Diet and exercise: how to ensure your puppy grows into a fit and healthy dog
There are so many things you’ll learn about your new puppy when you bring him home, not the least of which will be his diet. And what you choose to feed him will depend on both of you, but bear in mind that a growing puppy needs more calories, minerals, protein and vitamins than grown up dogs.

There are so many commercial pet foods out there these days, and the price and quality varies hugely. So that you can make the best and right choice for your puppy, it will help if you have an understanding of the composition of the foods available.

What’s on the menu for your puppy?
Chicken, liver, soy, rice, corn and oil. These are the raw materials that go into your puppy’s food. But it’s the quality of the ingredients that determines the digestibility and nutritional value of the diet you choose.

These ingredients provide the essential nutrients for your puppy: protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals. But it’s important that these nutrients are in the correct proportions. Unsurprisingly, some pet foods have incorrect and unsuitable proportions of these nutrients, and poor quality, hard-to-digest ingredients.

There’s such a vast number of different foods to choose from today, you might have difficulty knowing what’s best for your puppy; it’s almost certainly a good idea to ask your vet for advice before you decide.

How do you feed your puppy?
Sounds like a silly question, doesn’t it? Far from it. As a matter of fact, there are several ways to feed dogs.

First, you need to decide whether you want to feed dried or canned food, or a mixture of both. Dry foods are generally more economical, especially for larger breeds of dogs. But both canned and dried foods can be nutritionally complete and balanced. Ask your vet for his advice or recommendation.

Complete? Or complementary?
The label on the food you choose will tell you whether it is complete or complementary. A complete food provides all the goodness your puppy needs and can be fed on its own with water to drink. Complementary food must be mixed with another type of food to provide your puppy with a balanced diet. Just for the record, most puppy foods are complete.

Watching your puppy’s weight
Did you know that an obese pet is defined as being 15% or more over its ideal weight? That translates into a mere 330 grams for a tiny dog like a Chihuahua, but over 7.5 kilograms for a Rottweiler. Many owners simply don’t realise how fat their pets have become because fat is laid down slowly. And they rarely visit their vet to get help with their pet’s weight problem.

Your puppy requires more food while he’s growing than he will when he’s fully fledged adult, but never feed on demand. Begin with three to four meals a day at set times. Food should be left for about 15 minutes then removed, whatever is left over. And when you start a new food, dish out the amount recommended for your size of pet on the can or bag.

For those breeds that tend to become obese, start with the least amount, or better still, ask your vet’s advice. Remember, the feeding guide is just that; only a guide. Your puppy is an individual and should be treated accordingly. A simple obesity check you can make is to feel gently over your pet’s ribcage to assess the fat under the skin; you should be able to feel the ribs with your fingers. If he’s overweight you will find it more difficult to feel his ribs. However, if you have any concerns about your pet’s weight, make an appointment with your vet. He may offer a free weight check for the first year of your puppy’s life. It’s generally accepted that you should take your puppy for a weight check once a month; the result should be plotted on a special puppy growth curve.

A word about picky eating
Almost without exception, puppies that become picky eaters have been overindulged by their owners. Aside from the odd dog treat, your puppy should only be fed food specially made for him. Don’t get into the habit of feeding him scraps from the table; you’re in danger of turning him into a fussy eater.

Exercise: essential for your puppy and good for you
When your puppy has had his course of vaccinations, you’ll be keen to get him out and about, and exercise is vital. Not only does it help develop physical fitness, it’s also mentally stimulating, and provides social contact. Click here to find out more about socialisation.

Before setting out, decide on a suitable lead; maybe an extendable one until you’re sure your puppy won’t run off, or a harness if he pulls a lot.

Then you’ll have to do a bit of homework to find out which parks and gardens allow dogs off the lead. Large country parks and fields can be great for dogs, but check they can let off the lead, and watch out for livestock. And don’t forget the poop scoop.

Please don’t overdo it
Daily exercise will develop your puppy’s muscle strength and stamina but don’t overdo things. Short, frequent walks are the order of the day. Although you may be tempted to roam the great outdoors with your new companion, remember he’s still only a baby, and growing all the time. So try not to save all the “walkies” for long treks and weekends; they will overtire your puppy and can lead to bone and joint problems.

It cannot be overemphasised how important it is to control the rate and frequency of exercise. If you’re at all unsure how much exercise is too much for your puppy, please ask your vet for advice and guidance.