Hey guys so just a quick recent update Zeus is now 9 weeks & 4 days old. As far as obedience training he knows sit, shake with corresponding paw, stay, down, and easy (used when he's nipping at hands too hard). I weighed him today and he came out to be 14.2 lbs. I'm surprised he's growing so fast off of how little of food he gets daily (3/4 cup Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy). Is this an ok weight for him to be at even though I would like for him to follow the slow grow program? A lot of people have told me I need to feed him more, but I would like to make sure I can do everything in my power to make sure his hips develop as well as they possibly can.

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He gets only a total of 3/4 cups A DAY? That is not enough food to support a growing puppy. He needs more food than that for healthy growth of every single system in his body, brain, internal organs, muscles, bones, joints.

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Please take a look at this information on slow growth.

slowgrow

Target Weights: 12, 16 & 20 weeks
Age Weight
12 wks. 15-16 lbs.
16 wks. 22-23 lbs.
20 wks. 28-30 lbs.


It was actually posted on GRF previously.
http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...ght-chart.html (weight chart)

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"10 wks. 12 lbs.
The amount will vary with activity level, so it is impossible to recommend a precise amount; although it
will probably be approximately 1/2 cup (dry measure) per day, per pup in the beginning. (Not per meal!) This will
gradually increase to about 3/4’s cup per day, per pup by 8 weeks."


I saw that, but also saw that he is already 2.2 lbs overweight for his 10 wk. goal which he still has 3 days to grow which doesn't seem like much but he's growing rapidly. What would you recommend I feed him daily?

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Well...both my dogs got 3/4 cup three times a day...

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we fed Rose BB large breed formula. I did feed a little less than recommended on the bag. But we started her at 1 1/2 cups a day split in 3 meals. We slowly increased the morning and evening meals and by a couple weeks ago she went to two feedings a day. She is 6 months now and quite healthy, mostly muscle - we went thru all the lanky staged and she is finally filling in we a GR. She is 56 lbs now.
All dogs grow at different rates and in different stages. But in my view 3/4 cups a day is starving that poor cute little boy. Do you give treats or kibble while training at least?

Yes I do give treats, but the calories he gets from them are minimal. Each treat is 1/2 a calorie so he'll get no more than 50 calories a day from treats.

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I have read the Hovan slow growth plan, and I do not agree. Puppies grow incredibly fast and need nutrition--as mylissyk states, not just for bones, but for their their whole body. Puppies are growing brain cells, organs, as well as bone and muscle. It is imperative that they receive adequate nutrition to support this growth.

Moreover, genetics, more than any other factor, will determine how quickly your dog will grow, and what size he ends up being when he is mature. Genetics are going to determine whether your dog ends up with hip dysplasia. After all, HD is a genetic defect--which is why breeders do X-rays prior to breeding.

Blue Buffalo recommends 1.5 to 3 cups per day for a pup under three months that will be 50 to 100 pounds at maturity.

You are feeding half of the minimum recommended amount. I encourage you to increase Zeus' daily food to at least 1.5 cups per day. BB recommends feeding 3 times per day. That would be .5 cups per feeding.

Also, I would not worry so much about the growth chart. Does he appear overweight? Each puppy will grow at his own rate. Give him the nutrition he needs.

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Dave

I would add, as Claudia M states, you should increase his food as he grows. Puppies eat more than adult dogs.

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Dave

Wow, My pup get 3.5 to 4 cups of day of blue buffalo. He is 22.8lbs at 12 weeks. He eats large breed blue buffalo. He gest a 1.5 cup in am 1/2 to 3/4 cup for lunch and 1.50 cup at dinner. His dad was 95lbs mom was 65lbs. My pup is not fat at all he gets plenty of exercise and he eats every bit of his meals. That is what the bag recomended.