Hi.  We have a 12 week old Labrador cross springer spaniel who since we've had him really isn't eating that much. I weight out the food and add a little tinned puppy food with it else he won't touch the kibble. Should I be worried or is it a case of he will eat what he needs? Some days he eats two of the 3 meals, other days one and some days he picks at the three meals maybe eating 1/3 per meal.

The amount on the packet is just a guide, I start off with an amount between minimum and maximum, if they maintain their weight I continue, if they lose or gain too much I adjust accordingly.

Pups go through growth spurts when there is no filling them so I will increase the food for a few weeks till they settle again.

I am surprised with that cross that any food is left uneaten, I have had several spaniels, one was a springer and he inhaled his food and was looking for more.

Thanks for the reassurance. The vet wasn't concerned about his weight when we went for the 2nd jabs on Tuesday so hopefully it's nothing to worry about. I'll see how he is over the next couple of weeks with his food.

Is he on the same food as he was at the breeders ?

We started him on the same food, but the vet advised we get him on a food for large breed so I've been gradually weaning onto this, but he didn't eat much when on the same food as the breeder.

I would have a 12 week pup on 4 meals but apart from that a pup will eat what it will and you can't do much about that. Do you know what the person who bred the pup was feeding and how long it has been weaned. What food are you actually feeding?

What food was he on and what do you have him on now ?

Having not long bought a puppy home ... I found that by sitting with her while she ate or putting the kibble in my hand for her to feed from she gradually became more confident and will now eat virtually all I put down from her bowl.  She is now happily on dry food only and happy to go off into the utility room to feed on her own.

On many of the recommended amounts a dog would get fat, and some would get thin, they are only guidelines, each dog is an individual and by monitoring body condition you will know if he is eating too little or too much.

Also vets are no nutritional experts, and unless your pup came from a poor breeder who had raised pups on rubbish food I would take the breeders advice on feeding (who should be the expert on their dogs) and not the vets, who often have a vested interest in selling a food they carry at the surgery.

Vets are not expert in all things animal, they learn how to identify and treat disease.  Some may specialise in specific animals or areas such as orthopaedics etc.

I'm surprised that a vet would think a Lab x Springer would become a large dog, would expect it to be Lab size as cross breeds are often larger than would be expected but would have thought it would be fine on the normal puppy food and I would only use food for large breeds if the pup was eating so fast it was in danger of choking itself. What are you feeding?

this may sound a bit crazy but sometimes its just the bowl and not the food... with some puppies ... my last boy now 15m wouldnt eat from a bowl as he had been fed on a plate with the litter.. I had to encourage him he didnt like the noise of the stainless steel bowl , I persevered with a plate :( for a while until he settled in the house with the other dogs became more confident then changed it and he was fine.

Have you tried soaking the dry food .. or as others have said sit with him while he eats. I am happy when they leave a bit as I know they have had enough.

This is true once had a pup that would not eat much so I threw what was left onto the grass for the birds and noted that he went straight out and finished it off so if all else fails give it to the birds.

;)

He was on pedigree puppt kibble and butchers puppy meat. It wasn't a 'breeder' so to speak, but someone who had a dog and bitch who got together before they managed to get the dog neutered and there you have it a litter of puppies! We now have him on hills puppy large breed and have stuck with the butchers puppy meat as he will not eat the kibble dry! I've tried warm water on it too but to no avail!

Just stick with it and he will soon get the right idea.

I also use the scattering of kibble method with my girls if I haven't got any raw to hand and they really enjoy eating it that way as it becomes a game of spot and eat the kibble !

> would have thought it would be fine on the normal puppy food and I would only use food for large breeds if the pup was eating so fast it was in danger of choking itself. What are you feeding?

Nova, food specifically for large breeds has nothing to do with the size of kibble it is specifically formulated to maintain a slower growth rate, since large breeds sometimes to not fully mature skeletal wise until around 3 years old... a fast growth rate on large and giant breeds can be quite damaging to joints and bone density.  Labradors are classed as a large breed.  A Spring x Lab is prone to the same problems of HD and OCD.

to the OP... Labradors are notorious for scoffing food but Springers are not (at least the two I had weren't) and I pretty much left food down all day for them to eat as and when....I have also noticed that when my pups go to new homes, owners have told me the same thing as yourself, and I have occassionally noticed lack of interest in food in the pup I keep once littermates have gone.... They simply don't have a race anymore, so any food does not have to be eaten immediately (yes, I know I am placing human thoughts on an animal lol.)  but I have noticed it on a few occassions when keeping a single pup... however, when I keep littermates,, we still have a race to who can eat more and fastest..

If your pup is a decent weight, I would not worry too much.

Nova, food specifically for large breeds has nothing to do with the size of kibble

I know but they are usually larger kibbles so I have on occasion used them, typical I did not write what I meant. Would you consider a Lab cross would or should be treated as a large breed when it comes to feeding.

> Would you consider a Lab cross would or should be treated as a large breed when it comes to feeding.

On the whole, yes.  with crosses, you never know how they are going to turn out, so when the cross is with a large or giant breed, I would suggest erring on the side of caution when raising a pup.

Great advice and re-assurance everyone thank you. Although I grew up with dogs, two Irish Setters and later a cocker spaniel,my last experience with a puppy was when I was about 8 years old! It is almost like having a baby all over again. I got through that twice and have managed to raise two very healthy and happy little boys so hopefully I can do a good job with Mac the pup.