Ideal Diet For A Golden Retriever Puppy?

[Ahona]

We'll be feeding our bub Eagle Pack and have just bought a big bag of the Large and Giant breed puppy food for him, however, in terms of the extras, veggies, bones, chicken necks and frames, eggs, cottage cheese, how often should I be looking at feeding him these?

Thanks!

Ahona

[Poodle wrangler]

I would feed per the breeder's instructions when you get your pup- they often give a diet sheet with rough times, food and amounts.

Goldies are notorious for loving their food a bit too much- but keeping pups on the leaner side is better for their growth (especially bones) and overall health.

Eagle Pack will have a feeding guide- this is only a guide- adjust up or down depending on how your dog looks. S/he should have a visible "waist" before the hips and ribs easily felt with the flat of your hand.

New home is not the time to change their diet- the change in environment can cause upset stomachs all on it's own.

Edited December 29, 2007 by Poodle wrangler

[goldielover]

I'd give cottage cheese a couple of times a week, yoghurt - 1 tblspn or so a day, an egg only once per month until he's older (very high in protein and you're aiming for a slow steady growth to limit pressure on growing joints). Dogs don't digest vegies very well unless they are completely pulverised. If you have a juicer, that's the best way to do it. Just remember that if you're feeding extras to feed less dry otherwise you'll end up with an overweight baby! Also limit the treats - if you're going to give them, perhaps just 2 small doggy bikkies a night just before bed to help him settle.

[GoldD]

Ahona, I followed the instructions given to me by GL. Diesel is on EP Holistic and has been raised on that so I did not have to change from his breeders (GL) instructions.

At 8-10 weeks:

He had 1/2 - 3/4 cup of EP three times a day. Also 2-3 Euk pup biscuits before bed most days. I have always at each meal and still do today add Sardines in spring water (1 can spread over two days a fortnight), natural youghurt, veggies (he hates cauliflower LOL), egg once a fortnight, low fat cottage cheese and on rare occassions a little mince cooked or raw.

Obviously not all the above at once but each meal contains a Tbsp of cottage cheese or yoghurt.

I have never given chicken necks as he does woof down his food and a chicken neck is perfect size for a Goldie to get stuck. Im not saying you shouldnt as they are great but Diesels eating habits made it an accident waiting to happen! I asked for large bones from the butcher and explained I didn't want anything that he could choke on and they have been great. Example:

That bone has been around for the last 4 weeks and he chews at it each and every day. I dont have to worry about him having an incident whilst I am at work LOL

at 11 weeks he went to 2 meals per day (work would only be so patient with lunchtime trips home!)

1 of a cup EP morn & night with bits added as above (spoilt doggy I know). He is nice and lean and a picture of perfect health. He gets the odd snack here, there and everywhere but I am very aware that he would eat and eat and eat if he could and so far so good.

If I went by the guidelines of the EP he would be getting 2.3/4 - 3 cups per day which is their suggestion and I guess they are talking EP alone no adittional food,so much of a muchness.

Now if he's looking a little lean I up it a bit, not too much GL advsied me last week, as we want his growth to be steady apparently. I found the "waist" hard to spot until about 10 weeks, at 8weeks he was a little bundle of fluff. Now its very obvious (17w).

Well enough waffling on, hope I was of some help.

Edited December 29, 2007 by GoldD

[Ahona]

Thanks so much for that exhaustive guideline GoldD! Big help :D

GL and Poodlefan, ditto!

[Gayle.]

Once you've weaned him on to the type of diet you want to feed him, you'll find that variety is more important than exact quantities of each type of food. As he grows, you'll get a feel for how much to feed him, when to up the amount, when to cut back.

I make up a mix that contains various types of mince meat (beef, roo, lamb, chicken), raw vege slush, grated cheese, eggs, oatmeal, cooked pumpkin (skin, seeds, pulp and flesh), yoghurt, tinned asparagus etc. I don't add all ingredients to each batch, but over the course of a couple of weeks he gets a good variety. I also feed raw chicken necks (cut them smaller if you're worried about him choking), apples for munching on, lamb neck rosettes, brisket bones and the occasional raw lamb chop as a treat.

Another mix my dogs love is raw chicken necks, raw egg yolk, cooked egg white, grated cheese, oatmeal and tinned two fruits in juice. They don't get that very often cos I'm not sure the nutritional value of tinned two fruits is all that high, but they do love it for a change and I usually make up a couple of kg at a time and freeze in 500g bags.

[Ahona]

Wow Gayle, that's a very healthy diet! But chicken with tinned fruit?? My tastebuds cannot fathom the attraction of that!