Feeding Your Puppy

Puppy digestive systems are still developing and your puppy can’t hold as much in his tummy as he can when he’s an adult. Smaller portions several times a day are appropriate at this stage. As a general rule, you should feed your puppy three meals a day when he first comes home.

Keep your dog on the same food the breeder or shelter was feeding him for at least a few weeks until your pup has settled into his new environment. Once he has adjusted, then you can transition him to a different food, if you are not happy with his existing food. Dogs, especially puppies have very sensitive tummies and will end up with diarrhea if you suddenly switch foods on him.

Feed Your Puppy Dry Kibble
Feed your puppy dry kibble – do not feed wet! Wet dog food sticks to your dog’s teeth and will cause tooth decay. Dry kibble will help to keep your dog’s teeth clean. When your dog is older (past the puppy stage), you can occasionally give him a little bit of wet food mixed in with his dry kibble as a treat. Most stores sell small pouches of wet food just for this purpose. Don’t do this too often, remember, it is an occasional, special treat.

Choose a High Quality Food
Choose a high quality puppy kibble for your pup, one that is high in protein and preferably grain free. Grains are not a natural part of the canine diet and many of them, such as wheat and especially corn and soy (the "Unholy Dog Trinity") cause allergies in dogs. The length of time you should keep your dog on puppy food will depend on the breed.

How to Feed Your Pup
Use the feeding guidelines on the package of your chosen puppy food. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines and they tend to be on the generous side (remember, dog food companies are trying to sell dog food!) Be prepared to adjust the amount you feed. Very active puppies will need more food than quieter, less active puppies. Take the total daily amount and divide by three and feed for each meal. You should not free feed your dog, even if you have a breed that will pace itself with its eating. Breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, constantly eat and cannot regulate themselves. Be sure to include the amount of food you use as training treats as part of puppy’s daily allotment.

Prepare Your Puppy’s Meals
While it may seem like more work, make it a routine to actually “prepare” your dog’s food. Pour the food into the bowl, then have your pup sit and stay. When your pup is sitting calmly and politely, then you can put the food down for him to eat. Pick up any uneaten food after 10 to 15 minutes. Don’t worry about your puppy being hungry if he has left food in his bowl after this time. Your pup will learn that meal times occur at specific times and will eat accordingly.

This type of routine will help establish you as the leader of the pack or the Alpha dog. The Alpha dog owns everything that belongs to the pack and food is the most valuable resource. By following a strict mealtime routine instead of free feeding, you will help your dog to focus on you and this in turn will help with behavior and training.

Do Not Free Feed
Do not revert to free feeding if you feel your dog is not eating enough at mealtimes. Your dog will quickly learn there will only be certain opportunities for him to eat and will eat enough to satisfy himself. A healthy dog will not consciously starve himself and will eat what he needs – even if you don’t feel it’s enough. Remember, you don’t want to end up with an obese dog. An extra 10 pounds on you is fine, but an extra ten pounds on your dog is detrimental. Extra weight causes stress on the vital organs and will lead to joint problems.

Slow Down Fast Eaters
For those breeds that are food motivated, you want to make sure that your pup does not eat too quickly. If you find your pup eats too quickly, you can put fist-sized stones in your dog’s food bowl. Choose stones that are too large for your dog to swallow. There are also dog food bowls available that have posts in the middle of them, which will help to slow down your dog’s rate of consumption. When your dog gulps his food, he can take in pockets of air, which can cause a condition called bloat. Bloat is a very painful and potentially deadly condition where the stomach and intestines twist on themselves.