INTRODUCTION:
Puppies gain half their adult body weight in the first four months of life. During that time, they need a larger amount of calories in order to support their growth and development. Because of their small size, it is best to divide their meals into 3-4 smaller portions throughout the day. You may also free feed during this time period and give treats liberally. Puppy food is higher in calories so that you can feed smaller portions. Since adult food or “all life stages” food is lower in calories, you would just need to give a larger portion.
Your puppy should have access to water at all times. Restricting water can cause them to become dehydrated easily, and it can lead to stress which will cause them to overdrink when they are finally given water. If your puppy plays in the water, consider a bowl that attaches to the side of their crate or a bowl with a stand. Restricting water is NOT recommended to potty train your puppy.
FEEDING SCHEDULE:
It is important to feed your puppy on a schedule in order to regulate their potty habits. Until they are 16 weeks, it is best to feed your puppy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Keep these meal times as consistent as possible so that your puppy can predict when they will be fed, reducing stress, and you can predict more accurately when your puppy will need to eliminate, reducing accidents. After your puppy turns 16 weeks, you may spread the meals out to twice a day, breakfast and dinner.
CRATE TRAINING:
Feed your puppy in their crate to minimize distractions, and create a positive association with their crate. Puppies less than 4 months old can not hold their bladder for more than 1-3 hours at a time. Because the crate is a “no potty zone”, do not leave your puppy in the crate for longer than they are physically able to hold it. If they sit in their own waste, it can lead to UTI and other infections. It will also hinder your ability to potty train them effectively.
Young puppies will pee frequently and need to have a clean area to rest. Using a playpen with potty pads can help reduce accidents around your house until your puppy is old enough to be crate trained. After they turn 16 weeks, you can gradually increase the amount of time your puppy spends in the crate. Use a divider to minimize the space so your puppy has enough room to lay down comfortably. Dogs naturally keep their area clean and will try not to eliminate where they eat and sleep.
NUTRITION:
Dogs are carnivores by nature and require meat protein to produce an amino acid called Taurine. If they are not provided with an adequate amount of protein from meat sources, they can develop health issues. The top 3 ingredients to avoid are corn, wheat and soy. These are non-digestible fillers that can lead to allergies and digestive problems. When shopping for dog food, the first 2-3 ingredients should be a named meat source. Please reference this article in the Whole Dog Journal for more information: How We Identify Healthy Dog Foods
There are hundreds of dog food brands and options to choose from, but they can be broken down in to 4 categories, ranked from most digestible to least:
Fromm Victor Taste of the Wild The Farmers Dog
Wellness Merrick Instinct Nom Nom Fresh
Farmina Nulo Orijen Stella & Chewys
Acana 4-Health Go! Answers
REFERENCES:
Please do your own research and find a food that feels right for your puppy and your budget. There are many sources online to help guide you. Here are a few to get you started:
The Whole Dog Journal - https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/category/food/
Dog Food Advisor - https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/
Dogs Naturally Magazine - https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/
Forever Dog - https://foreverdog.com/resources/diet-food/
Whole Dog Market - https://www.thewholedogmarket.com/dcm-announcement
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
When choosing a food, you should also look at your puppy’s individual needs. Do they have itchy/irritated skin, scratch a lot, or do they lick their paws? Do they throw up or have diarrhea/gas frequently? Did they like their food at first and suddenly stop eating? Do they have a bad odor to their skin or mouth? Are they under or over weight, high or low energy? Does their skin look dry, flaky, oily, or is their hair shiny and smooth? These may be indications that their food is not meeting their needs.
Puppies gain half their adult body weight in the first four months of life. During that time, they need a larger amount of calories in order to support their growth and development. Because of their small size, it is best to divide their meals into 3-4 smaller portions throughout the day. You may also free feed during this time period and give treats liberally. Puppy food is higher in calories so that you can feed smaller portions. Since adult food or “all life stages” food is lower in calories, you would just need to give a larger portion.
Your puppy should have access to water at all times. Restricting water can cause them to become dehydrated easily, and it can lead to stress which will cause them to overdrink when they are finally given water. If your puppy plays in the water, consider a bowl that attaches to the side of their crate or a bowl with a stand. Restricting water is NOT recommended to potty train your puppy.
FEEDING SCHEDULE:
It is important to feed your puppy on a schedule in order to regulate their potty habits. Until they are 16 weeks, it is best to feed your puppy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Keep these meal times as consistent as possible so that your puppy can predict when they will be fed, reducing stress, and you can predict more accurately when your puppy will need to eliminate, reducing accidents. After your puppy turns 16 weeks, you may spread the meals out to twice a day, breakfast and dinner.
CRATE TRAINING:
Feed your puppy in their crate to minimize distractions, and create a positive association with their crate. Puppies less than 4 months old can not hold their bladder for more than 1-3 hours at a time. Because the crate is a “no potty zone”, do not leave your puppy in the crate for longer than they are physically able to hold it. If they sit in their own waste, it can lead to UTI and other infections. It will also hinder your ability to potty train them effectively.
Young puppies will pee frequently and need to have a clean area to rest. Using a playpen with potty pads can help reduce accidents around your house until your puppy is old enough to be crate trained. After they turn 16 weeks, you can gradually increase the amount of time your puppy spends in the crate. Use a divider to minimize the space so your puppy has enough room to lay down comfortably. Dogs naturally keep their area clean and will try not to eliminate where they eat and sleep.
NUTRITION:
Dogs are carnivores by nature and require meat protein to produce an amino acid called Taurine. If they are not provided with an adequate amount of protein from meat sources, they can develop health issues. The top 3 ingredients to avoid are corn, wheat and soy. These are non-digestible fillers that can lead to allergies and digestive problems. When shopping for dog food, the first 2-3 ingredients should be a named meat source. Please reference this article in the Whole Dog Journal for more information: How We Identify Healthy Dog Foods
There are hundreds of dog food brands and options to choose from, but they can be broken down in to 4 categories, ranked from most digestible to least:
- Raw diet – whole foods, minimally processed, nutrients easily absorbed
- Cooked diet – whole foods, may still require supplementation
- Canned/wet food – less starch, higher moisture content, softer/easier to eat
- Kibble/dry food – more starch/carbohydrates, takes longer to digest
Fromm Victor Taste of the Wild The Farmers Dog
Wellness Merrick Instinct Nom Nom Fresh
Farmina Nulo Orijen Stella & Chewys
Acana 4-Health Go! Answers
REFERENCES:
Please do your own research and find a food that feels right for your puppy and your budget. There are many sources online to help guide you. Here are a few to get you started:
The Whole Dog Journal - https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/category/food/
Dog Food Advisor - https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/
Dogs Naturally Magazine - https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/
Forever Dog - https://foreverdog.com/resources/diet-food/
Whole Dog Market - https://www.thewholedogmarket.com/dcm-announcement
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER:
When choosing a food, you should also look at your puppy’s individual needs. Do they have itchy/irritated skin, scratch a lot, or do they lick their paws? Do they throw up or have diarrhea/gas frequently? Did they like their food at first and suddenly stop eating? Do they have a bad odor to their skin or mouth? Are they under or over weight, high or low energy? Does their skin look dry, flaky, oily, or is their hair shiny and smooth? These may be indications that their food is not meeting their needs.
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