Best food for pups?

[ilovemarkb]

Ive been told to give oscar four small meals every day. When we first got him we were giving him pedigree chum (puppy) with mixer then after been given a free sample of puppy complete we gave him some to try. After reading up this seems the better option anyway. He seems to have gone off it, we.ve tried him with 3 different brands of complete,but he.s still not fussed. We dont want him to starve so have gone back on the tinned meat with mixer which he seems to love.Is it ok to give him 2 meals of meat and mixer and 2 meals of complete or should we stick to one or the other?? Didnt have this much worry weaning my baby.s. Thankgoodness for anwserbank!! Result from the help you gave me yesterday, oscar.s done his first 2 wee.s in my yard! could jump for joy!!

[lankeela]

Decide on a food and stick to it! It would be ok to give him two meals of complete and two of tinned meat and mixer,
although I would personally give one milky/porridgy meal and two complete, with one meaty meal. The better quality complete foods are best, and you can always mix a tiny bit of meat with it to tempt him. If you keep changing, he will learn that if he is fussy he will get offered something new.
A lighter warm milky meal at supper time will help him to sleep and not make him want to go out to the toilet so much.

If he is not clearing up his meals, gradually drop to three meals a day, breakfast, late lunch and then a late 'tea'
and by the time he is six months he can go on to two meals a day.

So pleased with the results on the 'wee' situation.

[doglady2]

hi,agree with last answer in as much as advice for sticking to what you start with,when we got our babies (puppies),we always gave a complete puppy food which had been soaked with boiling water straight from the kettle,covered for 5-10 mins untill double its size and put either srambled or boiled eggs in with it(chopped finely ).
That was breaky,the same for dinner (without the egg),and the same for tea.Rice pudding was always their favourite on their tea or a little after their tea as a tummy warmer before bed.
When they were 9 -12 months they were given a jnr complete meal and then at between 20-24 months they went onto adult.You dont say what breed he is so obviously that makes a difference ,ours was GSD's.The best advice i could ever give anyone about feeding their dogs are always give them the best food you can afford,it pays you back in many ways,good health,stamina,condition and bone developement.We always use James Wellbeloved for many reasons,its very good on the tummy,its a hypoallergenic food for sensative tums.Its very easy to clean up after (firm sausages)sorry about that.
Its a very well balanced complete food in 4 flavours and they use the best ingredients.(wish i was on commision for this but im not).Anyway....im sure you have it all covered by now,liitle meals is better than lrge ones,have fun.Regards.

[Pea Pod]

I have never fed a dog anything but tinned meat,can`t see the fasination for all this dried stuff(but each to their own).

[lankeela]

Because tinned meat is mostly water, and many dogs cannot tolerate it, it goes straight through them. There is also a very low protein content, and growing puppies need plenty of protein. It also works out much more expensive ounce for ounce. It is extremely well balanced and needs no supplements, and suits the majority of dogs.

[ilovemarkb]

thanks for all the advice. going with lankeela.s option. Bought some porridge oats today, cant wait to see if oscar likes it tonight. I presume that i shouldnt add sugar, not quite sure how much to give him. would 2 ounces of oats with half pint of milk be too much?

[lankeela]

You could also use Readybrek, or Pedigree Chum do a Puppy Weaning Porridge that you can use for older puppies as well, just don't make it so mushy.

Don't use too much cow's milk, it can upset them. Use goats milk is you have to use milk, but just warm water would do.

You could use any sort of cereal as long as its not coated in sugar or honey etc. Weetabix is always the one I use.

As for quantity, give him a little and if he eats it give him a bit more next time.

[Snappy]

Dry complete-Burns
Wet-Naturediet+wholemeal mixer

I feed a natural/homecooked diet and would NEVER feed a commercial food. If i was pushed for whatever reason, those are the only two foods i would choose x

[pmjblue]

I agree with the above, apart from feeding tinned food, and cant see the fascination for complete stuff. I have always fed complete food, along with fresh cooked offcuts from the butchers that he sells for 50p a bag. I cook this with different veggies to add interest. Rice pudding is also good for growing puppies, along with the occasional scambled egg.