Read About Puppy Feeding Tips

Here are some tips on how to best feed your puppy.

1. Don't introduce food changes to your puppy's diet the first day after taking him home. Let him adjust to your home first, then over the course of a week to 10 days, start mixing the new food into the old, gradually increasing the new food until the switch is made completely.
2. Don't stand over your puppy while he eats. The puppy will interpret this as a threat since he thinks you are trying to get his food. Insecure pups will retreat from the bowl or try to defend their food. Allow the puppy to eat in a quiet location, undisturbed.
3. Don't feed your dog at the table. The tidbits add up and can contribute to weight problems and imbalanced nutrition. It also confuses the dog when only some members of the family behave this way. The dog should understand that its owner has clear control over its access to its important resource--food.
4. Don't force your dog to eat and don't feed him from your hand. If a healthy dog doesn't want to eat, he probably is not hungry. Urging a dog to eat may encourage overeating and lead to obesity. His food should be served in his bowl twice a day.
5. Don't add anything to balanced dry food to encourage your dog to eat it. Dogs will regulate their appetite according to their energy needs. If your dog is healthy and given good quality food, there will be no need to encourage him to eat. If he doesn't eat, his energy needs have probably been met. If you add something to make his food tastier, he may overeat, like we tend to do!
6. Don't take away your puppy's bowl while he is eating. Some owners have been advised that regularly taking away a puppy's food will teach him that his owners have the right to take things away from him and will stop him from being aggressive while eating. This is probably the BEST way to make your puppy aggressive during feeding! He will feel threatened and begin to defend his food; it undermines his trust in his owner and causes him to feel stressed when eating. Teach your pup that people approaching while he eats is a positive thing by adding a tasty tidbit in a non-threatening manner occasionally while he is eating.
7. Don't give your dog tidbits because you feel guilty or as a means of saying hello. Food is not the only pleasurable thing you can give your dog. Stroke and pat him, play a game of fetch or tug of war with toys, teach a simple command to communicate, and then give him a treat as a reward, but not to make you feel less guilty for leaving him alone all day!
8. Don't treat your dog to a "Sunday" lunch. Giving your dog a human meal once a week will upset his digestive tract. Instead, offer him a special game, or an interesting walk on a Sunday afternoon.
9. Don't use feeding to make your dog happy. Dogs are very social animals, and having contact with people and other dogs is very important to them. Instead of offering food to make him happy, increase his quality of life by increasing your time with him or his time with other dogs. Dog parks, doggy day care or arranged play dates are great alternatives.
10. Don't worry if your dog doesn't eat exactly what the feeding guide says he should eat. These guidelines are only rough estimates and do not account for your dog's particular metabolic rate and energy expenditure. Observe his physical condition and weight to assess his particular caloric needs.

Sharon E. Anderson, DVM

Sharon E. Anderson, DVM, answers medically-related questions, but will not attempt to diagnose or recommend specific treatments. Her advice is not meant to replace professional care. If your pet is ill, contact your veterinarian immediately.