Feeding your doodle gives you the first big bonding moment – he who brings food is the new best friend. When Old Mill Doodles leave us, they are currently being fed Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Food – a very high quality grain free food. We advise our new families to purchase at least one 20lb bag of the same food to keep the puppy’s diet consistent during his transition to his new home. A week before the 20lb bag of food is gone begin the transition to a food of your choice that is size appropriate. Dry food is superior to canned because it helps promote dental health. Try not to change varieties unless absolutely necessary because changes result in intestinal upset. Dogs are not picky by nature; he may refuse something for a while, but eventually he will eat what he is given and be perfectly happy. It is not a good idea to add “tasty” treats. Give your dog nothing other than the dry dog food and he will be a happy, normal eater.
“Puppy” foods are generally higher in protein than foods formulated for adult dogs. If your puppy is expected to be over 50lbs.be sure to feed a “large breed” puppy formula for the first year. Once he reaches adulthood transition him gradually to an adult food.
Remember to compensate for the treats when you feed. Treats add up and are a common contributor to weight problems.
When?
Until your puppy is six months old three feedings a day are recommended. From then on your dog will appreciate feedings twice a day, but once a day is satisfactory. Try to feed him the same times every day — dogs love routine.
Where?
Your doodle should have a quiet place to eat. He should be accustom to people touching his dish while he eats, do not tease him by taking food away. Taking his food away actually encourages his natural protective instincts. Touching his face while he’s eating reassures him that you’re no threat to his food.
How much?
I suggest that you begin feeding your new Doodle 1/2 – 3/4 C of TOTW with 1 teaspoon of pumpkin, plain yogurt, hard-boiled egg, or cottage cheese stirred into the dry food. In the kennel the puppies are allowed to graze, the addition to their dry kibble encourages the puppy to eat when food is offered. Allow the puppy to eat as much as he wants three times a day, refrigerate any uneaten food for his next meal. As he grows, the dog food bag will give you guidelines based on weight. I’ve found that most Doodles are not over eaters, so measurement doesn’t have to be as precise as it does with their retriever parent. Once they’re housebroken, a convenient option is to simply put a measured amount in his bowl and allow him to eat it throughout the day. For our adult goldendoodles , we suggest 4 cups of dry food for the females and 6 cups for the males. This amount is based on the idea that your doodle will have moderate daily exercise.
Most important is to watch your dog and adjust the amount to keep him trim. Weight is a guide but the best way is to look at his waist. A properly fed dog will show a noticeable slimming where the ribs end and the stomach begins.
Feeding amount varies with the dog’s activity. If the dog is more active in the summer, you can expect to increase the food slightly.
Begging for Food
Any and all feeding of your dog at the table must stop. The entire family must consistently ignore all of your dog’s begging behavior. If your dog does not receive a reward for begging, the behavior will stop.
Give your dog a nylabone soaked in broth just before you sit down to eat, not after she starts begging. Remember when your dog fixates on chewing her bone, she is much less likely to bother you at the table.
Until your dog attains a decent level of obedience, try putting her on a leash. Tie the leash to a chair or wedge it in the door while you eat. Tie your dog so that she is in sight but not able to reach the table. Praise your dog when she is lying or sitting quietly.
Food Treats
Using food treats during training is a wonderful and efficient way to motivate a dog to try new behaviors. Puppies have sensitive tummies, therefore, we suggest using a piece of kibble or american cheese rather than treats sold at the store. When using training treats, try to keep the size as small as possible, such as the size of a pea. Some dogs fill up on treats quickly which could decrease the interest level the dog has for participating in the training sessions.
Using training treats during the learning phase of a new behavior will usually dramatically increase your chances of success. Once a dog understands the desired behavior, you can fade out the training treats over a slow period of time. If, at any time, the dog becomes confused or frustrated, you can always reintroduce a treat to motivate the dog to stick with the training session.
Water Supply
A dog should always have a supply of fresh water available, and if this is not possible then they should be supplied with fresh water at the very least 3 times a day. There are various calculations such as 50-60 ml of water per each kilogram of body weight or 3-4 times the mass of solid food intake with which to calculate your dog’s exact requirement. However your dog should be the one to regulate his intake as every dog is different and the amount required also depends on the type of food they eat, the amount of exercise they do and the temperature of their environment.
Also keep in mind that if your dogs seems to drink excessive quantities of water or very little, this might indicate a health problem, and only a thorough examination by your vet can clarify why any dog might be behaving this way.