Feeding your Puppy
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A puppy eats a lot of food. From birth up to six months of age, they will need to eat two to four times as much as an adult dog to support all that growth.
A good rule of thumb (paw?) is that after his first week of life, when his weight doubles from what it was at birth, a puppy should gain one to two grams per pound of anticipated adult weight each day. This means that if your German Shepherd puppy weighs 75 pounds as an adult, he should gain three to five ounces per day as a puppy. |
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We free feed all our dogs so there is always
food available for them. Our puppies eat approximately 1 cup of this food to every 5 pounds of their weight. Some people prefer to feed their puppy 4 times a day, so if you decide to go that route then you would feed the puppy approximately 1/4 ish food each feeding. How do you know if I am feeding my puppy enough dog food?
Watch your puppy: are they eating all the food? (If not, you can take the rest away and next time feed a little less; if the puppy eats all the food and is still asking for more, you can add a little more). You have to watch also his/her stool carefully: stool should be darker colour and firm in consistency. If it is very soft or even running, you are feeding too much, or there could be other problems. |
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How much?
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Puppies need to eat a lot--and not too much. You should be able to feel but not see their ribs, and they should have a visible waist when you look down at them. This is true for puppies of any breed, big or small.
Recommended daily amount: 1/2 to 1 cup of high-quality dry food a day, divided into 3-4 meals. |
NOTE: How much your puppy eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.
Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don't all need the same amount of food. It almost
goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog.
The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food,
the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you'll need to shake into
your dog's bowl. In general, you should follow the guidelines on the back of the bag of dog
food, and adjust up or down depending on your puppy's appetite and body condition.
Dogs are individuals, just like people, and they don't all need the same amount of food. It almost
goes without saying that a highly active dog will need more than a couch potato dog.
The quality of dog food you buy also makes a difference — the better the dog food,
the further it will go toward nourishing your dog and the less of it you'll need to shake into
your dog's bowl. In general, you should follow the guidelines on the back of the bag of dog
food, and adjust up or down depending on your puppy's appetite and body condition.
When do I feed my puppy?
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We free feed all our dogs so there is always
food available for them therefore our feeding schedule is pretty easy. If the bowl is empty..... we fill it Some people prefer to feed their puppy 3-4 times a a day, so if you decide to go that route then you would feed the puppy approximately 1/4 ish of their food at each feeding. |
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At around eight to 12 weeks of age your puppy is probably eating three to four times a day. He
doesn't have to eat that many times though. If it suits your schedule to feed him only twice a day, just
divide the amount of food you'd normally give into two meals instead of three or four.
After he's six months old you can--and should --reduce the number of meals you feed him to
two. Start reducing the amount of food he gets as well, following guidelines provided by food
manufacturers, adjusting as needed. If you're feeding too much, most dogs will
let you know by leaving some behind in his bowl.
doesn't have to eat that many times though. If it suits your schedule to feed him only twice a day, just
divide the amount of food you'd normally give into two meals instead of three or four.
After he's six months old you can--and should --reduce the number of meals you feed him to
two. Start reducing the amount of food he gets as well, following guidelines provided by food
manufacturers, adjusting as needed. If you're feeding too much, most dogs will
let you know by leaving some behind in his bowl.
Puppy considerations
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Never feed your puppy from the table. It only encourages begging. It
is important that everyone in the family follows this rule. |
Cavaliers are prone to becoming overweight
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Keep your Cavalier in good shape by measuring
his food and feeding him twice a day rather than leaving food out all the time. If you're unsure whether he's overweight, give him the eye test and the hands-on test. First, look down at him. You should be able to see a waist. Then place your hands on his back, thumbs along the spine, with the fingers spread downward. You should be able to feel but not see his ribs without having to press hard. If you can't, he needs less food and more exercise. |
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If you feed a canned or raw diet, it's a good idea
to cover the ears with a snood, or headband, or pull them back with a hair scrunchy while your Cavalier eats. Otherwise, he'll end up with food in his fur — not a good look. For both water and food, look for bowls with a narrow diameter so the ears don't drag in them. |
Fresh clean water should be available at all times.
Above article reference/source dogtime.com/dog-breeds/german-shepherd-dog