Should 8 week old puppies eat wet or dry food

Puppy Feeding Fundamentals

Walk down the dog food aisle of any large pet-supply store, or peruse the shelves at a boutique pet-food shop, and you can quickly become overwhelmed. This is especially true for puppy owners, and probably even more so for first-time puppy owners. When did it get so complicated? Back in the day, dog food options were far more limited, and even responsible dog owners didnt worry too much about what went into their dogs dish.

The process may now be somewhat more involved, but thats a good thing. Higher quality ingredients with better sourcing and specialized diet formulas lead to overall better health for our puppies. And every bit as important as what to feed your puppy is having an understanding of his special nutritional needs.

All puppies are different, so if you have any concerns or questions about your puppys food, feeding schedule, or nutritional health, always consult your breeder or veterinarianthats what theyre there for.

Many puppy owners wonder, How long should I feed puppy food? Here is a general timeline for what your puppy needs at each stage of his first year of life.

Feeding YourPuppy: A First-Year Timeline

• 612 weeks: Growing pups should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs for normal development. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands. Large breeds should be fed unmoistened dry food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.
• 36 months: Sometime during this period, decrease feedings from four to three a day. A pup should be losing her potbelly and pudginess by 12 weeks. If she is still roly-poly at this age, continue to feed puppy-size portions until body type matures.
• 612 months: Begin feeding twice daily. Spaying or neutering lowers energy requirements slightly; after the procedure, switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult maintenance food. Small breeds can make the switch at 7 to 9 months; bigger breeds at 12, 13, even 14 months. Err on the side of caution: Better to be on puppy food a little too long than not long enough.
• After age 1: Most owners feed adult dogs two half-portions a day.

How much food should I give my puppy?

Theres a saying in canine feeding: Watch the dog, not the dish. Body condition, not the amount eaten or left in the bowl, should determine portion sizes. Portion sizes depend on individual metabolism and body type, and nutritional requirements vary from dog to dog. If your puppy occasionally skips a meal or picks at food, dont worry. It could mean she is ready to eliminate a feeding or that you have given her too much, in which case simply reduce the quantity served.

Also, if you are doing treat-based training with your pup, adjust the amount you feed at mealtime accordingly. Whenever training with treats, keep the treat as small as possible.

How often should I feed my puppy?

Like human babies, puppies start out needing many small meals a day, of a food formulated for their special nutritional requirements. Most, but not all, dogs finish meals quickly. To discourage picky habits, feed at regular times in regular amounts and dont leave food down for more than 10 to 20 minutes.

Your breeder will be an excellent source of guidance for both of these questions, as will your vet.

Is it worth it to buy expensive puppy food?

Premium dog food has higher nutritional density, so you can feed your dog less to achieve the same results. Also, premium foods have stable ingredient profiles; the composition of bargain brands can vary from batch to batch.

The major dog-food companies invest heavily in product development and research, constantly upgrading formulas to keep up with their competitors. This means that feeding premium food puts you on the cutting edge of canine nutrition.

Dry food, wet food, or both?

Many pet-food companies have worked with canine-nutrition scientists to develop special formulas for both large- and small-breed puppies.

• Canned foodis the most expensive to feed, and dogs often find it most palatable. Be careful of all-meat claims, though. Your dog should have a complete, balanced diet to fulfill nutritional requirements. Meat alone may not do it.
• Semi-moist foodis available in one-serving packets. It is usually made to look like hamburger.
• Kibbleis the most economical, and the major makers offer a complete and balanced diet for dogs of all sizes and ages. Dry food can be fed exactly as it comes from the bag.

Some dog owners say there is an oral-hygiene advantage in hard kibble because the friction produced helps to keep the gums and teeth healthy. Kibble can be moistened, either with water or canned food. Although unnecessary, that addition may make food tastier.

Food for Big Puppies & Little Puppies

There are differences between the nutritional needs of small-breed and large-breed dogs, and that is especially true for puppies. Adult dogs who weigh less than 20 pounds are considered small-breed dogs. These puppies grow quickly and may reach adulthood by 9 months. Large-breed puppies (20 pounds and up), grow more slowlyit takes anywhere from 15 to 24 months to reach full size and maturity.

Chart Your Puppys Weight and Growth

• There are growth-and-weight charts available in print and online. Weigh the puppy weekly and record his progress, comparing him to breed-appropriate weight charts. Adjust his food intake to achieve an average rate of growth.
• Weighing a dog, even a squirming puppy, is easy. Just weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the puppy. Subtract the differencethats the puppys weight. Voila!
• Dont worry about an ounce or two either way; no two dogs, even within breeds, are built exactly alike.
• A young dog carrying too much weight has an increased risk of orthopedic problems, due to stress on immature joints. Obesity can also lead to diabetes, diseases of the heart and other organs, and general lethargy.

My puppy is begging! Should I feed him people food or table scraps?

One little French fry will invariably lead to another, and another. Before long, an obese dog will be crowding you off the love seat. Also, a steady diet of table scraps can create a nutritional imbalance, and certain ingredients and spices in your favorite dishes can cause upset stomach in dogs.

The pleading gaze of a begging dog can be irresistible. This is no accident. During his long partnership with man, the dog has perfected cunning methods of exploiting the human habit of associating food with affection. In prehistoric times semi-domesticated canines first cultivated human beings as a food provider. As the two species grew closer, dogs modified begging behaviors to maximize results: The more pathetic a dog seemed, the more scraps were tossed his way. Dogs have since refined this approach into a low-risk, high-reward hunting technique.

But dont be fooled: Begging is not an emotional crisis or a test of your love. Its what scientists might call an evolutionary survival strategy, or what the rest of us might call a scam. Allowing your dog to guilt you into overfeeding him, or serving him a steady diet of table scraps in a misguided show of affection, can have harmful or even fatal results.

Puppy Feeding Tidbits

• Feeding your pup the moment you get home may encourage puppy separation anxiety. Play or grooming is a more positive way to say hello.
• When medically necessary, you can purchase canned or dry prescription diets from veterinarians to feed dogs with kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. These foods should never be fed without a prescription.
• Some vitamin or mineral supplements, when utilized incorrectly (such as extra calcium given to a large-breed dog on a good diet), will do more harm than good.
• Before making a major change in your dogs diet, consult with your veterinarian and, when possible, the breeder. Once the formula is chosen, stick with it. Sudden changes in food may cause digestion problems.
• Small portions of carrot or apple chunks are healthful low-calorie snacks most dogs love.
• Fresh water should be available at all times. During the summer months, consider setting up multiple indoor/outdoor water stations. To avoid a buildup of bacteria, wash the water bowl daily.

How to Switch from Puppy Food to Adult Food

When switching from puppy food to adult food, you should make the switch gradually over a period of a few days. A sudden change in your dogs diet may cause stomach upset. Talk to your veterinarian about the best food for your puppy.

Puppy Feeding Advice

Make sure everyone gets with the program

Your entire household must be committed to your dogs feeding regimen. If theres a soft touch for a handout in your family, your dog will find it and exploit it, thus undoing the good you are trying to do. Keeping a dog trim takes a conscious effort from everyone on your team.

Give a dog a bone? Careful!

Our best advice here is caution. Poultry and pork bones, or cooked bones of any kind, are strictly forbidden. They splinter into shards that can cause choking and serious damage to the dogs mouth, throat, or intestines. Any bone, in fact, once chewed into small pieces, can block the intestines and lead to a nasty bout of constipation, can cause lacerations of the mouth and internal organs, or can lodge in the throat with fatal results. It is important to note that bones have little if any nutritional value.

There are other ways to satisfy a dogs craving to chew. Commercially available chew toys and simulated bones are made for dogs of all sizes.

As the famous food writer M.F.K. Fisher wrote, First we eat. Then we do everything else. This is true for our pups, too.

Need help with your adorable new puppy? Training your dog can be challenging without expert help. Thats why were here to help you virtually, through AKC GoodDog! Helpline. This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from house-training to behavioral issues.

When To Stop Soaking Puppy Food & When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?

If youve got your hands full with a puppy, or even a litter of puppies, you probably know all too well about their special requirements during this delicate life stage. During this time, puppies are also weaned from mothers milk, at which point the question arises when to stop soaking puppy food? And at what age can puppies eat dry food? In this article, were going to answer these very questions, and many others surrounding this topic.

If you know a little bit about dogs and puppies, you know how beneficial it is for newborn pups to feed on their mothers milk. Mothers milk is full of nutrients that keep the pups well-fed. It also provides vital antibodies that support the puppies immune systems. But what happens when its time for the puppies to start eating solid foods? Youve probably heard that many people choose to soak dry kibble for this transitional period. So, whats it all about? Lets find out!

Table of Contents

Why Do You Need To Soak Dry Food For Puppies?

Puppies do a lot of growing in their first year, especially in the very first weeks and months. Although feeding mothers milk is the best way to go for the first weeks, puppies cant keep suckling on their mamas milk forever. Its generally recommended to start the weaning process once the puppies start getting their baby teeth. This usually happens around the 3 to 4 week mark.

Now, even though the baby teeth could indicate that your new puppy should be able to switch to dry kibble, it might not be that simple.

First of all, baby teeth arent nearly as strong as adult teeth. Therefore, its probably not going to be particularly easy for a puppy with its new baby teeth to chew through each bite. Secondly, puppies simply arent used to chewing their food. After all, theyve been sucking on milk for their whole life so far. Thats the only way they know how to eat!

And finally, keep in mind that any major dietary change is going to wreak havoc on a puppys digestive system if not done properly. If so far a puppy has gotten all of its food and nutrients from mothers milk, immediately switching to dry kibble is bound to cause digestive issues.

For this reason, many dog breeders and puppy owners soak the dry kibble to make the transition from mothers milk to solid food easier for the pups. Obviously, soaking the dry kibble will make it all soft and mushy, making it so much easier to consume. In addition to that, its much easier to entice a puppy to eat soaked kibble, as it usually has a much stronger and tastier smell than dry kibble on its own.

How Long Do You Soak Puppy Food?

Soaking puppy food is very simple and straightforward. Simply measure the correct amount of puppy kibble in a bowl (check the feeding instructions on the packaging!) and cover it with warm water. Youll always want to use warm water to make it appealing and tasty for the pups. I bet that you wouldnt touch cold and soggy porridge, either!

About the timing usually 10 to 20 minutes should be perfectly enough to transform the dry kibble into a soft mush. Although it might be tempting to soak the kibble longer, we strongly advise against it.

Keep in mind that moisture is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. So, if you leave the kibble soaking for hours on end, it might do more harm than good. Not to mention, flies and other insects will surely find their way to the soaked puppy food if you leave it out for too long.

Once youve soaked the kibble for 10 to 20 minutes, its almost ready for your puppys mealtime. However, we do recommend you give it a good stir before serving it to your pup. This will make it super mushy and soft, and give it a nice, smooth consistency.

Of course, youll also want to check the temperature of the food. Although its perfectly fine to use hot boiled water to soak the kibble, you should never feed your pup scorching hot food. Make sure that the food is warm enough, but not uncomfortably hot.

Moreover, since puppies are still learning good eating habits, you might want to serve their soaked kibble on a flat plate or surface. High rimmed bowls can prove to be quite an obstacle for small puppies, so make sure that the food is accessible for your little pal.

How Much Soaked Food Does Your Puppy Need?

Weve mentioned a few times already how important it is to feed your puppy the right amount of food. Overfeeding can quickly lead to excessive weight gain, which in turn paves the way for a whole range of health issues. Similarly, underfeeding will leave your pup malnourished, and can cause a different set of health and developmental problems.

Regardless if you feed your puppy soaked food or dry kibble, its crucial that you measure out the correct amount of food each day. How much food your puppy needs is based on their age, size, and estimated adult weight.

The easiest way to do this is by checking the feeding instructions and calories on the back of your dry kibble packaging. Then, you can follow our puppy daily feeding chart to help determine the exact amount of dry kibble and calories that your pup needs daily:

Does Soaking Puppy Food Make Digestion Easier?

Yes and no. As we mentioned earlier, soaking dry kibble during the transitional period is super helpful for a variety of reasons, one of them being the digestive process. If a puppy has so far only consumed a liquid diet, immediately switching to dry kibble may cause some issues. On the other hand, it might not. It really is individual and what works for one pup might not work for another.

Now, if your puppy has been struggling with tummy issues for quite some time, its obviously not going to be fixed by soaking their dry kibble. In fact, many dog breeds are prone to stomach problems and food intolerances, so thats something worth remembering.

If your puppys transition from mothers milk to puppy food has been done over a longer period of time and your puppy also drinks enough water daily, but theyre still having digestive issues, its time for a vet visit.

When to Stop Soaking Puppy Food? When Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?

So, when to stop soaking puppy food? When can puppies eat dry food? As each puppy is unique and develops at their own pace, theres no one-size-fits all approach to this. When to stop soaking puppy food varies from pup to pup, and even puppies from the same litter may adjust at a different pace.

Generally, we can expect puppies to be fully weaned by 6 weeks of age or slightly later. Usually by the 8 week mark, puppies should have all of their baby teeth, and they potentially could eat only dry food. Nonetheless, if your puppy is still struggling with dry food, its completely fine to feed them soaked kibble instead.

Based on this timeline, puppies can eat soaked food for up to 12 weeks of age. Usually around the 10 to 12 week mark puppies already show more interest in dry food, as theyve learned how to use their teeth and eat regular food.

What Do I Feed My Puppy?

If youve adopted your new puppy from a breeder, we can safely assume that your new pup will come home sometime around 8 weeks of age. This will give the puppy plenty of time to be fully weaned and also adjust to eating dry kibble.

Of course, there are also instances when your puppy gets home sooner than that. Or maybe your adult mama dog has had a litter of its own that you now need to take care of. If youve got a puppy younger than 2 months old at home, its crucial you know what to feed your puppy during these early life stages to make sure they get to properly develop and grow into a healthy dog.

0-2 Weeks

From birth to 2 weeks of age, newborn puppies are in the neonatal period. For the first 2 weeks puppies are extremely fragile and delicate, they cant see or hear, and they rely on their mama for everything, including food.

In fact, during this life stage, puppies spend 10% of their time suckling and 90% sleeping. So, you can only imagine how important it is for a puppy to get plenty of mamas milk during this time.

Of course, mothers milk is not always available. In these instances, you can replace mothers milk with a good quality puppy milk replacer that will provide your newborn puppy the same balanced nutrient profile with antibodies.

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3-4 Weeks

Now puppies enter the transitional period. Theyre getting a bit stronger, they start opening their eyes, they start hearing better, and they develop a sense of smell. Puppies will also cut their first milk teeth, which is usually a great indicator that its time to start the weaning process.

Around the 3 to 4 week mark, puppies will slowly start weaning from mothers milk (or puppy milk replacer), and get acquainted with puppy food. Youll want to introduce only small portions of puppy food at a time to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. We also strongly recommend you soak the dry puppy food to make it more appealing, and easier to eat and digest.

6 Weeks

By 6 weeks of age, most puppies are fully weaned and ready to start eating real puppy food. On the other hand, its crucial that you dont rush the weaning process, as it can create problems around food when your puppy is all grown up.

At 6 weeks old, your puppy can already eat according to scheduled mealtimes, around 5 to 6 meals per day. Depending on how the weaning process and puppy food transition has gone, its very likely that your pup wont need any more soaked food. However, its completely normal if your pup prefers soft and mushy kibble at this stage, especially if theyre still recovering from the teething madness.

8-12 Weeks

Now that your puppy isnt a newborn anymore, its time to make some changes in their diet. From 8 to 12 weeks old, puppies should eat around 3 to 4 times a day. Around the 8 to 12 week mark you can also start transitioning your puppy from soaked food to dry kibble.

If your new puppy comes home from a breeder, its highly likely that theyre already eating solid, dry foods at all times. Be sure to ask your breeder exactly the type of food your puppy has been eating so far, and continue to feed the exact same food at home. If you do decide to switch your puppys formula altogether, be sure to do this gradually over a longer period of time to avoid any digestive issues.

If your puppys transition from soaked food to dry kibble has taken a bit more time, your breeder will let you know about the process and share with you some tips on how to continue at home.

How Can You Help Your Puppy Transition From Soaked Food To Dry Kibble?

As with any dietary change, you want to make the transition as smooth and seamless as possible. First, the weaning process from mothers milk to puppy food should be done over a period of time. Then, youll also want to make the transition from soaked food to dry kibble gradually. This way, your puppys digestive system has time to adjust.

The process for this is quite simple once your puppy is fully weaned and only feeds on soaked kibble, you can start adding smaller amounts of water to the food each day. Before you know it, your puppy is inhaling all of its dry kibble with no problems.

Still, keep in mind that the process from soaked food to dry kibble will take time, even up to several weeks. The key here is to transition your puppy from soaked to dry food as gradually as possible. Similarly with the weaning process from mothers milk.

Whats more, puppies and dogs are also sensitive to changes in their foods texture, appearance, and smell. So, its only natural if your puppy becomes a picky eater all of a sudden theyre simply not used to big changes in their foods appearance and texture.

We recommend you reduce the amount of water by 10% every few days. This wont affect the texture as noticeably, and your puppy should be able to adjust to this relatively easily. On the other hand, if you do notice that your pup has a hard time adjusting to the texture this fast, you can reduce the water content over a longer period of time, around every 3-5 days.

When To Stop Soaking Puppy Food: Frequently Asked Questions

At What Age Can Puppies Eat Dry Food?

Puppies can usually start eating dry food around 8 to 10 weeks of age. By 8 weeks old, puppies are generally fully weaned, and they should also have their full set of their baby teeth. Of course, puppies should only start eating dry food once theyve gotten used to eating solid foods.

Should I Wet My Puppys Dry Food?

During the weaning process from mothers milk, puppies should eat soaked dry kibble to ease the transition from liquid to dry food. Soaking your puppys dry kibble helps them get used to eating solid foods, and helps them learn how to chew and use their newly grown teeth.

When to stop soaking puppy food depends on how your puppys transition has gone so far. Youll want to gradually transition your puppy from soaked food to dry kibble over time to avoid digestive issues and changes in appetite.

How Long Should I Soak Dog Food?

It usually takes about 10 to 20 minutes to soak dry kibble into a nice, soft mush for a puppy. 30 minutes tops. We recommend you soak only small portions of dry kibble at a time, the exact amount that your puppy will eat during the mealtime.

Soaking your puppys food for too long is a health hazard, as bacteria will start developing in warm, moist environments immediately. For this reason, only soak one portion at a time, and feed it to your pup in the next 10 to 30 minutes.

When To Stop Soaking Puppy Food: Final Thoughts

When to stop soaking puppy food is very individual. But, as a general rule of thumb, puppies are usually ready to switch to dry kibble around 8 to 10 weeks of age. If your puppy is still eating soaked kibble, be sure to gradually transition them from soaked food to dry kibble over a period of time. Patience does pay off, so be sure to give your pup as much time as necessary for them to get used to solid foods.