11 week boerboel pup feeding

[Dan]

Hi
I have an 11 week boerboel pup and a wondered how frequently others feed theirs?
I got him at 8 weeks (18lbs) and he was feeding 4 times a day.
At 11 weeks (33lbs) , he is developing nicely - but not very interested in eating more than twice daily.
If I offer 3 meals, he will get through them - but not enthusiastically - and usually leaving some.

Maybe it is because he hasn't been able to get out and about much yet (because of his vaccinations) ?

He will be able to come out on longer walks from next week.
He seems to like to sleep most of the day - and then have one or two frantic half hours running about making a fool of himself.
He has been fully checked out by the vet - who is very happy with his progress and health.

I am feeding him a good quality dry food - with minced beef mixed in - and an egg once a week.

Do you think it is worth reducing further the portions and keeping to 3 or 4 meals - or should I just accept that he seems to need only 2 meals at the moment?

Thanks in advance for any advice/comments.

 

[Tiger12490]

Hey go off him, he's telling you exactly how much he should eat he's eating so that's good but not jumping for joy on the 3rd hey seems like he wants to save you money let em..I'd stick to 2 a day

Tapd on my skyrocket

 

[Dan]

Hey go off him, he's telling you exactly how much he should eat he's eating so that's good but not jumping for joy on the 3rd hey seems like he wants to save you money let em..I'd stick to 2 a day

Tapd on my skyrocket

Thanks for the response.
I'm not so much concerned about how much to feed - rather with how often - if that makes sense.

I'm wondering whether I should reduce the portionsns to the extent that he takes 3 or 4 meals - rather than 2.

Is there any advantage to spreading it out?

Do you think it makes a diiference either way?

Thanks again

 

[ruthcatrin]

Reduce portions a bit and stick to 3 feedings. If you end up increasing his intake again, and likely you will, then you can up the number to 4 again if need be.

Pups generally need a large volume of food in relation to their stomach size, so its easier for them to get enough if they're getting multiple meals a day.

 

[Dan]

Reduce portions a bit and stick to 3 feedings. If you end up increasing his intake again, and likely you will, then you can up the number to 4 again if need be.

Pups generally need a large volume of food in relation to their stomach size, so its easier for them to get enough if they're getting multiple meals a day.

Thanks for that.

I'll give it a try

 

[Tiger12490]

There is for pups and I guess I didn't fully grasp the question.....I'd try to still spread it ...he'll let ya know what's best for him

Tapd on my skyrocket

 

[Dan]

There is for pups and I guess I didn't fully grasp the question.....I'd try to still spread it ...he'll let ya know what's best for him

Tapd on my skyrocket

Thanks

 

[DMikeM]

This is a Boerboel not an English Mastiff. Let him lean out a little 2 or 3 meals a day and don't let him turn into a tank while he is growing as it is hard on the joints. I have seen so many baby BBs overfed with joint and bone issues because the owner just thinks Mastiff, they must be big and eat huge amounts of food. Jade will eat just about anything I feed her until she can't move. So I limit her meal size and feed 2 times a day. She is just about 120/25 at 10 months and could actually drop 5 lbs and still be good. Boerboels are meant to be mobile and agile fluid moving guardian dogs. Have a look here.
[video=youtube_share;fwwrqaXkZTk]http://youtu.be/fwwrqaXkZTk[/video]

---------- Post added at 03:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:22 PM ----------

Oh and welcome SAB brother. Good to see another SAB owner in the group. (SAB = South African Boerboel. BB= Boerboel)

 

[DMikeM]

Oh and welcome SAB brother. Good to see another SAB owner in the group. (SAB = South African Boerboel. BB= Boerboel)

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the advice - and for taking the time to post the video.
I completely agree about not letting him get overweight.

I think what may have happened is that when I bought him from the breeder he had worms - and had to have two consecutive courses of different types of wormer (one generic and the second for giardia).
I think that maybe his appetite was artificially high initially because he wasn't able to properly digest what he was given?
He's fine now though.

I am going to reduce his portion size so that he takes 3 meals a day for now.
I'm also adding more minced beef into his dry food - so that the overall volume is reduced.
He seems to be growing nicely - very muscular and heavy boned - but not pot-bellied and you can still feel ribs easily and see the last rib.
I'm not sure he will ever be quite as agile as the dog in your video
- but I'm certainly not looking to create an EM type.
Thanks again

 

[DMikeM]

My 10 month old shows 1 rib and she moves real well she is very fluid and soes not plod around like some I have seen. Real happy with the breed so far. I add Diatomecious Earth to my dogs meals to kill off parasites and worms. You should look into it. Healthy and harmless.

 

[elasticpurejoy]

I would read more information before mixing the food types. I have read that it is not a good idea to mix the meat with kibble in the same feeding because they digest at different rates which can cause problems. http://www.barfworld.com/blog/?p=1263

When we got our BB at 8 weeks and we fed him 3 to 4 times per day with kibble that we received from the breeder. We shortly transitioned to all raw and fed him as much as he would consume 3 times / day and gained 3 to 5 lbs per week consistently . We are fortunate that he self regulates how much he eats. At 10 or 12 months old he was eating twice per day <br>
I have been looking into the pros and cons of feeding once per day with one day per week as a fast but not until he is over 3 years old. Suppose to give the digestive track a day of rest and let it clean itself of excess. Not convinced it is "THE" way to go but educating myself on the benefits.<br>
I do agree with Mike in regards to keeping him lean. Gus is now 15 months old and just weighed in at 143 lbs. He saw a different vet last week and she was very impressed with how lean and healthy he is. <br>


Gus is 11 weeks old (eating a turkey kneck) and 12 months in these photos (I think)<br>

 

[ruthcatrin]

Some dogs do fine with raw mixed with kibble some don't. If the pup's handling it fine I don't see any reason to change.

And there's no reason to fast for a day if you're feeding raw, its all moving through anyways. If your dog's getting constipated reduce the bone and considering adding some fattier cuts to the diet.

 

[DMikeM]

My dogs eat mostly RAW (about 1/3 of what Gus had in that pic per day) and I feed 2 times a day. A good sized meal in the morning and a lighter one around 6 or 7pm. And they have about a cup of kibble to nibble through the day. And they are actually pretty thick considering the amount they get.

 

[Dan]

My 10 month old shows 1 rib and she moves real well she is very fluid and soes not plod around like some I have seen. Real happy with the breed so far. I add Diatomecious Earth to my dogs meals to kill off parasites and worms. You should look into it. Healthy and harmless.

Thanks for the tip re. the "earth".
I haven't heard of it but I will google it.
It sounds a good idea if I can get hold of it.
Ronnie seems to want to lick and pick up everything on the ground that he can reach.
He either spits it out or gives it up - but I think the "earth" might be a worthwhile safeguard.
Cheers

 

[Smart_Family]

You can get DE on Amazon, in feed stores, garden stores etc. Just make sure it's the food grade and not the pool grade kind.

 

[Dan]

Thanks.
I think I'll move gradually to all raw and bones.
I have only recently moved to this area - and need to find a good butcher who can help.
I thought I'd keep a little of the dry food mixed in for now just because of the supposed benefits of the vitamins while he is still in such a high growth phase.

---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 AM ----------

Some dogs do fine with raw mixed with kibble some don't. If the pup's handling it fine I don't see any reason to change.

And there's no reason to fast for a day if you're feeding raw, its all moving through anyways. If your dog's getting constipated reduce the bone and considering adding some fattier cuts to the diet.

Ruth, I know this mayt seem a dumb question - but can his milk teeth actually handle bones yet do you think?
They certainly make a good job of eating my wife's slippers and my hand - but he hasn't actually managed to chew his way through to the bone yet

 

[Dan]

Some dogs do fine with raw mixed with kibble some don't. If the pup's handling it fine I don't see any reason to change.

And there's no reason to fast for a day if you're feeding raw, its all moving through anyways. If your dog's getting constipated reduce the bone and considering adding some fattier cuts to the diet.

Ruth, I know this mayt seem a dumb question - but can his milk teeth actually handle bones yet do you think?
They certainly make a good job of eating my wife's slippers and my hand - but he hasn't actually managed to chew his way through to the bone yet

---------- Post added at 11:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------

Wow! That was quick advice!
Thanks - I ve found it on amazon as you suggested.
Frankly I was sold on it as sson as I saw the claim that it "reduces odours"

 

[Dan]

Wow! That was quick advice!
Thanks - I ve found it on amazon as you suggested.
Frankly I was sold on it as sson as I saw the claim that it "reduces odours"

 

[Smart_Family]

We've used it with our dogs for almost two years now. We love it!