Most dog foods fall within the acceptable range set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Your puppys feeding schedule can fit in with your personal preferences up to a point. Although they still nurse when they can, they are now less dependent on their mother. Its all detailed in the article above :-). Labradors are one of the greediest dog breeds on the planet, and if you dont believe us, science actually backs this claim up. Tweaking it as and when you need to is fine. The mixture should be working well for them. But cheaper brands are full of low quality and nutritionally empty fillers that mean a puppy needs considerably more to get what they need. 2023 Cover Story Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Hi Nitesh, We dont provide a helpline Im afraid, but you can join The Labrador Forum here where experienced owners will be happy offer advice: http://thelabradorforum.com. Switching anytime after 6 months though will almost certainly have no ill effects as long as you keep them at a healthy weight. The meals should be divided into equal amounts suitable for the puppy's weight. The most common problem is puppies that get too fat. Dont be tempted to punish your puppy, because that will make things worse. Already, youll probably be able to see the difference between the strongest and weakest pups in the litter. In a balanced food, all the nutrients are in just the right amounts and if you add human foods on top, you are upsetting this balance. Toy-breed puppies will need 4 to 6 meals per day for the first three months of their lives. You can also check with a vet or dog nutrition specialist to make sure that your puppy grows to be strong and healthy with just the right amount of food. It must not be used as an alternative for seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional. And unless you are out of food or under your vets instruction, we would advise you not to feed your pup home-cooked food. He is clean in the house all the day. If your Lab pup is forever begging for food and seems completely unsatisfied by his mealtimes, you can up his daily food allowance to three cups a day. He also has messed up some of the bottom of my chain link fence with his teeth AND pulled most of the bottom 6 to 8 feet of bark off my cedar trees !! Also, this article on labs was very informative. With modern training methods, youll find that much of your puppys food allowance will be used up in training. Although they still probably try to sneak in a few last milk sessions while they can. You can if you wish, simply feed your puppy from one of your own plates or bowls. If not, you can make up the difference with puppy formula yourself. We have an article all about coping with biting here https://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies-biting/. Some breeders introduce their pups to softened kibble or fresh food at this point. Labrador Retriever Puppy Dry Dog Food | Royal Canin US If not, hell have to make do with the smaller food allowance. Typically, the puppy's growth accelerates at this point, so this is the best time to introduce them to new food. Puppyhood is arguably the most important nutritional life stage because it sets the foundations for a healthy life and body. If you cant, hes too chunky, and if you can see his rib cage, hes too skinny. If they dont seem keen, offer it to them several times a day. Feeding puppies at consistent times each day helps them get used to the routine. If you are feeding your Labrador puppy on complete kibble, your puppy does not need milk to drink, and fresh water is all they require. After a week of your Lab puppy being in your home, youll have hopefully established a feeding routine that is working. Its not difficult, but it requires careful attention and routine. It also comes with just as much responsibility. How many times a day should you feed a Labrador? Many puppies are intolerant of cows milk and drinking it leads to an upset tummy and diarrhea so you would do best to avoid giving your puppy any milk at all. Puppies love to eat, and Labrador puppies are even more so. He needs plenty of calories to fuel that growth, as well as the right nutrients. Now we are feeding her once a day and it takes her about 3-4 hours to finish. How much to feed, when to offer meals and which brands to choose can leave new owners with a bit of a headache. Our puppy is now 9 weeks old. We walk you through every step of their first year and answer all your questions on what to look for in dog food for your growing Lab. 90-100 Lbs. In fact, its a good sign that the puppies are becoming more independent. Just mention it to your vet when you take the pup for his first check up, or in the next day or two. How can you change the feeding routine to help your puppy transition to the next stage of its life. Weve selected some good quality brands in our Amazon puppy picks: One of our favourites is Orijen Large Breed Puppy Formula.*. Nowadays I do this with my own puppies and if you are at home throughout the day you can do this too. Check out this page for more information. This article contains lots of useful advice: https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-behavior/how-to-stop-a-puppy-or-dog-from-chewing/. Labrador Feeding Chart By Age A Labrador can be fed between one and six cups of food depending on their level of activity, age, and type of food. Remember that all dogs are different, but here are the general rules of how much a Lab puppy should be eating week by week. If you choose high-quality dog food, everything your Lab puppy needs are in that. If your are feeding your Labrador puppy kibble, there is no need to provide anything else apart from water. Some people are worried about the long term effects of feeding your Labrador puppy kibble and believe there are advantages to feeding a more natural raw diet. Unless you really understand canine nutrition, whats good, whats not and what a puppy should eat in what proportions, its best you dont feed them human food at all. Decide on their meal times and when you give them their food, allow 10 to 15 minutes for them to eat it and then take the bowl away. Complete Care Guide for Goldadors Info, Tips, & More - Dog Learn If your puppy completely refuses to eat, it could be a sign that something is wrong, so you need to take him to the vet straight away. Its very easy to give human attributes to puppies and assume that, because we would be bored eating the same thing, your small one will too. So, the chances are, your puppy will be eating a good quality product if you choose one of these. Puppies love food, and crave the attention that comes with feeding time. There is plenty of choice when it comes to choosing a food bowl for your puppy. Puppy Feeding Fundamentals - American Kennel Club Feeding him the best nutrition plays a huge role. Labrador Weight Chart By Age. Labrador Feeding Chart: Feed Your Lab Like A Pro - PupVine When Do Puppies Stop Biting And How To Cope With A Silver Lab The Facts About Silver Labrador Retrievers. Thank you for your time. Even switching slowly you should still expect some tummy upset, but it will be considerably less severe. If your puppy clears up his food in a few seconds and begs for more, dont panic. 4-6 Months Old - cup per meal. The "labrador feeding chart by age" is a great resource for all things related to your Labrador. Watch out for his surroundings, and keep all food out of reach. However, knowing how much to feed a Labrador puppy is sometimes a matter of keeping an eye on her. Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. Well look at some of the different brands of dry puppy food later. If you need more than that, then divide the daily amount by two until you reach a full meal size again. This post may contain affiliate links. So, what is the best puppy food for labs? But its important to stick with the routine and food allowance to ensure that he doesnt put on too much weight. And instead of four meals a day, you can reduce it to three meals a day now. If you stick to high-quality food, you can rest assured that all the nutrients that your Lab puppy needs are found in their meal. People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much food they should give him. Labrador Dog Food Chart - Anything Labrador However, like most things these are only guidelines. Caring for your pup is hard work. Feeding Your Labrador Puppy: How Much, Diet Charts And The Best Four meals a day from eight weeks to three months, Three meals a day from three months to six months, When the puppy is looking up into your eyes, If the puppy is keeping all four paws on the floor while you pet them, When the puppy is resting quietly on a blanket or cushion, If something new happens that might be scary (eg someone knocking at the door), When something new happens that is super exciting (eg children visiting). So switching anywhere between 6 and 12 months is good and ideally you should let your puppies growth decide. Also, look for nutrient-dense ingredients such as dried kelp and seaweed meal. The amount will differ from one puppy to the other as every puppy has there own requirements. Do Labradors Ever Stop Eating? Simple Feeding Chart @2020 - LabradorTrainingHQ.com. She is the founder of the Labrador Site and a regular contributor. Large breed puppy dog food does exactly that. Large dogs grow at a much quicker rate compared to smaller dogs, and this can lead to skeletal abnormalities and joint issues. The first week is crucial for puppy development, and it determines just how healthy a pup he will become. Labradors and other larger breed dogs are particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. Ive always enjoyed my labrador although I had to miss him quite some time in the first years when I was still actively playing in Poker tourneys. By skimping a few dollars on poor quality food, you are risking your pup becoming nutritionally deficient or developing abnormally. So, well now take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of the different puppy foods. Note: Clicking the above links take you to Amazon.com or each companys website, where you can get additional product information and customer reviews. But I would caution most people that to feed this diet successfully, you need to do A LOT of research, gain a lot of knowledge and truly understand a dogs nutritional needs to make sure they get exactly what they need in the right amounts. Age: Daily FoodQuantity (Cups) Kilocalories (Per day) Protein: Fats: 2 - 3 months: 1 - 1.5: 1050 - 1500: 22 - 25%: 8%: . So adding a calcium supplement to an already complete diet can actually do more harm than good. Remember, adding your own extras, like cereals or milk, to kibble might make you feel caring, but it will only unbalance the whole diet. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Hello, I have a 2-month-old Labrador puppy and I understand that she needs to be feed 4 times a day, but what times should I feed her? Your article is very informative! So you can be sure that everything your Lab puppy needs to grow healthily is in each bite. Thanks. Enough to where he got sap from the tree all over his hair, which is very hard to get off without cutting it off !!!! Whatever your vets observations, be sure to follow any new instructions. Consistency is key. Please click here for our advice on The Best Food for Labrador Puppies. Sometimes, it is just a matter of increasing the amount of food or changing the brand to a more nutritious option with fewer fillers. For information on how much or when to feed your Labrador dog or puppy, explore our feeding articles here. Puppy feeding and nutrition guide | Royal Canin UK Most food brands give you a Lab puppy feeding chart. The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall. Part of this always comes down to the cost, because the healthiest foods are usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families.