How Much Water Should An 8 Week Old Puppy Drink
The average young puppy needs to drink about half a cup of water every two hours. Make sure that your puppy drinks enough water to prevent him from becoming dehydrated. Youll also want to keep an eye on your pup to make sure it doesnt drink too much. Generally, puppies who have already been weaned need between half an ounce and an ounce of water per pound of bodyweight every day.
What To Feed A Puppy At 8 Weeks
- May 29, 2018
- Fact Checked
8 weeks is the magic number where puppies are often adopted and brought together with their new human family. It is a time of puppy playfulness and rapid growth. Puppies at 8 weeks are learning important social behaviors that will define how they interact with the world throughout their life. During this important period of growth and development, it is essential to ensure that your 8-week old puppy is provided with proper nutrition.
It is also important that you as the owner have a puppy checklist that you can follow which covers all the basics of caring for a new puppy. Proper nutrition will not only help support a balanced and healthy physical development but also provide the nutrients necessary for cognitive and neurological development.
For new owners, figuring out what to feed a puppy at 8 weeks can be a daunting process. The truth is, there is a large body of information out there regarding what you should feed your puppy. Much of this information conflicts with other sources, leading to difficulty discerning the ideal food source for your puppy.
The single most important resource for new puppy owners is their veterinarian. It is strongly recommended to develop a close relationship with a trusted local veterinarian, as they can provide guidance about your puppies nutrition, exercise needs, and track their healthy development.
My Puppy Isnt Eating What Should I Do
While most puppies will rapidly scoff down whatever food you give them, some can be very fussy eaters. Not eating regularly, or at all, can be the symptom of a larger health problem, so you should see your vet and rectify this before turning to the food and your puppys eating habits.
Failing to eat due to illness is normally accompanied by lethargy and a change in behaviour, but not always. You may be able to check for bad teeth, growths, sores or foreign objects in the mouth or throat, but your vet has the tools and know-how to find and diagnose these things faster, as well as take the necessary actions or prescribe the essential medication to help your puppy recover. Furthermore, if your dog is not showing any external symptoms, but is still refusing to eat, vomiting up their food, or suffering from prolonged diarrhoea, then it could be something internal. Dont try to solve the problem yourself go to your vet to give your puppy the best chance of a speedy recovery.
Assuming your vet has given your puppy a clean bill of health, the next thing to examine is the atmosphere in your home, especially the area where your puppy eats. Try to keep this a quiet space and relatively free of too much foot traffic. While most dogs dont mind other people being near them while they eat, if your puppy isnt eating, this could be the reason.
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Lab Puppy Feeding Chart
Here Are The Feeding Suggestions For A Lab Puppy
0 to 30 days: Puppy relies on moms milk, but if hes not gaining weight, you can supplement with puppy milk formula. 4 to 6 weeks: Slowly introduce softened puppy food. Puppy should not be weaned yet. 8 to 12 weeks: Puppy should be fully weaned and offered puppy food 3 to 4 times a day. Puppy should be eating 2 to 3 cups of food a day. 12 weeks to 6 months: Puppy needs to be eating puppy food 2 to 3 times a day, with meals divided into equal amounts. 6 to 15 months: Continue with puppy food, giving puppy 2 equal meals a day.
Getting Help With Using Raw Food For Puppies

If you are having trouble deciding between raw food and kibble for your puppy, then have a look at our pros and cons of raw and pros and cons of kibble articles too.
There are also lots of raw feeding dog owners on my forum, so do come along, say hello, and let us help and support you.
Theres good advice about the practicalities of feeding raw to help you choose whether or not raw feeding is for you
Good luck with using raw food for puppies!
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My Puppy Is Still Hungry
Sometimes, you will follow advice on how much to feed a puppy perfectly, but your pup will still act hungry!
Many puppies will eat everything as quickly as possible and beg for more, especially before they are used to a regular feeding routine.
Your puppy may act hungry because they dont know when theyre next going to eat. As we mentioned earlier, some puppies will just keep eating until theyre sick if given the chance!
Use your puppys weight as a guide. Check with your vet to see if your puppy is underweight and needs to eat more.
Alternatively, your puppy may just need to slow down. Buying slow feeding bowls and mats will slow down his food intake, and can become a fun problem solving game!
Do Puppies Need A Grain
Theres a lot of talk about grain-free dog foods, which causes many new owners to begin looking for the best grain-free puppy food.
But this begs the question: Do puppies need a grain-free puppy food?
Generally speaking, no while grain-free dog food diets are preferable in some specific circumstances , they arent usually necessary.
In fact, the FDA has released some information that indicates a correlation between grain-free dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy .
For this reason, its not recommended to feed your dog a grain-free diet unless other factors are at play, such as allergies.
Some grains are certainly better for your pet than others , but theres no reason to deliberately seek out a grain-free recipe for a typical, healthy puppy.
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Move On From Puppy Food
Puppy food is very high in calories and nutritional supplements so you want to switch to adult food once your puppy begins to approach maturity. There is no set age when the switch should be made because it will vary with the breed and individual dog.
In general, the smaller the dog the faster they reach maturity. Small breeds up to 30 pounds mature around ten to twelve months of age although some toy breeds reach maturity even sooner. Medium breed dogs up to 80 pounds will reach maturity between twelve to sixteen months and I believe your puppy may fall into this category. It really depends how much Great Pyrenees she has in her. Large breed dogs weighing more than 80 pounds can take up to two years to reach maturity.
When making the switch to adult food, do it slowly over the course of one to two weeks by gradually mixing in increasing amounts of the adult food with decreasing amounts of her puppy food to minimize gastric upset.
Why Feed Your Puppy The Same Food For 2 Weeks
I like to at least rule out changing foods as the cause of a puppyâs upset stomach during her first weeks home.All of these points and more can cause an upset stomach:
- Your puppyâs first weeks home are very stressful and can cause an upset stomach.
- Puppies can be like litter vacuum cleaners and eat toys, rocks, leaves, grass, etc. which can cause an upset stomach.
- Your puppy can get sick with a stomach virus which, you guessed it, can cause an upset stomach.
- Changing foods can cause an upset stomach.
What Iâm really talking about here is diarrhea which is no fun especially when youâre trying to potty train your puppy.
PRO TIP: Something you should add to your essential puppy supplies list: Pumpkin Supplement. Diarrhea is the worst! We use pumpkin supplement to help when our puppies have an upset belly.
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Teaching Your Puppy Her Name
The first thing you need to do when teaching your puppy her name is choose a name for your puppy.
We blew it! In my best Adam Sandler voice. We didnât have a name chosen on the first day home. Yes, yes, I need to be more decisive, but now that weâre a family of 5, naming a puppy is done by committee. Long gone are the days of me casting the one and only vote when naming my puppies.
Back to our task at hand. How do you teach your puppy her name?
Hereâs what we do to get started with teaching puppy, name:
When we say our puppyâs name we want her to look at us.
Here are a few extra tips to help you out:
- Always use a bright, cheery voice when saying your puppyâs name: âElsa, Here!â
- Donât ever use a negative tone or when youâre upset with her.
- When you feed your puppy, call her name to her feeding place. If you have a Lab like we do then itâll be easy to get your puppy to come when called during feeding time.
- When you praise your puppy say âGood Girl, Elsa!â
- Donât repeat your puppyâs name when calling her. Try saying her name then waiting 10 seconds before saying it again. Otherwise your puppy might think âElsaElsaElsaElsa!â is her name not just plain âElsaâ
Chihuahua Puppy Feeding Schedule
How Much:Chihuahua puppies should only eat about ¼ to ½ cup of food a day, depending on the age and size of the dog .
How Often:Ideally, puppies should be fed 3 to 4 times a day to give them food when they need it. Check out how much to feed a Chihuahua puppy guide below.
What Food: Chihuahuas must be fed dry kibble that is low in fat. They do not get very big, so do not expect them to eat much. They do have trouble losing excess weight, so keep them on healthy food to begin with.
Careful: Small breeds need dry kibble because they have a tendency toward dental issues. Dry food will clean their teeth as they eat it.
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Using Food In Training
The best way to use food when training your puppy is to take food from their daily allowance. If your puppy is eating kibble, this will be easy!
If you are raw feeding your dog, you can look into finding some bitesize, frozen meat pieces. Although, you wont be able to just carry these around with you all the time in your pocket!
Dont panic if your dog has barely any, or even no food when it comes to your scheduled mealtime.
Your puppy will still be getting all the food he needs each day, as long as training food comes from his daily allowance.
Training will be spread out through the day anyway, so as long as you arent getting through the food so quickly that your pup is becoming sick, you will be okay.
How Do I Know The Puppy Food Will Meet My Dogs Needs

The Association of American Feed Control Officials sets nutrient guidelines that most pet food manufacturers follow. Check the package label for a statement saying the food is formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition, or that feeding trials following AAFCO guidelines have substantiated that it provides complete nutrition.
Along with that statement, the label should give the life stage the food is suited for. Puppies should be eating food labeled for growth or for all life stages.
After a month or 6 weeks on the food, assess your puppyâs health. They should be playful and energetic, with a shiny, thick coat. Formed brown feces are a sign that your puppy is digesting most of the nutrients in the food.
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What Is The Best Puppy Food Brand In 2021
Puppy owners have an overwhelming array of dog food choices. How do you know which foods are best? Which brands are most nutritional and reliable? Many companies claim to offer high quality food at the best cost, but not all foods are created equal, and not all can be the best.
Were offering a recommended list of foods that can help you navigate the various available brands and foods to make the best food choice for your four-legged baby. Our ratings have been developed based on quality ingredients, brand reputation, and dog owners experiences.
Switching From Lab Puppy Food To Adult Food
You will be able to determine whether your puppy is ready to be switched to adult food by his height. If he has stopped growing upward, it is likely time to stop puppy food and transition to adult food. For labs, this happens at about 12 months of age.
To switch foods, you will need to gradually mix in the new food with the old food over the course of several days to avoid stomach upset.
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What To Expect In Your Puppys First Eight Weeks
A puppyâs relationships with their mother and littermates during the first 8 weeks of life help determine their personality and what kind of companion theyâll become for their family.Puppies develop rapidly. At birth, they are blind and deaf. They canât eliminate on their own or regulate their body heat. Yet, they grow so quickly that you can witness their progress from day to day. Here is a basic guide to a young puppyâs first few weeks of life:
What To Do When Your Puppy Isnt Eating
Remember, puppies dont have the same fat reserves as adult dogs. Therefore missing a meal or two can be problematic and be a cause for concern.
Always err on the side of caution and call your veterinarian for advice in these situations.
Below are some things you can do to try and tempt your puppys appetite at home.
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Not Too Fat Not Too Thin
Unfortunately, I cant give you guidelines on how much your puppy should weigh at what age. Even the most highly pedigreed Labradors wont all be the same. Some will be larger, others smaller, and the growth rate will vary too. However, a broad guideline is possible.
Young pups invariably have roly-poly figures, but from the age of three months, you ought to see a waist on your dog. You should NEVER be able to see ribs showing through.
If you do, its time to go to the vet for an expert opinion. The same is true if you suspect your puppy of being overweight. Dont risk underfeeding. Get the vets opinion before you change your puppys diet.
What Human Foods Can A Labrador Puppy Eat
Labradors can eat certain human foods that provide them with all the necessary nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy. These foods include:
- Meat puppies eat can eat meat because they are carnivores by nature, and it is a great source of healthy protein.
- Small fish this includes mackerel, sardine, and anchovies which are a great source of omega3 fatty acids.
- Organ meat such as liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, pancreas, and spleen are a great addition to your puppys diet.
- Other foods include eggs, green vegetables, berries, fermented foods, and bone broth.
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Iams Proactive Health Smart Puppy Small Breed
Rating:
Proactive Health Smart Puppy Small Breed is one of 12 dry recipes included in our review of the Iams Proactive Health product line.
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, dried beet pulp
- Type: Grain-inclusive
- Best for:Small breed puppies
- Price: $
This Iams product takes the vast majority of its animal protein from fresh chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 33% protein, 20% fat and 39% estimated carbs which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
A high-quality recipe ideal for small breed puppies.
Sample buyer reviewI highly recommend Iams small bites puppy food. Great nutritional value and a great price. You get what you pay for in dog food. My Boston Terrier pup loves it!
Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy

Runner-Up
Our runner-up for the best puppy food for labs is the Hills Science Diet food that is made for large breeds. The foods formula is made specifically for the needs of a large breed puppy.
This food comes with both glucosamine and chondroitin, which is important when it comes to joint development for large breeds.
Pros:
Formulated for large breed puppies Made with high quality ingredients Exciting flavour to please your puppy High in vitamins, which is good for growth High levels of calcium for bone development
Cons:
Contains a high amount of grain
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