What To Feed My Jack Russell Puppy

The first thing that comes to mind after adopting your Jack Russell puppy is what to feed my puppy? Going back to its natural state, wild dog puppies in general tend to eat the carcass of other animals when they are around 7 to 8 weeks old. This is also the time that they naturally wean off their mother's milk. Jack Russell puppies in general tend to wean off their mother's milk at around 8 to 12 weeks.

As puppies tend to grow much faster than adult dogs, you will have to make sure that you feed them the right amount of food so that their body can make use of the food for their proper growth. However you should also not over feed your puppy as you may inadvertently stretch their small stomach. It is recommended that you feed your Jack Russell puppy four times a day until he is about 16 weeks old. Then reduce it to 3 times a day until he is 6 months old. After that you can feed him twice a day.

You can choose many different types of feed for you puppy such as complete dry diets, semi-moist or tinned food with or without a biscuit mixed or your own home-made food. What you choose depends on your life style. Some people may be so busy that they really have to go for commercial food. However the most suitable diet should be one that is easily digested and produce dark brown, firm, formed stools.

The critical time is when your puppy is between 4 to 6 months old when he is teething. This is the time when you introduce raw meaty bones to him to help him to chew actively. Many owners are not aware of this and they often end up with teething issues which may need additional effort to correct. The chewing also helps to keep his teeth and gums healthy.

When you introduce raw bones, it should be done on a gradual basis. Make sure that the bone is not too small so that it can fit into his mouth or swallow the whole bone. This could cause him to choke. You can provide him raw lamb ribs, raw lamb flaps, raw chicken wings or raw lamb tail bones.

If you decide to change your puppy's diet, make sure that you do it gradually so as not to upset your puppy's stomach. Also be on the lookout for food that may cause problems as your puppy may be intolerant to a certain kind of food or ingredients in the food.

Follow the simple guidelines on what to feed your puppy and make sure that you monitor your puppy carefully especially if you are changing his diet to ensure a healthy and proper growth.

Darlene Browne is an avid lover of dogs and in particular Jack Russell terriers. Her website [http://www.JackRussellAdvice.com] was initially created at the request from her other dog loving friends for her to share her experience and resources related to dog training. You can get more information on what to feed your puppy [http://www.jackrusselladvice.com/what-to-feed-puppy/] here.

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How Often Should I Feed My Dog? Here Are Some Tips to Answer That

Many dog owners would like to know how often they should feed their dogs and you are not an exception. A puppy in its first six weeks must be fed milk five to seven times a day. The puppy will alert you, its owner, through sound.

As the puppy grows older and moves beyond six weeks, the frequency drops. Once the dog reaches four weeks old, it can start taking some solid food. Your puppies introduction to solid food is cautionary though as you will have to only feed him twice a day on solid. The reason for this is to watch out if the dog develops diarrhea and if it does, discontinue the new feeding regimen.

This is due to trial and error. However, your dog's eating of solid food should increase to two to three times daily once the dog reaches eight weeks. However, if the dog is still hungry, then provide it with some extra food. This however varies with different breeds.

You must avoid feeding your dog too many times in this age group. Between the third and sixth month, the puppy will be teething. Consequently, restrict the feeding to twice only but it must be balanced lest the dog develop deficiency based symptoms.

From six months to one year, strive using puppy food that is commercially available. However, once the dog reaches a year, adult food may be given more and more. From this time on, its food may comprise of only adult food.

However, when the dog becomes an elder dog, restrict the frequency of feeding since the movements of such adult dogs are much reduced. However, the pregnant animal may be fed an extra time depending on the willingness of the animal. As always, never compromise on the quality of food you give your dog.

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What not To Feed Your Puppy

Just as we have to know how to eat the right foods ourselves, we have to know what not to feed our puppy dogs. Our puppies' life long health will be so much dependent upon the foods that they're fed at the beginning of their lives that a proper and balanced diet will go a long way. By the same token, feeding our puppies the wrong kinds of food will bring forth serious health and behavior problems.

Here are some of the most essential points to pay attention to:

1. Do not feed them too much variety in terms of food choices. Surprising their delicate digestive system with too many different types of foods will only serve to render their tummy more vulnerable to opportunist dis-eases. Better yet, feed them some dog foods that are nutritionally balanced. A very helpful hint for you: check the dog pile often as it's the best indicator as to whether your puppy is digesting her food efficiently.

2. Do not feed your puppies junk foods that humans eat. I've seen many pet owners feeding their puppy dogs on potato chips, hamburgers, breads, biscuits...all those artificial foods that even humans will suffer if fed on a regular basis. These kinds of foods are full of undesirable ingredients that will cause long term health concerns to your puppies. So please stay away from them at all costs. Again, check the dog pile although it doesn't sound like something very nice to do.

3. Often times, pet owners are so in love with their cute little puppy dogs that they will let them sit at dinner table with them, and start feeding them all kinds of 'good stuffs' that are on the table. This will not only cause behavior problems to the puppies, but also make your puppies 'look bad' because they've been conditioned to 'begging for foods' whenever they have a chance. In Chinese, there is a saying that goes, "A thin dog will bring shame to the owner," which also refers to the fact that "an undisciplined - thus mis-behaving - dog will bring shame to the owner" as well. This is especially important because if out of control, your puppy dog will grow up to be an alpha dog which controls you and takes you for a walk rather than you take her for a walk.

4. Use 'good boy' treat sparingly. Don't overdo the 'good boy' treat with too much unconditional snacks given any time during the day. This will help you train your puppies more efficiently too when you use this 'good boy' treat wisely. The good old 'reward and punishment conditioning' applies here: "well behaving dog, treat; not behaving dog, no treat." Simple and easy - and it goes a long way. If upon your regular daily look at the dog pile, you find it appearing unusual, then it's high time that you stopped feeding your puppy dogs 'goodies' as such.

5. When you find a certain type of wholesome foods that your puppies like to eat, stay with them. The puppies will grow into a more disciplined dog when they have not been over-indulged with too various kinds of food choices. This goes with the same principles as applicable for humans: Keep our diets simple and don't go too fancy and good health will be had.

6. The worst kinds of treats for puppy dogs are sweets, such as candy, chocolates, mints, and anything that contains high sugar content. These artificially manufactured 'foods' have been proven to cause endless health problems to puppies, not to mention making them ill-tempered. Just ask any experienced dog groomers and they will tell you how these artificial treats can very quickly turn your puppy dogs into alpha dogs that want to take the lead rather.

Therefore, just stick with these basic principles and you're guaranteed to have a very happy and healthy pet for life and it will be a win-win situation for you and your puppy dogs too.

To get more insights about how to feed your puppy dogs what not to feed your puppy dogs please visit http://www.2knowabout.com/dog/index.php a popular website that offers tips, advice and resources to include information about how to take care of puppies, dog grooming, and more dog baskets of tips that you can use to ensure you will have your dog as your good life companion.

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How Much and How Often Should I Feed My Puppy?

Canned Dog Food

Unless there is a medical reason, I never recommend canned food for puppies or adult dogs for several reasons. One big reason is canned food smells bad going in - and it smells even worse coming out (if you know what I mean.) Another reason I do not like canned or soft dog food, is because it promotes tarter, and thus tooth decay.

Shopping for Food

Age, activity level, health, reproductive status, and even environmental temperatures are all factors to consider when determining the amount of food you should feed your dog, however; the general rule is as follows; puppies under six months of age should be fed three times daily; between six and twelve months old, two times daily; and once per day after twelve months of age.

No Gorging

Keep an eye on your puppy as he is eating to make sure he does not "gorge" himself. Puppies - especially ones from large litters - are use to fighting for food and will eat all the food you put in his bowl rather he is hungry or not. Gorging can be detected by watching the sides of your puppy. If his belly resembles that of a cow (bulging out on the sides), he has had enough. Make note of how much food he ate, and at this next feeding give him only that amount. It may take a few feeding to figure out the right amount, but it is worth the effort. A gorged puppy will have gas; can cause diarrhea, and a tummy ache.

As a Veterinary Assistant and owner of Puppies Dot Com,(website location http://www.puppies-dot-com.com) Penny DiLoreto has over 16 years experience in the field of dog breeding, training, and animal handling.

Some of the organizations Penny is a member of inclued: West Coast Quality Breeders Association, American Kennel Club, American Canine Association.

Education/Credentials
1986 graduate of the San Diego ROP Veterinary Assistant Program where Penny received certificates in the following areas: Animal Handling and Restraint, Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Sanitation and surgical Prep., Instruments and Equipment, Vaccines and injections, Health and Safety, Veterinary laws and Ethics, biohazardious Waste and disposal Laws, Medicating and grooming Procedures, Medical Math, Anesthesia, Radiology, Basic Laboratory Procedures, Fecal Analysis and parasitology, Pharmacology, Emergency Medicine, and Reproduction.

Awards and Honors
Outstanding Student Award given the San Diego ROP Veterinary Assistant Program

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Feeding Your New Puppy

WHAT DO I FEED MY PUPPY?

Trying to figure out what and how to feed your puppy can be a challenge.
There are so many brands and so many varieties available. One thing to keep in mind is that no matter which you choose, introduce it slowly along with whatever the puppy is used to eating. Start mixing in a small amount of what you would like her to eat into her diet, over the next week or two increase your choice of food while decreasing the other until you have made a complete transition.

While she is young, it is best to offer a combination of canned and dry food to encourage her to eat when it is meal time. Very young puppies will probably have some trouble with the dry food unless it is softened a little with canned food. Baby puppy teeth were not meant to do real hard work when it comes to eating. Make sure what you feed is easy to eat. You can always phase out the canned food as she grows if you want to.

You will help her system adjust to the new food and probably avoid problems with an upset digestive tract. If you switch too suddenly you may encourage vomiting and diarrhea.

Your better foods will be available at pet stores. Try to avoid the grocery store aisle. In order to sell foods at cheap prices the grocery varieties have limited nutritional value. There are many sources of animal protein that can look good on a label but are not very digestible.

Science Diet, Nature's Recipe, and Nutra Max are some popular high quality foods. It is best to pick a flavor and stick to it. Do not change her diet regularly, it may upset her system. No matter what brand or flavor you choose, make sure it is for growing puppies. Puppies need more now than they will when they are grown.

What you feed her will influence her immune system and her proper growth. Make sure it is a good quality. Compare labels but remember, percentages of ingredient mean less than the quality of the ingredients.

HOW MUCH DO YOU FEED?

Your puppy is probably the best guide for this. There are usually guides on the bags of food but they tend to be generous. Keep in mind it is in the company's best interest to encourage you to feed freely in order to sell more food.

The best guide you can follow is her lead. Offer her roughly what the bag indicates for her weight. Watch her. She should have as much as she wants in about 10-15 minutes each feeding. If she eats all you gave her in a couple of minutes, give her more inside that time table. If she leaves any, throw it away and give her a little less next feeding. If she is just a gulper, you may have to feed her less, but more often. Puppies can get into trouble if they gorge themselves by eating too much at one time.

Don't 'free feed'. Don't leave food down all the time. There are several potential problems with it.

1. If she starts to get sick, the first thing to go will be her appetite. That will be hard to notice if you are used to seeing food in her dish at all times.

2. Food will attract ants, stray cats, squirrels, and other animals to your yard, all of which can create a variety of problems for your puppy. Many other animals carry puppy viruses that you don't want him exposed to.

3. Food spoils, even dry food turns rancid and can make her sick if she eats it when it has turned.

HOW OFTEN DO I FEED ?

Puppies that are very young, 6 to 12 weeks old, should be fed about four times a day. Puppies 13 weeks to six months should still eat three times a day and it is quite safe to feed her twice a day for the rest of her life. Smaller meals are easier to digest and will balance her system well.

SPECIAL CONCERNS AND CONSIDERATIONS

LARGE OR GIANT BREEDS

If you have a large breed puppy look for varieties made specific for them. They have different needs than do small or medium breeds. Adding calcium or other nutrients is NOT a good idea. Let the manufacturers with the staff of veterinarians do the guess work in the proper balance of nutrition and vitamins and minerals. Some breeds go through bone growth too fast with added supplements, this can cause severe problems with the tendons and ligaments as they don't grow as fast.

TOY OR TINY BREEDS

If you have a tiny breed, like a Chihuahua, Maltese, Poodle, or any toy breed you should be very careful to make sure they are fed frequently. Four or more feedings a day may be necessary when they are very young. Tiny breeds do not have good food reserves and can become hypoglycemic very quickly. This condition can lead to coma and death if not treated immediately.

If you have a tiny breed it is advisable to keep Karo syrup on hand in case of hypoglycemic attacks which may look like listlessness, malaise, or exhaustion. Jars of lamb baby food is also good to keep on hand in the case of a picky or sickly eater, but only while you are nursing them to their regular diet. If you notice symptoms like these rub a small amount of Karo syrup on her gums. If she perks up a bit, try to get her to take her regular food, or baby food if she won't eat regularly yet. If she doesn't perk up, get her to the vet right away.

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Feeding a Bichon: A Guide on When and How to Feed

The bichon is notoriously finicky when it comes to their eating habits. It will take time and effort on your part to figure out what food they will eat, but talking with your breeder or vet will help solve this problem. Another important process is determining when and how much food to give. Although they will generally need the same amount of food in a given day, bichon puppies will need to eat more frequently than adults. In this article we will look at the best practices for feeding a bichon.

The first step in establishing an eating routine is finding a good spot in the home to put the dog bowl. This place should be out of the way of human traffic and preferably a little quieter. This will prevent your bichon from becoming distracted while eating. Once this location is established it should not be changed. Once the puppy is in the habit of finding their food in the same place for every meal they will be much more comfortable.

Whether they are a young puppy of a full-grown adult, bichons need about two cups of dry dog food each day. The main difference between puppies and adults is the number of meals per day and the spacing between each meal. Dry dog food is best because it is also able to clean their teeth as they eat, and clean teeth are a major issue for bichons. Also, avoid generic dog food brands. Bichons have sensitive stomachs and can have allergic reactions to some ingredients in generic brands.

Puppies under three months of age should be fed about four times a day, starting with an early breakfast around 6am. It is important that each meal is equally portioned, so if you are feeding four times a day with a total of two cups, each meal should be half a cup. From there, space each meal about four hours apart for the rest of the day.

From three to six months you can reduce the number of meals to three. Again, begin with an early breakfast at 6am, but this time space the meals about six hours apart. It is still important for each meal to be as equal as possible, so each meal should be about two-thirds of a cup.

Finally, from six months on, further reduce the frequency of meals to twice a day. At this point your bichon should be eating a full cup at breakfast and a full cup at dinner.

One thing to keep in mind is that your bichon may not always be hungry when you feed him/her. Do not force them to eat. Leave the food out for them to eat for about fifteen minutes. If after fifteen minutes they still show no interest in eating then remove the bowl of food and save it for the next meal. In this case you should still stick to the schedule. If you are feeding every four hours, but your puppy does not eat one meal you should still wait four hours before the next meal. Changing the meal frequency will only confuse the puppy and make it more difficult for them to eat when it is time.

If you are willing to put in a little time and effort, you will be able to find the right food and develop good eating habits for your bichon. Feeding your bichon is an important step in training and will help you along the way to having a healthy, happy puppy.

Kyle Lambert is a writer and bichon owner. After years of raising bichons, he decided to create a website dedicated to the breed. Focusing on all bichon related issues, Kyle hopes to educated people interested in the breed. Find his full website dedicated to Feeding a Bichon [http://www.bichontrainingtips.com/bichon_food.html] by following the link.

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