Puppy Feeding Schedule

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

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%. 

 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.

1. Avoid feeding your puppy vitamin or mineral supplements daily.

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. 

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

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. 

How much your puppy needs to eat is determined by its size and weight. 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.

Puppy Age/Feeding Frequency

                                                                                                                  8 weeks  -8 hours 

                                                                                                                  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. 

Does Breed Affect Feeding Schedule? 

Breed can play a factor in determining when to feed your puppy. Large breeds like the German Shepherds will require much more food than small breeds like Cavapoos.

Therefore, owners should consider their puppies size, and age in unison when creating a food plan. As your puppy grows its metabolic rate will change, and it will need more or less food depending on breed. 

In general, the more exercise the breed requires to stay healthy, the more food they need to fuel their lifestyle. 

Is Wet or Dry Food Better for Puppies? 

Whether or not to feed your puppy wet or dry food is a common enough question to spark a fierce debate between dog experts over which is best. The answer to the question, however, is… It depends.

We have been feeding your puppy dry food moistened with a little water.

This 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. 

If you have any questions regarding exactly how much food your puppy should be eating in the course of a day you should consult your veterinarian.

Wet Food 

Puppies need protein, fat, and fiber in their diet. If it can’t be classified as one of those nutritional categories, it shouldn’t be in your puppy’s diet. The best wet foods contain ingredients that are rich in fatty proteins and healthy sugars like; muscle protein and no animal byproducts like hooves and tendons. 

Canned food is generally more expensive than dry food, and more palatable. However, owners should be wary of “all-meat” products. Your puppy needs a complete, balanced diet to fulfill their nutritional requirements. Meat only diets won’t cut it. 

Therefore, it’s important for new puppy owners to ensure their puppy is fed a diet rich in the fat, protein, nutrients and minerals they need to sustain vital body function, boost immunity, and sustain healthy development. We recommend 26-28 percent Protein and high carbohydrates. We’ve found that our small breeds don’t do well with fruit in the diet. 

Dry Food 

Dry dog food is a concentrated dog food wherein moisture is removed. The highest quality dry foods contain significant levels of animal proteins and fats like chicken, beef, fish, and lamb. 

These healthy animal fat sources provide much-needed nutrients like omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health. Puppies also benefit from the healthy animal fats found in dry food that provide amino acids and support cognitive development. 

Additionally, many new puppy owners claim an oral-hygiene advantage with hard kibble thanks to the friction produced by heavy chewing, which helps to keep the gums and teeth healthy.

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

NO PEOPLE FOOD 

Obesity is a common problem found in many breeds, so avoid feeding your puppy from the table. Puppies are not likely to benefit from human food, which may even contain ingredients that are harmful to a puppy like garlic, chocolate, or gluten. 

Puppies need protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, and not much else. Their bodies are still growing and the protein aids in development. Thankfully puppies are carnivores, which means they get all of the nutrition they need from animal protein. 

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

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. It is important to note that bones have little if any nutritional value. 

Bones actually provide zero nutritional value. 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? 

When to transition your puppy from puppy food to dog food is, obviously, determined by its age, and may vary from breed to breed. Smaller breeds should transition from puppy to dog food around 12 months old and large breeds around 18-24 months. 

Large breeds, on the other hand, continue to grow for several weeks more than small breeds. Therefore, they typically transition from puppy food to dog food later than small breeds. 

IMPORTANT FAQ

What is the best food for my puppy?

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

and vegetables 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 put your limit your puppy’s diet, we recommend consulting your vet on how to safely cut back their caloric intake. 

Establish a Feeding Schedule.

To avoid this unpleasant issue, we recommend instilling a feeding schedule. Feeding your puppy moistened dry puppy food, 3 to 5 times per day for no longer than 20 minutes per feeding.   

After 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.

Do not leave moistened food sitting out of refrigerator, as this can cause Giardia and bacteria formation 

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 would need to 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. 

How often should puppies drink water?

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

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.