Nutritional Needs
A puppy has different nutritional needs than an adult dog. Growing requires extra amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, and these must be present in the correct ratios. Growing pups need different amounts of protein and energy sources as well. Too much can be as bad as too little! Your pup's food should say “Balanced and complete for all life stages” or be specifically labeled as a “puppy food.” The best foods will not only have a complete nutritional analysis on the label but will state somewhere that they were tested with feeding trials. A laboratory analysis is not a substitute for actually testing a diet by feeding it to dogs.
Don't assume that a special diet for large-breed puppies is simply a marketing gimmick. A regular puppy food provides complete and balanced nutrition for any size dog, but a food formulated for large-breed puppies is fine-tuned to meet the precise growth needs of those puppies.
Dogs that will weigh 50 pounds or more at maturity need a special diet that will help them grow slowly and not put weight on too quickly, which can cause skeletal problems in a still-maturing dog. Large- and giant-breed dogs need a carefully balanced calcium diet with fewer calories and lower levels of protein to help them mature at a controlled rate.
Before you bring your new puppy home, ask your breeder what food he has been using. You should try to use that food at least for the first week or so to make the new home transition easy for your pup. If you intend to switch foods, do so gradually over a week or so. Resist the temptation to ply your new family member with exotic and wonderful goodies.
Puppy Growth
Puppies grow very rapidly. Small breeds may attain their adult size by six to eight months, while giant breeds may continue to grow for eighteen to twenty-four months. They all need adequate nutrition in terms of calories, vitamins, and minerals. Premium dog foods have been thoroughly tested and will fit the bill. Puppies need more calories per pound than an adult dog. It is important not to let your pup get overweight, though. Extra weight adds stress to those growing bones and can lead to arthritis problems later in life.
How Much to Feed and When
Your veterinarian and your breeder can help you work out the best diet for your pup. Discuss what amount to feed and how often, as well as what foods are best. Remember that the amounts written on dog food bags or cans are simply guidelines. You need to feed your pup as an individual. Most pups do best with three meals a day until four months or so, and then stay on two meals daily for the rest of their lives. Very small toy-breed puppies may need extra snacks to keep them growing well.
Make sure your puppy isn't getting too fat. When you look down at him, you should see a clearly defined waistline. If he looks more like a plump little sausage, you might be feeding too much.
Specific meal times are preferred to feeding free choice (leaving a bowl of food out for your dog to graze on). With set meals, you know right away if your pup isn't feeling well. You can easily keep track of just how much your pup is eating, and it helps with housetraining on a schedule. Puppies should have access to fresh water almost all the time. You may want to limit water shortly before bedtime or an hour or two before heading out on a long car trip.
Puppy Treats
Let's face it — as well as his regular food, your puppy will be getting treats and chew items. Treats can help train your pup and help develop your close bond. Remember that if you use a lot of treats in training, you may need to cut back on your pup's mealtime amounts. Most puppies are happy to use their regular food as training treats, but if you want special treats, talk to your veterinarian. Don't forget that pieces of chopped apples or carrots are good and healthy treats for your dog. They're low-calorie and good for his teeth!
