How Much Food?

[lisa varela]

Our 65lb+ 8 month  old G Doodle eats 4 cups of food a day.  He sometimes acts like he s starving and my husband gave him a little bit more and he wolfed it down.  He used to leave food in the bowl, but now he never does.  Is he eating the right amount?? Haven't had a dog in a very long time...Thanks for any advice.

[Jennifer and Jack]

The food group would be. Great group for you to join....we need to know what type of food you are feeding your dog in order to know the quantity as it ranges vastly with quality.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Exactly. Every food has a different calorie content, and it can vary by as much as 150 calories per cup. 2 cups of one food might be equivalent to 3 cups of another food. Lots of info on this, and lots more, in The Food Group.  

[Jennifer and Jack]

Here is a link to the food group.. I actually link all kinds of dog owners to that page for good information...even though it was created on here.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup

[Adina P]

Also remember that dogs are opportunistic eaters. Some will always take the opportunity to eat any time and every time.  They aren't necessarily hungry or in NEED of more food.  My dogs can smell me doing something in the kitchen from outside, I swear.  They would NEVER turn down a chance to eat MORE food of any kind.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Adina, by opportunistic eating do you mean, if the trash or counter surfing becomes available...... :-}

Ned still steals bread items off the counter.  He is patient and waits months so that I will forget....:-}

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

too funny- he has a plan!  

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It also depends upon how active the dog is and/or its metabolism. My 64 pound doodle gets LESS food than our 50 pound Springer Spaniel. This is because our Springer is full of anxiety and 'burns calories' just by breathing, and our larger doodle is a calm, mellow guy.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good point, Nancy.

Also, puppies go through growth spurts during their first year or so, and their appetites may increase or decrease as a result. 

[lisa varela]

Thank you everyone for your answers. I took him to the vet for check up and she said Im feeding him correctly.. He is over 70 lbs now. So much for me getting the smaller in the litter!