[Blue_Nose_Bella]

Well Bella eats like a cat lol! She grazes and picks at her food. She is also only eating about 2 cups a day. I have her on Blue Buffalo grain free chicken. Is two cups enough for a 5 month old pup @ 37 lbs? I don't seem to think so but I have always had dogs that inhaled there food as soon as it hit the dish. Bella is my first female since I was a kid and she eats like a little lady Lately, I have been mixing about a tablespoon of BB canned and she loves that. However, it's been a rough winter here in Massachusetts so activity has been limited. Could she just not be working up an appetite due to lack of activity. We went for a couple of good walks this weekend and she had OB class saturday afternoon. Then yesterday we played out in the yard in 2 feet of snow and she had a ball finding her kong buried in it. Her appetite seemed to of been real good after all the activity. Any comments/advice would be great! Thanks all :roll:

 

[pitbullmamanatl]

Are you free feeding?

 

[pitbullmamanatl]

For a 37 pound medium size breed dog 2-2.5 cups is fine. Usually you feed 2-3% of their body weight once they hit 5-6 months old and you can adjust accordingly. Is there a serving size on the bag? As a rule, puppies eat 10% of their body weight until they are about 6 months old (small and medium breeds), then it cuts down to 2-3% of their body weight.

 

[Blue_Nose_Bella]

I give her a cup in the a.m. and a little over a cup at night. I'm not purposely free freeding its just if she only eats a few bites like she did this morning I leave it for her.

 

[pitbullmamanatl]

I give her a cup in the a.m. and a little over a cup at night. I'm not purposely free freeding its just if she only eats a few bites like she did this morning I leave it for her.

I used to free feed when I fed kibble and Kangol seemed like he never ate no matter what type of dog food I bought so I started feeding once a day at night. He has six minutes to eat and if he didn't eat I took it back up; however, now that I feed RAW he finishes in about 5 minutes and leaves nothing in the bowl so I don't have to worry about picking the bowl back up.

I also only feed once a day at night because it gives him time to work up an appetite and by the time evening comes around he is most definitely hungry thus if he does not eat I know something is wrong.

 

[aimee235]

Give her 10 min to eat it and then pick it up. She will learn the food is not available all the time and she needs to finish her meals.

 

[performanceknls]

YEs you need to teach her to eat when you offer food and dogs go through stages she may not need that much food right now. Offer her one cup in the am if she does not eat it then pick it up after 5 min. Then at night offer her that same bowl from earlier only that one cup. If she does not eat it in 5 min take it up and try again tomorrow. She may go a few days without eating but it will teach her to eat when you offer food and to eat all that you offer.The longest I had a dog hold out on not eating was a week but a 5 moth old I bet would only go a day or so before they catch on. Stop giving treats through out the day if you give any and I would just feed kibble. If you are adding things to the food to get her to eat you are creating a picky eater. Stick to your guns and she will follow the program. I get client dogs here all the time for several weeks at a time and I have never had a dog who would not go with the program. Dogs will not starve them selves they will eat when they get hungry but if they get to determine when to eat and how to eat you run into problems. If she is eating but leaving a small amount behind then she does not need that extra amount. If she is eating it all and you notice she is getting a little thin you can add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more to her feeding. Dogs should be a hungry when you offer food I think my dogs eat in under 1 min and 30 sec for some but they are in great shape. Now my house dogs are really fat but they are old and retired and I just switched them to a diet food since they pretty much has to roll outside to go potty. lol

 

[Blue_Nose_Bella]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will try the suggestions I may eventually switch her to a raw diet in the next couple weeks so we will see how that goes.