HOW MUCH FOOD?
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| Well it all depends on the food you are feeding. Does your food bag have a growth chart on it for hopw much to feed? Pip gets Eagle Pak L.B.P. Right now he is on 1 cup 3 times a day, at 4 months he goes to 1 1/3 cup 3x, at 6 months he goes up to more, but only 2x daily (Can't remember how much exactly, we're not there yet...) Check your bag first to see what is recommended, and tell us how old is olive now?
Do not free feed- this tends to lead to MORE food aggression and dominance issues, plus you end up with weight issues too, NOT OK especially for a puppy  Scheduled feeding is better for weight control and behavior.
Are Olive and Cody eating the same type of food??? |
| Your best to consult with your vet on the appropriate amount of food for your pups. The amounts indicated on the bag are usually much too high because they want you to buy more food. We found that out the hard way once. Annie was eating the recommended amount and she was so bloated and lethargic.
Right now, Fozzie is 12 weeks old and is now getting 2/3 cups 3 times a day. Annie is 9 yrs and gets 1 1/2 cups of food 2 times a day (total 3 cups) Definitely pick up their bowls when they are finished eating otherwise they continue to protect their bowl. This should decrease the food aggression. |
| Actually, free feeding tends to avoid food agression and weight issues, since they never fear they won't have food they are not protective of it and don't over eat because they know it is always there.
However, with a rescue, you may or may not be able to do this. The rescue husky I had took about a month to adjust to free feeding, but she did. She was too thin anyway, so I didn't mind her over eating at first. As she got used to food always available she stopped pigging out so much and settled at a healthy weight. If you want to free feed, I would suggest keeping the dogs separated for now, and if either dog is aggressive perhaps crating during feeding is better? |
| I've never fed by the bag recommendations......they are too high for my dogs.
Food quality does make a difference. The better quality, the less than will be needed..........depending on dog age, etc. My adult female, all of 62 lbs, eats (up until recently) the same amount that the 110 lbs guy eats.........that's a 10 ounce cup morning and night. Lately she's not finishing her meals. Why does she get more.......because she is very active. I let my hands determine if they getting too much or too little. I want to feel ribs, but not so much they stick out. No deep depressions between the ribs. I want the belly to slope up towards the tail (if it were there). The addomen should not extend beyond the ribs, LOL! I want to feel muscle, not flab. If your dog is a fast eater, they will still feel hungry even tho they've had more than enough to eat. Don't give in to their pleading eyes. They are just manipulating you. |
| good point Stacy- I spoke to my breeder re: how much to feed Pip, and she agreed with EP's recommendations... She feeds at that amount and her dogs are top winning, gorgeous, and very healthy. But that is going to vary company to company! Always a good idea to talk to your vet, and if you pups seem heavy (Can't see the tuck after their rib cage, or you can't feel the rib bones when lightly running your hands over their back) cut back on your amounts.
I guess it depends on your dogs personality for free feeding- some have really good luck with it as Willowsprite recommends, some have run into issues. That's not much help is it???  |
SheepieBoss wrote: I've never fed by the bag recommendations......they are too high for my dogs.
Food quality does make a difference. The better quality, the less than will be needed..........depending on dog age, etc. How true this is. I forgot to adjust Clyde at first when I switched him to Merrick and that's when James mentioned, uh, I think Clyde is getting fat! 3 cups of Merrick is plenty-- 5 was way too much. Clyde is the piggy/food protector in our house. The first week we brought Bear home was rough because as soon as Clyde heard crunching, he immediately thought it was his food no matter where the bowl was and went nuts (lucy eats canned so no problems there). At first I tried feeding Bear at set times to make sure he ate and Clyde didn't interfere but I found that once Clyde started to relax a little, leaving the food down, but in separate rooms, worked out well. Now the only problem we have is that Clyde loves to eat the puppy food that Bear eats. Bear never gets mad but when I say "Clyde, out" (like to get out of the room) Bear has now picked this up as a cue to bark at Clyde and chase him out of the kitchen, like I had been doing before the verbal command was enough. It's pretty funny because Bear chases him away but could care less if he eats the food or not! |
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