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Over the next few months  we  will be adding information about a number of different breeds.  So if your interest in anyone breed and need info check our Breed Information Pages.

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Senior Dog

There is a false idea with large-breed puppies that since they have larger bones, they need more calcium and more calories to continue developing at the rapid growth rate puppies experience.  This is not true.  Many large-breed puppies that experience too rapid of growth in their first six months experience developmental bone problems.  The best plan of attack to prevent these issues in your large breed puppy is to control the rate of growth by controlling their intake of calories, calcium, and phosphorous.

If you are overfeeding your puppy, their high weight makes them at even higher risk for bone problems.  You should be able to feel the dog’s ribs, but not see them.  If you can not feel your puppy’s ribs, this is an indicator that you are over-feeding or should switch to a lower calorie diet.  Many puppy foods are rich in calories; which is why many kennels switch to adult dog food at around 12 weeks to safely promote growth.  If you feel your puppy is ready to make the switch, make sure you are feeding an adult dog food appropriate for all life stages.  Follow these guidelines and your puppy will experience normal skeletal development.

Length of time up to you.

Now that you know what kind of food to feed your new puppy, you may be wondering how often they are still considered a puppy. Up until 8 weeks, they should still be with the mother so that they can develop mentally and physically properly. When you pick your puppy up from a breeder. Or should you get one from the dog shelter. It should be on solid feed by then.

However, after that, what brand of puppy food you feed will be up to you. We do recommend the high’s protein and the first ingrains should be meat or meat meal and not a so call byproduct along with rice or mullet not wheat or corn. Your new puppy needs the high’s amount of protean in a food to grow properly.

Between 6 to 7 months, your new puppy may look like a full-grown pet, but they are still developing and strengthening their bones and muscles. The recommendation is that you will want to continue feeding puppy food to your pet at least until they are 1 year old. At this point, it is suitable to switch over to regular food for most small breeds, but larger breeds may need to remain on puppy food up until they are 2 years old. If you are uncertain about exactly when to switch from puppy food, ask your veterinarian to let you know when they think your puppy is ready.

]]> http://www.thebestpuppy.com/91/how-long-do-i-feed-puppies-puppy-food/feed/ http://www.thebestpuppy.com/90/my-tweets-for-3/ http://www.thebestpuppy.com/90/my-tweets-for-3/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0000 george http://www.thebestpuppy.com/general-information/my-tweets-for-3

   The right puppy food will help your pup grow.

Now that you have brought your new companion home, you may be wondering what exactly to feed him.  It is very easy to go to the supermarket and pick any bag that is labeled “puppy food”, but just be aware that not all puppy food is created equal.  The first thing to check is the first ingredient on the label.  You want the first ingredient to be meat, not a meat by-product, which means your new puppy, would be eating all the other parts, not the actual meat.  

Puppies need a lot of nutrition since they are growing at such a fast pace, so they will need to eat frequently, up to 4 times a day.  Remember that different breeds of dogs will need to eat different amounts, however.  Large breeds of puppies still need a lot of nutrition, but you should be careful that they don’t grow too quickly so that their bones can develop and grow at the correct rate.  There are special large-breed puppy foods that will regulate their fat intake for you.  You may also feed them food that is approved for all life stages, but for small-breed dogs, you will want to stick to puppy food due to their high metabolic rate.

Need more information on puppy food check out our side bar.

  Picking the best puppy

Let’s say you’ve looked through all the dog books and you’ve picked out the best purebred puppy for you or you’re in your neighbor’s backyard picking out the cutest snuggly mutt you’ve ever seen?  Either way, you will need to know how to pick the best puppy for you and your family.

All puppies love to play and all puppies love to sleep, but the one that will be the best puppy for you is the one that matches your energy level.  If all the puppies in a litter are sound asleep when you come to see them, wake them up and gauge their reaction.  Most of the puppies will want to play right away but will then lose interest.  There might be one or two that will not leave you alone however and want to play and play and play.  If you are an extremely active person and want your dog to accompany you on your adventures, this little guy may be the best puppy for you. 

However, if you are more of a lounger and not up for a lot of walks or physical activity, this may NOT be the best puppy for you.  You will want to keep an eye out for the guy who wants to keep hitting the snooze button.  This will be the best puppy for you, because he will be the one asleep at your feet when you’re watching a movie.

And remember, no puppy is the best puppy if they are sick, so always ask for a physical exam or certificate of health.

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