Golden Retriever Rescue Article
What Should I Feed My New Golden Retriever?
As all puppies do, your Golden Retriever will nurse for probably the first six or seven weeks of his life. Most breeders will start introducing some form of dog food at around three weeks of age, which will be mixed with warm water and blended together to form a paste. The purpose is to mimic the texture of their mothers milk, so that the puppies are more willing to try it, and to make the transition from milk to solids easier on both the puppies and the breeder.
When you decide to add a Golden Retriever into your family, make certain that you check with the breeder to find out what type of food the puppy is used to eating. If you change the type of food, he may refuse to eat it, or worse, it could cause digestive problems, which could ultimately be detrimental to his health.
Dont be surprised if your Golden doesnt show much interest in food for the first few days, as he may be experiencing homesickness, and missing his mother and siblings. Your puppy was taken away from the home and family that he knew, so you will have to give him some time to adjust to the new faces and new surroundings. Dont be overly concerned if this does happen, as once he gets used to his new home, he should start eating regularly again. If you think there may be a problem, or that his lack of eating could be harming his health, dont hesitate to take him to the vet, just to be on the safe side.
When you wake up in the mornings, make certain that you always take your Golden outside for a few minutes, so that he can get used to the idea, which will aid in the housetraining process. When you come back inside, you should offer fresh food and water. Try to get your Golden into a routine, feeding at about the same time of day everyday, going outside around the same time, as this will help him adjust better. Much like with trying to potty train children, once you develop a routine, you have to stick with it.
Always allow enough time before you go to bed to feed your puppy, and then take him outside for a while. This can help eliminate nighttime accidents, and again, get him used to the routine. It is also a good idea to put out some puppy pads or newspapers, just in case your Golden does have a nighttime accident. This will make it much easier to clean up in the morning.
Most breeders and vets suggest that you keep mixing your Goldens food with water, at least until he starts finishing his meals. You dont want to overfeed him, but you do want him to eat all of his food, which will provide the nourishment that he needs.
Your Golden likely has his own personality, and he may be a slow eater, or he may gobble up everything in one bite. Whatever his habits are, you shouldnt try to alter them. If he is a slow eater, then make certain that you give him plenty of time to finish his food. You will need to make adjustments to your own life, rather than trying to change his. Once your puppy grows and develops, he will start eating more food at each meal, which will allow you more free time again. Once this starts to happen, you probably wont need to water down his food anymore.
Follow the advice of your vet and your breeder, and if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call them. Your vet will help you determine how much food your Golden needs, and how often he needs it.
