How
Much To Feed Your Pup As It Grows:
We like to
raise our litters on full feed until a few weeks before you get it.
For the last two weeks we scatter food in the yard or kennel and
make the litter find their food as we say over and over again "Dead
Bird" "Dead Bird" "Find the Bird" "Hunt Dead" in a low tone. We have
found that not only does this help all of the pups learn a basic
command of a good bird dog but we can see which pup in the litter if
any is significantly more aggressive on task than the others. It has
been our experience that these dogs will turn out to be harder
charging and more determined in the field. In fact these are
the dogs that unless placed in the correct hands can turn out to
become "too much dog for the handler" So when you get your pup
it will appear to be ravenous beyond what you might expect.
This means that
you will need to feed him up slow. Give him a cup of food
every few hours rather than letting him eat all he wants or will
eat. If you give him too much food his stools will become
loose and it will make his socialization into your pack even more
difficult. It could take a couple of days to get things
regulated. You will know you are feeding him too much if his
stools are loose and you will know if you are not feeding him enough
if his stools are constricted. Very simply you need to keep
food in his digestive system for the correct length of time.
As he grows monitor his stools to make certain you are giving him
what he needs to grow at a natural rate. What you are looking
for are stools that are slightly loose on the very tip.
Your ultimate
goal is to help him get through his first six months of life and
never gain too much weight. At no time is a dog heavier on
their feet and bones than at this age. And to top it off their
bones are growing and are very pliable. This is why we do not
recommend puppy food. We remember when there was not such
thing and don't feel that large breeds are served well by growing
too fast. Puppy food is designed to promote growth.
German Shorthaired Pointers are slow maturing dogs. Let nature
take its natural course your dog will not be fully muscled until it
is 3 years old.