[Saffron]

Hi,
My 3 month old cocker spaniel (English) puppy, Phoenix, is about 4 kgs and we feed him 4 times a day. He eats 1 1/2 cups Pedigree puppy food and 1 cup minced beef/boiled chicken mixed in with a cup of rice and veg split into 4 meals. I worry he may not be eating enough because he gobbles his food and is always hungry. He also poops huge quantities which I don't particularly like esp when he has an accident at home. I don't feed my 9 year old pom/Lhasa mix any commercial food and she poops once a day when I walk her in the morning. If she's been getting treats then the poop is pretty impressive. On the other hand we don't want to stunt Phoenix's growth by feeding less than what is required for healthy growth. I'd appreciate suggestions. And is it time we moved to 3 meals a day?

[labman]

It is easy enough to assess any dog's body condition as illustrated in this link, http://www.puppychow.com/products/po...condition.aspx Depending on his body condition, you then adjust what you are feeding to reach the ideal condition specifically for your dog. No chart of weights can do this.

I see no good reason to be adding other materials to his chow. Modern dog chows are carefully formulated to provide the complete and balanced diet dogs need. It is difficult for a dog owner to match the careful balance when adding other things. Most dogs can be conditioned to eat the dry chow that is best for them. If yours refuses, check the ''My dog won't eat'' sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post254171

If your puppy is producing a large, soft stool that is hard to clean up, it must not be digesting some of what you are adding. If the Pedigree has a meat as its first ingredient, feeding it alone should produce a small, firm stool that is easier to clean up. All the dog guide and service dog schools use the concentrated, meat based chows because ease of clean up is very important if you are blind or in a wheel chair.

Phoenix is well past where he needed 4 meals a day. You could cut back to 2 now, and one after 6 months. And yes, puppies can want more than is good for them. Here is a picture of my Zeke a couple of hours before dinner time:

[Saffron]

Thank you labman. Phoenix is a wee bit over weight judging by the link you posted. The chow he eats has cereal as the first listed product followed by chicken, meat and powdered milk. He's stopped pooping on the dot after each meal and the result is an increasing number of poops at home. It is disheartening considering we live on the fourth floor! You see we got him very young, 40 days, and he took to housetraining very well. Now he's hitting 3 months and is going downhill. Since he has to complete all his shots I don't take him outside the garden so a nice walk which usually results in a poop is out of the question. Is there any way of anticipating a puppy's poop times?

[labman]

If their meal time and amounts of exercise are consistent, their times of bowel movements are more consistent. You can bring on a bowel movement by exercise. Even up to a year old, I don't think they can hold it very well when walking. If you want him to go before you leave, and don't want to take him out, try a good game of fetch. When he drops the ball and starts sniffing around, be ready.