Feeding Your Puppy

A structured feeding regimen works in concert with a well-thought-out housebreaking and training programme.

Choosing a Food

There are a number of factors to consider in choosing a food. With Golden Retrievers, there are significant considerations as to the appropriateness of certain common ingredients in many of the commercially produced foods. These ingredients are frequently linked to allergic responses such as itchy skin, and ear infections. Steer clear of foods containing wheat, corn, and soy. (Which rules out many of the large market brands.) They may seem cheaper by the bag, but have lower digestibility, which means feeding more to get the same nutritional value. Admittedly, some of the “boutique” brands are exhorbitantly priced, but paying a little more for a quality, premium food saves money in terms of amount fed, and trips to the vet. Beware attempts to get you to feed a veterinarian-sold brand. Except for prescription diets designed to address specific health problems, these foods do not offer superior nutrition. Another recent fad is high protein-no/low carb foods. These have not been available long enough for myself to be certain there are not long-term health consequences associated with feeding such high-protein foods. My dogs have glossy coats, and good muscle condition on duck, salmon-based foods in particular.

A good source for recommendations of quality foods is the annual top ten list from the Whole Dog Journal. A good store at which you my find many quality foods is Global Pet Foods/Ryans. They offer a frequent buyer program as well. Below are some of my personal favourites, on which my dogs do well (ALS—all life stages; PF—puppy formula):

· Fromm Four Star Duck (ALS)

· Fromm Four Star Salmon (ALS)

· Fromm Gold Adult

· Fromm Gold Large Breed Puppy (PF)

· Go! Natural Salmon

· Nature’s Variety

· Merrick Puppy Plate (PF)

· Merrick Turducken

· Eagle Pack Holistic (ALS)

What About Supplements?

If you are feeding a high quality, balanced diet, supplements are unnecessary, and can sometimes do more harm than good. Once they leave puppyhood, the one supplement I will give, particularly during the winter months, is a fish oil capsule.

How Much to Feed?

• Initially you should be feeding your puppy three times per day (breakfast, lunch, supper) as their little belliescannot hold enough in two meals to support their rapid growth
• Divide the suggested daily ration into three equal portions, and soften it with warm water before feeding. You can gradually transition to dry food.
• Note that the suggested feeding amount on the bag is just that, a suggestion. I find it is usually on the high side, except with exceptionally active dogs.
• If the portion is correct, your puppy should be able to easily consume each meal within 5 minutes. Take food up after five minutes. This will help in preventing slow, picky eating habits.
• Adjust the portion as your puppy grows. You want the pup to be lean, but not bony or scrawny. Excess weight is hard on growing bones and joints and could void your health guarantee. Beyond three months of age, that roly-poly puppy belly should disappear. If it has not started to disappear, decrease the food ration slightly. If the pup is otherwise lean, but has a potbelly, have a stool sample analyzed for worms.
• Cease feeding the noon meal when the pup stops showing an interest in it. This is generally sometime close to when they reach 6 months of age. At this point, divide the daily ration into two equal portions.
• If you are not feeding an all-life stages food, switch off large-breed puppy food to an adult food at 6 months of age.
• Once the rapid growth phase is over (usually by 10 months) you should notice your pup becoming less interesting in wolfing down that large serving, or if not, s/he may be becoming a bit pudgy. Once the rapid growth is over, cut the ration back as your pup does not need the high caloric intake any longer.
• To satisfy chewing needs, I provide large knuckle bones from the butcher. (You usually have to ask at the butcher counter to get ones that are large enough.) These are raw, and I keep them in the freezer between uses. Nylabone Galileo chews are also sufficiently tough if you don’t like the notion of large bones hanging about! Commercially made treats like Greenies and Dentabones do not have the substance to stand up to Golden jaws. The dogs are too able to break off and swallow large chunks which can cause gastro-intestinal obstructions.