Ok lets talk food, as I glazed over our feeding regimen for puppies during Gotcha Day- I thought I would post in detail my recommendations again to get your puppies growing to their full potential!
The first 6 months is CRITICAL! Please feed your puppies!!! During this time they get their bone growth... if you are months behind feeding them the necessary nutrients needed, their growth will be stunted...
We recommend feeding your Labrador Retriever Puppy – Purina Pro Plan 30/20 All Life Stage Salmon (this is 30% protein!!) Protein is a critical nutrient for puppies because it’s essential for muscle and bone growth one more time, ESSENTIAL FOR MUSCLE AND BONE GROWTH and repair. Puppy food "usually" contains at least 27 percent protein, compared to about 21 percent for standard adult dog food. Puppies also need lots of energy pound for pound, they burn more calories than adult dogs. I suggest "offering" 2 cups 3 times a day from the time you pick up your puppy from us. Your puppy many not eat this entire portion, please remove the uneaten portion and withhold food till next meal.
Puppies also need the correct amounts of calcium and phosphorus to ensure proper skeletal development and growth, again I suggest the ProPlan 30/20 due to it having correct ratios for growing puppies and active adults.
Because puppies have small stomachs and high metabolic rates, they need to eat several times a day if they don’t, they’ll not only run out of energy, but they also won’t take in adequate amounts of protein and other nutrients. A puppy less that 3 months of age should be fed at least three to four times a day. The number of meals can be reduced to three per day when the puppy is 3 to 5 months old. A 6-month-old puppy will usually be ready for an adult feeding schedule of two meals per day.
I cannot stress enough… puppies are growing very fast and need calories, do not allow your puppies to get lean, they are growing! Just because I recommend a certain amount at 8 weeks, does not mean you will not have to increase this amount for your puppies, your puppy is growing and extremely active and burns so many calories. Once your puppy is mature… again look at their body condition... and that will dictate the amount of food they should get.
Our brothers Rocky and Rumor get different amounts, Rumor has a higher metabolism and gets 1 cup more a day than his brother (6 cups split in two feedings) . Also we suggest adding goodies to their diet, broccoli, carrots, blueberries, sardines in water 😊 etc.. Again, let your dogs body condition and metabolism be your guide and if you have questions at all feel free to contact us anytime!
Also, these are "english" type labradors they are supposed to have more bone, and a denser overall frame than the american hunting line counter parts. Often vets say dogs are too heavy, however if you modify their nutrition while they are growing puppies and adolescents, you will end up with a very slim labrador that does not get the bone growth or frame necessary for their proper growth.
I have had families that reduced food and they call me and say my dog looks like a hunting lab and not like Primo, or Dune or Tovi or well.. any of our dogs... Our boys are in the upper 90's and girls here are in the upper 70's to mid 80's they have lots of bone, thick coats and a beautiful otter tail - and none of them are fat... (well pebbles might be a little fat... lol )
Bottom line... feed your puppies... and increase their ration in their most critical growing stages! If you have any questions along your journey please, please call or text me!
**Also, no spaying or neutering until your puppy is at least 18-24 months old!!!
The first 6 months is CRITICAL! Please feed your puppies!!! During this time they get their bone growth... if you are months behind feeding them the necessary nutrients needed, their growth will be stunted...
We recommend feeding your Labrador Retriever Puppy – Purina Pro Plan 30/20 All Life Stage Salmon (this is 30% protein!!) Protein is a critical nutrient for puppies because it’s essential for muscle and bone growth one more time, ESSENTIAL FOR MUSCLE AND BONE GROWTH and repair. Puppy food "usually" contains at least 27 percent protein, compared to about 21 percent for standard adult dog food. Puppies also need lots of energy pound for pound, they burn more calories than adult dogs. I suggest "offering" 2 cups 3 times a day from the time you pick up your puppy from us. Your puppy many not eat this entire portion, please remove the uneaten portion and withhold food till next meal.
Puppies also need the correct amounts of calcium and phosphorus to ensure proper skeletal development and growth, again I suggest the ProPlan 30/20 due to it having correct ratios for growing puppies and active adults.
Because puppies have small stomachs and high metabolic rates, they need to eat several times a day if they don’t, they’ll not only run out of energy, but they also won’t take in adequate amounts of protein and other nutrients. A puppy less that 3 months of age should be fed at least three to four times a day. The number of meals can be reduced to three per day when the puppy is 3 to 5 months old. A 6-month-old puppy will usually be ready for an adult feeding schedule of two meals per day.
I cannot stress enough… puppies are growing very fast and need calories, do not allow your puppies to get lean, they are growing! Just because I recommend a certain amount at 8 weeks, does not mean you will not have to increase this amount for your puppies, your puppy is growing and extremely active and burns so many calories. Once your puppy is mature… again look at their body condition... and that will dictate the amount of food they should get.
Our brothers Rocky and Rumor get different amounts, Rumor has a higher metabolism and gets 1 cup more a day than his brother (6 cups split in two feedings) . Also we suggest adding goodies to their diet, broccoli, carrots, blueberries, sardines in water 😊 etc.. Again, let your dogs body condition and metabolism be your guide and if you have questions at all feel free to contact us anytime!
Also, these are "english" type labradors they are supposed to have more bone, and a denser overall frame than the american hunting line counter parts. Often vets say dogs are too heavy, however if you modify their nutrition while they are growing puppies and adolescents, you will end up with a very slim labrador that does not get the bone growth or frame necessary for their proper growth.
I have had families that reduced food and they call me and say my dog looks like a hunting lab and not like Primo, or Dune or Tovi or well.. any of our dogs... Our boys are in the upper 90's and girls here are in the upper 70's to mid 80's they have lots of bone, thick coats and a beautiful otter tail - and none of them are fat... (well pebbles might be a little fat... lol )
Bottom line... feed your puppies... and increase their ration in their most critical growing stages! If you have any questions along your journey please, please call or text me!
**Also, no spaying or neutering until your puppy is at least 18-24 months old!!!
How we feed:
How You should feed, when puppy is yours
