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Puppy Pointers

Feeding

Your puppy will do well on two feedings a day (feeding three times a day is not necessary but is OK if the puppy is under sixteen weeks of age). Occasionally, some of the toy breeds need to be fed numerous small meals throughout the day, due to a low blood sugar condition. Your veterinarian will advise you if your puppy needs to eat more frequently. Adult dog food contains all the nutrients that puppies and adult dogs need. You may feed your small breed puppy either adult or puppy dry food, if you wish. Large breed puppies should eat large breed puppy food or adult food to help avoid developmental bone diseases.

You may feed the food dry or you can dampen it with warm water. A very young puppy may need its kibble softened, but older pups can eat crunchy food.

Your puppy should eat quickly and act slightly hungry when it is finished. A puppy should take no longer than 10 minutes to finish a meal. Most will finish the meal in a minute or so. If your puppy takes longer, or if it walks away while there is still food in the bowl, then you are probably feeding too much food. Cut back by one third to one half the amount at the next meal. If the pup eats well the next time, stay with that amount.

All puppies should look lean, not pudgy. You should be easily able to feel its ribs and it should have a "waist" that gets narrower after its ribs and before its hind legs. You do not want a "pot-bellied" puppy.

If you give the puppy "treats" such as dog biscuits or meat, you will need to remember to cut back on its food by the same amount. If you use kibble as training treats, use some of the puppy's daily ration. Do not use an EXTRA 1/4 cup of kibble or treats to train throughout the day, or you may find that you have a pudgy puppy!

A puppy should have two to three stools a day, usually right after feeding time. If your puppy has stools frequently throughout the day or begins to have a soft, ploppy stool, you may be feeding too much. Cut back by one third to one half the amount of food at the next meal and see if the stool returns to normal.

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