How should I feed my dog?

How much should I feed my dog?

It's not hard to figure out the exact amount of food your dog needs, because the food amount usually only depends on two factors: size and activity level. You can simply follow the general dog feeding charts to your puppy's size. For small breeds, up to 25 Lbs, you need to feed them with 1/2 cup to 1-1/2 cups a day; For medium breeds, between 26-60 Lbs, you need to feed them with 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 cups a day; For large breeds, between 61-100 Lbs, you need to feed them with 3-1/2 to 6 cups a day; For those super large babies, beyond 100 Lbs, you need to feed them 6 cups+1/2 cups for each additional 20 Lbs. Remember, it's your responsibility to determine how much your puppy can eat every day. They are not able to manage that by themselves. Either over or underfeeding will cause serious harm to their health. 

How often should I feed my dog?

There are two ways you can choose to feed your dog. First, establish an exact meal timetable for your dog. Second, free feeding. Personally, I don't recommend you to free feed your dog, because puppies are just like kids, neither the two has good impulse control. If you choose to leave a full food bowl out at all times, then your dog definitely will overeat. Only under some circumstances, free-feeding may be acceptable. For example, pregnant and nursing dogs may need free feeding to get more nutrients. Establishing a timetable is a better way to feed your dog. By doing so, you can control the food amount your boy or girl takes according to their size and age. You can break up the total amount of food into several meals a day. For example, half for breakfast and the other half for dinner.  The tip is to try to feed them at the same time every day. It can help them eat healthily.

What type of food can I feed my dog?

Dogs, unlike cats, can derive nutrients not only from meat but also from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods can provide a variety of vitamins and minerals that essential to a dog's health. Foods which rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fiber are always the best choice. Generally, you have three feeding solutions. You can feed your dog with dry kibbles, cooked or raw meat and vegetables, or both. Either way of the three is fine. For choosing commercial dog foods, remember the following two tips. First, read the labels. Food labels on the back of the package can tell you what kind of meat and grains the particular brand of the dog food contains. Also, it can help you to avoid those unhealthy ones which contain a heavy amount of preservatives. Second, Look for products stamped by the AAFCO. A product with a stamp from The Association of American Feed Control Officials is more convincing with its labels and more likely to have a high quality. Therefore, always check for that!