Bringing home a new puppy can be very exciting but you may have a few questions leading up to the big day. 

 

How to choose the right puppy food:

The main thing to pay attention to when choosing a food for your new puppy is to ensure it is formulated for growth. Growing puppies and adult dogs have different nutrient requirements, so you don’t want to be feeding an adult dog food  to a puppy. Alternatively, you can also choose a food that is formulated for all life stages.
Next you can consider what type of breed your new puppy is and how large your pup may grow to be. If you are bringing home a large breed puppy, you can find a puppy food specifically formulated for large breed puppies. 
Last but not least, always ensure you are checking out the company's credentials; who's creating the food, how are they testing it, etc.

 

How to transition from one pet food to another:

Feeding the same food your pup was initially eating is a good idea, as a quick change in food may cause digestive upset. With the potential stress of going to a new home, it’s a great idea to continue feeding this food for a few days before slowly transitioning to whichever puppy food you desire. A slow transition over 7 days is helpful to adjust your puppy to their new food and avoid any food aversion and stomach upset. Incorporating 25%, 50%, 75% and then 100% of their new food over a 7 day period is ideal. 

 

How often should I feed my new puppy?

Puppies should be fed 3-4 times per day when they are first brought home, up until they are 6 months or older, then they can be fed twice daily. All dogs should have access to fresh, clean water at all times.

 

When can I switch from puppy to adult dog food?

This depends on when your pup is done growing, and will differ depending on the breed. Small breeds are usually done growing by the time they are 1 year old. Medium breeds are fully grown when they are 12-15 months old. Large and giant breeds are fully grown when they are 18-24 months old. 

 

What are some toxic plants and foods to avoid for my new puppy?

Some house plants and everyday foods you have in your home (and backyard) can be toxic to your new puppy. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with these before bringing them home to ensure your pup is out of harm's way. 

A few toxic plants:

• Lilies
• Aloe vera
• Ivy
• Daffodils
• Foxglove
• Tulips
• And more

A few toxic foods: 

• Chocolate
• Macadamia nuts
• Grapes (and raisins)
• Onion
• Garlic
• Alcohol 
• Xylitol (sweetener present in some peanut butters)

What are the best training treats for puppies?

It's a good idea to stock up on a few different treats to train your new pup with. Having different flavours and varieties is great to keep your puppies attention. Using low calorie treats and even your puppies’ pet food is good to ensure your puppy isn’t getting a huge excess of calories, since training is a huge part of a puppies’ daily life!  Check out HOPE’s different treat flavours, including low calorie soft treats and crunchy biscuits.