Feeding a crated Puggle Puppy?

Question

If I'm going to crate an 8 week old puppy, should I free feed him or should I feed him once in the morning before I leave, once when I get home (5:30) and then again at 9 pm. ?

My breeder advised me to feed him 3 times a day but he will be crated for 9 hours. Is this too long for him to go without eating?

Let me know if you crate, if so, how long per day and the feeding methods.

I would appreciate any helpful advice. Serious responses only!!!!

Answer 1

If you can only feed him 2x a day, then only feed him 2 x a day. he will get used to it quickly, and be fine. My friend has a puggle and has always only fed him 2x a day. - but make sure when you feed him in the morning, you can take him outside to potty before you leave. :) hope that helps. -

*you can always add a KONG for something to do in the crate, and stuff it with some peanut butter and kibble, or plain yogurt, and you can even freeze it so it last longer.

Answer 2

First of all, your puppy is way too young to be crated for 9 straight hours. Puppies at that age need to go potty every 30 min to 2 hours, depending on what they are doing and their activity level. Crating for this amount of time could make your puppy go in the crate, which should never happen. Do you have someone who can come by during the day time to allow your puppy some time out for play and potty? Your pup will need to be almost a year old before you can safely expect him to last that long in a crate. If you don't have anyone to help you out here, consider gating your puppy off in a safe place in your home, with hard floors, like a kitchen, and place puppy pads down for him to use. Put his crate in the same room so that he can make use of it for resting as well.

Even at nite, when our Border Collie was under 4 months, I had to get up 1-2 times a nite to let her out of the crate for a potty run. They're like babies when this little and just need to go potty often, day or nite.

As for the feeding, I never put food in the crate. One reason is that eating, especially for puppies, will often bring on a bowel movement and if you are not home, you're not there to make sure he can get out to do the business. Also, when you feed in the morning, you need to make sure puppy has a bowel movement before you crate. It can take 15 minutes to an hour after a meal for the "urge" to go will come on.

Answer 3

8 week old puppies need to be fed 3 times a day; their bellies are small and they are active ; small portions 3 times not large twice b/c they will too small to eat the volume needed and will throw it up; your breeder is right ;that is why she is the breeder; 9 hours in a crate , you're kidding right; why get a puppy ; you are on the road to disaster if you don't put pup's interest first ; I am a boxer breeder and I screened out people like you and wouldn't sell the pup in that circumstance ; I turned down over 30 people. I keep in contact with all owners and have a no questions return policy in order to protect them but I screened so well that there are not any problems. A puppy needs more than being locked up while you are working; you took this responsibility and now you are going to have to make adjustments; your pup will either need someone to come home during the day or pup day care etc; anything else is cruelty - your pup will be like the Tasmanian devil when the crate door opens - not to mention the mess that you are going to have to clean b/c they can't hold themselves for that long before having to go to the bathroom and now you are training for disaster.

Answer 4

9 hours is too long for a puppy to stay in a crate. I have a 12 week old miniature beagle puppy and he is crated at nighttime but he wakes me up in the night to let him out to potty. Dogs will not go in their crate and will hold it and may cause bladder problems. During the day while I'm at work I keep him in the bathroom with his crate, bed, toys, water and food if he doesn't finish by the time I go to work. I also come home at lunchtime to let him out. So he goes about 4 hours at a time during the day without me letting him outside. I feed him twice a day, once in the morning about 6 and again at 6pm. He's been doing this since 6 weeks old and seems to be doing fine..but your puppy definitely needs to be fed at least twice a day possibly 3 times.

Answer 5

Congratulations on your new puppy.

9 hours is a very long time for a puppy to be crated, he will not likely be able to hold it for that long. Is there any way someone could come let him out in the middle of the day and feed and him then? A puppy that young should really be given an opportunity to go out every few hours.. even once an hour is good for house breaking.

As far as feeding goes, if you can't feed him in the middle of the day, you could hide treats in his kennel, under the blankets or tucked in the corners. Finding them will give him something to do!

good luck with your new pup!
~J~

Answer 6

I would feed first thing in the morning so he has time to digest and potty before you leave, and then right after you get home so once again, time to digest and potty before bed. Since he is (I'm assuming here) a smaller dog, two times a day should be sufficient. Three times a day is recommended more for larger breeds that are prone to bloat. I would suggest also leaving a frozen Kong in there for him to work on during the day.

You should consider hiring a walker to come let your dog out in the middle of the day, because while the feeding isn't an issue, potty breaks will be. It is not reasonable to expect your 8 week old puppy to hold his bladder and bowels for 9 hours a day.

Answer 7

I didn't read the whole thing but about your crate training issue. My best advise is going on youtube and type in 'how to crate train your puppy' or something along the lines. I was in the same situation and youtube honestly was a life saver lol :) You can also search stuff off google it has a TONN of stuff and you can get different ideas. Also, it may be hard but just try to ignore the crying as much as possible sooner or later they'll realize that crying isn't doing anything. Good luck : )!

Answer 8

I would feed him in the morning, leave him snacks for during the day (like several biscuits, maybe a small handful of kibble), then feed him around your dinner time. You don't want to leave him all day without anything, nor is feeding him late at night good for him - also be harder to house train.