Feeding Schedule


  • I have two 11 week old male basenji puppies. I have been feeding them 1/2 cup, three times daily. Is this the correct amount?? Should I be feeding them more or less?? Should I move to two times daily??

    They are being fed Blue Buffalo Puppy dry food.

    Where can I find a guide to show when to change a puppy's feeding schedule?


  • Honestly, you really need to feed according to the puppy itself… as one "size" does not fit all....

    As far as # of times a day, usually by the time they are 12 wks mine are on 2x's a day, but again, depends on how they are doing....


  • These are one of those things that you can chat with your pups breeder about.. I am sure they'd be happy to talk to you about it.. if they didn't already give you a puppy feeding schedule.

    Good luck with the new pups!


  • What food are you feeding? The quality, calories, fat content etc is critical. 4 cups of cheap food may have less calories than 1/2 cup of quality.

    I feed puppies 3x a day til they are 6 mos old, particularly smaller breeds. Until they hit about 20 pounds, it is harder for them to regulate blood sugar levels with 2x a day feeding. I know many who do feed only twice, but I just like to know they can utilize the food and can maintain stable blood levels. I won't bore you with research, but a good article in general:
    http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutrition_Growing_Puppy.pdf

    All that said, if your pup is neither fat or thin, is healthy, then you are probably fine. If you see problems, evaluate. But you can never go wrong with top quality food. As for puppy or adult food… I switch at 6 mos over to adult. Many stay on puppy food til a year.

Suggested Topics

  • First Season

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    4
    1 Votes
    4 Posts
    527 Views
    RouxR
    Aw, welcome to womanhood Safi! We swear it's not so bad all the time LOL
  • Integrating Basenji with house cats

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    2k Views
    ZandeZ
    @jhewell What more is there to say ? You have put it brilliantly ! A friend who has Persian Blues, I think they are called, and Basenjis operates on a two tier level. The cats are fed on the kitchen work-surface and enter and leave the house via the kitchen window onto a garden table. Once outside they are more than able to take care of themselves. Indoors the cats have perches and climbing frames the dogs don't manage to fathom. All is perfectly harmonious. No cat dares come into my garden. They haven't for years, through endless and changing packs of Basenjis. Occasionally one will come down the drive and sit in the sun by the cars but they never try to come over any gate into Basenji home turf. You are going to have endless 'fun' ! Good luck -
  • How do I limit puppy biting???

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    2k Views
    Beth314B
    Like much internet advice I find short answers incomplete - and mine was. I really want to ad that making a crate/xpen/gated puppy area should never be seen as "punishment". These partitioned puppy areas should be conditioned to be safe places for a puppy/dog. Mine, thankfully, tolerates and even likes her xpens probably because it's where she eats, receives treats, sleeps, chews and even plays. This took about a week or so. Now she voluntarily goes into her xpens (in my case) on her own and when she's put there involuntarily she might whine for a minute before settling down with a chew and/or going to sleep.
  • Too much walking?

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    9
    1 Votes
    9 Posts
    1k Views
    ZandeZ
    @jkent I have certainly never even heard that advice and would not have taken it if I had. It depends on the conditions underfoot, the breed, the size of the puppy (some breeds have very large ones !), off leash or regimented walking, stopping to admire the view / watch the puppy socialise with dogs he/she meets. SO many things to take into consideration. I wouldn't pay much attention to generic advice from the KC. Our breed is 'different' !
  • Puppy Feeding Issues

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    c-busC
    Thanks for all of the great ideas. I will go to the limited time for feeding and may start to mix in a little wet good as well. I have begun some train with her but was told I have to wait for all of her shots to take her to obedience classes. She has her third set this monday and then the last ones in three weeks. I have almost got her to sit, she does it if she knows I have a treat but struggles if I just come out of the blue and tell her to sit. We're working on it.
  • Feeding young pup?

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    5k Views
    MantisM
    My teething toys of choice? My leather belt (he loves because it is long and moves around) and the bleached cylindrical bones that have peanut butter inside for licking. That settles down his teething urges a bit. A little spray of the water will stop any unruley behavior pronto! He was chewing my floor mat in the kitchen.