Puppy Feeding Schedule

puppy feeding
Many new puppy owners often find themselves asking, “How often should i feed my puppy?” Puppies grow 20 times faster than adult dogs. By following a puppy feeding schedule, new puppy owners can easily adapt to their puppy’s growing needs and appetite to aid their physical development. As your puppy quickly grows through several life stages, it’s important to be responsive to their special needs along the way.

For older puppies a specially formulated growth food is recommended. This should be fed at evenly spaced intervals to avoid over stretching their small stomachs. A responsible breeder will have given you advice about your puppy’s diet.

However as is often the case, many new puppy owners will often begin to worry about what, and how much will i feed my puppy as soon as they arrive in their home. A puppy feeding schedule during this period is crucial.

Puppy Feeding Schedule

When considering, how much should i feed my puppy? You must first understand that a puppy’s feeding habits will change rapidly as he quickly grows. A puppy feeding schedule is an excellent way to keep track of what, how much, and how often you should feed your puppy. This puppy feeding schedule can thus be broken down into periods:

  • The First 8 Weeks – Ideally puppies should not be separated from their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old. During this period, not only do they learn important critical socializing skills, but puppies who leave their mothers sooner have a rougher time adjusting and a higher incidence of illnesses. Any responsible dog breeder will not allow a puppy to be removed until this period has elapsed. During this time a puppy’s mother’s milk provides them with the nutrition and antibodies they need in order to grow strong and healthy. At 3 to 4 weeks, puppies should begin eating some solid food. A good idea is to mix three parts food with one part water or formulated puppy milk . This then makes digesting the solids much easier for the puppy. By starting a puppy on solid foods while they are still with their mother,they will have a much easier time adjusting when you bring them home. A good indication of whether a puppy is ready to come home with you is if he prefers your company over their sibling’s or mother’s.
  • 6 – 8 Weeks – During this period of the puppy feeding schedule, you should be feeding a puppy 3-4 times a day. Puppies and adult dogs have different calorie and nutritional requirements. It’s important to select a puppy food that will provide the correct balance of nutrients your puppy requires. Ensure your puppy is receiving the appropriate amount of protein and calcium, and the proper amount of calories. At this stage of the puppy feeding schedule, a specified meat should be the first ingredient listed on the solid food’s label.
  • After 8 weeks – Your puppy can now be fed twice a day.
  • 3 to 6 months – Just like a small child, during this period your puppy will begin teething. He may become a aggitated, develop a chewing problem, or lose his appetite. Keep feeding him food twice a day with nutritious food as before. Should your puppy develop a stomach upset lasting more than one or two days, you should consider taking him to the vet.
  • 6 months to 1 year – While you may feel your puppy is now a fully grown dog, he is in fact still just a puppy. Continue to feed your puppy a high quality food during this period. While some very high quality dog food companies do produce food that is suitable for both puppies and older dogs, many foods designed for older dogs simply don’t have the required levels of nutrients. If you are feeding a puppy food ask your veterinarian when you should switch to adult food. Make sure the adult food is then also of a high quality, and that when listed, meat is the primary ingredient, rather than a byproduct.
  • 8 to 9 months – Again during this period of the puppy feeding schedule, your puppy should be fed twice a day
  • 1 year upwards – In most breeds feeding should be twice a day.
    •

    While the above puppy feeding schedule is an excellent guideline, it is always best to consult with your vet about the specific needs of your pet. An individual dog’s requirements can sometimes differ from this schedule.

    Click Here NOW And Discover The AMAZING Puppy Training SECRETS Of A Professional Hollywood North Dog Trainer!

    For more information please visit Puppy Training Tips or feel free to browse through our site. Before you move on to any other pages in our puppy training website, why not sign up below to receive our FREE puppy training tips and claim your FREE “How To Become The Alpha Dog” dog training guide ($27 VALUE) too!

    FREE Report Reveals: How To Stop Your

    Puppy’s Obedience Problems… FOR GOOD!