My puppy is always hungry and chewing. Is her food type wrong?

Puppies do tend to have large appetites because they are growing so quickly. I'd first make sure you are feeding her a puppy formulated food. Puppies need higher amounts of calories, protein, and calcium than adult dogs, and a puppy formulated food would provide that for Bonnie. I would recommend feeding her a high quality puppy formulated food, such as Royal Canin or Hills Science diet. Finally, I recommend feeding according to the package instructions on the food to make sure she is getting the correct amount, and avoid giving her human food, as there are many that are poisonous to a dog.

First, I would make sure that Chip is eating a puppy formulated food. Puppies require higher amounts of protein, calcium, and calories than adult dogs to support their growth, and a puppy formulated food would give him that. I would feed him a high quality puppy formulated food, such as Royal Canin or Hills Science diet, and I would feed according to the instructions on the package. As for biting, it is important to stop him from biting and learn that is not appropriate to bite you. When he bites you, do tell him no, but then distract him with a chew toy. Praise him when he starts chewing on that instead, and he will learn that the toy is ok to chew on and not you. You can also try yelping loudly as if you are hurt when he bites you, and that should startle him into stopping. Once he stops, praise him and give him a treat. You can also try time outs. When Chip bites you, yelp loudly, and then remove your hand. Ignore him for 10-20 seconds, and once that time passes, start playing with him again. If he tries to bite you again during the 10-20 seconds, move away, and continue to ignore him. Once the time is over, then you can play with him again. This will teach him that when he plays gently, play continues, and once he bites, play stops.

Darby may be going through a puppy phase where she is exploring boundaries. She could also be going through another growth spurt that can increase hunger. Make sure that you check her weight often (you can use a bathroom scale) and update her feeding amount based on the feeding recommendations on the dog food label. When she bites you, try to redirect her attention to appropriate toys. If you have a lot of toys available, she may be bored with them. You can place half of them in a cabinet and rotate them every week so she thinks they are new toys. You can also look for puzzle toys that you can put dog food or treats in, then she has to use her brain to figure out how to get the food out.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would continue to feed her the small breed puppy food at the recommended amount on the bag. Puppy food is calorie-dense, so as to meet the energy needs of high-energy puppies. You can try breaking the amount into smaller, more frequent meals (ie three or four times a day) so she feels like she is getting to eat more. I would not over-feed her for fear of early onset obesity, which can lead to significant health issues later in life. You can also supplement her diet with healthy treats during the day such as carrots or green beans. After she is spayed, her energy requirements will decrease and she will need to be fed less food so she doesn't become overweight. I hope this is helpful!

For puppies, I recommend feeding three times daily. Make sure you are feeding enough food as well. The food you are using should tell you how much to feed him. The biting is behavioral and is a common behavior in puppies. I would recommend using a small spray bottle and every time he bites you, spritz him in the face to deter him from biting. Using puppy pads, with patience and persistence, he will learn to go to the bathroom outside. Gradually move the puppy pad closer and closer to the door that leads to the outside until eventually, the puppy pad is outside for him to use. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Do you think her body weight is appropriate? If she is underweight, she can eat more. If she is normal, you may consider putting her food in treat or puzzle toys so that it takes her longer to eat. She may also be looking for attention. Help her get in more play time or do obedience training to give her mind something to do. If she still seems really hungry, you can try feeding a weight loss food at higher amounts - they usually have more fiber so that it fills the dog up without adding extra calories.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chicago. Puppies start teething around 4 months of age and this continues until they are about 7-8 months of age. So a lot of his chewing is most likely related to teething. You will need to keep things picked up and only allow him access to safe toys. The urge to chew should decrease over the next few months. I hope this information helps!