When do you know when to move that amount up , or do you go by the bag???
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When do you know when to move that amount up , or do you go by the bag???
NEVER FOLLOW THE AMOUNTS ON THE BAG!!!!! You will have an obese dog in NO TIME.
If I remember correctly, I was feeding 1/2 cup x 3 times a day until about 4 months, then went to 2/3 cup twice a day until about 6 months old, then down to 1/2 c twice a day at 8 months. At about 9-12 months, you have to judge your dog's frame and weight to experiment with the "perfect" amount. They *should* be thin with an obvious waist after their puppyhood.
Here is what I feed mine now:
6 YO Casey- 1/3 c twice a day (2/3 c total) 25 pounds
3 YO Winston- 2/3 c in the am, 1/2 c pm (1 1/4 c total)- 32 pounds
2 YO Ollie- 1/2 c twice a day (1 c total)- 20 pounds
All have different energy levels. If I feed Winn 1/2c twice a day, he loses weight and is too skinny, hence the extra in the morning.
Ollie is super skinny and lanky and very active and remains at his ideal weight at 1/2 c.
Casey is LAAAAAAZZZZZYYYYYYYYYYY and can put on the weight, so she eats the least amount. I probably could take hers down a little more, but we're happy here for now. She is not losing or gaining.
Winn & Ollie are THIN, which is what they should be. Casey could stand to lose one more pound, but I've quit worrying too much over it.
My dogs are from 11 1/2 pounds (7 month pup) to 21 pounds. They eat from 1/2 to just over 3/4 a cup/day (split into two meals). I have two that need to lose about a pound. I have two that could gain a bit-- the rest are spot on for weight. -- I agree - don't follow the bag, remember they make money selling the food. The faster you go through it, the more they sell.
so do you think 1/2 a cup twice a day is to much or to little for Rex? (total 1cup per day)
That is what they where feeding at 3 months and it just seems that they boys wants more but I dont want to over feed.
Until they are full grown, I feed pups as much as they want. They usually burn off all the calories fast. I'd feed a pup under 6 months about 1/2 or just under 2x/dayQuote:
Originally Posted by luvhavinbgtwins
Good question. I keep wondering if I'm feeding Quincy the right amount. He's 4 1/2 months old and already weighs 13 pounds. He's not chubby at all, just very long and tall. (His parents were pretty small, so I thought for sure he'd be small too!) Anyway, the breeder told me to feed him 1/3 cup, 3x a day until he's 6 months, and then 1/2 cup, 2x a day (always 1 cup a day, just split up differently). Does this seem right? :confused::confused:
So whats the differ. between feeding 2x or 3x aday...I have always feed my dogs 2x aday....unless they where sick..
The younger the dog- the more often I feed them. At 8 weeks they eat 4-5 times a day. 12 weeks 3-4 times a day- 16 weeks 2-3 times a dayQuote:
Originally Posted by luvhavinbgtwins
I feed my two 1/3-1/2 cup 2x a day. If they act like they are starving in the am :rolleyes: (yeah right), I will give them 1/2 cup. My vet says they are both at a great weight feeding this way.
Max is pretty big too - being over 18 pounds at 7 months old. He's just gotten taller than Mindy though, and he is certainly longer. Mindy is at the top end of the breed standard for height. Both of his parents are about 12 inches shoulder height and 15 pounds. Per the breeders instructions I had been feeding him 1/2 cup twice a day but I've recently cut down to 3/8 cup twice a day. He doesn't seem to be starving - he does get kibble as training treats though so he probably is getting closer to 1/2 cup per feed with that taken into account.