Total Dog Magazine

Tag: Puppies

  • How Long Do You Feed A Dog Puppy Food? (12 Best Experts Say This)

    As often as we’re asked how long do you feed a dog puppy food, it’s quite remarkable how many people are genuinely worried about moving their puppy to adult food either too soon or too late.

    You should feed a puppy on puppy food while they’re younger than 12-months, but the transition process can start earlier.

    Your dog is a puppy for as long as you want them to be. Nobody is going to tell you different. But in the interests of answering this specific question of how long do you feed a dog puppy food the appropriate time to stop feeding puppy specific food is no later than 12-months old.

    how long do you feed a dog puppy food

    Why?

    Because in purely simplistic terms, at 12-months old your puppy is technically an adult.

    Let’s break down the puppy to adult dog process.

    As you can see, puppy growth stages can seem like a flash before our eyes.

    Puppy development – the baby to the teenager to the adult dog

    Puppy (young)

    Adorable. Surprisingly obedient. Love to be around you. Often bolder than you’d expect. Sleeps a lot.

    Puppy (16 weeks)

    Personality developing. More cautious about certain scenarios. A little more mischievous. Willing to explore more. Sleeps a lot.

    Puppy (6 months)

    A little less obedient. High energy. Sleeps far less. More interested in food. More demanding and in pursuit of mental stimulation.

    Puppy (6 months to 12 months)

    Personality shining through like a beacon. Sometimes obedient, sometimes wilfully challenges instructions that you know for certain the pup understands.

    Physically very active, but prone to exhausting themselves quickly in short bursts.

    At 12-months old your dog’s needs are different, particularly their nutritional requirements.

    Summary: How long do you feed a dog puppy food

    With all this info in mind, it’s important to recognise the different energy levels of an young adult dog vs the different calorie needs of a growing puppy.

    Puppy foods are designed specifically to help them grow.

    Adult dog foods are designed to help an adult maintain and thrive.

    If you’d like to learn more about the dog growth stages, from puppy to adult – download this free eBook

    Free Book (useful for all dog owners)

    If you’d like to learn more about dog growth stages, from puppy to adult – download this free eBook

    Remember the pet food you give to your puppy should be based on various factors.

    1. Nowadays there are foods for large breeds, toy breeds and various breed specific foods.
    2. Always feed your puppy with the highest quality food you can afford. You never get the chance to have that vital first 12 months of your dog’s development back again.
    3. Switch from puppy food to adult dog food at or before 12-months old
    4. A puppy’s mother s milk helps them develop for the first weeks of their lives, after that it’s entirely down to us!
    5. High quality dog food isn’t always the most expensive dog food (do research for reviews)
    6. Decide how many times a day you want to feed your dog when they’re an adult and slowly transition to that feeding regime
    7. At 12- months of age your puppy is technically an adult dog
    8. Puppies grow fast. Really fast.
    9. Your puppy may reach maturity (physically) many years earlier than they reach maturity mentally
    10. Feed your dog based on their age, breed type and lifestyle at all times – factoring whether they’re a small, medium or large breed
    11. Keep a close eye on body condition throughout your dog’s life
    12. Develop a strong relationship with your vet. Yes, vet bills can be expensive – but the more often your vet sees your dog, the better they’ll get to know them. If your vet sees your dog for regular checkups, your vet bills will be lower in the long run

    Dog nutrition experts views on when to switch from puppy to adult dog food

    • Both small and medium breed puppies are considered adult at about one year of age, so your dog’s birthday indicates when to switch from puppy food.
    • In terms of a puppy’s diet, puppy food generally contains more protein content than adult dog food in order to sustain this new growth at a faster rate.
    • Why transition from puppy food to adult dog food? When your puppy is growing, he needs more nutrients and calories than an adult dog, which is why puppy foods have higher levels of protein and fat to support growth, as well as nutrients like DHA, an omega fatty acid found in mother’s milk.
    • When should I switch from puppy food to adult dog food? Once puppies have reached 90% of their expected adult weight, they should switch from a growth diet to one that’s suitable for maintenance.
    • If you have a large breed dog, talk to your vet first, as they may recommend keeping them on their puppy food a few months longer to ensure they get the proper calories to grow to their full adult form.
    • Making the transition from puppy to adult food at an appropriate time is important because there is a major shift in regards to the caloric needs and nutrition requirements of your puppy as she approaches maturity.
    • When Should You Make the Switch? There are a number of “rules” out there regarding when to make the switch from puppy food to adult dog food, and recommendations vary depending on your dog’s breed size.
    • Rich puppy food can quickly lead to excessive weight gain for adult dogs, so the transition is important.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food Puppies of any size or shape are just about guaranteed to be adorable.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food Nutrition / Pet Diet Tips.
    • Since obesity is the most common nutrition-based issue for canines, it’s crucial adult dogs no longer eat puppy food, which can also cause orthopedic problems in older dogs.
    • Spaying or neutering usually occurs at this age as well, lowering your dog’s need for increased energy; hence a reason to switch from puppy to adult dog food.
    • The transition from puppy food to adult food is an important time in your dog’s life.
    • When it’s time to stop feeding puppy food, you want to transition to adult dog food gradually.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food Nutrition & Feeding.
    • Puppy food should also be higher in calories than adult food to compensate for the energy puppies expend by growing and playing.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side.
    • Puppy food is very high in calories and nutritional supplements so you want to switch to adult food once your puppy begins to approach maturity.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food Unfortunately, there’s no set answer for when to stop feeding puppy food.
    • As a general rule, dogs that are less than one year of age are considered puppies, and it is important during that year that they are being fed puppy formula pet food.
    • Our experts can help you determine when it’s time to make the switch from puppy food to adult dog food.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food When to Switch to Adult Dog Food.
    • If your dog starts skipping meals or picking at food he would otherwise devour, it might mean he’s ready to switch from a puppy to an adult diet.
    • When making the switch to adult food, do it slowly over the course of one to two weeks by gradually mixing in increasing amounts of the adult food with decreasing amounts of her puppy food to minimize gastric upset.
    • So, the main difference between puppy food and adult food is in the protein and fat content, as well as the calorie density.
    • But if you have a puppy nearing one year of age, do you know when to switch to adult dog food? A veterinarian is always a good resource.
    • Mix a small amount of the adult food with your dog’s favorite puppy formula and slowly increase the amount over a week, while decreasing the puppy food.
    • After deciding it is time to switch your puppy to adult dog food, it’s time to consider how you will go about it.
    • In order to fuel your puppy’s healthy growth and development, you need to make sure that his nutritional needs are being met and the best way to do that is with a high-quality puppy food .
    • Continuing to feed puppy food past the point of maturity could result in weight gain, which can lead to other health problems.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food Your request has been blocked by one or more security restrictions.
    • switching from puppy food to adult food, how long do you feed a dog puppy food Your request has been blocked by one or more security restrictions.
    • But how do you know when to switch to an adult recipe and how do you make the transition? Unless you understand the difference between puppy food and adult dog food , you may not see why it is necessary to make the switch at all.
    • You should switch to an adult dog food when your puppy is anywhere from 18 months to 24 months old.
    • When switching from puppy food to adult food , you should make the switch gradually over a period of a few days.
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    Some further reading on how long to keep a puppy on puppy food (expert sources)

    Puppy feeding fundamentals American Kennel Club
    How long do dogs eat puppy food? — age, transition & methods Breeding Business
    Puppy Food Types, Feeding Schedule, and Nutrition WebMD
    When Should You Switch from Puppy to Adult Dog Food | petmd PetMD
    How long should i feed my dog puppy food? Dog Food Guide
    Puppy feeding guidelines | schedule & tips | cesar’s way Cesar’s Way
    When to switch to adult dog food Purina
    Is Your Puppy Ready for Adult Dog Food? | Douglas Feed & Pet Supply –
    Granite Bay, CA    		 Douglas Feed
    When to Switch to Adult Dog Food: Dog Food at Different Life Stages Pet Central by Chewy
    Is your puppy ready for adult dog food? IAMS
    Puppy feeding fundamentals American Kennel Club
    When To Switch A Puppy To Adult Food – caninejournal.com CanineJournal.com
    When to switch to adult dog food Eukanuba
    How Do I Switch or Transition Foods for My Dog? | Hill’s Pet Hill’s Pet Nutrition
    Switching to adult food from puppy food | cesar’s way Cesar’s Way

  • Is Goats Milk Good For Puppies?

    You’ve got a new puppy. The breeder or rescue where you got your puppy from has given you an information sheet on all the things you need to know about caring for the canine youngster. But you are desperate to do the absolute best by your pup so you start asking questions about what you can or cannot feed puppy to give them the perfect start in life. One of the common questions new dog owners ask is, is goats milk good for puppies? Well, read on.

    puppies

    Is Goats Milk Good For Puppies? These Pups Would Say Yes!

    Five adorable Jack Russell puppies are the picture of health after their lives were saved by St Helen’s Farm goats’ milk, after they lost their mum.

    Animal lover Lorraine Wright, who nurtured the puppies, along with her amazing story, are to be featured on more than half a million St Helen’s Farm goats’ milk cartons, nationwide during February.

    The puppies’ chances of surviving were very slim when they were first born in October. Their mum Georgie had to have an emergency caesarean and sadly died three days later due to complications.

    Lorraine, from Shepton Mallet, took over the maternal role but was fearful of losing the tiny dogs when they became seriously ill after drinking formula cows’ milk.

    In a desperate attempt to save them Lorraine searched the internet for help and found that goats’ milk had been successfully given to orphaned pups. She was sceptical but decided to give it a go as time was running out fast.

    She lovingly bottle fed the pups every two hours, day and night, using St Helen’s Farm goats’ milk and probiotic goats’ yogurt.

    Lorraine was using litres of milk and large cartons of yogurt every day as she tried to build up their strength using what she dubbed ‘The St Helen’s Farm Goats Milk Mix.’

    The pups enjoyed the taste, gulped it down and slowly but surely their weight began to climb.

    Now almost six months on the puppies are in the best of health and still enjoying the ‘St Helen’s Goats Milk Mix’ with their food.

    It’s not only the puppies that are enjoying the benefits of goats’ milk though, Lorraine has a mild intolerance to dairy products and now uses goats’ milk in her daily porridge too.

    She loves the taste and it has replaced the rice milk she had previously used. Her mum is also a convert and another fan, after discovering she loved the taste.

    Lorraine says the Jack Russells – Lavender, Brutus, Lottie, Toki and Fonz – could have died had they not been saved by goats milk.

    “I really thought the puppies were doomed. What happened to their mum was awful and I was beside myself with worry when they lost weight so dramatically on cows’ milk.

    I panicked and realised I had to do something quickly to save them. Some people said if I had one puppy at the end of week three it would be a remarkable achievement, but I felt determined to do the best I could for Georgie and try and save all of them.

    It was a frantic, worrying time hand rearing them all the way through to the New Year but all I can say is St Helen’s Farm is fantastic.

    The fact that all five puppies are here today full of life says everything; I can never thank the farm enough.

    I have even had other animal lovers and experts asking me about the St Helen’s Goats’ Mix, they are keen to use it themselves to help orphaned animals.”

    Yorkshire based St Helen’s Farm heard about the puppies when Lorraine wrote and told them about her positive experience with the milk and the farm decided to feature Lorraine and her story on the cartons in February.

    St Helen’s Farm spokesperson Mike Hind comments:

    “We were intrigued to hear Lorraine’s tale about her Jack Russell pups that are now thriving on our goats’ milk. After a very precarious start to life, all five pups had to be hand reared.

    They loved the taste of goats’ milk and have also developed a liking for our probiotic natural yogurt. Well done to all the pups, we are delighted with their success. We would be thrilled to hear from anyone else who has used our range to help animals as well as humans!”

  • How to Keep Puppy Learning Fun & Entertaining

    How to Keep Puppy Learning Fun & Entertaining

    Looking for fun games that your puppy can enjoy? Check out these tantalizing activities that you can get a puppy of any age involved in.

    Grooming Made Fun

    Probably one of the most important things to do is groom and brush your puppy. So what better way to start on the right foot than to make it a pleasant experience?

    It is important to teach skills like staying in place. Also of great importance is to get the puppy used to being touched all over and yet be relaxed the entire time. This grooming/touching procedure will create a tight bond while allowing the owner to maintain dominance over the puppy as it grows into an adult.

    This is important since there will always be nails to cut and teeth to clean, as well as rules to follow. Fun grooming practice builds a foundation tolerance within the young pup.

    It’s Circus Time!

    Puppies like jumping so why not play bar jumping games, just like they do at the circus?

    The first thing to do is walk over the jump with your puppy. The pup will probably follow at your side. If the puppy doesn’t want to go over the jump with you then encourage your puppy over the jump with a treat. Be sure to start with the jump on the ground, then increase the height as the dog’s skill level develops.

    Hide & Seek, What A Classic

    Who doesn’t like hide and seek?

    Playing hide and seek with your puppy can be loads of fun while at the same time introduces the puppy to the come command.

    First you need to have a leashed trained pup or one that can obey the sit/stay commands. Put the leash and have a friend hold the puppy, or if the pup can obey the sit/stay command without a leash then that is just fine.

    Hide close by, like behind an open door or a small piece of furniture. If playing outside then get behind a bush or tree. After a short amount of time, call the puppy in a playful tone of voice. Make certain that the leash is not being held.

    Once your pup finds you, give him a treat and/or simply tell him how good he is and love him.
    You should attempt to move farther away and making finding you more difficult as your pup’s skill increases.

    Let’s Go On A Treasure Hunt!

    Finding toys and objects is another classic activity that can be fun for your puppy.

    First, put your pup on a leash and tie it securely to a chair. Then place many toys and other objects on the floor while the puppy watches.

    Now go see your puppy, but have a toy that your pup likes in your hand. Just hold it while the pup observes for a minute and then toss it into the pile of stuff you made on the floor. Now let your puppy go and say repeatedly “Fetch, boy Fetch!”

    When he goes to hunt down the toy you were showing him be sure to give positive reinforcement and lots praise. Eventually you will be able to have your puppy sniff one object for a few seconds and literally dig it out of anywhere you hide it.