Feeding Your New Puppy
When you adopt a puppy from us, you will receive some food to help with the transition. Your puppy will be accustomed to eating three times a day (morning, noon, and evening). Puppies are rapidly growing and changing, so they need to eat frequently (at least three times a day) to receive the proper nourishment and nutrition for their developing bodies. Ensure your puppy always has access to fresh water throughout the day. As your puppy matures, you can gradually reduce feedings to one or two times a day. Your veterinarian can help determine the appropriate feeding frequency and amount based on your puppy’s needs, size, and activity level.
You can either feed your puppy on a set schedule, which helps with potty training, or have food available at all times. Just be sure to provide only the necessary amount for each day.
Puppy Formula
It is important to use a puppy formula until your puppy is at least one year old. Although your puppy may look fully grown, they are still completing their growth and bone formation and need the extra calories and nutrients. At one year, they should transition to a high-quality adult food suitable for small or medium dogs. We feed our new puppies Mini Starter from Royal Canin, available at PetSmart and other reputable pet stores, as well as directly from the company. We have been very pleased with the results and strongly encourage our clients to use this puppy food for at least the first month after receiving their puppy.
Reducing Stress
Puppies experience stress when they are separated from their mothers and littermates and moved to a new home. To minimize this stress, it is important not to abruptly change their diet. Keeping them on the same food they are used to can help ease the transition.
Transitioning Your Puppy to New Food
If your puppy is doing well after being in your home for about a month, you may consider transitioning to another high-quality puppy chow for small or medium dogs. We recommend making this change gradually to avoid any digestive issues, such as loose stools or diarrhea. Here’s a suggested transition plan:
1. Initial Mix: Start by mixing the new food with the current food in a 1:3 ratio (new:current).
2. Half and Half: If your puppy tolerates this well, after a few days, mix the new food and current food in equal parts.
3. Final Mix: If your puppy continues to do well, after a few more days, mix the new food with the current food in a 3:1 ratio.
4. Complete Transition: If everything is still going well, you can then switch completely to the new food.
We strongly recommend a high-protein (at least 27%), high-fat (at least 15%), and high-fiber dry puppy chow that lists meat as the first ingredient and rice as the main filler. Avoid wheat and corn fillers as they can be harder on your puppy’s digestive system and may cause gas.
Recommended Brands
Costco’s Kirkland brand offers a high-quality chow that meets our recommendations at a reasonable price. High-quality puppy food can also be found at pet shops, veterinary offices, Wal-Mart, IFA, and other reputable retailers.
Supplements
While feeding your puppy a high-quality food may suffice, we ensure our dogs receive all necessary nutrients by giving them a NuVet tablet daily. This supplement has significantly improved the health of our dogs, especially pregnant and whelping females. A breeder friend recommended this supplement after seeing fantastic results in her kennel, including resolving skin rashes and improving milk production in mothers. We believe you and your puppy will also benefit from these outstanding supplements.
Snack Foods for Your Puppy
You can offer your puppy a variety of healthy snacks, including:
• Raw ground beef, lamb, or venison
• Cooked chicken or pork
• Raw eggs (from free-range small farms) or soft-boiled eggs
• Yogurt and cottage cheese
• Small cubes of cheese (frozen for summer treats)
• Watermelon with rind, bananas, apples with core, and carrots
Use these foods as snacks, not as part of a raw diet. Offer fruits and vegetables in small amounts (no more than 1/4 of an apple per day) and meat portions about the size of a small meatball once a day. Remember, “They are what they eat, so choose wisely.”
