How much to feed a puppy?

[snorzzz]

It seems like he is always hungry.
I feed him 3 times a day, 1/2 to 3/4 cup dry per feeding.
Black lab, 8-9 weeks old, about 15-20 lbs.
Lots of snacks and treats between meals.

He has been wormed and is healthy looking, not skinny.
But it seems like he is always hungry, so I'm concerned I might not be feeding him enough at meal time.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[Dizzy]

If he looks good, and is a good weight, I'd imagine he's getting enough.

Labs have BIG appetites and can get obese very quickly if you're not careful.

If you want to fill him up, then bulk his meal up with HEALTHY, LOW CALORIE snacks... like green beans or chopped veg.

[snorzzz]

Thanks Dizzy.

Jack will eat anything, even banana's! I'll try the green beans, good idea.
I've given him cooked carrots, he loves them too.

Is there a good rule of thumb, like:

X number lbs. of body weight = feed X number cups of food.

The dog food bag says 1 cup per day! Jack is eatting much more than that.

[MafiaPrincess]

It's calories.. One variety of kibble often doesn't have the same calories per cup as the next. Grain free kibbles are often higher a cup so you feed less.. Lower quality kibble is often less calories a cup therefore you need more.

Think my two needed 2 or more cups of iams a day... When on Orijen they needed a cup.

[lizzybeth727]

Raw veggies have more nutrients, too - like raw carrots, broccoli, etc.

But yeah, I agree about labs always having an appetite! I knew a lab mix who escaped her crate one day and ate TWENTY POUNDS of dog food. By the time her owners got home she was so bloated she couldn't move, they had to rush her to the bet to get the food surgically removed. You'd think she would've stopped when she became uncomfortably full, but NO, not a LAB!

[sisco16]

i guess i just always let both my sibes free feed when they were puppys and there a fine weight just right actually not overweight at all. probably just the breed though.

[ihartgonzo]

Originally Posted by lizzybeth727

Raw veggies have more nutrients, too - like raw carrots, broccoli, etc.

But make sure you puree raw veggies first in a food processor or a blender! Due to their carnivorous teeth and short digestive tracts, dogs cannot properly chew/digest Veggies and access those nutrients unless they're cooked or pureed. I take all of my over-ripe/leftover Veggies from the week (mostly Broccoli, Kale, Baby Spinach, Tomatoes, Carrots, etc) and puree them, then seperate them into Dixie cups and freeze them. You can feed them as Veggie popsicles or thaw them and add to daily meals.

What brand of food are you feeding? Are you sure that the 1 cup is for puppies, not adult dogs? That does not seem like much for a 9 week-old, 20 lb puppy!

[snorzzz]

Hi, sorry I haven't written back, this pup keeps me busy!!

I'm now feeding him plenty, he's growing like a weed!

I have a ton of questions to ask, but I never seem to find the time.
When Jack sleeps is the only chance I get to breathe, lol.

Thanks so much for your answers, they helped me alot!
I'm now feeding him 3 cups a day, plus treats.

[Zoom]

Be careful not to overfeed...Labs will ALWAYS tell you they're hungry. They have no "Oh, gee, I think I'm full" switch.

Welcome to life with a high-energy breed.

Most dogs you will never get them full. They will always eat when food is available, even beg for it. This is a survival mechanism for wild canids. They live with feast and famine and when food is available, they eat as much as they possibly can. No guarantee of what tomorrow brings.

This is not so handy with our domestic dogs when they beg and plead with those big liquid eyes, however, feed your puppy by his body condition, not his appetite.

Also as a long time raw feeder, I do not pulp vegetables and fruits. It is okay if you want to, but not essential especially if they are just additions to an otherwise balanced diet.