Instructions
Feed your English mastiff puppies a large-breed puppy food for the first 12 months of their lives. Regular adult dog foods are formulated to meet the needs of adult dogs and do not meet the energy requirements of growing puppies.
Provide a quality dog food. Read the ingredients -- avoid foods that have high concentrations of grains within the first five to 10 ingredients. Look for a statement from the American Association of Feed Control Officials that proclaims the food nutritionally sound and complete.
Give your English mastiff puppies several small meals a day. Do not allow your puppies to free feed -- you cannot gauge whether the dogs are eating and how much they are eating. Feed puppies up to 4 months of age three to four times a day. Feed puppies aged 4 to 12 months two to three times a day. Feed puppies 12 months and older two times a day, at the minimum.
Supply your English mastiff puppies the proper amount of food. The proper food depends on the individual puppy, its overall health, weight and activity level. Mastiff puppies need between 4 and 12 cups of food.
Monitor your English mastiff puppies during feeding time. Place your hand by the bowl if the puppies seem to eat too quickly. Gulping down food can contribute to a serious health problem, called gastric dilation-volvulus, or GVD. GVD is a particular concern for large breed dogs.
Supply your puppies with access to plenty of fresh, clean water at all times. English mastiffs are prone to heat exhaustion, a potentially deadly ailment. Adult mastiffs can consume three gallons or more per day during hot weather. Plan accordingly.
How to Feed English Mastiff Puppies
English mastiffs have a long, colorful history dating back to as early as 3000 BC. Cesear commended the dogs for their brave nature. They were a favored breed of English peasants for keeping predators away. English mastiffs are calm and dignified -- traits readily apparent even as a puppy. Because English mastiffs are large breed dogs -- up to 30 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 250 pounds, they have slightly different feeding requirements as puppies than other dog types.