Weaning Puppies and Introducing new foods
If you had human babies - you know it - introductions of solid foods must be done slow, with much caution. Same with puppies. Their digestive systems are just forming and all new foods bring so much new - flavor, smell, and stress, too. We are very proud to state that we transition our litters from mother's milk to puppy food very slow and make the process gentle and enjoyable for puppies and mom. All puppies are given colostrum shortly after birth and are kept solely on mother's milk for the first four weeks. Once they are able to see and walk, we keep a shallow water dish in a whelping box, so puppies can also drink. Fresh water is very important.
During week four, when puppies teeth begin to come in, we start introducing solid foods. We first offer fresh raw goat's milk. We are thankful to own dairy goats that we milk daily and puppies LOVE fresh goat's milk. We also make cottage cheese with the milk and also offer it to puppies. Our puppies continue to nurse until they are about 6-7 weeks old.
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Our next food is "puppy soup". We take one part of rice and six parts of water and cook rice until it fully dissolves. Then, we add vegetables: pumpkin puree, shredded carrots, zucchini, or sweet potatoes and cook for another five minutes. Mix well and offer to the puppies once chilled. We start puppy soup during weeks five.
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During weeks six and seven - we add raw lean beef to the "puppy soup" as puppies are growing and are requiring protein, which helps support growing muscles and tissues development, and we also add vitamins, appropriate amounts of supplements and fish oil, which aids in palatability.
Ideally, it is best to keep your puppy on this diet for the first six months:
Rice soup (1/2 cup) - Vegetables (1/4 cup) - Meat ( oz based on age)
We also add: Sea Kelp (1 Tbsp with every meal), Salmon Oil (1 Tbsp with every meal), Raw Egg Yolk (twice a week), Nu Vet once a day.
Fresh apples and Blueberries can be given as a healthy snack.
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We recommend the following feeding intervals:
Puppy 2 months - 6 months - 5 times a day: 9AM, noon, 3PM, 6PM, 9PM
Puppy 6 months - 12 months - 3 times a day: 9AM, 3PM, 9PM
Puppy 12 months - for the rest f its life - 2 times a day: 9AM & 9PM
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First, walk your puppy/dog - then come inside and feed them.
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We understand that raw diet is not for every dog owner - lots of time to prep, clean and much more expensive compared to kibble. A Dog kept on raw diet should eat about 1.1 oz of protein for every 2 lbs of weigh of a dog, so, approximately:
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WEIGHT OF A DOG in LBS
OZ of PROTEIN
2
4
7
9
11
13
15
18
20
22
24
26
29
31
33
35
37
40
1.1
2.1
3.2
4.2
5.3
6.3
7.4
8.5
9.5
10.6
11.6
12.7
13.8
14.8
15.9
16.9
18.0
19.0
WEIGHT OF A DOG in LBS
OZ of PROTEIN
42
44
46
49
51
53
55
57
60
62
64
66
68
71
73
75
77
79
20.1
21.2
22.2
23.3
24.3
25.4
26.5
27.5
28.6
29.6
30.7
31.7
32.8
33.9
34.9
36.0
37.0
38.1
When our puppies are going home at age of eight weeks, they are started on kibble puppy food. We feed them 5 times a day, about 3/4 cup per pup each time. We add hot tap water to the kibble and let it stand for at least five minutes to soften the dry food and to release flavors. We add fish oil, sea kelp and vitamins to the dish. Each puppy also receives NuVet Plus, Nu-Joint Plus and Maxi-Vet probiotic once a day.
We do not require that owners feed their puppies any specific kibble for the rest of the dog's life, especially if they already have a specific feed in mind, but we recommend that they purchase the same brand of dog food as the we have used and keep their new puppy on this feed for at least 6 months.
We are not affiliated with any dog food and we are not receiving a monetary compensation for recommending a specific brand of kibble. Raw Food is the best, and we keep advocating for that. We make our choices based on our own research and observations of our dog's digestive systems and stools.
One of the BIG mistakes that new owners make is start switching a puppy from one feed to another and doing research on dog feed AFTER they got a puppy. Do your research BEFORE you bring a puppy home. If your new puppy is not eating at home during the first days - that is because he/she is stressed. They just got taken away from mom and siblings - the only life they knew and you are a stranger yet. Give your new puppy some time to get used to you and to trust you. For as long as a puppy has fresh water at all times - they will be fine! Offer food and if a puppy is not eating, take it away after 10 minutes and wait until next feeding time to repeat. Do not take a refusal as "my puppy is not eating, they must not like this feed". Stick with the feed a breeder had a puppy on. Switching to other brand of dry dog food must be done slow - by adding new feed to the old and gradually increasing the amount. We would not recommend introducing new brand of kibble to your newly acquired puppy - but stick with a feed a breeder has been feeding in a kennel until your new puppy fully transitioned into your new home and feels comfortable. Transitions are hard and puppy is stressed already - new puppies often have stress-related diarrhea, and if switching to a new food at this time - things can get worsen quickly. Take it slow! If you notice that your puppy's stools are loose - try adding a few Tablespoons of unsweetened pumpkin puree to the diet - pumpkin should help hard then stool quickly.
SIDE NOTE: We preserve our pumpkins from the pumpkin patch every year. We wash the pumpkins, cut them in halves and bake in our oven at 350F until fully cooked. Sometimes there will be liquid in the pumpkin that we drain. Then, we scoop baked pumpkin from the shell and process it in our food processor until fully pureed, transfer the puree into freezer gallon bags, label with date and store in freezer until needed. It is a very easy and cost-effective way to have a supply of all-natural unsweetened pumpkin year round.
Our Geliebte Pups Love it!
We would recommend to use puppy formula for up to 6 months of age and switch to adult formula thereafter. Commercial puppy feed is designed to make puppies grow FAST and fast is never better, especially when it comes to large breed dogs.
How to transition your dog from one brand of food to another:
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1st day: 100% old brand
2nd day: 90% of old brand + 10% of new brand
3rd day: 80% of old brand + 20% of new brand
4th day: 70% of old brand + 30% of new brand
5th day: 60% of old brand + 40% of new brand
6th day: 50% of old brand + 50% of new brand
7th day: 40% of old brand + 60% of new brand
8th day: 30% of old brand + 70% of new brand
9th day: 20% of old brand + 80% of new brand
10th day: 10% of old brand + 90% of new brand
11th day: 100% of new brand
While we do not require owners to stick with a particular brand of dog food, we do require that if they choose to feed their dog dry food, they purchase super premium class food, with meat being first ingredient, no corn or "by-product meal" - type of dog food. We also require that owners are consistent with the feeding schedule, do not switch from one dog food to another without a good reason and keep the dog in 3/5 Body Conditioning Score.
Feeding the dog irregular, imbalance diet voids our health guarantees.
Plates of Dry Dog Food with hot water, Sea Kelp, Fish Oil, Raw Egg Yolk and pieces of raw meat.
Supplements
We are often asked what supplements we recommend and where do we buy these. We are going to make a disclaimer and say that we would not mind to get compensated for our recommendations, although at this point nobody has contacted us with such offer. The following opinions are our own and are based on our experience and the results we see with our dogs.
Once daily
a high-quality supplement that incorporates a precise formula of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs and more. NuVet Plus® brings together vital ingredients that perform synergistically to help improve your pet’s health and keep them healthy. Our supplement is made using Natural ingredients that are formulated in a FDA Registered Facility using CGMP standards.
Once daily
MaxiFlora is the only supplement formulated with the same probiotics found in prey intestines, along with plant-based prebiotics and natural digestive enzymes.
Maxiflora is formulated to be like 'guts in a jar'- a concentrated blend of probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes guaranteed to ensure your dog enjoys the gut health, immunity, and boundless energy of their wild relatives.
A teaspoon with every meal
NORWEGIAN SEA KELP FLAKES
Ascophyllum nodosum, or kelp, is a variety of Atlantic seaweed also known as Norwegian kelp. This aquatic plant is best known for its use in Asian cuisine as a sea vegetable. In its dried form, kelp is used to season soups and sushi. Kelp is valued as a rich source of nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and, of course, iodine. The herb is also a rich source of algin, a type of fiber capable of absorbing up to 300 times its weight in water.
Twice a week with a meal
RAW EGG YOLK
Vitamin D in eggs works in concert with calcium and protein to help strengthen and maintain strong bones in dogs. Egg yolks also contain some of the highest concentrations of the nutrient choline found in food. This nutrient helps support healthy development of the brains of puppies in pregnant dogs.
A Tablespoon once a day/ or a teaspoon with every meal.
SALMON OIL/ FISH OIL
Fish oil is one of the best supplements to add to your dog's diet. Fish oil supports your canine companion's heart health, promotes a silky coat, reduces itchy and flaky skin, and relieves allergies and joint pain. It can even strengthen their immune system and help them fight cancer.