Help with feeding schedules, please! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

MiloBoy · 04-15-2009, 08:15 AM

Our little guy will be 6 months old next week and weighs about 5 1/2 pounds. We are so confused about how much and how often to feed him. He eats Wellness Just for Puppy wet and dry food. I was feeding him 3 times a day with wet and dry at each meal. I would prefer to feed less wet food out of concern for his teeth. We leave dry food out and notice that he is eating more. Should we feed wet food at only one meal? Can he be put on a 2 meal a day schedule? When should we transition to adult food? Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure we are doing the right thing for our baby. The vet is far too vague and I prefer specific suggestions! Thanks in advance for your help!

Britster · 04-15-2009, 09:06 AM

I still mix in a little of wet food for Jackson's breakfast mixed in with his kibble. He loves it so it's kind of a treat for him. He eats dry food the rest of the day. After he eats his kibble mixed in w/ wet in the mornings... I leave his food bowl empty (or with whatever he left in it) until around 11:30-noon when I fill it up with dry kibble. He will usually come over and eat a good amount of kibble around 1pm. He will go over to his bowl occasionally throughout the rest of the day until I pick up the food around 7pm. So he's basically free-fed.

MiloBoy · 04-15-2009, 09:19 AM

Thanks for sharing what you do for Jackson. We have started to leave kibble out all day and notice that Milo is going over to it now and then. He will not eat out of a bowl so we spread some out on a salad plate. This is progress because when we first got him he would only eat kibble if hand fed! I think I will cut wet food back to one meal per day (probably morning) and see how that works out.

AshSavalle · 04-15-2009, 09:26 AM

It depends if you want him to have specific times to eat or let him graze his bowl all day. I have a 3 and a half year old and a 3 month old puppy. I now feed them BOTH in the morning and and dinner time. I feed them Natures Variety Prairie (hard food). I was going to get puppy food for the little guy but was told by the pet shop owner ( I really trust him) that if you are buying as good of food at NV it shouldn't matter. You will want to check some foods, even the brand you use now to see if the reg. food is for all ages, ours is.
For feeding I think you can start feeding 2 times a day. If you dont want to feed as much soft maybe give it to him as like a treat once a day. Either breakfast or dinner. I forgot...on the back of your food bag it should have feeding amounts. It usually goes by weight. For example I think for mine it said to feed our older dog, not too active about a half cup for the day. Im sorry if that was a bit all over the place! I hope I could help!!

MiloBoy · 04-15-2009, 09:39 AM

Thanks for the help! I am going to try the 2 meals a day and maybe leave just a little kibble out if he wants to snack. Milo rarely eats much at lunchtime anyway so 2 meals a day should be fine. I just wanted to hear it from someone with more puppy experience. Milo is our first dog and I want to do what is best for him. I am definitely a neurotic first time puppy-mom!

AshSavalle · 04-15-2009, 09:42 AM

Feeding Directions
See if this helps!!

AshSavalle · 04-15-2009, 09:44 AM

Well welcome to motherhood!!! I think that is a good idea

. The two meals and a little snack! I just switched to 2 meals for potty training

. Our older dog has always been pad trained but now we are going to train them both to go outside and thought having them on a schedule will be the best for outside!

MiloBoy · 04-15-2009, 10:04 AM

Thanks for the link...I have seen it before and it only added to my concern. Milo barely eats 1/4 cup of kibble per day--they suggest 1 1/4 cups for his size/age. That is one reason we began feeding wet as well because he eats it more readily. Unfortunately, it is not as good for his teeth. Do your dogs eat such large amounts of kibble per day?
Thanks again for the help!
Gloria

AshSavalle · 04-15-2009, 10:15 AM

Oh wow! That does seem like a lot! I would guess our oldest eats around 1/2 cup give or take depending on the day. Our puppy eats maybe 1/4 cup, same give or take. I just watch to see when they are eating if they leave alot, a little or fish it all easily and go by that really.

04-15-2009, 08:15 AM	#1
MiloBoy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 122	Help with feeding schedules, please! Our little guy will be 6 months old next week and weighs about 5 1/2 pounds. We are so confused about how much and how often to feed him. He eats Wellness Just for Puppy wet and dry food. I was feeding him 3 times a day with wet and dry at each meal. I would prefer to feed less wet food out of concern for his teeth. We leave dry food out and notice that he is eating more. Should we feed wet food at only one meal? Can he be put on a 2 meal a day schedule? When should we transition to adult food? Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure we are doing the right thing for our baby. The vet is far too vague and I prefer specific suggestions! Thanks in advance for your help!

04-15-2009, 09:06 AM	#2
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,815	I still mix in a little of wet food for Jackson's breakfast mixed in with his kibble. He loves it so it's kind of a treat for him. He eats dry food the rest of the day. After he eats his kibble mixed in w/ wet in the mornings... I leave his food bowl empty (or with whatever he left in it) until around 11:30-noon when I fill it up with dry kibble. He will usually come over and eat a good amount of kibble around 1pm. He will go over to his bowl occasionally throughout the rest of the day until I pick up the food around 7pm. So he's basically free-fed. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

04-15-2009, 09:26 AM	#4
AshSavalle Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 263	It depends if you want him to have specific times to eat or let him graze his bowl all day. I have a 3 and a half year old and a 3 month old puppy. I now feed them BOTH in the morning and and dinner time. I feed them Natures Variety Prairie (hard food). I was going to get puppy food for the little guy but was told by the pet shop owner ( I really trust him) that if you are buying as good of food at NV it shouldn't matter. You will want to check some foods, even the brand you use now to see if the reg. food is for all ages, ours is. For feeding I think you can start feeding 2 times a day. If you dont want to feed as much soft maybe give it to him as like a treat once a day. Either breakfast or dinner. I forgot...on the back of your food bag it should have feeding amounts. It usually goes by weight. For example I think for mine it said to feed our older dog, not too active about a half cup for the day. Im sorry if that was a bit all over the place! I hope I could help!! __________________ Proud mommy of TeddyPippo Pina Buddy and Sonny

04-15-2009, 09:42 AM	#6
AshSavalle Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 263	Feeding Directions See if this helps!! __________________ Proud mommy of TeddyPippo Pina Buddy and Sonny

04-15-2009, 09:44 AM	#7
AshSavalle Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 263	Well welcome to motherhood!!! I think that is a good idea. The two meals and a little snack! I just switched to 2 meals for potty training. Our older dog has always been pad trained but now we are going to train them both to go outside and thought having them on a schedule will be the best for outside! __________________ Proud mommy of TeddyPippo Pina Buddy and Sonny

04-15-2009, 09:19 AM	#3
MiloBoy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 122	Thanks for sharing what you do for Jackson. We have started to leave kibble out all day and notice that Milo is going over to it now and then. He will not eat out of a bowl so we spread some out on a salad plate. This is progress because when we first got him he would only eat kibble if hand fed! I think I will cut wet food back to one meal per day (probably morning) and see how that works out.

04-15-2009, 09:39 AM	#5
MiloBoy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 122	Thanks for the help! I am going to try the 2 meals a day and maybe leave just a little kibble out if he wants to snack. Milo rarely eats much at lunchtime anyway so 2 meals a day should be fine. I just wanted to hear it from someone with more puppy experience. Milo is our first dog and I want to do what is best for him. I am definitely a neurotic first time puppy-mom!

04-15-2009, 10:04 AM	#8
MiloBoy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Astoria, NY Posts: 122	Thanks for the link...I have seen it before and it only added to my concern. Milo barely eats 1/4 cup of kibble per day--they suggest 1 1/4 cups for his size/age. That is one reason we began feeding wet as well because he eats it more readily. Unfortunately, it is not as good for his teeth. Do your dogs eat such large amounts of kibble per day? Thanks again for the help! Gloria

04-15-2009, 10:15 AM	#9
AshSavalle Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 263	Oh wow! That does seem like a lot! I would guess our oldest eats around 1/2 cup give or take depending on the day. Our puppy eats maybe 1/4 cup, same give or take. I just watch to see when they are eating if they leave alot, a little or fish it all easily and go by that really. __________________ Proud mommy of TeddyPippo Pina Buddy and Sonny