Puppy Feeding

Puppy Feeding Instructions: Feed 4 times a day at 8 weeks, decrease to 3 times a day from approx 14/16 weeks of age, decrease to 2 times a day from 6 months. These are guidelines only. The most important thing to remember is regular mealtimes – regularly spaced – with adequate quantities of food for a rapidly growing puppy.

Your pup will need a lot of food in the first 12 months as the rate of growth is astonishing. It is very unlikely that you could ever overfeed a growing Std Poodle puppy, indeed take care not to underfeed! An adult dog will still require 2 meals a day – a morning and evening feed.

EXAMPLE TABLE:

4 meals / 3 meals

1. Breakfast 7-8am / 1. 9am

2. Lunch 12-1pm / 2. 2pm

3. Tea 5-6pm / 3. 7pm

4. Supper approx 9pm / 4. xxx

Suggested diet:

Meal 1. Quality dry puppy food - Hills/Royal Canin/Purina etc. We use Healthy Paws

Meal 2. Naturediet puppy or Pedigree Chum tinned/pouch puppy food (progress to ‘junior’ as appropriate) mixed with ‘small bite’ mixer biscuit

Meal 3. as 2 or use fresh chicken / fish etc

Meal 4. as 1

ALL meals are interchangeable: Your pup is an individual with his/her own preferences. Pups diet will involve a mixture or fresh, tinned and complete (dry) food. Bonio biscuits are excellent treats. Large, safe bones provide entertainment and stimulation. Live natural yoghurt can aid digestion.

Please make sure fresh water is available at all times.

Quality: Dry foods are often more convenient but they will mean your pup will drink more. Using ‘wet food’ – eg. Naturediet/Chum pouches and fresh meat, gives pups tums a gentler start and I would advise against dry foods for every meal until at least 8 months of age. My own dogs have dry food for breakfast and either Naturediet or fresh meat for their evening meal. They also enjoy vegetables and pasta. Natural diets are always preferred. Please avoid additives and colourings wherever possible.