Feeding an agility dog
Read handy tips
Dog Nutrition
Puppy food and how to feed a puppy
Proper feeding of a puppy is a very essential part of the healthy growth and development of the puppy. A growing puppy must get plenty of energy and protein from its puppy food, as well as minerals and vitamins in a balanced ratio.
Balanced feeding of a puppy is easiest with complete food designed for puppies, such as dry food. If the puppy mainly eats homemade food or raw food, the feeding of the puppy must be planned very carefully, and the dog owner must ensure that the puppy gets all the nutrients it needs.
When about 70% of the puppy's daily food is complete food, the puppy gets enough nutrients to support healthy growth.
When the puppy moves from the breeder to a new home, it is advisable to initially feed the puppy the same food that it ate at the breeder's place. The new environment is a big change for the little adventurer, and the stress caused by it can upset the puppy's stomach. Once the puppy has settled in properly, the food received from the breeder can be gradually changed to another puppy food if desired. Read more about changing dog food!
Feeding a puppy: What kind of food for the puppy?
Choose a high-quality puppy food for your puppy, with meat or fish as the main ingredient. Dry foods intended for adult dogs usually do not have enough energy for the needs of a growing puppy, so the puppy needs food specifically designed for puppies. Feeding the little rascal with only homemade or raw food requires good knowledge of puppy feeding and nutrition, as the puppy does not get all the nutrients it needs from meat alone.
Feeding a puppy is easy with PrimaDog Chicken & Potato dry food, which is suitable for puppies of all breeds. This puppy food contains plenty of energy and fat, as well as the right ratio of calcium and phosphorus to promote the normal development of the puppy's bones. PrimaDog puppy food is also excellent for feeding pregnant bitches and nursing mother dogs.
- For all puppies as well as pregnant and nursing dogs
- Wheat-free
- Very high meat content
- No artificial flavours or colours
- Northern berries and herbs
- Made in Europe
"Puppies like the small kibble size and the food tastes very good even when dry!"
The puppy food does not contain colourings, artificial aromas, or genetically modified ingredients. The high quality of PrimaDog dog foods is guaranteed by ISO 9001 and HACCP quality control systems.
Accustom the puppy to different foods and protein sources. About 30% of the daily food of a puppy fed with complete food can consist of supplementary food, such as meat or fish. However, supplementary food alone is not enough to meet the dog's nutritional needs. You can check whether the product is complete or supplementary food from its packaging labels. You can also offer the puppy both raw and cooked meats. It is safest to cook only boneless meats for the dog.
A varied diet supports the puppy's immunity and can help prevent food sensitivities and allergies. The puppy's most intense growth occurs from 7 weeks to about six months old, which is also the most important phase in the development of the intestinal microbiota. Check out our tips for diversifying the dog's diet!
Adding wet food to a dog's diet is a convenient way to expand the dog's food circle and add moisture to the dog's meals. Additional hydration is especially needed during summer heat or after physical exercise.
How long is puppy food given to a dog?
Feeding a puppy means feeding a growing dog. When the puppy has reached its adult size, you can switch from puppy food to adult dog food.
Every four-legged friend grows and develops at their own pace, but small dogs usually develop significantly faster than large dogs and reach their adult height at 10–12 months of age. Growth in large dogs usually lasts 1.5–2 years. The dog's muscle development continues even after this, which keeps the young dog's energy needs high.
Puppy growth is usually fastest between 2–5 months of age, when feeding errors can particularly affect the growth and development of the puppy's bones.
How much does a puppy eat?
PrimaDog puppy food packages always have a reference feeding table that you can use as a basis for estimating the appropriate amount of food for the puppy.
The daily amount of puppy food served is influenced by:
- The dog's age
- Estimated adult weight
- Activity and exercise
- Growth rate
Monitor the puppy's growth weekly and adjust the amount of food if necessary. The puppy should gain weight steadily, but the energetic little rascal should not be too chubby.
A puppy that has moved from the breeder to a new home at 7–10 weeks of age eats 3–4 times a day until about six months old, after which the number of feedings can be gradually reduced. An adult dog usually eats 1–2 times a day.
If your puppy vomits yellow foam, it may be empty stomach vomiting, which can be avoided by increasing the number of feedings. Empty stomach vomiting usually occurs in the mornings and at night. Loose stools, flaky skin, itching, gas, and excessive panting can be signs that the current food does not suit the puppy.
Routines create security for the puppy and facilitate, among other things, learning to be house-trained. Therefore, it is advisable to feed the puppy at roughly the same times every day.
The daily life of a small puppy is full of learning. Reward the puppy's small and big achievements with Northern Treats snacks, which are grain-free and contain fresh meat.
