Feeding quantity??

[Aerodogs]

Always feed according to your own dog's activity level, metabolism, growth rate, etc. The food companies only provide a "guideline", it's just for reference and not every dog is going to fit within their guideline. In fact, most semi-active pet dogs/ weekend competitors typically require less than the guideline advises versus a very active dog who is regularly training (agility, hunt,etc) several hours each day.

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

Hrmmm. I'm going to have to re-think Sunshine's diet. She has been on Pro Plan Focus for her entire life. She is a female (spayed) American black gal and is VERY active!!!! 25" at the withers, 80# and almost 3 now. We spend two to four hours a day off leash swimming/running/field fun, just generally trying to wear her out. Even after that, she is ready to go at a moments notice!!! She gets 6 cups a day, 3/3. Her coat is great and she is in perfect shape. Can just feel her ribs rubbing, slim muscular build and very powerful. Well, any lab getting that much exercise would get some power to them!

I'm going to check into Sport. I'm thinking the extra protein might curb her NEED for food. She gives me the l@@k starting two hours before time. The extra fat would only make her coat that much shinier and water repellent. I'm not worried at all about calories, she WILL burn them. I know I know, ALL labs NEED to eat more, or so they make you feel. I want what is best for her.

I'll try to post an update in a few months after switching.

[Georgie]

Hrmmm. I'm going to have to re-think Sunshine's diet. She has been on Pro Plan Focus for her entire life. She is a female (spayed) American black gal and is VERY active!!!! 25" at the withers, 80# and almost 3 now. We spend two to four hours a day off leash swimming/running/field fun, just generally trying to wear her out. Even after that, she is ready to go at a moments notice!!! She gets 6 cups a day, 3/3. Her coat is great and she is in perfect shape. Can just feel her ribs rubbing, slim muscular build and very powerful. Well, any lab getting that much exercise would get some power to them!

I'm going to check into Sport. I'm thinking the extra protein might curb her NEED for food. She gives me the l@@k starting two hours before time. The extra fat would only make her coat that much shinier and water repellent. I'm not worried at all about calories, she WILL burn them. I know I know, ALL labs NEED to eat more, or so they make you feel. I want what is best for her.

I'll try to post an update in a few months after switching.

6 cups a day for a 3 year old sounds a lot...although the activity level is also quite high.


How many poops does your dog do a day?

[HammerLover]

IMO feeding about 3-3 1/2 cups a day would probably be best when he is an adult. Puppies don't always need more depending on how nutritious your food is that you give to them. In our kennel, we feed Life's Abundance for pups and dogs. For a grown lab we feed 1 1/2 2x's a day. Puppies we feed the same amount.

[Labradorks]

Puppies eat a lot. Mine were all on kibble and eating 5-6 cups per day as older, growing pups. They leveled off around age two and went down significantly around age three. I have big boys that are moderately active.

[barry581]

Bruce is 24 weeks old, weighs about 55 pounds. I have him on Fromm Large Breed Puppy Gold. He gets 4 cups per day plus treats. Fromm recommends 4 1/3. Since his arrival, I can immediately tell when he's getting too much, as I get runny poo.

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

6 cups a day for a 3 year old sounds a lot...although the activity level is also quite high.

How many poops does your dog do a day?

Two a day. A wake Pee after eating at 4:am (which includes a 15 - 20 minute RUN around the yard to see what she missed overnight). We hit the lake between 8 and 9 am, which involves a LOT of enthusiasm on her part as I get dressed. The rule is 'everyone goes poop & pee before we get into the car', so she does. Evening poop is a few hours after eating to right before bedtime at 9. Both are perfect, soft but firm, not huge and her BM's take maybe 15 or 20 seconds. I've never actually measured, but would guess each one is maybe a cup, cup and a half.

Her energy and exercise NEEDS are very high. There are several park or wildlife access areas we hit. She has a favorite large stick that she will carry with her at each one. #10, #15, maybe #20 each? Heavy enough that they are two handed 'heave' rather than throw 10' away kind of objects. It is comical to see her run with one of these things! The current 'favorite' at one spot is 4.5" to 5" diameter and 3.5' long. We have stayed through several dogs coming down to swim and play. I guess what I am saying is there is no issue with her burning calories.

Anyway... She seems to be doing great on the Focus, I am just wondering if something else might suit her better. I'm thinking more fat might do the trick. She has been scratching under her chin a lot this summer and her 'fanny' really needs more scratching then usual. The vet suggested an oil supplement, she could find no reason for the scratching. I would rather try and give her what she needs from food.

[Georgie]

... I've never actually measured, but would guess each one is maybe a cup, cup and a half.



Anyway... She seems to be doing great on the Focus, I am just wondering if something else might suit her better. I'm thinking more fat might do the trick. She has been scratching under her chin a lot this summer and her 'fanny' really needs more scratching then usual. The vet suggested an oil supplement, she could find no reason for the scratching. I would rather try and give her what she needs from food.

I was not thinking about her burning calories because she seems to be doing a lot of activity/exercise. I'd be more concerned about the nutrient overload of the kibble. Dogs weren't designed to have so much balanced nutrition on a daily basis and thus kibble can overload their organs.


I wonder whether raw meaty chicken bones occasionally would help instead of feeding extra kibble...this would help her itching. Also her other scratching might be anal gland issues that accompany kibble diets, so the chicken bones may help firm up the poop and express the anal glands. And the glucosamine and chrondrotin in the chicken bones may not be a bad thing with a high activity dog.


LOL....that is a lot of poop!!! My dog would probably do 1/16 th of that amount (but she is raw fed).

[krosen]

I was not thinking about her burning calories because she seems to be doing a lot of activity/exercise. I'd be more concerned about the nutrient overload of the kibble. Dogs weren't designed to have so much balanced nutrition on a daily basis and thus kibble can overload their organs.


I wonder whether raw meaty chicken bones occasionally would help instead of feeding extra kibble...this would help her itching. Also her other scratching might be anal gland issues that accompany kibble diets, so the chicken bones may help firm up the poop and express the anal glands. And the glucosamine and chrondrotin in the chicken bones may not be a bad thing with a high activity dog.


LOL....that is a lot of poop!!! My dog would probably do 1/16 th of that amount (but she is raw fed).

I remember when I first got Dodger and he was on kibble, he use to do 2-3 large loads of poop per day. And he ate 3 cups a day. He is raw fed now and only does 1 per day, on occasion 2, but they could fit in the palm of my hand they are so small.

I would feed whatever amount works for your dog. If the weight is maintained at a good weight, the poops aren't runny from overfeeding, you are probably feeding just right.

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

Raw chicken AND the bones? Won't the bones cause issues or is that only cooked chicken? What would I give her, a leg or thigh or something?

I didn't mean her poops are loose by saying they were 'soft' Just that they are not rock hard. I don't consider that a LOT of poop. When I had my first lab we noticed what we called the 'poop factor' to foods. When I fed her a <$10 per #50 bag of food, that was a LOT of poop!!! There would be piles that would scare ya. As I moved to a better quality of food, the poop factor went down.

No anal gland issues, according to the vet.