbs (5.5 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 9 months | 12.7 lbs (5.8 kg) | 1.3 cups per day |
| 10 months | 13.0 lbs (5.9 kg) | 1.4 cups per day |
| 11 months | 13.3 lbs (6.0 kg) | 1.4 cups per day |
| 12 months | 13.4 lbs (6.1 kg) | 1.4 cups per day |
| 2 years | 13.5 lbs (6.1 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 3 years | 13.5 lbs (6.1 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 5 years | 13.5 lbs (6.1 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Schipperke
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
See how and how not to measure ONE cup of dry dog food in the picture below:
Note that one cup of dog food equals 8 oz of dog food or ~237 milliliters of dog food.
You can buy standard dog food measuring cups here on Amazon.
Best Food for Schipperke. Schipperke Feeding Guide
The Schipperke has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Schipperke at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
For example, during its puppy stage, your Schipperke needs the type of dog food that has been designed to help boost a puppy`s weak immune system.
On the other hand, the adult Schipperke should have already developed a good immune system. So, during the adult stage, you should feed your Schipperke the type of dog food that has been designed to prolong the life of a dog.
Nevertheless, some dogs still do well eating the same food at every stage of their lives.
However, feeding your Schipperke dog food that has been optimized for its age will ensure that your Schipperke grows well, lives well, and lives long.
Feeding Guide for the Schipperke Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Also, a good puppy food should have the nutrients that support brain development and good vision.
Finally, a good dog food for the Schipperke puppy should be the type that will not make your Schipperke fat. The puppy food should also help increase the health of your puppy`s bones.
See our list of the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food for the Schipperke puppy below.
These dog foods have all the right amount of nutrients that the Schipperke puppy needs to grow well during its puppy years.
Best Dry Food For Schipperke Puppy: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Schipperke Puppy: Purina Pro Plan High Protein Wet Puppy Food
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Schipperke: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Schipperke should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Schipperke should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Schipperke getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Schipperke should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Schipperke
Best Dry Food For Young Adult Schipperke: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult Oral Care for Dental Health Dog Food, Chicken Rice & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Young Adult Schipperke: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Schipperkes: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Schipperke food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Schipperke below:
Best Dry Food For Mature Adult Schipperke: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
Best Wet Food For Mature Adult Schipperke: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Beef & Barley Recipe
Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
One way to slow down the effects of aging in dogs is to reduce the amount of food you feed old dogs by 20 to 30% of normal while meeting essential nutrient needs.
Reducing a senior Schipperke`s food slows the aging process and reduces the risk for cancer, kidney diseases, arthritis, and immune-related diseases.
AAFCO-Certified Dog Food for the Schipperke
No matter which commercial food that you feed your Schipperke, make sure that the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
AAFCO is an expert body that rigorously tests dog food to make sure that the dog food is safe.
Also, AAFCO ensures that a dog food has all the nutrients (not just calories) that a dog needs to grow well before AAFCO approves the dog food.
Unlike homemade dog food, most commercial dog foods are AAFCO-approved. Double-check the label of your dog food to make sure it has been certified by AAFCO before feeding it to your Schipperke.
How Much Food to Feed the Schipperke
How Much Food to Feed a 15-Week-Old Schipperke Puppy
You should feed your 15-week-old Schipperke puppy 1.3 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Schipperke puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 15-week-old Schipperke puppy assumes that the weight of your Schipperke is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 15-week-old Schipperke puppy is 7.4 lbs (3.4 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Schipperke, and other factors, use our Schipperke food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 16-Week-Old Schipperke Puppy
You should feed your 16-week-old Schipperke puppy 1.4 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Schipperke puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 16-week-old Schipperke puppy assumes that the weight of your Schipperke is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 16-week-old Schipperke puppy is 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Schipperke, and other factors, use our Schipperke food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 5-Month-Old Schipperke Puppy
You should feed your 5-month-old Schipperke puppy 1.1 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Schipperke puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 5-month-old Schipperke puppy assumes that the weight of your Schipperke is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 5-month-old Schipperke puppy is 9.4 lbs (4.3 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Schipperke food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke.
How Much Food to Feed a 8-Month-Old Schipperke Puppy
You should feed your 8-month-old Schipperke puppy 1.3 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Schipperke puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 8-month-old Schipperke puppy assumes that the weight of your Schipperke is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 8-month-old Schipperke puppy is 12.2 lbs (5.5 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Schipperke food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke.
How Much Food to Feed a 5-Year-Old Schipperke
You should feed your 5-year-old Schipperke 1.1 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Schipperke over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 5-year-old Schipperke assumes that the weight of your Schipperke is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 5-year-old Schipperke puppy is 13.5 lbs (6.1 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Schipperke food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke.
How Much Food to Feed a 10-Year-Old Schipperke
You should feed your 10-year-old Schipperke 1.1 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Schipperke over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 10-year-old Schipperke assumes that the weight of your Schipperke is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 10-year-old Schipperke puppy is 13.5 lbs (6.1 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Schipperke food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke.
How Much Food to Feed a 7-Pound Schipperke
You should feed your 7-Pound Schipperke 0.7 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Schipperke over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Schipperke is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Schipperke is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Schipperke food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke.
How Much Food to Feed a 9-Pound Schipperke
You should feed your 9-Pound Schipperke 0.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Schipperke over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Schipperke also assumes that you feed your Schipperke a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Schipperke is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Schipperke is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Schipperke food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Schipperke.
How Many Times to Feed the Schipperke a Day
When it comes to how many times to feed a dog, there are three different ways to feed the Schipperke
One way is to make food available to the Schipperke at all times (free-choice feeding).
Another way is to feed the Schipperke two or three times a day (food-restricted feeding). This is the feeding method that works the best for most Schipperkes.
The third way is to make food available to your Schipperke for a short time (about 10 minutes) once or twice a day (time-restricted feeding).
Each of these feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed next.
Free-Choice Feeding
This is a feeding method when you make food available to your Schipperke all the time.
Food-Restricted Meal Feeding
Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the Schipperke’s daily energy requirements divided into two or three meals per day.
This is the method of choice for feeding puppies that are at risk of developing bone diseases due to rapid growth. Restricting the food of a rapidly growing dog will ensure that the dog grows normally.
Time-Limited Feeding
This is a dog feeding method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a short period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day).
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free-choice feeding |
|
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| Food-restricted feeding |
|
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| Time-restricted feeding |
|
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Effect of Neutering/Spaying on How Much Food your Schipperke eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Schipperke`s appetite for more food. Also, your Schipperke`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Schipperkes because neutered dogs roam less (which means less exercise).
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Schipperke should be reduced after you neuter your Schipperke to prevent weight gain.
Use our Schipperke food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Schipperke.
Effect of Weather on How Much Food Your Schipperke Needs
Schipperkes that live in cold environments need more food (especially, food high in fat) than Schipperkes that live in hot environments.
Hot weather, on the other hand, does not increase the amount of food your Schipperke needs. Hot weather only makes your Schipperke need more water.
Since most Schipperkes live in a temperature-controlled environment as their owners. Therefore, owners do not need to increase or decrease the amount of food they give to their Schipperkes based on the outside weather.
Important Note on Treats and Table Food
Because meeting a dog`s nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of dog treats, most commercial dog treats do not contain the essential nutrients that your Schipperke needs.
However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are approved by AAFCO, or some other credible dog food regulatory agency. Check the label on your dog treat to know if the dog treat has a complete and balanced nutrient profile.
Nevertheless, dog treats, either balanced or unbalanced in nutrients, are valid sources of calories for your dog. Therefore, if you give your dog lots of treats, you should reduce the amount of the regular dog food that you give your dog accordingly to account for the treats. That way, you will not overfeed your dog.
Also, human table foods do not contain the important nutrients that your Schipperke needs for healthy growth.
Also, human table foods may contain very high levels of fat or sodium and other minerals that are harmful to your Schipperke.
Moreover, know that when you feed your Schipperke table food, you fill your Schipperke`s stomach with dog `junk food`. This will suppress your Schipperke`s appetite and thereby make your Schipperke unable to eat its normal dog food that contains the essential nutrients for your Schipperke`s growth.
We do not recommend giving your Schipperke table food.
Conclusion
Most commercial dog food labels contain recommendations on how much of the food to feed a dog. However, their recommendations are very general.
Therefore, in this article, we have provided your specific advice on how to properly feed your Schipperke.