Puppy Feeding Amount Advice?

[KiterTodd]

We received feeding guidelines from our breeder, but I wanted to get your experiences as well.

Basically, our breeder told us how to ramp up "as needed..." But how do we know how much the puppy needs? Do we just see how much she is eating at 1 sitting and give her as much as she'll eat?

Right now she eats about 1 1/4 cup in the morning and we give her a cup at night. We had her at a cup but she was looking for more.

Basically, she's just over 8 weeks. Breeder said to start her at a cup and a cup, then increase the morning to 1.5 cups when needed, then the evening. Then when/if 1.5 cups per meal isn't enough increase the morning again.

I'll get more guidelines from our vet when she goes in for her first appointment, but we have a couple weeks until then and I want to make sure she is getting enough food, but not being overfed.

She is a good eater and inhales the food in a single sitting. She's probably approaching 12 lbs. now, she was 11 lbs. last week at her breeder vet checkup.

[smartrock]

I was advised by our breeder (in fact, all 3 of the breeders we've worked with) to feed an 8 week old pup 3 times per day. We got Lark at 12 weeks of age eating 3/4 cup 3 times per day but she was hungry all the time so I went to 1 cup 3 times a day right away. I think the most she got to was 3 1/2 cups per day total. I switched to 2 feedings a day at about 6 months, gradually phasing out lunch and adding that food to breakfast and dinner so she still got the same total.

Our 2 boys came home at 9 weeks of age eating a cup per meal, 3 times per day. They went up to about 4 1/2 cups total but all 3 have gotten a fair amount of extra each day in training treats of various sorts. The female is now 6 years old and eats just 2 cups per day. My 8 1/2 month old boy eats about 4 1/2 cups total. The boy doesn't act like he's starving but always eats enthusiastically. The girl would stick her head in the food bag and eat until she threw up, then she'd start over. But she'd also become as big as a grizzly bear so 2 cups it is.

I know some people start with just 2 meals per day but all 3 of the lab breeders we've worked with told us to start at 3 meals per day. If your pup seems hungry all the time then 3 cups per day total isn't out of line in my experience. If your schedule allows, dividing her food into 3 meals a day might keep her feeling more satisfied.

[Jen5200]

We got Bella at 8 weeks and she’s 16 weeks now. At 8 weeks we were feeding her 3/4 cup 3x per day, and have gradually increased it to 1 cup 3x per day as she seemed to need it (plus all the treats and kibble for training). She just had her 16 week checkup/shots and the vet felt she was in good shape weight-wise (she’s lean but not skinny). The 3 feedings per day is working well for us.

[Snowshoe]

Our breeder said three times a day too, wet the food at each feeding for the next feeding, at first. Plus, we were to weigh our puppies every second week and used weight gain as a guide to when to increase food.

[Labradorks]

At that age, 3/4 cup three times a day is about right for your puppy's size. My bigger pups (15-17 lbs at 8 weeks) were eating more like a cup 3x per day. If your puppy is inhaling, you can try a slow bowl, puzzle feeder, or a Kong. You can also sprinkle kibble into muffin tins or spread around a cookie sheet.

[JenC]

I would aim for 3/4 to 1 cup a meal, and THREE meals a day. You can do 2, but then you are looking at about 1 1/2 c per meal. It would be better to try to fit the lunch in at sometime for a month or so.

[Annette47]

I agree with everyone else - 3 meals of 3/4 cup at that age seems right. My young girls, who are on the smaller side (<60lbs) never needed more than that, but I remember at one point feeding their grandfather 4 cups a day during his fastest growing periods. I judge by how hungry they are (Lab hungry or truly starving) and their body condition.

[lovemylabby]

A puppy of that age should be eating THREE times per day...1 cup to 1 1/4 cups three times per day . Nutrition is very important for Lab puppies and if you don't feed them enough when they are young, they will start to lose bone and you can never get that back.

As the puppy gets a little older, you should increase that amount.

I like to see a little extra fat on a growing puppy...he can always slim down later.

[KiterTodd]

Good tips, thanks.

I also realized after posting this that there is are specify puppy nutrition boards (but they don't look like they get much traffic). Sorry if I posted this to the wrong place, but I'm grateful for the feedback received.