Best Feeding Guide for Your Pup: Tips & Schedule
From the third week of their lives, puppies begin to gradually wean off their mother's milk and start to experiment with food other than breast milk. However, during this stage, their little teeth are not fully developed. It's a good idea to prepare some soft, easytochew snacks for them, such as meat puree, softened dog food, and pet milk formulas. They tend to enjoy these treats very much.
Occasionally, though, if the portion sizes are not controlled or in a multipuppy household, a pup might overeat and subsequently vomit some of the food. But rest assured, the first few times a dog overeats due to novelty or excitement, they will naturally learn to regulate their intake.
Which is better for dogs: freefeeding or scheduled feeding?
Dogs differ from cats in terms of their digestive systems. Cats, being obligate carnivores, have a digestive system often referred to as a "short gut." This unique structure means they feel full after eating small amounts and digest food quickly, making freefeeding more advantageous for them.
On the other hand, dogs and humans are omnivores, and their digestive systems are longer and more convoluted, taking up to four to five hours to digest food. This longer digestive process makes scheduled feeding preferable for dogs.
Many pet parents are concerned about their dogs being possessive of their food and may attempt to snatch it away during mealtime. However, this is a mistake that can lead to negative associations during the puppy's early stages, potentially causing a lasting memory trauma.
This can make the dog perceive food as a precious commodity and may exacerbate the behavior of more dominant dogs, leading to a situation where simply approaching their food bowl could trigger a low growl and a tense, readytoattack posture.
Caring for a puppy can be challenging, but when you witness their first moments of curiosity as they explore the world, their adorable dashes into your arms, or their playful antics with toys, you'll realize that all the effort is worthwhile. There will be countless more firsts to cherish between you and your furry companion.
