Feeding your puppy

Proper nutrition is very important to your puppy. The first year is key to having your puppy grow up healthy and strong.

From 6-8 weeks, a puppy needs 3 times the calories than an adult dog. This decreases to twice the calorie intake by the time your puppy is 16 weeks old. Most puppy's complete their growth by the time they are a year old. But some larger breeds may take up to 2 years.

Your puppy will do best on food made especially for it. The extra vitamins and suppliments that your puppy will require are already added in. There is no need to add 'extra'...as a matter of fact, some vitamins and minerals can be toxic if they are not given in the proper amounts. Read your label and talk to your vet. Your vet can tell you the proper food and amounts for your individual puppy.

Place the food and water dish in a place that is traffic free. Your puppy needs to know that it can eat and be comfortable. Kepp the dishes clesned on a daily basis. Do not change the location of where the dishes are unless necessary.

A puppy will eat all it will eat in about 20 minutes. Feed your puppy on the same schedule...the same times each day. This will get the puppy into a routine and make housebreaking easier.

Ask your vet how much to feed your puppy.