The first few full weeks of a pup taking in solid food will be important for their growth and development, both mentally and physically, making it important for dog owners to recognize proper nutrition for their canine companion, as well as correct amounts and the best diet obtainable
Understanding Food Motivation in Dogs:
Before choosing any type of kibble or canned food for a puppy, it's important to remember that dogs are highly food motivated. Their wild ancestors and relatives are often forced to endure days or weeks without much to eat, and the trait of eating as much as possible at any given time is still apparent in most modern dog breeds.
This makes it easy to overfeed a puppy. Most puppies will eat as much as you will give them as many times as you offer food until they gorge themselves sick. On the flip side, food can be a great training tool if used correctly. Keeping this food motivation in mind, you can begin to assess the best feeding routine, diet and schedule for your dog to ensure they do not eat too much, but are getting enough for their specific needs and energy level.
Proper Nutrition and Feeding Amounts:
First puppies and younger dogs need a different type of chow that is formulated to compensate for rapid growth and development. Always feed your pet age-appropriate foods.
Do not just grab whatever bag of dry kibble happens to be on sale at your local supermarket. Read the nutrition labels and compare ingredients. Dogs are carnivores by nature, and while some grains and vegetables can be helpful, the main ingredients in quality dog food should always be meat. Dog foods that are high in "filler" products, like corn or other carbohydrates, have the potential to increase the risk of obesity in canines.
Remember, too, that constantly changing the diet of a dog or puppy can also have negative effects. A rotating diet of several dog food types and brands may cause Fido to become finicky or cause digestive problems. Find a type of chow your canine companion likes and provides proper nutrition and deviate as little as possible.
Stick to the Schedule:
Younger puppies will need to be fed about three times per day, but as they grow older you can adjust this to twice per day and, depending on the breed and energy level of your dog, once per day. A new puppy should eat once early in the morning, once around noon, and once in the early afternoon. Try to avoid feeding before bedtime, as this may cause more elimination accidents in the house and be a setback to housebreaking.
If you are using food as a training tool, remember to subtract the amount you have used during training, be it treats or dry kibble, from Fido's daily meal intake. For example, if your pooch usually receives two cups of food per day, but you fed him half of a cup of treats during training sessions, you will want to feed him a little less at meal time to prevent excess weight gain over time. Keep in mind that treats are usually not 100% nutritionally complete.
