What he should eat and what he will eat are two very different topics, but you can do your best to try and regulate it. If you’re getting a puppy from a breeder, he’s probably between six and eight weeks old. This means that the breeder has done the hard work in getting your pup through breastfeeding as well as weaning him from milk and starting him on more grown-up food. Be certain to ask whoever has been caring for your puppy, whether a breeder or a shelter, what type of food he or she has been giving the puppy. If possible, try to stick to the same brand and type. For the first week or two, you can also stick to the same feeding schedule and amount to keep the disruption in your puppy’s life at a minimum.
Some new owners think the best approach to feeding a puppy is the open salad bar approach, in which the owner leaves a constantly full bowl of food on the floor and the pup is allowed to eat as much as he wants whenever he wants. There are two problems with this. First, it teaches your puppy that if he cleans out a bowl, you’ll jump to refill it. In other words, you’re at his beck and call. Second, remember the obesity section? Dogs eat to survive, so your puppy will gorge himself on that bowl of food like there’s no tomorrow. His food intake should be strictly controlled through regular feedings, and puppy tummies are too small to handle all of their food at once. Try splitting his feedings into at least two sessions daily. If you notice that he’s easily eating the whole bowl and still seeming hungry, increase his food by a small amount (preferably ¼ cup) each day until you get to what you feel is a good quantity.
You really can’t beat dry puppy food for the best overall health benefits. Not only does it
provide all of the nutrients your baby needs to build bones, muscle, and a healthy body, its crunchy texture is perfect for cleaning his teeth. If you already have an older dog in the house, you may be tempted to just feed your puppy smaller portions of regular dog food. Don’t. Puppy food is specially formulated for growing bodies and gives your new family member the best start possible.
Quick tip: Try to find a puppy kindergarten class in your area as soon as possible after adopting
your new baby. These classes are not only great for training, they create a bond between you and your puppy and can help your pup get used to other people and dogs.