If you’re a new owner of a Leonberger puppy, you may be wondering how much they should eat to ensure proper growth and development. After all, they are a giant breed! So, how much should a Leonberger puppy eat?
Your Leonberger puppy should be offered four meals a day at eight to twelve weeks of age. You should reduce to three meals once the dog is three to six months old. After that, you should feed your puppy two bowls daily until it reaches one year old.
However, keep in mind to be generous with the quantity of the bowl. It is also best to understand the nutritional requirements of your Leonberger puppy. If you want to do that, worry no more. Here is a comprehensive guide that will help you know your dog’s feeding habits and much more.
What Should A Leonberger Puppy Eat?
The top thing that your Leonberger puppy requires in its diet is dry and raw foods. You can mix a grain-free item with canned water, broth, and more. This will provide the puppy with adequate nutrition for optimal growth.
Besides that, your puppy may also love eating fruits, cottage cheese, vegetables, and cooked eggs. However, these are human foods, so you should keep the quantity less than 10% of the daily amount. Your Leonberger should eat high-quality puppy food until they reach adult age.
Additionally, be sure to keep your puppy hydrated at all times by providing fresh drinking water a few times a day. Meat is one of the top things you should add to your Leonberger’s diet by feeding raw pieces or puppy food made of meat.
How Much Should A Leonberger Puppy Eat?
The first thing to remember is that the quantity of food depends on various factors such as age, exercise levels, weight, and much more of the puppy.
Active dogs require more food than others because of the high energy compensation needs.
At age two to three months, Leonberger’s require 800g to 1.2kg every day. This quantity should be spread across four meals throughout the day. Keep in mind that this amount is for puppies of 10kg.
Meanwhile, you should feed 1.2kg to 1.8kg of food to puppies of the same age but fifteen kilograms in weight. Besides that, dogs of three to six months should be provided with 600g to 1.2kg over three meals. This range is for puppies between the weight of ten to fifteen kilograms.
Aside from that, six to twelve months old puppies require 400g to 900g each day, spread between two meals. This is for the weight range of ten to fifteen kilograms.
Lastly, puppies in one year and above need 150g to 300g. You can give the dog the whole amount in one meal or spread it in two small servings.
Why Do Leonberger Puppies Need High-Quality Protein And Fat In Their Diet?
A Leonberger puppy requires 22% of the protein in its daily diet for optimal growth. This nutrient is essential for the dog’s growth as it is a constituent of amino acids. Lean chicken, brown rice, and turkey are various foods that offer high-quality protein to Leonberger puppies.
The primary reason your dog requires protein is that it enhances the growth of muscles, joints, and tissues. This nutrient improves the strength of your puppy to prevent easy future injuries. Additionally, a lack of protein can lead to various health issues.
Meanwhile, fat content in the diet should be 9% or less but not above. Your puppy receives omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids through this nutrient. These two components are essential for the healthy skin coat of the dog. It also prevents issues such as dandruff.
Besides that, fat also provides the adequate amount of energy the puppy needs to carry out various physical activities.
You should note that this nutrient has a higher calorific value than carbohydrates. That is why we advise you to incorporate these two nutrients into your puppy’s diet.
Should I Feed My Leonberger Puppy Treats?
Most puppy treats are not harmful to any pet or breed because they allow you to keep your dog happy. However, it would be best if you kept some guidelines in mind. For instance, do not give your Leonberger treats unless it’s six months old or above.
The key reason to keep age in mind is that puppies’ teeth below six months are still in development. That is why it is not advisable until the process is complete. Otherwise, your dog may suffer from pain, and its teeth development can also face hindrances.
Providing your puppy treats will allow you to reward them at times for good behavior. However, you should also maintain a limit. As long as you provide your dog with a balanced diet, there is no specific need to give treats. Of course, there is no harm in rewarding your canine from time to time.
When Should I Feed My Leonberger Puppy?
There is no steadfast rule for the ideal times your Leonberger puppy should eat their meals.
The critical thing to remember is to spread the total quantity of food in equal amounts across the different meals. This is to maintain consistency and provide your puppy with the energy it requires.
Besides that, you must ensure that the diet is balanced with the proper nutrients in the correct percentages. For instance, never feed your dog more than 22% protein and 9% fat. This is high amount can also lead to various health issues.
Many experts recommend feeding your puppy its first meal during the morning, around 7 am. The next food bowl should be provided near noon.
Lastly, the final meal is to be given around 5 pm so that the puppy has enough time to digest it before sleeping.
The earlier schedule is a rough outline, and you do not necessarily have to follow it. As we said, the time does not matter much as long you provide a balanced diet.
However, be sure to feed the last meal some hours before your dog’s resting time to ensure proper digestion.
Is It Fine For My Leonberger To Skip One Meal Every Day?
One of the key things to remember as a dog owner is that puppies do not have to be tied to a schedule. It is usual for your Leonberger to skip a meal from time to time. However, you should pay attention to its eating habits carefully.
Firstly, skipping one meal every day is not a big deal if your puppy consumes food at other times. That is why you shouldn’t promptly call a vet when your Leonberger skips a meal.
“The only time you should be alarmed is when the puppy has not eaten anything for two days or more.“
There are many reasons that your Leonberger may be skipping one meal every day.
It may be because the dog’s energy needs are not high, so it may not be hungry to have food. This is something that allows puppies to build their immune systems.
However, keep in mind that you should not intentionally make your puppy fast if it is less than one year old. Y
“Young dogs have high energy needs, and require regular nutrition for their development.“
Apart from that, you should also balance the total nutrient requirement over the other meals. It is not recommended to double the quantity of one bowl to compensate for the other.
Instead, you should increase the amount by 1.5 times or less in a meal to make up for the skipped one.
What Are The Signs Of Hunger With Leonberger Puppies?
Many signs can indicate that your Leonberger is not being fed well.
The top indication is the visibility of the ribcage. If you can observe the body part, it means your dog is not getting the proper nutrients. This may cause it to be hungry more frequently.
Another sign to remember is when you miss feeding your Leonberger a meal.
In such a case, it is most likely that your puppy will be pretty hungry and will be quite irritable and agitated. Thus, you should provide some extra food and keep in mind the times you have fed to avoid overfeeding.
The third sign that your Leonberger puppy is hungry is when it is lethargic throughout the day.
What Are The Signs Of Overfeeding?
Overfeeding can be an issue for Leonberger puppies in many cases.
Luckily, you can understand it by using some signs. The primary indication of overfeeding is that you don’t feel your puppy’s ribcage. Typically, it should be defined but not visible to you. So you should be able to feel it through the hand.
Besides that, your puppy must have a bit of waist and figure, such as an hourglass. In the pet world, this is called a body condition score. Your regular vet can help you determine this and tell you if your dog is being overfed.
The last sign to determine overfeeding is by checking your puppy’s bowel movement. If it is normal during the morning, but soft during other times, it means you are overfeeding the Leonberger.
This is one of the top ways to determine whether or not you are feeding your puppy correctly.
Be Aware That Quantity Of Food Can Lead To Health Problems
As a dog owner, one of the top things to keep in mind is not overfeed or underfeed your puppy. This is because the quantity of food directly impacts your pet’s health. The typical rule of thumb is that your puppy must not be thin or overweight.
Losing weight can cause your dog to suffer significantly as it will not be able to fulfill its energy requirements properly. Similarly, high weight can also lead to health issues such as heart disease. Besides that, your puppy may also suffer from digestive problems because of an imbalanced diet.
The top way to avoid underfeeding is by maintaining the proper schedule and not skipping meals. Meanwhile, you can prevent overfeeding by giving your puppy food after or before strenuous activities.
What Are The Best Foods For My Leonberger Pup’s Diet?
Leonberger is a large breed of dog that is susceptible to various diseases throughout its life. This is why you must maintain an excellent diet to strengthen your pup’s immune system. Following are some best foods you should feed your Leonberger.
The Wellness Core Large Breed is specifically for dog breeds such as Leonberger. It is grain-free and does not hinder the digestion of the puppy. Besides that, it contains lean meat and other nutrients for optimal health.
Another excellent food is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wet Food Can. It is made with chicken and grill to offer a protein-rich meal. Additionally, it does not contain wheat to ease your puppy’s digestion.
Eukanuba Puppy Food is one of the best choices for your Leonberger pet. This is because it does not contain any filler nutrients. Moreover, the food is made of lamb and rice. These are nutrient-rich components that enable a balanced diet.
When To Consult With Your Veterinarian Regarding Your Puppy’s Diet?
The best time to consult your vet for your Leonberger puppy’s diet is before selecting a suitable schedule and food product.
Once you have the pet, you should take it to the physician for a health checkup. During the appointment, you must also consult the vet about the right food products for your puppy.
Many dog food brands are on the market, but not all of them provide the necessary nutrients. That is why it is essential to always consult the vet before using a product. This will allow you to maintain your pup’s health.
Final thoughts
This is everything you need to know about how much should a Leonberger puppy eat. You must keep all this information in mind when selecting your pet’s diet. It will allow you to choose the suitable food product and schedule for your dog without any issues.
Besides that, the top tip to remember is to stick to the exact quantity for every meal unless your dog has skipped food. Additionally, consult your vet from time to time to ensure your Leonberger has optimal health.
Lastly, never provide your dog with higher percentages of nutrients than the suggested amount.
