Hello, I have a question about feeding my golden puppy. She is 6 months old and about 40 pounds. She eats 2 cups of dry food in the a.m. & p.m. plus biscuits in the morning and at lunch, and hot dogs for training (about 1 per day). Now I am wondering if I am feeding her enough. How do I increase the food as she gets bigger? How much does a full grown golden eat? My other dog was no problem as food went, but he is smaller (43 pounds, full grown) and he also is a picky eater (which is why I am reading/researching the 'Switching to Raw' book). Anyway, I have never had a big dog before!

TIA - m

We have fed all our Golden Retievers a natural diet for 5 years.
We never have pick eaters on this diet!
I hope this helps

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That sounds plenty, as that would be around 400g of food plus extras. My Adult 40 pound dogs only get 200g a day, and have never in their lives had more than 250g a day. My friends 11 year old goldie eats the same amount, though of course she is s0payed and elderly.

I would imagine that by the time she is a year yo7u will be needing to reduce her food to around 300g (3cups a day). Ylu can only really go by the dogs condition. She should have a definate waist when you look and feel her from above, and the ribs and backbone should be easy to feel, but not so much that you can count them without touching ehr! :D Most Pet Goldens (in common with most dogs) that I see are way too fat. With the susceptibility that the breed has to Hip and Elbow problems, keeping them ont eht slim side is best. Mos tdogs would kid you that they are starving, and it isn't unknown for parthners to come hom, and think the dog hasn't been fed, only to find that they have had two dinners when the other half gets home!

Well, thanks a lot! I guess I am worried for nothing... I will start that raw diet soon though. But this all brings up another question about dogs weight. With my first dog, my old vet always told me he was overweight (he is very stocky). I moved recently and my new vet doesn't agree. So, how do you tell if a dog is overweight or not? Personally, I don't believe that either of my dogs are overweight, they can both run, wrestle, rough house, without a problem. What are the signs of a dog being overweight?

~~ m

Hi Macdoggy,
The best way to gauge a dog's weight is the rib test.

When you stroke down his sides, can you feel his ribs fairly easily? If you can't, then he's carrying too much weight. If his ribs are barely covered by skin, he needs some weight on.

When you look down at him when he's standing, can you see a distinct 'waist' between his ribcage and his hips? Again, this should be evident.

Hope this helps a bit.
:)

Hmm ... Well, I can feel both their ribs, but I can't feel each rib separately - is that how it is supposed to be? Also, my bigger dog doesn't really have a waist, but his fur is verrry thick. My puppy doesn't have a waist either! Maybe she is too young yet? Hm, maybe they ARE both a little chubby?

~ m

Sounds as if they are a bit overweight, as when you smooth your hands along the body when looking down at them you should be able to see where the ribs end and the shape of the loin (the are between the end of the ribcage and pelvis) this is where the distinct waist shoudl be visible. The body should not be a cylinder. :D

Despite the older dog having a thick coat, your fingers should be able to identify the individual ribs - they shouldn't be like a washboard, but you shouldn't have to prod through wodges of flesh to feel them! It's very hard to describe the correct feeling!

And despite his thick coat, his body should have some shape and definition between his ribs and his hips - when you stroke him from shoulder to hip when he's standing your hand should go over the spring of his ribs (feeling the bones of the ribcage), then do the slight 'eggtimer' shape from the end of the ribs, into the waist, then out again to the hip.

If the top of his back is flat like a tabletop, then he is probably overweight. You spine shouldn't stick out, you shouldn't be able to see the individual vertabrae, but his body should fall gently away from the middle.

Not very well put, I'm afraid! I hope you can understand what I'm trying to say!
:)