There’s a lot to think about when you bring your new puppy home, especially with regard to feeding. I’ve put together 5 simple rules for feeding your puppy. So you can spend your time enjoying your new pet, and not worrying about whether they are getting the best food at the right times.
Content
Rule One: Little and often
Small puppies have tiny tummies, but big appetites. After all, they have a lot of growing to be getting on with. In order to give them enough food to fulfill their daily requirements without upsetting their delicate stomaches, their food needs to be delivered in evenly spaced rations.
Your puppy’s breeder will let you know how often he has been fed when she hands him over to you, and should advice you on how to proceed.
As a rule of thumb pups need four meals a day until they are three months old, three meals a day until they are six months old, and two meals a day thereafter.
Rule Two: Pick a mid-range kibble
Most new puppy owners choose to feed their pups on kibble. And this is usually a good idea. Puppies do very well on raw food too, but you need to do some research in order to learn how to feed a growing puppy on raw meat and bones.
Cheap kibble can seem very appealing in terms of your bank balance, but it can be a false economy.
Most cheaper brands pad out their meals with ingredients that your puppy doesn’t need, and which will pass straight through him. This means that if you buy a cheaper food, you may will end up giving him larger quantities.
Therefore spending the same amount over all as you would have done on a more expensive make.
Rule Three: Don’t overfeed
Nowadays, we know that puppies should be kept slim. Growing too quickly or getting too fat can cause health problems. If you are giving your puppy too much food, or too little, the way to tell is not through the scales. It is through looking and touching.
You should be able to feel but not see your puppy’s ribs. When he stands there should be a defined slope from his belly to his groin.
Manufacturers recommended quantities on packets can provide a good guideline, or starting point. But you will need to assess your individual puppy every few days and adjust accordingly.
If your puppy tries to tell you he is starving hungry at the end of each meal, try feeding his kibble is a slow-feed bowl. It will take him longer to eat it, and he will enjoy the meal more.
Rule Four: No food before bed
It is tempting to put your puppy to bed with a nice full tummy. But this is likely to result in your new friend urgently needing a bathroom break in the small hours.
(paid link) Make sure your puppy’s last meal is a good three or four hours before his last trip to the garden at your bedtime. So if you like to make your way upstairs at eleven pm, your puppy’s last mealtime should be no later than 8pm.
Rule Five: No sudden changes
This is perhaps the most important rule of all. Sudden dietary changes can really upset your puppy’s tiny body. Resulting in bouts of diahorrea.
If you are changing brands for example, you need to slowly introduce a small amount of the new food over the course of several meals, rather than jumping straight in with the new type
cayla says
I have a 8 week old Pitbull/great pyrenees puppy, and a 2 year old chihuahua mix. I feed them both Purina one deathly weight formula. is that okay for my pup? can’t afford puppy food at the moment but I have had him for a week and a half.
cayla says
**healthy weight**
Pippa Mattinson says
Hi Cayla, You really do need to feed your puppy on formula designed for puppies, not on an adult feed. Have a look at one of the big bulk buy stores, they often have good deals on kibble. Best wishes!
Karla medina says
At what month scan can I change my puppy food to and adult dog( german shepherd Doberman 4 months )?
Marla wilson says
1year. Adult food does not have all the nutrients and protein a puppy needs
Elizabeth Roark says
My puppy is getting good on crate but I have been feeding him at at nite go bed at 930 he is getting 3 potty breaks at nite am I feeding him to late
Natasha says
I have a Rhodesian ridgeback puppy I’m not sure of how old he is because for some reason he was left in a cardboard box on the side of the road (vet said he is still very young) he’s almost 11 pounds but doesn’t really eat much unless it’s treat (for pottying outside) any ideas?
Natalie Lozano says
My 4 week old pitbull puppy looks really sad and doesn’t eat. I’m really worried
Lucy says
A four week old puppy should still be with his mother. Please return him to the breeder until he is 8 weeks old, and make sure a vet checks him over too asap. I hope that he is okay.
Nancy says
My 3 months border collie/Pomeranian puppy is getting thin, he doesn’t eat much since I brought him home at 5 weeks and only eats meat and chicken, if I give any other food, he doesn’t eat. Am worried.
Debra Wendlandt says
I am concerned, our Airedale pup @14 weeks is only 20#s. He is on an all stages grain free food. He is fed a healthy 1/2 cup 3 times daily. If I feed more he get diarrhea. Our vet has voiced minimal concern stating he is in fine shape but a little light. Should I be concerned? He demonstrates unending energy, walks a mile a day and sleeps well through the night. He’s definitely all terrier!
Pippa says
A lot of young dogs go through a skinny phase when they are growing fast Debra, as long as you check in regularly with your vet and he is happy with your puppy,then you shouldn’t need to worry. But it does sound as though you might be overexercising him a little. Puppies don’t need long walks. Drop into the forum if you want to chat or get some support. http://thelabradorforum.com – you don’t need a labrador 🙂
Michelle EWalker says
We are getting our border collie.puppy in two weeks and are raw feeding. Your book mentions to feed 10% of puppy’s weight and then 2-3% for adult weight. When and by how much should we startto decrease the 10% and how often? THanks
akash says
Got sufficient and satisfactory details….thank u…