How To Feed a Puppy - 5 Do's and Don'ts

You are all excited - you just brought your new puppy home. You have the crate, dog bed, pee pads, the harness, the leash - and the dog food.

As puppies are in a high growth stage, they have different needs than an adult dog. This means that you should feed a puppy food that is designed for puppies. What I found to be very interesting is that puppy food is not only formulated to meet a puppy’s special nutritional needs, but formulated to limit the puppy’s growth rate. According veterinarian, Dr. Gary Richter, a puppy who grows too fast can be at a greater risk for hip dysplasia as he/she gets older.

Here are 5 Puppy Feeding Tips (below).

1. Don't buy too much food at once - best to buy a 1 month supply

2. Don't give your puppy human food - this can set the stage for trouble in the future

3. Transition foods gradually - this avoids a shock to their system

4. Switch over to adult food around one year of age - this can vary a bit by breed

5. Set a regular feeding schedule - get those good eating habits in early

With the exception of #4, all of these tips also pertain to adult dogs. I admit that I learned the hard way - not to change food or schedules or I end up cleaning up a big mess. And, that's a good reason to have an easy to change dog bed cover.

Feel free to share your thoughts on these tips.

Image by Poodles 2 Doodles @ pexels.