Positive Dog Training Blog

When I brought home my puppy, this was my first question, how much should I feed my puppy. The breeder told me what she was feeding and what kind, so I knew what to start with, but puppies grow quickly and their dietary requirements change. I think puppies are a lot like children where they need more food and have growth spurts, and the it cuts back some too.

Some puppies will eat and not stop – this is common in the retrievers. There are other puppies that are more finicky and refuse to eat. with smaller dogs, this can be a big cause for concern.

Here are some tips on how I decide how much I should feed my puppy.

1. Read the requirements on the bag
This is a guideline, not a hard fast rule. But it does give you a good range. It will also tell you based on their current weight and how old they are.

2. Watch their stools
Completely soft means too much food or the wrong type of food for your puppy. Hard then soft means slightly too much food.

3. Increase the food slowly.
If you need to increase it, do so slowly, dont just dump an extra cup in the bowl.

If you puppy is acting hungry, he may just be. You will likely need to play with amounts until you find the right balance and remember to increase it until they are done growing. Follow the recommendation of the bag you are feeding, feed a high quality food and always check with your vet if you aren’t sure.

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