Here at Liberty Labradoodles we start puppies on solid food from 3 to 4 weeks of age (soaked until their teeth come through). When puppy leaves us they are on dry puppy kibble. As part of your pups feeding routine always have fresh water available.
Do not give him milk (it would cause a tummy upset).
Here at Liberty Labradoodles we feed 100% Blackhawk Puppy (chicken/rice). I recommend not to change pups diet when you take him home. This food is available at most vet clinics and good pet stores. Our adult dogs get a mix of adult Blackhawk, quality dog roll, Avocados (yes avocados, they pick them off our trees in the orchard).
As pups get older, raw chicken necks can be given as a part of their diet, they can be given raw or frozen (Pak n Save sell these in flatpack trays).
Raw meat can be given as they grow older but always introduce slowly, NEVER feed cooked bones of any description to a puppy or adult dog. Grains and raw vegetables can be added as an additional supplement with dry kibble. Raw meat and vegetables are a good source of nutrients for your puppy. We also add at times foods such as fish, sardines, eggs, pasta and rice. Always introduce new foods a little at a time to avoid tummy upsets.
While at Liberty Labradoodles your puppy is fed twice a day, this can be done until the age of 12 months and then your puppy will only need one good meal a day, normally in the evenings as all dogs will usually sleep better with a full tummy. If you plan to change the brand of dog food you are feeding at any stage, please do this over a 7 to 10 day period to avoid tummy upsets.
A guide to follow for your puppy could be as follows:
BREAKFAST: 1-2 cups of dry kibble(you can remove any uneaten portion if you choose). Fresh water should be available at all times.
DINNER: 1-2 cups of Purina pup chow mixed with Blackhawk puppy….. puppy food should be offered but the puppy wont always eat twice a day.
It is also important to remember that this little puppy is a dog so please do not feed him table scraps from a human meal, this is not necessary and our food over time can cause health problems for a dog.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to your puppy to only feed him the foods that a dog should be eating. I see too many dogs that are far too overweight and having all sorts of health issues.
This is simply a guide to follow but dont be too concerned if your puppy does not seem to eat very much. Let your puppy’s appetite guide you. Weigh your puppy regularly and monitor the amount of exercise he has. His exercise should be limited until the age of 12 months while his little bones and body continue to develop. He should also avoid stairs and too much high impact jumping.
BONES AND CHEWS
Bones help to provide vital calcium. Gnawing on bones helps exercise the jaw muscles, massages the gums and contributes to good dental care. The puppies have a HUGE desire to chew when they are teething. Pigs ears are a convenient addition to bones. You will also need to provide him with plenty of toys to chew on so he leaves the Jimmy Choo designer shoes alone!!