I,ve continued with the food my breeder was using, but I'm worried I'm not giving him enough. Hugo is a six month old Miniature Schnauzer and we've had him just over two weeks. She said to give him half a sachet of Pedigree Puppy food mixed with a small handful of Pedigree Complete biscuits twice a day and a Weetabix with warm milk before bedtime. The sachet only contains 100grams of meat, and the feeding guide on the packet said to give a dog of his age and size 5 or 6 sachets per day. Also I bought some medium-size Winalot Puppy cans today, and they said to feed two cans a day! I realise their guide is if you only give it without mixing it with biscuits, but I only use a really tiny amount anyway. Hugo weighs about 8kg~can anyone tell me what he should be having? I'm getting really confused~and it doesn't take much!!
Thanks, Michele

Hi Michele,
Why did you purchase the cans? Are you thinking of switching him soon?
Can you tell why exactly you're worried about his eating habits? Is he losing weight, or having coat problems??

Personally, I would trust your breeder long before I trust what the dog food labels say for "daily reccomended feedings." They tend to overstate what a dog really needs. I don't know if it's to sell more food or what. Think of it like shampoo instructions...does anyone really lather their hair twice at a time???? (barring specific circumstances, of course :rolleyes: )

My parents have had mini schnauzers for decades (it seems). You cannot go by their eagerness to eat food. They tend to posess the "appetite surrounded by dog" mentality. Occasionally, I've seen self-moderating eaters, but very rare. They can easily become overweight!!. ;) They'll put the weight on through the chest and hips to look very very square.

Depending on your dog's height, 8kg does sounds a bit heavy for his age of six months. But he might be readying for his last major growth spurt. :) My mom has one mini schnauzer dog that's at the top end of height/weight standards and he's about 9.5kg ... he's now around 13, but she's kept him at proportional standards all of his life. I think when he was a year old, he was about 8 kg until he filled out.

Just a thought, Schnauzers are known for developing teeth problems (small mouths) canned foods tend to stick in there more and cause tooth decay.

My opinion is that if you have questions about his development, talking with his breeder should be the first thing you do before messing with a puppy's diet. Their bodies at this age need the 'routine.'

Enjoy your cutie pie :D :D
best wishes,
toodles

Michele, I would stick to the same food as the breeder used for now but try increasing the amount slowly, as you now feed one pack a day I would try increasing it to one and half a day for 3 or 4 days and see how he goes. Does he look well and is he getting lose stools, if not increase again, and continue until he looses interest in the food part way through. Now you do get dogs that will eat far to much and will not stop at all but only you will be able to tell if yours will do this, increase slowly and don't go further than is written on the pack. When he is eating enough to keep you happy then is the time to change the food if you wish but with puppies do every thing very slowley. Hope you enjoy your new charge, smashing breed. Ja:)kie