Chow Time: Everything You Need to Know about Feeding Your New Golden Retriever Puppy

feeding

Feeding your dog is one of the most important aspects of daily canine care. Growing active dogs need consistent nutrition and balanced diets for optimal health and wellness. Based on years of kennel feeding, research, and expertise with Goldens, WKG would like to offer some vital feeding insight.

Schedule three feedings per day for growing puppies (2-8 months). Feed them morning, midday, and evening within a regular ½ hour span.  Allow your dog approximately 15 minutes to eat; remove leftover food after this. If your puppy indicates or behaves as if they are still hungry after consuming all of the food, consider their activity level and growth rate. Based on these factors, you may increase feeding amounts.

Feeding is directly based on weight. With this in mind, keep accurate records and track your puppy’s weight. At about 9-10 months old, daily feedings can be reduced to 2x per day. Between 1.5 and 2 years old, golden retrievers reach maturity/adult weight, and the amount fed can usually be decreased.

If you are concerned that your dog is under or overweight, use the visual chart and compare it to your dog’s current condition. With severe underweight or overweight conditions, other factors beyond feeding may be involved. In this case, research and veterinary consultation is recommended.

There is a growing body of evidence that supports feeding adult dogs just once per day. Data from the Dog Aging Project shows better health and cognitive ability when intermittent fasting (feeding frequency-time duration between food intake) was introduced into subject dogs’ lifestyle. For those interested, an in-depth book, The Forever Dog, has been written on this topic.

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