What Should I Feed My New Puppy?

Age Specific

Choose food specifically made for puppies. As a general rule, it’s better to buy brand name puppy food rather than generic or low-priced food. You can’t really tell from the ingredient whether or not a particular food is good or bad.

Many things that you would look for on the labels of food you buy for yourself — extra protein or vitamins — may actually harm your pet rather. Over supplementing can be factors in major health issues for your dog, including contributing to hip dysplasia or other orthopedic problems.

Size Specific

Look for large breed puppy food if you have a large breed puppy (great dane, rottweiler, german shepherd, etc.) It isn’t just the kibble size that’s different,large breed food is actually formulated differently than regular puppy food. It is specially made for very rapidly growing puppies.

How Often Should I Feed My Puppy?

Very young puppies do better when offered food three times a day. As they grow, they will require fewer feedings, but will eat more at each feeding. If your puppy doesn’t seem to be hungry that often, cut the feedings down to twice a day.

After ten or twelve weeks of age, you should just offer food twice a day — once in the morning, and once in the evening. Even adult dogs should eat two times a day. If you are currently feeding your grown dog two cups of food once a day, try feeding one cup twice a day instead.

Dogs who are only feed once a day often become overly hungry and then overeat when they are fed.

How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?

Let your puppy eat as much as she wants in fifteen minutes and then pick up the food dish. Again, this holds true for adult dogs as well.

Having food continually available encourages overeating. Pet obesity is on the rise, and many people don’t realize that the affects on your dog are just as deadly as they are to people.

Often free-fed puppies never get very hungry, so they become finicky eaters — which leads to feeding treats. Treats are OK, but don’t let them become an important part of the diet.

Remember, those cute little chubby puppies will grow up to be fat adult dogs with orthopedic issues such as hip dysplasia, torn cruciate ligaments, luxating patellas, etc., as well as the same cardiac issues humans suffer.

Canned food vs. dry food.

We used to think that canned food was bad for your puppies teeth. But, research has shown that’s not the case. The myth of dry food being better for your dog’s teeth has turned out to be just that — a myth.

In fact, for young dogs, canned food is probably the better choice overall because of the extra moisture content. Although I will be the first to admit dry food is cheaper and easier to use.

To Recap:

  • Feed age specific food
  • Feed name brand rather than generic
  • Feed size specific food
  • Feed very young puppies 3 times a day, then cut back to 2 times a day
  • Canned or dry food is a personal preference, not a health issue
  • Cheree Miller
    http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-should-i-feed-my-new-puppy-675594.html

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    14 Responses to What Should I Feed My New Puppy?

    1. ...Ali D says:

      What's the best type of treat I should feed puppy?
      She’s 4 months old. She doesn’t like her treats but she usually likes chicken flavor. I don’t want to always feed her human food like regular chicken. I also want the treats not to be too fatty. Thank you!
      please star my question!
      please star my question!
      please star my question!

    2. cnote♥ says:

      milkbone brand puppy bones..they love them
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    3. humkangoutress says:

      Hershey bar
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    4. armonía says:

      Sausages
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    5. Dani D says:

      My pup goes CRAZY over scooby snacks, but i won’t give her many of them during the day. Often times, I tke a couple pieces of dog food and use that as a training treat
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    6. Tori T says:

      Try Milkbones. If tht doesnt work. Go to ur local petstore and ask one of the workers.
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    7. ♥willow♥ says:

      Cheerios are a good small treat.

      I used Authority Liver Treats when I was training my dog. They are soft and easy to chew quickly. And they can be pulled apart of the little balls are too big, or you just want to reward the dog with a little taste to make training go faster.
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    8. Scooby says:

      T- bone steak………..
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    9. cashew says:

      If she likes chicken, there is nothing wrong with boiled chicken (no seasoning…JUST boiled). You just boil it, cut it into small pieces and put it in the fridge.

      Plenty of treats have fillers and dyes and other stuff that is not as healthy as pure boiled chicken.
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    10. Holly says:

      My puppy loves the dried meat like chicken and that is all she will have she is so tiny she only weighs 2 LBS .Try the dogie popcorn treats .
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    11. banana ween says:

      ahh chocolate definetly! i dont know why everybody thinks its poisonous for tehm cos its not! they love it! definetly the best thing for them and lots of it!
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    12. ;] yehgurl says:

      *try making your own! its really fun! i once made my own cat treats so you can too! my cat ate all of them in 1 week (; —-> *search for recipies on google.

      *you could try asking a professional at petco by either calling or going to the store.

      *ask your vet

      hope i helped

      pce out <3
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      i have a cat

    13. Nicolas C says:

      dogs are carnivores give him meat
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    14. superseded says:

      our dog used to love carrots!

      cant get much healthier than that! very cheep to try too!
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