9 week old puppy - when should I reduce feeds but increase portions? ?

Question

I have a lab cross pup approx 9 weeks old. She is on 4 smallish meals a day (pedigree puppy dried complete food) at roughly 7.30am, midday, 5pm and 8pm. I am trying to cut a meal out to get her down to 3 meals a day and eventually 2 meals when she is older, like our other dogs.

Is this too soon at 9 weeks to drop a meal? I would increae the other meals accordingly so she still has as much food. Also I tried reducing the 8pm feed but she seemed ravenous still. Would I be better going with a bigger breakfast and getting her to last till say 4pm, missing the lunchtime feed out?

I have had a young puppy before, but that was 3 years ago and it sort of happened naturally getting down to to 2 meals a day, I forgot what I did !! Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

About 12-16 weeks you can drop one meal.  My dog is a year old this week (happy birthday Homer) and he's still on 3 meals a day. He eats at 6 am, then about noon or 1 pm then at 7 pm.   I feel that it keeps their blood sugar level.  If you work then you can get her on a twice a day schedule at about 6 months or so.  Congrats on the new addition.

Answer 2

At 9 weeks old, she should continue to eat at least 3 meals a day. Around 5-6 month of age, I'd reduce it to 2 meals a day. All pets should be eating at least twice a day, it keeps their metabolism up and reduces the chance of excess bile forming (sometimes causing them to have a acid stomach and cause them to vomit). I'd feed her @ 7:30, again around noon, then at 5 and then offer a small meal before bed so as not to allow her to go too long on a empty stomach. I'd feed her about 3/4-1cup each time (more or less depending on what she weighs) and about 1/2 cup at bedtime. She is a growing pup and needs food, no need to be feeding "smallish" meals.  

Answer 3

combine the 5 and 8 oclock feeding togethern at around 630ish with the amount of 2 feedings in it. then when it gets to be around 9 months thatc is when you cut it down to 2 meals a day

Answer 4

we cut our puppies meals down to 3 when she turned 12 weeks. she used to get fed at 7am, 12pm, 5pm and 11pm. now she gets fed at 7am, 12pm and 5pm

Answer 5

She should tell you when she's ready for a change of schedule. At 9 weeks she should have been with you for a week so far so I wouldn't cut down the meals straight away. With our puppy we gave him 3 meals from 8 weeks and then only recently (about 5 months old) he's started having 2 meals a day.

Answer 6

When puppies grow up I think they are kind of like babies and need to eat when they want.  I just left my dogs food bowl full until he was about five months then cut it back slowly.  Now he gets 1/3 cup food in the morning and 1/3 cup food at night.