Puppy Diet and Feeding Schedule

We have been feeding your puppy free choice with Diamond Puppy food in the Purple sack. 

chewy.com has an excellent video presentation and the best price online that we have found.

We recommend giving your puppy Nutri-Cal or Forti-Cal for the first few days after arrival.

 Follow the directions on the tube. 

 For the first few days after arrival, you will want to give the puppy free choice. 

As puppy gets used to your home you will probably want to schedule feed. 

 We do recommend schedule feeding for better potty training.

You may switch your puppy food as long as it is high quality, high protein 26-28%. 

We do recommend changing slowly; as this will help alleviate the diarrheic symptoms.

 Important Puppy Feeding Tips 

You need to feed your puppy right away when you get home, also offer fresh water.

Sometimes during transportation puppies stomachs can get "car sick".

It is vitally important that your puppy eat and drink after travel to prevent Hypoglycemia or low sugar!!

You may offer a little Nutri-Cal or Forti-Cal.

Avoid feeding your puppy vitamin or mineral supplements daily after the first few days of arriving.

When utilized incorrectly they can and will do far more harm than good.

 Only offer after flight or during times of sickness. 

Your puppy will adjust to changes in his/her diet.

Adding a little canned food to the dry food will help if puppy is hesitating to eat. 

Canned pumpkin and long-cooking rice added to the diet can help manage loose stools

after transportation to puppy's new home.

We recommend that you feed from a glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bowl.

Always keep fresh water available. Wash the water bowl frequently to avoid a buildup of bacteria. 

It's not a good idea to offer your puppy "people" food from the table.

It can upset their digestive systems. This reduces the risk of bloat.

To keep your puppy at a healthy weight, be sure to avoid overfeeding them.

How Much Food Do I Feed My Puppy?

Every week brings a rapid cycle of changes in which your puppy grows,

 learns, and especially eats. From the day they are born, they are on an accelerated growth path,

 and they need the fuel to reach their full potential. 

 Generally, a Toy Size puppy should eat   3/4 cup- 1 cup  of puppy food a day.

 But every puppy is different.

Be sure to monitor your new puppy’s health and wellness.

If they appear skinny and eagerly finish every meal,

 then you may need to increase the amount of food in their diet.

 Conversely, if you notice that your puppy is gaining too much weight

 for their age, you may need to limit the amount of food in their diet.

How Often Do I Feed My Puppy? 

How often you feed you puppy is determined by its age.

 Puppies eat more when they are young, because they are constantly growing.

Establish a Feeding Schedule.

What are the best times to feed a puppy?

The best times to feed your puppy are morning for breakfast, noontime for lunch, and evening for dinner.

The last meal should always be around 5-6 p.m

so that they have enough time to digest their food and go potty one last time before bedtime.

Your schedule will be different if puppy stays home while you work.

 You can feed morning free choice. Evening free choice.

With a potty place in his babysitting pen. Please see picture at bottom of Bringing puppy home tab. 

Schedule Feeding:

Puppy Age/Feeding Frequency

                                                                                                                  8 weeks  -8 hours (3 times daily if your able) 

                                                                                                                  9 weeks  -Twice daily 

                                                                                                        10 weeks to adult  -Twice daily 

After 8 weeks, puppies should learn that food will no longer be provided constantly throughout the day.

 Feed your puppy then wait for them to finish their meal.

After 15-20 minutes remove their food even if they haven’t finished,

 though 20 minutes should provide enough time for your puppy to consume the entire meal. 

(This helps time their potty breaks.)

Otherwise, you leave the puppyfood out for free choice feeding.

Wetting Your Dry Puppyfood

We have been feeding your puppy dry food moistened with a little water to make it easier to eat.

 We recommend using Kibble that is moistened with water to keep your puppy hydrated.

This also prevents puppy from playing in the food and making a mess

 You must be careful not to leave out dampened food for more than 2-3 hours as bacteria can form. 

What About Bones and Treats? 

Caution is needed when giving your puppy a bone to chew on.

Poultry, pork and cooked bones of any kind, are off limits and hazardous to your puppy.

 They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage

 to your puppy’s mouth, throat, and insides. 

In fact, any bone can be chewed into small pieces and block the intestines,

leading to a bout of constipation and lacerations of the mouth and internal organs.

They can even lodge in the throat with fatal results.

 Not to mention the thousands of other ways to satisfy your puppy’s urge to chew, like chew toys and fake bones.

When Should I Switch My Puppy to Dog Food? 

 We recommend that you should transition from puppy to dog food around 12 months old.

You can also consult with your veterinarian.

What is the best food for my puppy?

 The best dog food for your puppy will contain the healthy proteins, fats,

and carbohydrates that they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle.
 Our Vet recommends that we feed only puppy food to our puppies,

 and dog food to our parents.

Can puppies be overfed?

 Yes.

It takes time for a puppy to learn when to stop eating.

 A puppy’s digestive system is very delicate.

Therefore, puppies who overeat will typically vomit

 to relieve the pressure on their distended stomachs. 

Assuming your puppy manages to keep their food down,

they will almost certainly experience diarrhea shortly after.

Chronic overeating can result in chronic diarrhea that can last for weeks, even months. 

Excessive calories from overfeeding me may lead to weight gain,

 which is detrimental to your puppy’s healthy development.

If you can’t feel your puppy’s ribs under your fingers, they are too heavy.

 Before you limit your puppy’s diet, we recommend consulting your vet

 on how to safely cut back their caloric intake. 

How often should puppies drink water?

 Often. Puppies should have access to fresh, clean water.

It does not need to be available at all times, but should be available multiple times a day.

Taking the water away in the evening can help the puppy sleep through the night without waking to go out.

Provide water in a clean bowl, and change often.

What ingredients should you avoid feeding:

• MSG 
• xilitol is extremely poisonous, check to be sure food doesn’t contain this

Your puppy is unlikely to turn down a snack,

so owners should avoid feeding their puppy “human food” and

completely avoid foods that contain: 

• Chocolate & Dairy 
• Onions 
• Garlic 
• Caffeine
• Grapes 
• Nuts 
• Pitted Fruit 
• Salt
• Yeast
• Soy

One of the most significant decisions you can make for your puppy is

determining what it will eat.

 By feeding your puppy a nutritious diet on a regular basis you ensure it receives

 the vitamins and

minerals it needs to grow into a healthy, happy adult dog. 

So long as you’re willing to consult with your veterinarian and

 commit to feeding your puppy

only the highest-quality puppy food,

 then chances are high your puppy will enjoy an excellent quality of life. 

Your entire household should be dedicated to your puppy’s feeding regimen.

Keeping a puppy healthy and on its feeding schedule

takes a conscious effort from everyone in the household.