[CaseysGSD]

So confusing! For feeding RAW it seems like everyone (websites) has a diffrent idea to how much a puppy should be fed. Here are the diffrent ones I have found just this morning....

puppy RAW guidelines
1. 4-5% of current body weight
2. 10% of current body weight
3. 3% of estimated adult weight
4. 5% of estimated adult weight

So I know that doesn't sound like a huge diffrence but here is the diffrence it would make in feeding a now 40lb female pup (mine) who I would guess will be around 70lbs...

1. 1.6lbs per day
2. 4lbs per day
3. 2.1lbs per day
4. 3.5lbs per day

That's a 2 and a half pound swing! What does everyone else follow with thier pups??

 

[DJEtzel]

I did months of research before we switched Frag (when he was a puppy) to raw.

Generally, what I read and followed, was that you would feed as an adult about 2% of their weight, if they were healthy and you liked their weight. A little less (1 or 1.5%) if they needed to lose some or a little more (2.5-3%) if they needed to gain some.

For growing puppies, I read and agree to feed 3-4% of their estimated adult weight. We fed Frag 3% of his estimated weight (100lbs) which was 3lbs a day and he did well on it. Here is the website that follows this percentage chart that I used to calculate how much to feed him;

Totally Raw Natural Dog Food Meal Calculator

Good luck!

 

[Deuce]

My vet advised against it so i'm no help, LOL.

 

[DJEtzel]

My vet advised against it so i'm no help, LOL.

I haven't met a vet yet that advised it.

I know they exist, just none I've met.

 

[onyx'girl]

My vet is for raw feeding if the research is done by the owner.
I would feed the 3% of the projected adult weight(80# male 65# female) average so about 1.5 -2# a day, and up when needed during growth spurts/reduce when pup feels rolypoly. Otherwise you'd be adjusting constantly due to pups changing weights if you went by puppy percentages.
I've fed two pups raw and the 3% worked just fine for me.
Once they are structurally grown at about a yr then you can go by the dogs metabolism, activity level(about 2-3%). I like to see a rib or two on my dogs.

 

[lhczth]

I don't normally answer these threads since I do not weigh food. If my pups are too thin they get a bit more. If they are getting a hair too fat they get less. IMO there is no percentage that will fit every puppy in every situation. The amounts given (the 2% of adult weight) are just a good starting point, but often need to be adjusted for the individual dog.

 

[lar07]

I don't normally answer these threads since I do not weigh food. If my pups are too thin they get a bit more. If they are getting a hair too fat they get less. IMO there is no percentage that will fit every puppy in every situation. The amounts given (the 2% of adult weight) are just a good starting point, but often need to be adjusted for the individual dog.

^this is exactly what I do...I eye ball the amount now and keep a good eye on their weight. For meals I want them to get a good work out, rule of thumb is to have the meal bigger than their head. So, a whole chicken for gorge night is a good example for a full grown GSD. Sometimes my dogs have a feast (like they would in the wild) and then they are fasted and might only have an egg the next day, for example. Once you get more comfortable and you see that your dog/pup is at a good weight, you start to just eye ball the amount and you get pretty good at it!

 

[CaseysGSD]

Thanks everyone for the great advice!