[Rott25]

We just got a 8 weeks old rottweiler puppy and I have a question about feeding him.

I got Purina puppy food and it says on the back that X-Large breeds (100lbs+ when fully grown) should be getting 4 1/2-5 1/2 cups of food per day 2-3 months of age.. is this right? Seems a lot..

[shazamataz]

Hi Rott 25.

May I suggest a brand change for you?
For a Rottweiler they should not eat a food with more than 23-24% protein as it can cause growth problems...
Purina puppy xlarge breed has a minimum of 27% protein.

It doesn't matter what brand as long as it has less than 24% protein... I use Eagle Pack Hollistic Giant Breed

Feeding varies greatly depending on the individual dog... I think it sounds a little much but it may be right for some dogs...

Dogs, like people, have different metabolisms and dietary needs.
One Rottie may need 2 cups, while another may need 4...
Just be sure to monitor your dogs weight and increase/decrease portions accordingly.


I will give you a link to a ite than any large breed owner should visit... the site is about Great Danes but the advice on there applies to any larger breed...

Also included is the Eagle pack website...

Great Dane Lady | Dog Health, Nutrition, HOD, Allergies

Eagle Pack Pet Foods, Inc.

I hope that helped... Good luck with your new puppy!

[teachnk]

I like to add that an 8 week old puppy will eat a very different amount than a 12 week old puppy that is growing as quickly as a rottie does. Best wishes!

[Rott25]

Thanks for all the tips.

Right now we're feeding him 3 times a day, just over 1 cup of food and we'll see how he eats, if he needs more we'll adjust that.

I'll look into different types of food with less protein.

[shazamataz]

No worries Rott25.

Good luck with your puppy!

We would love some photos... we love photos ;)

[Rott25]

I'll post photos in a few days, I borrowed my camera to the in-laws and phone pictures aren't that great.

He's keeping us busy though, house training..

[shazamataz]

Looking forward to them! :)

House training is a pain... well worth it though, don't lose heart!

[Rott25]

Looking forward to them! :)

House training is a pain... well worth it though, don't lose heart!

I know:)

I'm telling myself, and my wife, to accept that he'll need about 4 weeks to be house trained :)

[Rott25]

I was pleasantly surprised last night.. I put Rocky (that's his name:) in his crate and he went in on his own and fell asleep. Then I took him out every 3h and he did his business outside every time.. so he's learning fast.

How much rottweiler puppies usually sleep? He sleeps a lot during the day and when he's asleep calling him does nothing, but then he wakes up and he's ready to play, pretty hyper too.

[shazamataz]

Yep, that sounds normal! They will play for half an hour, then sleep for two then be up and playing again!

He sounds like he is catching on very fast, rare not to have an accident, but it sounds like you are putting a lot of effort in which is great.

[Rott25]

Yep, that sounds normal! They will play for half an hour, then sleep for two then be up and playing again!

He sounds like he is catching on very fast, rare not to have an accident, but it sounds like you are putting a lot of effort in which is great.

I work from home so I don't have to worry about getting 8h of sleep at night, so I set my alarm clock every 3h to take him outside and then my wife takes over when she gets up in the morning.. it's working great, second night in his crate and he didn't have any accidents but did his business each time we took him outside.

I was also surprised how quickly he got used to the crate, second night he went in on his own, no crying at all. Just before I was to take him out for the second time he starting scratching on the gate and I let him out, he pooped right away.

What kind of food would you guys recommend for him, since it seems that rottweiler need lower % of protein so I'll go tomorrow to get him new food.

[Catsmine]

You could very easily get 15 answers to that question, Rott, in the next 12 posts. Everybody who raises dogs has a preference, and the discussions have gotten kind of heated before.

I use brands from regular stores, but I do check the nutrition info on the labels. Puppy Chow brand is a little high in protein, which can cause kidney/liver problems down the road. Pedigree, Ken'l Ration, even Ol' Roy Premium are decent foods.

The only recommendation I do make anymore is to feed dry chunk formulas. That will help with dental health.

When his adult teeth start coming in (about three weeks from now) I would make ice cubes out of chicken bullion for him to chew. Tasty, soothing, crunchy, and fairly nutritious in their own right.

[Rott25]

You could very easily get 15 answers to that question, Rott, in the next 12 posts. Everybody who raises dogs has a preference, and the discussions have gotten kinda heated before.

I use brands from regular stores, but I do check the nutrition info on the labels. Puppy Chow brand is a little high in protein, which can cause kidney/liver problems down the road. Pedigree, Ken'l Ration, even Ol' Roy Premium are decent foods.

The only recommendation I do make anymore is to feed dry chunk formulas. That will help with dental health.

I'll check different brands available here.

Now I put a little water in his food but only for a few weeks, I'm using less and less water.. it seems that completely dry food is too "difficult" for him now..

[Catsmine]

Sounds like a very lucky puppy to have a Daddy like you.

If I'm really really good in this life, maybe next time I can get to be a puppy like him.

[shazamataz]

Sounds like a very lucky puppy to have a Daddy like you.

If I'm really really good in this life, maybe next time I can get to be a puppy like him.

I agree, it sounds like he is very well looked after!

Yeah, I agree with you on the food question too! Everyone feeds something different on here, I feed Eagle Pack to larger dogs but I don't think anyone else here does so it's all just personal preference. As long as the protein is good!
I feed my poodles good 'ol Pedigree Pal seeing as how they are older now. A lot of people don't like it but I have never had a problem with adult dogs eating it. I also feed wet food with it as well (A Tasmanian brand that you wouldn't know! Haha)
Sorry, I just have to stress the protein, we had a lady come up to us at the last dog show and started talking to us, we had out Great Dane there and she also had a Dane at home...
She showed us pictures of her dog and asked what was wrong with it...
It's legs were completely buckled underneath it and it could hardly walk...
All caused by too much protein.

Once they are adults (over 1 year old) you can feed whatever you like, different brands work differently for each dog, one may love it and it makes their coat shiny and keeps them healthy whereas another may have problems with it.

[Rott25]

As promissied here are some photos of Rocky, he still spends most of the time being lazy but I'm very impressed by how quickly he learns.

When outside he sits on the deck but when he needs to go to the bathroom he always walks to the backyard and goes there, he goes alone, no need to take him (at night we take him there every 3h).





Here's him being lazy :)

[Rott25]

I have one question, when should I start with obedience training (basic things like sit, stay, come when calling his name etc)?

What about leash training, now he's still too small and even the backyard is too much for him..

If photos don't work in my last post:

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[Catsmine]

Working on name recognition -- last month

All the time you play with him, get him used to voice commands while he's already doing the activity. Then he'll already know what they mean.

Use the No. 1 picture as a web avatar -- too cute

[Just Dahlia]

An avatar is the picture with your name :)

[shazamataz]

He is so cute Rott25!

It's a little early to start specific training yet but he should be already be learning to come when called!

We start lead training from around 10 weeks but that is only because we have show dogs and they have to learn to behave by 12 weeks of age!
It is really up to you and the pup, never make training sessions too long or he will see them as a sort of "punishment" and really won't be interested in learning...