My partner and I have a schedule where we are able to come during our lunch break and let the dogs out. We let them out every 4 hours or less but we wanted to know how much and time frames should we feed them. We leave the food out and they will eat as soon as we let them out the crate. Are they eating just to eat or are they hungry??
2007-01-30 01:54:11 · 8 answers · asked by J B 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Chihuahua's are not like hounds beagle tree walker that will eat to oblivian. Just let them eat they will be okay. They don't eat much at a time even though they go to the food.
2007-01-30 02:08:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You should feed your puppies puppy chow...not chihuhuas. Just kidding. Whatever food you are giving them should have measurements on the bag/can for how much you should feed them each day. When we got our puppies, the vet recommended we split the daily recommended amount in half and feed them one half twice a day...once in the morning and once in the evening. That way, they learn to eat on schedule and you know what amount they're eating. Put the food out for 15-20 minutes and then put it back up. If they don't eat while it's down, they have to wait until the next feeding time. It won't take long for them to figure this out. Otherwise, they end up snacking out of boredom. That's how a lot of dogs end up overweight. If you just keep filling the bowl when it's empty, you don't know how much they're eating. You should feed them in the morning before you go to work, and in the evening when you get home. Animal behaviorists recommend not feeding them in the evening until after you eat. This helps establish your position as the "Alpha" in the household. They have to wait until your finished. You should be sure fresh water is always available, though.
2007-01-30 02:13:39 · answer #2 · answered by strmabruin 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Actually, the instructions on the bag of most dog food is too much for any dog. Keep in mind that, after all, the business of the dog food company is to sell more dog food. That being said, as long as your puppies are not gaining *too* much weight, you can't overfeed them. Just make sure you're giving them the highest quality food you can afford--check the ingredients and crude protein/fat information. The higher the protein and fat (as puppies), the better. As they get older, the higher the protein, the better. Your ingredients list should not have three filler products listed first (such as corn meal, wheat flour, etc). One of the first three ingredients should be a meat or meat by-product (beef liver, mechanically separated chicken, etc). I recommend feeding Iams puppy food, and then moving to a food developed for small dogs as they get older (as they have different nutritional needs).
As for the frequency, your puppies should have access to food and water all day until they are about 10 months old. After that, you can move to measuring food and feeding 3-4 times a day. Unless your veterinarian is commenting on unhealthy weight gain (almost impossible in puppies, especially in small dogs), they should have constant access.
Congrats on your new pets; I hope you have develop a great relationship with them and they with you! :)
2007-01-30 03:34:50 · answer #3 · answered by Dylan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My Chihuahuas always have food available, but some people do not like to do that and that is fine. I would feed them at least 3-4 times a day every few hours while they are puppies. Once they are grown you could start feeding them just twice a day.
2007-01-30 02:04:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
puppies are always hungry and rightly so because they are growing. l left my dog food out all day until 7oçlock . but you have yours in a crate. so l think chihuahua should be fed three times a day. and as puppies they will over eat but still you want to feed them enough to grow bone and muscles. try letting them eat as much as they want then take it away. my chihuahua as a puppy ate half to full cup three times a day but as she gotten older she ate a cup aday and that was her own choosing.
2007-01-30 02:05:20 · answer #5 · answered by Star-Dust 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I free feed my puppy (leave her food out), but she is a Great Dane. My vet said I can feed her 4-5 times a day, but once they get older it should decrease. I like free feeding because they don't gulp down their food, but some people don't like to free feed. I do this with my puppy and cats, and none of them are overweight.
2007-01-30 02:17:20 · answer #6 · answered by aranaloca1976 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
they are puppies and should have the food available to them all the time. that is stupid to let them have food when you are there. they are growing i have had vets say both and i think feed them they will grwo and be happy dogs. they are small and need food to grow and water.
2007-02-03 00:11:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
follow directions on the bag
2007-01-30 02:02:36 · answer #8 · answered by kat_luvr2003 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋