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This was our first puppy ever! Little did we know that there is a LOT to learnabout having a puppy. The most important being nutrition. What you feed your dog has effects on his appearance, health and behavior.
Since every breed is different, you will want to research more about your specific breed’s needs. Here are a few very important things to keep in mind when feeding your puppy.
Nutrition for Puppies
We chose to get a German Shepherd because of how smart they are and for their willingness to work and be trained. The kids named him Kip. He likes food, napping, fetching, and long walks…
When we got him from a local breeder, she was already feeding himPurina® Pro Plan®. Real chicken, beef, lamb, or salmon is the #1 ingredient found in all Purina® Pro Plan® dry formulas so I knew it was a great choice for my pet. Right now you can get a free bag to try with this special rebate.
They have a wide range of dry and wet foods, snacks, and supplement bars in five specialized platforms you can get at PetSmart. Each one contains products formulated for a dog’s taste preferences, age/dietary considerations, or activity/lifestyle.
When you get your puppy, it is really important to keep him on the same food for a while and then slowly transition him to another if you want to change. Mix a little of the new food in with the old food; about 1/4 new and 3/4’s old. Then gradually make the ratio of new food more and more until all of the old food is gone.
It is really important to give puppies dog food that is specially formulated for them because it contains more protein that their fast growing bodies need. We like thePurina® Pro Plan® SavorChicken and Rice formula.
Too keep your dog in the best condition, you’ll also want to feed him avariety ofproteins like eggs, meat, and bones.
We usually give our dog 1 raw egg a week mixed in with his Purina ProPlan dry food for a healthy coat. Some people are worried about the salmonella, but dogs rarely get it. If you don’t feel comfortable, feed him just the yolk or cook it.
Then, to help with his teethand for added calcium we feed him raw bones a few times a month. Raw poultry bones are actually safe for dogs because they are soft and can be ground up easily. Lamb and goat bones are great because they have nutrient rich marrow inside them and aren’t too hard so your dog won’t risk breaking a tooth. We don’t feed our puppy cooked or large beef or buffalo bones because they don’t have much nutritional value and can be dangerous for his teeth and digestive system.
A wide variety of meat including fish (no bones), lamb, beef and chicken can be a great supplement for your dog. I don’t usually give totally raw meat (especially raw chicken) to our dog because of parasites, microbes and cross-contamination. The chicken I cook thoroughly and with everything else I’ll give it a good sear.
Easy Homemade Dog Biscuits
Treats are a very important tool in training a puppy. They can help with potty training,basic commands and more. However, they get really spendy and who knows what is in them.
The great thing about myPurina® Pro Plan® formula is that you can see the bits of meat in it. Those can be picked out and used as treats, our dog works just as hard for his regular dog food as he does special treats.
However, we like to make these easy Dog Biscuits for when we go for walks because our dog needs something special to help keep his attention and help with all the unfamiliar distractions.
The dog biscuits are super easy to make and you can add lots of goodies to make it any flavor you want. Try a tsp of peanut butter, ground chicken, bacon bits, a hand full of cheese, or a 1/2 tsp of all natural mint extract for fresh breath biscuits.
My daughter pretty much made these all by herself including‘measuring’ the flour. I suggest adding less than 2 cups of flour in and then if it is still sticky, add the rest.
Simple Homemade Dog Biscuit Recipe
Homemade dog biscuits are so easy to make, you can't go wrong.
Author: True Aim
Recipe type: Dog Treats
Cuisine: Pet Food
Serves: 12-15 biscuits
Ingredients
- ½ cup warm broth
- 2 cups whole wheat flour (or substitute) plus a little more for rolling
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp bacon fat or peanut butter (optional)
- 1-2 tbs crumbled bacon or cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a baking sheet with cooking spray or parchment paper.
- Mix all the ingredients together and form a firm dough. Roll out on a floured surface ½ inch thick. Cut into strips or use a bone cookie cutter to form biscuit shapes.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until lightly golden. Store at room temperature for up to 7 days or in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
So, my eldest daughter insisted on trying the biscuits herself and she said they tasted great! So I know our Kip likes them too.
With any type of feeding, we give our dog a command and create a calm environment. I have all the children take turns feeding Kip so he gets used to everyone giving commands and taking leadership.
We also make sure that our dog doesn’t develop food aggression by teaching him the ‘release’ command. My children will say, “Kip release”, when he is eating and take his food bowl away and give him one of these special biscuits.
That way he is happy with giving up his food without becoming aggressive because it is totally natural for dogs to want to growl and keep people away from their food.
What kind of treats do you like to give your dog?
