How to feed a Labrador retriever? How to properly feed a Labrador retriever

If a small dog appears in your house, then you will probably be interested in learning how to feed a new pet. This is what we are going to talk about today. Regardless of the planned maintenance of the Labrador: in an apartment or in a house with free access to the street, you need to think carefully about the diet and diet of the animal.

The first days of home and feeding

Certainly, that in the first days after a small lump appeared in your apartment, it must be fed with the food that he fed from the breeder. After a few days (or weeks), if you already have a desire, the dog can gradually be transferred to a diet acceptable to the new owner.

It should be noted that you need to prepare two bowls in advance: one for food, another for water. The latter must constantly be filled. Make sure that the water in the bowl is always clean and fresh. Eat a puppy for 15 minutes (no more). Labradorine feed, regardless of age, should be warm, about 32 degrees. If the baby does not eat well, indulges, then after this time, the food should be removed, no matter how much the dog ate. In no case do not try to persuade him, otherwise in adulthood you will also beg. Why exactly 15 minutes? During this period, the puppy will have time to eat food if desired, while he will not have time for pampering.

It is advisable to place the bowls on the supports, so that their incorrect placement does not lead to a curvature of the cervical vertebrae. The height should be adjusted depending on the growth of the puppy.

Number of feedings for dogs of different ages

How much to feed a Labrador retriever? The number of meals depends on the age. For example, in the first two months the baby needs very frequent meals, about 6 times a day. Six months will be enough for five feedings per day, and after 6 months the dog should be fed 4 times. After seven months and up to a year, three meals will be enough. After it is already possible to feed Labrador two times a day.

Errors in feeding a puppy and an adult dog

After the puppy has eaten, it is not necessary to brake it, in order to avoid a curl of the stomach. Labradors are very cunning dogs, they can manipulate their masters, begging for food, because they almost always want to eat. In the intervals between the feedings, it is not necessary to feed the pet, otherwise the "poor, miserable, hungry" dog will always be at your feet when you have lunch, have breakfast and have supper. It is better to send your pet to another room for the time of the meal, so that there is no temptation either to him or to you.

Now let's find out what to feed. Labrador - the dog is mobile, so it needs a varied and balanced diet. Given the fact that it is difficult to do at home, many experts recommend dry food.

Ready meals

What products are suitable Labrador? Of course, this category includes the best food for dogs premium or super premium. They should be selected according to the size and age of the animal. Do not save on food, using products of economy class. Such food can not provide the growing body with the necessary vitamins. In addition, the breed is often allergic. Think about it, because the subsequent treatment will cost more.

So what to choose for a Labrador retriever? What are the best dog food? The most acceptable products are companies such as Royal Canin, Hill's, Purina Pro Plan, etc. Manufacturers produce a large range of feeds for dogs of different age groups.

Firstly, pets can be given food for puppies, but you need to pay attention to the content of fats and proteins. It is very important. So it's better to choose and what to feed Labrador? 2 months is the age when you can give ready food, but the protein content in them should be small. After the puppy is six or more months old, you will need products for juniors or young growing animals. After a year, you need a regular feed (on each product, as a rule, the age category is indicated).

With excess weight, it is necessary to reduce the amount of food or switch to "light" products.

As already mentioned above, labradors often suffer from allergies to a product. In this case, it is worth giving feed to the trade marks "Royal Canin", "Hills", "Nutra Choyz". These manufacturers produce a line of hypoallergenic products with sea fish, lamb, rice.

If you decide to feed your Labrador with dry food, do not add natural products to your diet, this can disrupt the balance, resulting in liver or kidney disease.

Up to three months, it is desirable to slightly harden the food with warm water, gradually making it all dry. How much finished products to give a puppy, you can not say for sure - it all depends on the age and weight of the animal. This information is usually indicated on the package.

Natural products. What to feed?

Labrador is an animal fastidious. If you decide to feed the dog with natural food, then the food for it should be cooked separately. The basis of the puppy's diet, of course, are protein foods (eggs, meat and cottage cheese). First, babies are given chopped meat. In addition, for a full development will require porridge.

By making a diet of an adult dog, you need to observe the following ratio: for 1 kg of body weight, 15 grams of meat, 1-2 g of fat and 6 g of carbohydrates per day are necessary.

For puppies, the indicators are several times higher (two or three).

What kind of meat can Labrador? Of course, the best approach is low-fat beef. Pork can not be given, it adversely affects the liver. From six months, you can enter the internal organs (heart, kidneys, scar, etc.) into the diet.

What kind of milk products give the dog? Of course, this is cottage cheese. Milk is poorly digested, it is less nutritious, besides it sometimes weakens. Puppy is especially useful kefir and yogurt. These sour-milk products have a good effect on digestion.

Useful for puppies for up to seven months and calcined cottage cheese. It is prepared simply: put the milk on the fire, add a solution of calcium chloride (at a rate of 1 liter of liquid 2 tablespoons) before boiling, and after boiling remove from heat, stir and throw it on gauze. This is how the cottage cheese turns out.

Enough nutritional products are eggs, but in their pure form they are poorly digested. Raw yolk is best given in a mixture with porridge or dairy products. You can do in the form of an omelette. One egg is laid per week. In the period of bearing and feeding of babies, the female is given a larger amount, as well as the male during the mating season.

What kind of fish is better to give the dog breed Labrador? It is advisable to choose the sea. The dog can use it both in cooked and raw. River must be boiled. Remember that the carcass should be boneless. Labradors, especially those who need dietary nutrition, are useful in pollock, walleye, pike and hake. Species of fish containing trimethylamine oxide are prohibited for dogs.

Bones for Labradors are not particularly useful, they have no nutritional value, and chicken and are generally forbidden to give, as they can lead to big problems with the intestines. Sometimes an innocent tubular bone can cause the death of an animal. Therefore do not joke with the health of the pet.

What else can Labrador have for breakfast and dinner?

• Cereals are needed for the proper development of the puppy. You can give buckwheat, rice and oats. Occasionally you can cook millet porridge. When cooking, it is allowed to add vegetables. Note that pearl, corn, semolina and barley should not be given. You can boil soups and the dog, but do not add seasonings to the dish.
• Vegetables are useful to give in raw form, especially cabbage and carrots. You can cook stewed mixtures of these and other ingredients.
• Fruits and berries.
• Greenery (chopped).

What should I refuse if you want your pet to live longer ...

Do not feed the dog products with starch. These include beans, peas and potatoes. Why? Because animals do not have enzymes that break down starch.

Do not give the dog sweets, they disrupt digestion and spoil the appetite.

Mineral fertilizing

Carefully make a dog's diet before feeding. Labrador should receive a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins, which must be given along with natural food. If you give your pet a premium-class feed, then, as a rule, it does not need additional feeding. But it is also necessary to take into account other factors. For example, with intensive growth or heavy load on the joints, you can start adding puppy vitamins from three to four months. What mineral fertilizing is suitable for Labrador? These are preparations Glucosamine and Calcidee, as well as top dressing "Irishkal" (Holland), which has proved to be a good candidate among dog breeders.

A small conclusion

Dogs are amazing animals. They need to be taken care of and know how and what to feed. Labrador is no exception. We hope that our recommendations will help you grow a healthy dog. As you can see, the animal can be fed not only with natural food, but also with finished products. For dogs of Labrador breed, the most suitable option is the "Royal Canin" feed. It, as a rule, and choose the owners of this breed.