Feeding Time

A puppy needs to be fed a specific amount 3 times a day at regular intervals until he is 6 months old to supply him with adequate calorie and nutrition for rapid growth.His "aging" and increasing size will change the daily intake of food regularly.However, he will get diarrhea and gas if he is overfed.He may also periodically 'go off his food' from time to time when cutting new teeth. Don't be alarmed. If the kibble you are offering is a hard crunchy food then try wetting it with some water for about an hour before feeding time to soften it. Follow the manufacturer's directions for amounts written on the bag of food, and keep an eye on the pup's physical appearance and behaviour.Pups should not be fat, but their ribs or spine should not be sticking out either. We feed our pups at 7:00 a.m., noon time and 6:00 p.m. approximately, with a dog cookie at bed time. Having the puppy on a regular feeding schedule makes housebreaking easier, because the bowel is activated by eating. If the food is left down for him to nibble at all day, then his bowel movement times will be very erratic which makes training very difficult for you. After 6 months of age, reduce the feedings to twice a day. You may find that the puppy is not eating every meal at about the 5 month mark, which is an indication that he is getting ready to reduce his numbers of meals.Do not leave the food sitting around for the pup to nibble at when he feels like it.If he has not finished his meal in 10-15 minutes, remove it and refrigerate it until the next feeding time.Do not tempt him by adding tidbits to it to coax him to eat. This will only make him a picky eater, and cause many problems later in life. If he is finishing the meal very quickly and seems to be still hungry, gradually increase the food, a teaspoon at a time, watching to make sure that he does not develop diarrhea. He will be fed 3 times a day until he is 6 months old, and then go to 2 meals a day, until he is about one year old, and then once a day is sufficient. If you want to continue to feed him twice a day, divide the daily recommended adult portion into the 2 meals. Clean fresh water should be available at all times for him, except when he is crated for his sleeping. He knows how much water he needs to drink at any given time for digestion and thirst.