Is sporadic eating okay?

[Amy & Bernie]

Hi all! Just checking in with everyone in regards to puppy eating habits.

Bernie is a VERY sporadic eater. He's on a two a day schedule, breakfast and dinner, and the amount of food is split equally, although at night some of his dry is replaced with canned food.

He's on Wellness' large breed dry puppy food and I top his dinner with their Ninety-Five Percent canned food.

He seems happy and healthy, we're not overcompensating with treats and he only gets them when he earns them, so just during training sessions. He's drinking what seems to be a normal amount of water and his stools are normal. We're walking about 3 miles a day and playing with him every night, so I think he's getting a decent amount of exercise as well.

The only reason I'm even questioning his eating habits is because he's eating less than what is recommended for his weight. And since he's eating sporadically he'll sometimes not touch his breakfast til late in the afternoon, and then I give him dinner and he's not hungry so he barely touches it and it's still half there in the morning.

Wellness recommends he get about 3.5 cups for his age and weight, but I'd be shocked if he's eating more than 2-2.5 in any 24 hour period.

Should I be worried? I'm taking him into the vet on his 5 month birthday for a weigh-in, should I bother mentioning it?

[Sandra Griffith]

I have often found that the amount that is recommended is just that, a recommendation. I find that looking at your dog to decide if he's getting enough is more helpful. I would ask the vet if he (or she) feels that Bernie is a good weight. That's the important thing. The amount that he needs is dependent on so many factours: level of exercise, metabolism, growth at the time, amount that they eat for training, etc.

[Amy & Bernie]

I had a feeling I was worrying too much if he seems happy and healthy. I'll cut it down a bit and you're right, he should be the judge! I'll mention it if there's someone around with nothing to do at his vet's when we go in =)

[Toni McCann]

My five month old seem to do the same thing. I worried he was not gettin enough food. He started eating really well about 3 weeks ago and growing and gaining weight. He was 42.5 lbs two weeks ago. What I did was add chicken to his blue buffalo puppy food. He started eating really well. I just hope he doesn't get use to the chicken. I hope your vet can let you know what else you can do. Good luck!

[Amy & Bernie]

Interesting Toni, I'll let you know if my vet says anything particularly interesting. Bernie should be about 40 lbs. at his weigh-in I would guess, he was 31.2 at his 4 month check in for his shots.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri eats about 2/3 of what is recommended. She would eat the full amount, but vet told me her weight is perfect and she looks perfect to me. She does get some treats and veggies on top of her dinner.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Amy, I don't get my puppy for 3 days for I can't give advice first hand but I can tell you what I've been told by my breeder about feedings.. When you put food in the bowl and leave it out for Bernie to eat or not at his pace - they call that "free" feeding. Bernie is free to eat when ever. She will have me feed my puppy twice a day, same times every day. I'm to put the food down and then give him 15-20 minutes to eat it. Then I pick it up. Feeding time is over. It trains them without rushing them that there is a time for eating.

So perhaps Bernie would do better with this method (or not). And of course you would be giving him his reward treats during the day - more than usual the first couple of days till he catches on that he has to eat his breakfast. Just thought I would give you another option. Good luck.

[Donna M Lowry]

I usually pull out some meat from what I am cooking for my people family before its seasoned and keep it in a ziplock in the fridge. Yuo can mix it all up in one bag, they don't care! I add just a spoonful of meat to the kibble and Riley usually cleans up.