What to feed a spaniel puppy? Proper diet for a spaniel

In order for a Russian Hunting Spaniel puppy to grow up healthy and have a strong immune system, it needs to be fed properly from childhood.

Representatives of the breed are not suitable for a mixed diet. They can only be given a certain set of products or high-quality ready-made food.

In order not to harm the puppy, you should take into account other recommendations from veterinarians and experienced dog handlers regarding feeding spaniels.

A little about the breed

Before we move on to feeding the puppy, let's find out a description of the spaniel breed. What is a dog like?

There are three different breeds. These are the American Cocker Spaniel, the English Cocker Spaniel and the Russian Hunting Spaniel. They differ only in appearance. The physiology is the same for everyone.

Spaniels were originally bred as hunting dogs. Over time they turned into wonderful pets. But there are still hunting enthusiasts in the company of these charming dogs.

Spaniels mainly hunt forest birds and small animals. These are unusually dexterous and agile creatures. Fast, nimble - they all have time to run after prey, return to the owner, and bark at someone. And all this in a matter of minutes.

At home these dogs are completely different. Quiet, unnoticeable, real sofa cushions. Spaniels can be called aristocratic dogs. They have so much self-esteem and ability to control themselves. Affectionate, but at the same time unobtrusive. Spaniels love long walks; they enjoy running ahead of their owner, exposing their ears to the wind. It looks quite funny.

They get along well with every family member, be it a child or an elderly person. He will never refuse to play and frolic. Cocker spaniel puppies are playful and active, but they should not be allowed to jump on, for example, a chair. This can cause injury to your pet.

Water

In addition to a properly selected and balanced diet, the dog needs a sufficient amount of fluid, otherwise the risk of dehydration increases.

The main rules for watering a puppy:

keeping the bowl freely available;
cleanliness of the liquid;
regular water renewal;
compliance with the temperature regime – 20-25 degrees;
systematic cleaning of dishes.

Dog trainers recommend choosing bottled or filtered water for your puppy. It is better to refuse boiled, raw is strictly prohibited.

Types of dry food

Cocker spaniel puppies need a high-quality diet. Often these dogs are fed the cheapest dry food and are considered to be normal nutrition. And not only representatives of this breed. Many dogs are forced to eat economy class food. There is no benefit from them, rather harm.

Economy class feeds are among the cheapest and most accessible. This is where their advantages end. The composition includes corn, meat and bone meal, preservatives, flavor enhancers and dyes.

So, what to feed your Cocker Spaniel puppy? Certainly not economy class food. There is no meat in it at all, and corn is not the best diet for a dog.

Premium food is a little better than economy food: you can get meat. True, there is little of it, much more than corn and rice. But there are no flavor enhancers or dyes.

Super premium food. It can be given to a puppy. Because it contains 50% meat, vegetables, fruits, vitamins and minerals. When choosing food, focus on who it is designed for. In this particular case, you need food for small breed puppies.

And finally, holistic. The best dog food. 75% consists of meat or fish, the remaining 25% includes various herbs, vegetables, fruits, berries and minerals. Such food can significantly hit the wallet of puppy owners. But it is balanced and contains everything necessary for the healthy growth of a pet.

Vitamins and supplements for a Russian spaniel puppy

A rapidly growing puppy eating natural food needs special vitamins and supplements, otherwise his body will not receive enough of the necessary substances. The ready-made complex is recommended by a veterinarian after examination and clarification of health.

Mandatory components of supplements for puppies should be:

Vitamin A. Ensures the normal functioning of the digestive system. Prevents pathologies of the reproductive organs and lacrimation from the eyes.
Ascorbic acid. Maintains the normal immune system of the pet.
Vitamin D. Necessary for skeletal development, normal absorption of phosphorus and calcium.
Tocopherol. Promotes shine and health of the coat, necessary for normal muscle condition.

Natural food

Can a spaniel puppy eat meat? Not only is it possible, but it is also necessary. Boiled, cut into pieces. Paired with porridge or vegetables - a nice thing.

What diet should a puppy have? Meat, fish, dairy products, cereals, vegetables, fruits. From all of the above, it is not entirely clear in what quantities and proportions to give all this. Let us hasten to shed some light on the situation:

Beef or veal meat. Boiled without salt and spices.
Chicken or turkey. Boiled, without bones. Give chicken in small quantities; it can cause allergies in the baby.
Rabbit meat is ideal. It is non-greasy and easily digestible.
Vegetables are boiled or stewed without salt and spices.
Cereals: rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, barley. Boiled, but don’t get carried away with them.
Fruits: apples, kiwi, pears are not very sweet. One small piece at a time. Apples serve as a natural toothpaste for dogs.
Can a Spaniel puppy have milk? In small quantities and up to a certain age. Babies are given milk up to 2.5 months. Then they slowly switch to kefir. Cottage cheese, low-fat cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk are mandatory products in a puppy’s diet.

The benefits of natural food

We found out what to feed a spaniel puppy. Either feed or natural food. What are the benefits of "human" food?

The owner sees what he gives to his pet. Natural food is of higher quality.
It is cheaper than super-premium or holistic food.
A puppy needs 60 grams of meat per day. With age, the proportion increases to 300 grams.
If you strictly follow all the rules of feeding your dog, then your spaniel is unlikely to gain weight.
Food tastes better than feed. Probably because I didn’t have to try the last one.

Prohibited Products

A balanced menu means feeding your dog healthy foods while excluding prohibited foods.

The list includes:

raw cabbage;
millet cereal;
semi-finished products;
avocado;
spices, pickles, smoked, fatty foods;
bones of rabbits and chickens;
pork;
river fish and any types of raw fish;
mushrooms.

Onions and garlic are conditionally prohibited foods - they can be given occasionally. In addition, cold and hot food, as well as food prepared from expired ingredients, are harmful.

If you follow these rules, then raising a healthy, cheerful and active dog is very simple. Another important condition is sufficient attention to the pet.

Minuses

Can natural food have any disadvantages? It is of high quality, well prepared, and the owner selects the best products for the pet.

They can, no matter how it sounds. And it’s not about the quality of the products, but about a poorly balanced diet. No matter how hard you try, you cannot achieve the perfect balance. This is the advantage of expensive premium and holistic food over the best and highest quality natural products.

Choosing a place and dishes for the puppy

Before moving your pet to a new home, it is important to take care of choosing a place and dishes for the baby. The first must remain unchanged. It is necessary that the allocated space is not in a crowded place, far from drafts. Also, dark corners are completely unsuitable for spaniels.

The bed should be placed on a wooden stand, this will protect the animal from the cold. Experts advise using a sturdy basket or wooden box. You must first make sure that there are no sharp edges or burrs that could harm the puppy.

A mattress or bed, purchased in a store or made independently, is suitable as a bedding. It is important that the dog can comfortably lounge on the “bed” while remaining on the bedding. It is recommended to clean the sleeping area daily.

Bowls are also installed in one place. The owner chooses the room, but traditionally dogs are fed in the kitchen or in the hallway if the former is too cramped. For water, you need to buy heavy dishes that the puppy will not tip over while playing. It should also be easy to clean.

Spaniels love to carry everything they can pick up in their teeth, so for food you need to buy a massive bowl that the dog will not turn over and drag away.

Important! Old plates with damage and cracks are not suitable as feeding utensils. The sharp edges can injure the animal's tongue.

Spaniels are not particularly neat, so coasters and rugs for dishes are a necessity, not a luxury, when keeping this breed. Without them, leftover food will be scattered all over the floor.

Mixed nutrition

How to feed a spaniel puppy? Dry food puts too much of a strain on your wallet, and natural food is poorly balanced. So what should I do? Try combining “natural” and “drying”?

In no case. You cannot combine these two types of diet. The fact is that to process normal food, the stomach secretes only enzymes. But dry food requires completely different ones. And these enzymes are not compatible with each other.

Therefore, there will be no benefit from such feeding.

How many times a day should you feed your puppy?

Another troubling question that interests all newcomers. How many times should you feed your pet? Remember:

Puppies up to three months are fed 6 times a day, every three hours.
From three to four months they are transferred to 5 meals a day. The intervals between feedings are 3.5 hours.
From four months to six months, the baby should eat 4 times a day.
From six months of age to nine months, he is fed three meals a day.
And finally, at nine months they feed twice.

Some breeders recommend feeding an adult dog once a day. But the majority is of the opinion that the spaniel is fed twice a day: morning and evening.

A little about the delicacy

If we have figured out how to feed a spaniel puppy, then the problem of treats requires a separate discussion.

What can you offer a puppy if he sits on the stern? And as we have already said, you cannot combine natural food and dry food. How to reward your child for following commands?

There are several versions about this. One of them says that one feeding can be considered training. This means that we take a portion of food with us to class and feed it there.

Another option: put a few pieces of sausage, cheese or beef tripe in a bag of food. Shake well. The food will be saturated with the smell of goodies and will be considered a delicacy.

And the third option is the simplest. Cut tripe, cheese or boiled meat into small pieces. Now the delicacy is ready. We give it in small quantities; it will not cause any harm to the dog. Most owners do just that.

Briefly about care

The description of the spaniel breed is given above. How to care for her representative? Caring for a spaniel puppy is not as labor-intensive as it seems. Everything is already clear with the diet and diet. As for walks, you can walk with your baby after the second vaccination. It is usually done at 8-9 weeks. Before that, he goes to the toilet at home, for diapers.

Walk with the baby after each feeding. As people get older, they learn that their walks become shorter. And the dog is now taken outside twice a day. Before feeding.

Nail trimming is carried out once every three to four weeks. This procedure must be carried out by a veterinarian. If the owner does not have experience, it is better not to take risks. If you touch a vessel, it will cause pain to the animal. And the dog may develop a negative connection; he will be afraid of cutting his nails.

The spaniel's teeth are brushed once a month with a special toothpaste for dogs.

When the puppy eats, the ears often end up in the bowl. To prevent this from happening, spaniel owners recommend putting the ears back on the head, tying them with a ribbon or soft elastic band.

Outdoor games are a must for a spaniel. It has already been mentioned that these are very active dogs. An adult dog needs three hours a day for walks. For kids, 1-1.5 hours is enough. Buy a puller or a ball on a rope and play with your pet.

To avoid overfeeding, you need to closely monitor your pet. If the puppy has eaten his portion and continues to lick the bowl, he does not have enough food. If he approaches the bowl reluctantly and eats leisurely, reduce the portion. Does your baby seem skinny? Feel the ribs? They can be felt, but not visible? No puppy is skinny, that's all. If the ribs cannot be felt, then someone is eating too much. And if they stick out, then the food portions need to be increased.

What should you not feed English Cocker Spaniels?

Some foods that are not intended for a dog's stomach can cause body disorders and even death of the pet. Therefore, you need to make sure that you don’t get into the cocker’s mouth:

Corn, beans, pasta, potatoes, wheat bread. The cocker's stomach is unable to digest these foods; they contribute to indigestion.
Spices and seasonings, especially hot ones. Since a dog’s sense of smell is hundreds of times sharper than a human’s, what is a pleasant tang for the owner can cause a loss of smell in the pet.
Pork, fatty lamb, raw chicken.
Barley and millet porridge.

The dog should eat only healthy foods recommended by experts.

Your pet should not be fed very cold or very hot food; food should be at room temperature or slightly warmer (about 40 degrees). All fatty, spicy, smoked, sweet and salty foods are prohibited.

Strictly prohibited products

river and thermally untreated sea fish (leads to infection with worms);
seafood;
tubular bones and ribs (split into long sharp particles that can leave cuts in the gastrointestinal tract and lead to the death of the dog);
sugar, chocolates, pastries, cakes (reduce appetite and spoil digestion, destroy teeth, cause tearing);
sausages, sausages (severely damage the liver, the animal can die in adolescence);
broccoli or uncooked white cabbage;
spoiled and rotten foods (lead to indigestion).

Poor nutrition leads to undesirable consequences

Let's summarize

The main purpose of the article is to tell the reader what to feed a spaniel at 2 months, three months and older. How to care for it. What kind of diet does a dog need, and is it possible to combine natural feeding with feeding dry food?

Briefly about the main thing:

If the choice falls on dry food, then let it be super-premium or holistic food.
All recommendations for feeding natural food are given in the article above. The main products for a puppy are meat, vegetables, cereals, dairy products, fruits.
You can use “flavored” dry food as a treat (see the recipe above). Or you can use natural meat, cheese or offal.
A very small puppy requires 60 grams of meat per day. With age, the portion increases to 250-300 grams.