Already on the first day after you pick up your puppy, you will need to have prepared food supply. Unfortunately, for some reason, this is often forgotten, but the diet for the first time should already be stored at home in advance or prepared for you by the breeder. Many books can be written about how important species-specific and nutritionally valuable food is for the development of a puppy and the future health of the dog, but here we will try to draw your attention only to the essential points.
For a while, it is best to keep the same diet that the puppy was eating at the breeder's. Moving is itself a stressful event for a puppy, and a change in diet, especially a sudden one, will be an additional stress factor. If keeping the same diet not possible, it could be a good idea to switch the puppy to another diet before you pick him up, or find a way to stock up on enough of the puppy's usual diet to last through the initial adaptation period and later transition. Different kennels may have very different preferences regarding the diet of puppies. Our dogs and puppies eat only natural raw diets, and we always give preference to those families who are interested in nutrition and want to feed their dogs raw foods. A separate specialist is responsible for formulating the diet of our dogs and puppies and specifying naturopathic support.
On the pick-up day, make sure to clarify at what time your puppy eats and what portion sizes are appropriate for him at this exact age. Over time, you will be able to adapt the feeding regime to your lifestyle for better comfort, and the portion sizes will change rapidly as the puppy grows. Portions that are too small or too large usually affect the puppy's body condition very quickly, but it is important to keep him in a good shape and avoid overweighting.
The feeding time after all the activities and toilet break approximately before your puppy goes to bed. Physical activity immediately after eating can cause a feeling of discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract, and lead to vomiting or even bloating. It is worth establishing some rituals into the puppy's life right away: first - a walk, then - some play, and only then eating and sleeping. By the time they move to a new home, puppies usually receive food 3 or 4 times a day. Our puppies have three meals a day until they are ready to switch to two meals a day. More frequent feeding of raw food makes little sense: digestion requires time and the body's resources, and the gastrointestinal system also needs resting time.
Treats are also an important part of the diet, and their composition is no less important than the composition of the rest of the food. Even if your puppy is already on a natural diet, treats that are high in carbs will not do any good either. It is better to look for more natural compositions like dried meat treats, raw meat (for puppies on a raw diet), and sometimes even boiled meat. Also pay attention to the size and density of the treat: it is important that the puppy does not choke at training and can chew it quickly.
Natural dry treats also serve as an excellent chewing toy, much more optimal than sticks with a high carbohydrate content. Keep in mind that there are plenty of cases when dogs choke on small leftovers of even a large dried treat, so it is worth keeping an eye on chewing and taking away small pieces in time. Such treats last relatively long, but still, Staffordshire bull terriers are known for chewing quickly and intensely. For this reason, deer antlers and plastic imitations of bones, sticks and branches are also not the best choice. They are very tough, and often, especially young dogs can break or crack part of a tooth on them. Teeth only become stronger with age, so young dogs are usually even more susceptible to injury, but we wouldn't recommend too tough chews for any age.
Switching the diet should be done with a nutritionist or other specialist with relative experience. Too quick or incorrect transition can harm the puppy's gastrointestinal system and its health overall. If you do not have experience changing the type of dog's diet, we recommend that you contact a specialist in advance and carry out the transition under his supervision.
References
Brady, C. (2020). Feeding Dogs: The Science Behind the Dry Versus Raw Debate. Farrow Road Publishing.
Brady, C. (2020). Feeding Dogs: The Science Behind the Dry Versus Raw Debate. Farrow Road Publishing.
