Here, you can find a wealth of knowledge about feeding your Labrador puppy. We’ll discuss the four primary methods of feeding a puppy. We’ll assist you in determining how much and how frequently to feed your Lab puppy as well as the best diet for them.
We’ll go over food safety, schedules, quantities, and even a helpful puppy diet chart as well as the best puppy foods, whether they be dry, wet, or raw. Finally, we’ll include some brand reviews that can help you make the crucial transition to eating adult food.
Let’s get started because there’s a lot to cover. If you have a specific query, you can use this helpful contents list to jump right to the solution:
On the website, we frequently get inquiries about what to feed your Labrador Retriever puppies. People frequently inquire whether giving puppies milk, eggs, rice, or other foods is appropriate.
When I was younger, we fed puppies a variety of foods, such as leftovers, raw meat, canned puppy food, puppy meals, or cereal and milk for breakfast.
Nowadays, feeding your Labrador puppy is usually much simpler. A commercial food that is nutritionally complete and includes everything your puppy needs is what most new puppy parents choose.
Naturally, we all want the best for our puppies and want to provide them with a tasty, wholesome, and nutritious diet. The majority of people feed puppies commercially produced dry dog food, also known as kibble, so what is the best puppy food for labs? That’s fine and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Later, we’ll examine a few of the various brands of dry puppy food.
Some people like to add commercially canned dog meat as a tasty alternative. Select a high-quality product that is designed specifically for puppies.
It is also possible to feed your Labrador puppy homemade food or an entirely raw diet. You’ve probably heard of BARF, or ‘Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. There are advantages and disadvantages to feeding puppies raw meat, a practice that is becoming more and more popular. That’s another area we will explore later on.
How Much Should A Lab Puppy Eat?
Although each dog is unique, the following general guidelines for a Lab puppy’s recommended weekly caloric intake should be followed. Consult our Labrador Retriever growth charts for more information about your dog’s developmental milestones.
In the first few weeks of your pup’s life, he eats (or drink) his mother’s milk. The first week is crucial for puppy development, and it determines just how healthy a pup he will become. Mother’s milk is full of colostrum, which provides the pups with the infection and germ-fighting protection their immune system needs. Receiving these antibodies in the first few days is essential for your pup’s health.
It’s crucial to allow the mother to breastfeed her pups as much and as long as she can. Unfortunately, some mothers simply cannot produce any or enough milk due to health issues, while others choose to reject their pups. If this occurs, you should speak with your veterinarian, who can prescribe the supplements your Lab puppy needs.
Your Lab puppy is still nursing on his mother’s milk at the age of two weeks. You’ll likely already be able to distinguish between the strongest and weakest puppies in the litter. Try, if you can, to make sure the weaker pups don’t get their mother’s milk before the smaller pups. If not, you can supplement on your own with puppy formula. Although it will be challenging, you must ensure that they have the best possible start in life.
Lab puppies have learned how to coordinate their legs to explore at three weeks old. As a result of their increased movement, they will require more fuel. At this stage, a lot of puppies also start to grow their puppy teeth. At this stage, some breeders start feeding their puppies fresh food or softened kibble. However, it’s preferable to let their mother nurse them for a little while longer.
Lab puppies look forward to the fourth week’s arrival because they will now have the opportunity to experience something other than just their mother’s milk. Despite the fact that milk still makes up the majority of their diet, soft foods should be added. Any significant dietary changes can upset their stomachs, so it’s important to implement them gradually.
A small handful of fresh food or kibble should be combined with 3/4 water and 1/4 food. If the puppies reject it the first few times, don’t be shocked. Offer it to them several times per day if they don’t seem interested. But never, ever force them. They’ll try it when they are ready. They continue to eat from mom as they please.
By now, most Lab puppies have had their first taste of real food and are generally more eager to eat it. Although they still breastfeed occasionally, they are no longer as reliant on their mother. Knowing this, their mother spends less time with the puppies in order to get the much-needed rest.
Instead of lying down to feed the puppies, the mother probably stands, which gives her more control to leave. This is normal – she’s not giving up on them. In fact, the puppies’ increased independence is a positive sign. And mother is happy she has done her job well.
At six weeks, all Lab puppies should be more eager to eat the new food combination than their mother’s milk. However, they undoubtedly attempt to squeeze in a few last milk sessions while they can. It’s time to switch if your dog is doing well on the new food combination without any negative side effects. Over the course of the week, the mixture should gradually change until it is 3/4 food and 1/4 water.
Lab puppies should be nearly, if not entirely, weaned at seven weeks. Some hungry puppies may still be attempting to ingest their mother’s milk, but that responsibility now belongs to the mother. They no longer require milk, and she will either allow them or not. The mixture should be working well for them.
Lab puppies that are eight weeks old should now only consume dog food and have finished weaning. Most puppies are typically sent off to their new homes at this time. An average Lab puppy who is eight weeks old eats about two cups of food each day, divided into four mealtimes. Don’t give the puppy free food because it will be difficult to keep track of how much they are eating. Additionally, eating two cups of food at once may definitely upset your stomach.
Some breeders provide enough food to new owners so they can gradually transition them to whatever new brand you decide to feed them. If not, you’ll need to find out which kind the breeder used and purchase a small bag of your own. Make sure to transition them gradually, and adhere to the new package instructions. Typically, dog food transitioning takes between 10 and 14 days. Some new owners choose to stick with the same brand.
You should have a feeding schedule in place after your Lab puppy has been in your house for a week. Stick with this same routine until around 12 weeks. Tweaking it as and when you need to is fine. After all, it must be beneficial to both you and the puppy. You can begin feeding your puppy cooked meats when it is nine weeks old. Just be careful not to develop the bad habit of feeding him off the table.
This week, your Lab puppy is very curious and exploring his new surroundings, so he’ll likely be more hungry than usual. But in order to prevent him from gaining too much weight, it’s crucial to adhere to the schedule and food allowance. Due to their extreme greed, labradors will consume anything and everything they come across.
Your dog should exhibit greater appetite after two weeks of intense acclimatization and exploration. It’s crucial to follow the schedule you’ve established. If your dog refuses to eat, remove it after 10 minutes. He’ll soon learn that it’s better to eat it when you put it down than to go several hours without food.
You’ve likely already taken your pet to the veterinarian for his initial checkup. Ask your vet how your pup is doing. If your dog is overweight, at a healthy weight, or is falling behind, your veterinarian will let you know. Whatever your veterinarian’s findings, make sure to adhere to any new instructions. It’s crucial to maintain a healthy weight because either too little or too much weight can cause a number of health issues.
You can increase your Lab puppy’s daily food allowance to three cups per day if he constantly cries out for food and doesn’t seem to be satisfied after meals. This is due to the fact that his biggest growth spurt will occur around week 11. However, only if he is fit, active, and his waist is visible. If not, he will need to get by on the lower food allowance. Follow the schedule and avoid giving him extra food between meals.
The next modification to the Lab puppy feeding schedule occurs at twelve weeks. If you previously increased his food, make sure to decrease it back to two cups. And now you only need to eat three meals per day instead of four. This should be more manageable than before. Three mealtimes are preferable to two because they support the digestive process during development. Additionally, it prevents stomach discomfort or a sharp drop in blood sugar levels.
It’s crucial to adhere to the new routine and refrain from feeding him in between meals. Labs are inquisitive dogs, and he will always be running around and having fun. Additionally, despite the fact that you might believe he needs more food Do not fall for the Oscar-winning starvation acting that is common in labs.
His insatiable appetite drives him to dangerous garden objects, toxic floor scraps, and non-edible household items. Keep an eye on his surroundings and store all food away from him. Keep an eye on his poop as well, as this can give you insight into any additional foods he may be consuming that aren’t supposed to be.
At this stage, your Lab puppy begins to lose his milk teeth, so he will be chewing anything he can to ease the discomfort. Don’t be tempted to water down his food; eating dried kibble also helps to relieve the discomfort. But make sure to give him chew toys and sticks made for puppies who are teething.
Our Recommended Dog Foods For Lab Pups
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Hills Science Diet Large Breed Puppy
The Hills Science Diet food for large breeds is our runner-up for the best puppy food for labs. The food’s formulation was created with a large breed puppy’s needs in mind.
This food contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which are crucial for the development of joints in large breeds.
Formulated for puppies of large breeds; Made with premium ingredients; Exciting flavor to please your puppy; Rich in vitamins, which are good for growth; Rich in calcium for the development of bones
• Contains a high amount of grain
FAQ
How much should a Lab puppy eat a day?
An average Lab puppy who is eight weeks old eats about two cups of food each day, divided into four mealtimes. Don’t give the puppy free food because it will be difficult to keep track of how much they are eating.
How much should you feed a 4 month old Lab puppy?
Feeding Guidelines for Your Labrador Puppy2-4 months15-18 Ibs (7-8 kilos)1 1/8 – 1 3/8 cups (250-300)4-6 months24-26 Ibs (11-12 kilos)1 1/8 – 1 3/8 cups (250-300)6-12 months50-60 Ibs (23-27 kilos)1 1/2 – 2 cups (350-450) Maintaining Your Puppy’s Weight
How much and how often do you feed a Lab puppy?
For “large breed” puppies, the recommendation is to feed them four times daily for the first three months, three times daily for the next three months, and two times daily for puppies older than six months.
How much should a 10 week Lab puppy eat?
As long as you can still feel your ribs, make sure there is some padding over them. Too ribby means more food. A 10-week-old lab puppy, in my estimation, should be eating between 3/4 and 1 cup twice a day. If you are feeding the puppy too much, it could result in soft stools, so you should reduce the amount until firm stools appear.