How to Help My New Puppy Eat

Getting a new puppy to eat properly isn't always easy, but with a little self-discipline and training, you can get him to stick to an eating schedule, which will ensure your puppy's good health. Remember to adjust the puppy's food to ensure chewing ease, to stick to consistent feeding times, and to monitor your puppy's eating habits.

Things You'll Need

  • Puppy
  • Puppy food
  • Boiling water
  • Feeding dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ask your breeder or veterinarian what type of food your new puppy has been eating before you take him home. Most puppies are taken home around 10 weeks and have been weaned off of their mothers' milk for a few weeks.

    • 2

      Add just enough boiling water to dry puppy food to cover it and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. This will create an easier-to-chew mush for your new puppy. Gradually decrease the amount of water each day until your puppy can eat the hard kibble.

    • 3

      Create three set times to feed your puppy each day until it is three months old when the midday meal can be eliminated. Once the puppy is about seven months old, you can decrease the feeding to once per day.

    • 4

      Place the food in the puppy's kennel/cage/eating area at the set meal time and leave the puppy alone with the food for 15 minutes.

    • 5

      Provide lots of affection and praise to the puppy if he has eaten his food. If the puppy has not eaten the food, take the food away without praise or punishment. Do not provide extra meals or treats until the next scheduled meal time when you feed him the normal amount of food.

    • 6

      Train your puppy to stick to a feeding schedule by following this pattern until your puppy eats every time. A healthy puppy will not allow himself to starve. If your puppy does not eat for two days straight, however, take him to the veterinarian because this could be a sign of illness.