Hungry all the time!

[Frankie]

We have a 6 1/2 month old male pup, Gunner, who acts like a pig! He jumps up to the counter to get the cats food (after eating his in about 5 seconds) and every time you go in the kitchen he comes in sniffing for food - he has never been fed from the table or in the kitchen. Does anyone have any advice?

[mmgy]

Are you feeding him enough? Often enough?

M2

[Frankie]

We feed him just over 1 1/2 cups of Nutro Large Breed Puppy food twice daily. He also gets a few treats throughout the day. When he was neutered 10 days ago he weighed 44 lbs. The Vet is happy with his weight. You can feel his ribs but not visibly see them from a side view.

[mmgy]

Twice a day is good for his age, but it may be time to increase his food. I haven't had a large breed puppy in several years, but my 2 y/o brittanys (43 lbs. adults) were eating 4 to 4 1/2 cups at about that age. As long as the ribs are right, I would feed him up to 5 cups a day at this age, depending on activity. Increase it slow, maybe a 1/4 cup a day, and see if it helps cut down on his hunger.

M2

[AngelBunny]

Frankie:

Keep in mind that many Rotties are stomachs on legs masquerading as dogs. Chances are very good if you fed Gunner til he wasn't hungry, he'd be the size of a small foreign car. All my Rotties have HOOVERED down their food--then run around to check each other's bowls to be sure no one left a scrap.

Their voracious appetiates often lead naive owners into feeding their dogs way too much. Lean is much healthier for young Rotties.

Be happy Gunner likes his food because as soon as he's off his food, you know you have a serious problem.

[Roscoe's dad]

I agree with Angel Bunny. If you give them the chance they would be blimps on legs, dont let them fool you, they are getting enough to eat they just want more. They are little pig dogs at heart.:D

[Teena]

Yup, mine act like they've been starved for months. They can eat a meal and go sniffing around looking for somethingg else to eat.
Stomachs on legs.

[Harleysmom]

I have to agree with everyone here. Harley would eat until he burst. I have no doubts about that. A casual observer would think we starve him if they watched him eat. This obsession with food has been the hardest bad habit for me to break. Harley will hoover up anything left out. He has been known to gobble up loaves of bread at a time. Both my dogs think the cats food is the best too. If anyone has had success in breaking the counter surfing I'd love to hear how they have done it.

[Frankie]

Thank you everyone for your replies.