Your puppy is a PUPPY... not an adult dog. If choosing a biscuit type feed, ensure that it is for puppies. They will need a puppy version for at least the first year. If it is an "All Life Stages" biscuit that means it meets the dietary requirements for puppies too. Feeding your puppy an “adult” dog food predisposes them to growing/muscle/tendon/bone issues. It is also important that you feed a biscuit designed for LARGE breed puppies. This will have the correct calcium ratios to ensure a slow and steady growth.

Any changes to diet need to be done gradually or will cause stomach upset.
Diarrhea in young puppies can be a killer. Be sure they are getting enough water so that they do not get dehydrated. Ring your vet if there have been multiple diarrhea poops.
Puppies will eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. It is your responsibility to ensure that what you are putting into them is nutritious and balanced.
Avoid "people food" when they are a puppy.
If you start having problems with them soiling their crate at night, try reducing the evening meal in size (adding that quantity to their morning meal or giving it to them at lunch) or giving their evening meal a bit earlier (no earlier than 3pm).
Eating grass is normal and sometimes signifies nothing more than the enjoyment of eating grass!
Eating extremely fast is also normal. There is no need to try to slow your puppy down unless it is routinely choking on its food. If feeding biscuits, try feeding them in water like a soup. It will not only increase your puppy’s water intake but it will also slow down their eating.

Remember the Skylit Puppy Families group on Facebook can be a wealth of information. Feel free to ask what other litter mates are eating and how they are doing.

Monitoring Weight

A chunky, roly-poly puppy that waddles across the floor is very cute but a trim puppy is actually FAR healthier!

A puppy being overweight during puppyhood greatly increases the risks of ligament issues, hip dysplasia and other concerns once they reach adulthood.

Your puppy should be straight down the sides when viewed from above. If they are pulling/tucking in behind the rib cage (when seen from above), it is time to increase their portions. If they are expanding out beyond the rib cage and it’s time for their next meal, it's time to pay more attention to the quantity of treats and snacks they may be getting.

Training Treats

Remember to take into account how many training treats you are giving your puppy throughout the day and to include that as part of their daily meal quantity. If they've had quite a few one day, perhaps cut back a bit of their dinner meal.

Some recommended training treats include:

K9 Natural treats
Ziwi Peak food (don’t buy their treats! The food is the exact same product and cheaper per kg)
Orijen treats
Possyum
Very tiny pieces of cheese
Tiny pieces of cooked chicken
A few blueberries are quick training treats too -- just don't overdo it or they can end up with diarrhea

Even some high quality biscuits can be used as training treats at home. When at puppy class you may need a "higher value" treat to get your puppy's attention. Possyum is one of the best in those situations. You can buy a 2kg roll in your grocery store, cut into rounds and then cut those rounds up into small pieces, place in snack size bags, and freeze. When you are heading to class just grab a bag out of the freezer.

The Knuckle Test

Your puppy will be growing for at least 2 years. You can use the "Knuckle Test" to determine if you need to increase their food (ie they are getting a bit thin) or decrease their food (they are getting a few too many treats and it's starting to show!)

Body Condition Score Too Heavy Too Skinny Just Right Knuckle Test.jpg