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With so many choices, finding a good puppy food can seem outright daunting. Well, it’s about to get a little easier. Watch as Dr. Katy Nelson takes you through the ins and outs of puppy nutrition with information on everything from age appropriate dog food, to the importance of feeding schedules.
Hi, I'm Dr. Katy Nelson with IAMS. Today we're going to talk about dog nutrition, and what you should look for in your puppy's food. Just like infants, puppies require different levels of nutrients than older dogs. Physically, puppies grow fastest during the first six months. The right nutrition is critical to support this rapid growth. That said, your puppy should only receive premium puppy food until he reaches his adult height and weight. That's typically in the first year for small and medium breeds, and can be up to two years for large and giant breeds. One more thing to consider is that a puppy's energy requirements can be nearly twice that of an adult dog. And since their stomachs are smaller, they need more nutritionally dense food formulated just for puppies to help them meet their energy needs. There are three types of food: dry kibble, semi-moist—which comes in sealed packages—and moist or canned. Most veterinarians and trainers recommend dry kibble food, because of its fat content, and the fact that moist food can spoil. Dry kibble also helps with tartar control, which is particularly important for his developing teeth. When you're shopping for food, there are a couple of things you want to look for and keep in mind. Number one, look on the label for a statement that says, 'Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food Nutrient Profiles for growth.' Number two, read the ingredients list on the back of the package, and look for real meat as the first ingredient. Puppies grow the fastest during the first six months of life, and because growth rates differ among breed sizes, you need to feed a formula designed to address the needs of your puppy's breed and size. Ideally, puppy food should also contain animal based protein for strong muscles. The protein requirement for growing poppies is higher than that for adult dogs. High quality protein is critical for puppies to create new body tissue as they grow. Calcium for strong bones and teeth, iron for healthy blood, DHA for the brain, central nervous system, and vision. DHA is a key ingredient found naturally in mother's milk, and is important for a baby's neural development. Just like a baby, your puppy's ability to learn depends on healthy brain development. Prebiotics for healthy immune system, because 65% of your puppy's immune system is in his digestive tract, and high in calories for all the energy a puppy burns. The nutritional needs for puppies differ for different breeds sizes. Large breed puppies grow more quickly. Because of that, they actually need less calcium, so their bones don't grow too fast. Medium breed dogs need a careful balance of calories and nutrients to be sure that they don't gain excess weight, while small breed puppies need nutrient dense food in small bites, because their metabolism tends to be faster, and they have different energy needs than larger dogs. Another important thing to know is that what is good for humans is not necessarily good for animals. Because proper nutrition is critical for optimal development, and because human food doesn't offer the proper balance of nutrients puppies need, it is important to teach your whole family that feeding your puppy or your dog table scraps is a big no-no, and a major health hazard. Now let's talk about feeding schedules. Just like babies, puppies do best on a regular schedule. Schedules teach them that there are times to eat, times to play, and times to potty. Obviously, the feeding schedule will largely be dictated by your own personal schedule. But no matter what, it is critical that puppies younger than four months be fed multiple times per day. Depending on your puppy's breed size, at around six months, you can start to limit feedings to twice a day. Also, keep in mind that eating is soon followed by the urge to go to the bathroom. If you work away from your house and are unable to feed and walk your puppy as often as needed, think about hiring a dog walker, or ask a neighbor to help you keep your puppy on his schedule. For more information on house training, watch 'How to House Train Your Puppy.' Another important nutritional determinant is how much you're supposed to feed your developing puppy. Even though the back of the puppy food bags usually have suggested portion sizes based on weight, they are not always right for your puppy. So it's best to pay attention to your puppy's body and talk to your veterinarian. Remember, a fat puppy is not necessarily a healthy puppy. Just as childhood obesity can lead to adult health issues in humans, monitoring a puppy's weight is very important to ensure proper development. Treats are another food source to consider when determining portion size. It is important to limit treating to less than 10% of your puppy's daily caloric intake. When selecting treats, hard chew treats are ideal, because they improve dental health through gnawing. Also, try to save treating for training sessions to reward good behavior, but be careful not to overdo it. For more information on training, watch our video 'Puppy training basics.' The last part of puppy nutrition we are going to talk about is water. Puppies need fresh, clean water available at all times. Like us, it is their most important nutrient. You should change your puppy's water often, at least once a day. Providing fresh, clean water greatly reduces the risk of disease, and therefore keeps your pet happy and healthy. I'm Dr. Katy Nelson for IAMS, and I hope that you found this helpful as you welcome your new addition into your family.
Having a puppy in your household never lets a dull day knock on your door. What could be more exciting than having a fur baby live with you? For some of you, it may also be a lifelong dream finally coming true. While everything about sharing your space with a pup sounds delightful, it starts going south when an untrained puppy takes over the house.
Procrastinating the process of house training a puppy can drive your pooch to eliminate in your house and ruin carpets and furniture. This is not a pretty scenario in the long run because not being able to control your little pup can put you and your family into distress. And most first-time pet parents are clueless regarding how to handle and control their furry companion. If you are one of them, here’s everything you need to do to house train your puppy.
This is not something that you take lightly. You need to be determined and consistent with the process if you want this to stay with your pup forever. House training a dog requires patience and perseverance. Create a puppy house training schedule and stick to it. Try to get your puppy used to walking on leash before you start potty training.
Note: You need to know that your dog is new to your house, it will need time to adjust in the brand-new environment. So, make sure that you do not develop a plan that is too overwhelming for your pet.
A routine always helps in the long run, whether it is for us or for our dogs, establishing a routine will help your dog to understand that there is a specific time to eat, play, sleep, or potty. So, with this, your dog will know that there is a particular time to poop as well. It is better to have a dog with a routine than the one who defecates anytime, anywhere.
Taking your puppy out at appropriate times is non-negotiable. Take it out for a walk right after it wakes up, during its play time, and after it eats or drinks because these are the times when dogs are most likely to want to go. Hence, keep a good gap between meals and water, and bedtime, so your pup does not have to hold their business in for too long.
As a dog parent, you must know that for every month of age, puppies can control its bladder for an hour! So, if your pup is 2 months old, it can hold its bladder for 2 hours. However, 6 hours is the limit. Dogs cannot control their bladder for more than 6 hours.
Commands can help pet parents in communicating with their pooch. If you use a command repeatedly for a certain action, your dog will begin to pick up on the relation between your words and the act. For example, if you keep using the phrase ‘go fetch’ while you throw a toy or a stick, your pet will start understanding that it needs to go and retrieve the object. Similarly, when you take your dog out on a leash and want them to defecate, use the phrase ‘go potty’ and point to a particular spot. This will help them realise that they need to go.
Rewards can help establish a healthy relationship between you and your four-legged friend. These rewards can be in the form of treats or playtime with its favourite toy. It will help you teach new commands while also encouraging good behaviour. Make sure you are not showering treats on your pup before the task or action is complete. For example, give your pooch a treat after it has finished its potty round and not when it is in middle of it. Wondering why? Because then, your pup might not finish what it’s doing and have an accident later inside the house.
Note: If you feel that there's little to no progress, consult your veterinarian to rule out medical issues like bladder infections.
Now that you know how to house train a dog, you must understand that it is a time-consuming process. Your pup might take time to learn, however, with consistent practice, your dog will be obedient. Here are a few things you must know before you two get down to training:
