Hi everyone,

Sonny's diet continues to go well although he'd much rather eat meat and our left overs than raw veggies! We'll get round that one somehow, I'm sure.
We weighed him a couple of days ago and were astounded that he weighs 40lbs!
He's only five months old and not having had a Retriever puppy before we don't know if this is normal or not.
My big concern is that he doesn't grow 'too fast'. having read about all the problems that that can cause.
We're feeding him between 3 - 5% of his body weight at the moment and any left overs are included in his total daily intake.
I know I'm a worry guts but still learning! Any tips would be most welcome.

Ruth

Hi Ruth, sounds about right. I take it your feeding him all raw? If so I think you will find he will devolop at a slower rate, not forced. You could always put a bit of offal in when you puree his veg & that should get him eating them!
Christine, Spain.

Thanks Christine for a very speedy reply!
Yes, Sonny's on all raw apart from a very little cooked meat in our left overs - not very often though!
He's a gannett and my husband's convinced he's starving - the dog, not the husband! - although he might be too!
I've told him it's a Retriever 'thing' and they know how to look hard done by!!

Ruth

Yes Ruth I know all about that starving look, I`ve got Labs & anyone who doesn`t know them would swear they never get fed! My lot went thru stages, one minute looked like they weren`t growing, next thing they were growing in front of me & legs everywhere :) I don`t see anything wrong with giving leftovers bet Sonny doesn`t either, as long as you knock it off his main meals, waste not want not eh?
Christine, Spain.

I was taught (in the 60's) that a puppy should have 1 3/4 oz of food to every 1 lb (16oz) bodyweight, after a year this would go down to 1 1/2 oz per pound. This was for dalmatians, but I expect the ratio to be roughly the same for most breeds (maybe not the tinies).