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Dal Pals » Group Forum

How much food do I really need?

  
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Asterisk- Sparky

Peeing Machine		 
 
Barked: Wed May 31, '06 6:42pm PST 
I am a 9 month old male who weighs in at 62 pounds. Since coming to my new home, I am learning not inhale my food, but I never seem to be full. How many cups of dry dog food do I need at a time? My new mommy is feeding me twice a day, and is giving me a BIG 2 cup scoop full... Is that enough or should I be getting more or less?

She also changed my food cuz she said the chicken and rice formula made me STINK up the place. I don't know if I like the lamb and rice yet, the puppy version is a bit small, maybe they will buy me real dog food next time.

Help!

Trixie
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buckshot

spotted me- didn't you?		 
 
Barked: Sat Jun 3, '06 5:20am PST 
HEY THERE,
WHY NOT GIVE YOUR DOG A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT YOU NORMALLY FEED TO HIM AND THEN ALLOW HIM TO GET AN ECONOMY BRAND FROM A FEEDER AT WILL. IT'S LIKE THIS!
IF YOU ALLOWED A KID TO EAT ICE CREAM WHENEVER THEY WANTED TO ,THE ICE CREAM WOULD DISAPEAR QUICKLY. HOWEVER IF YOU GAVE THEM FREE ACCESS TO THE BRUSSEL SPROUTS, SPINACH, PEAS ETC. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE VEGETABLES DISAPPEARING. I GIVE MY DOGS FREE ACCESS TO AN ECONOMY BRAND BUT I ALSO SUPPLIMENT THEM WITH FISH, VENISON (DURING HUNTING SEASON) AND A LIQUID VITAMIN/MINERAL ONCE A WEEK.
SINCE DALMATIONS WERE BUILT (SO TO SPEAK) FOR LONG DISTANCE RUNNING IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO EXERCISE THE DOG DAILY. YOUR VET WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU IF THE DOG IS EATING TOO MUCH . LATER!! BUCK
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Rocky

Anything is- edible if you- try.		 
 
Barked: Sat Jun 3, '06 7:28pm PST 
As was previously mentioned, I think a lot depends on how much exercise you are getting, and whether your food is relatively nutrition-packed or has a lot of fillers in it. I would keep eating indefinitely, and have demonstrated this trait on occasions where I have been able to steal larger quantities of food... so Suzy keeps me on about 2.5 cups per day of my Rx food. I also get biscuits here and there and carrots for treats. I supplement this by eating dirt and assorted other items from the house and back yard. My vet says I am keeping a trim but good figure which is important at my age. You may need to reassess the amount of food you eat if your exercise varies... one bad winter I gained 8 pounds from lack of exercise and the vet promptly put me on a diet--ugh!
Good luck!
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Hannah- Abeline

I love crazy- Laura		 
 
Barked: Sat Jul 1, '06 9:52pm PST 
Check with your vet and see if it is time to go to grown up dog food. Puppy food has allot of fat in it and now maybe it is time for protein to keep Trixie full. My dali is 11 and is eating two cups AM and PM, but on a senior dog food, that has different nutritents for an older dog. Love and food is all they need! Laura
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Virginia- Tyler

I am a womna and- don't forget it		 
 
Barked: Wed Jul 5, '06 10:57am PST 
Both of my Dals have appetites like horses. Granted they are both very active, but I have had to read, get advice, and use trail and error over the years to get thier diets under wraps. About 3 years ago I switched to food called "Canine Cavier" . From the same place I get this dry food, I also get a soft food. Both are made from buffalo, yams, carrots, etc...all natural. In the mornings both get oatmeal, w/ half a banana, honey, plain yougert, and a cup of food. Dinner is 2 cups of food with some soft food mixed in. This seems to do the trick. Their coats are shiny, and they do not have their sneaky tendencies around food anymore. Never try to feed your Dal what you think would fill you up. YOu will end up with a 100lbs Dal that can barely run around. If anyone is interested in the food I mentioned.....it from The Natural Pet Pantry in Buriend , WA ( google it) . The ladies that started it speacilize in Dals diets. They had issues with thier Dals allergies, etc...Great place and they ship.
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Maggie

Hello. Lick.		 
 
Barked: Fri Dec 1, '06 10:46am PST 
My vet was very proud of my parents and me the last time we visited him because I had managed to lose about 5 pounds and gotten down to my ideal weight of 55 pounds. I am very active, and my parents try to take me for walks as often as possible, especially when the weather is yucky and I am stuck inside instead of spending the day in the yard chasing squirrels while mom and dad are at work.

To help with your question, I get fed with dry dog food twice a day, and I get one scoop, which is a little less than 2 cups, each time. Sometimes I get a few bites of their dinner mixed in with my food, but they give me a little bit less dog food when I do.
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CH Sydney CD- RN CGC

Ch Erin N- Shamrock's S- Hemisphere CD- CGC		 
 
Barked: Tue Dec 5, '06 5:19pm PST 
Typical Dalmatians ALWAYS act like they are never fed! If I fed Sydney till she thought she was "full", she would weigh 200 lbs!

Sydney is an active 8 yr old Dal and she gets 1/2 to 1 cup dry Canidae kibble in the AM and a raw meal including a chicken thigh in the PM. She also "works" for her food as I train her for competitions actively, so she will get kibble or cut up natural balance dog food roll as rewards.

Be careful and monitor your dog's weight, Dals will gain weight very quickly and easily and it is hard to get them back in shape after the fact!
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Magnolia,- ONYX, RN,- RL1, CGC

Star-Studded- Dalmatian		 
 
Barked: Thu Apr 26, '07 4:18pm PST 
Here's a good chart for you! (All food is measured in pounds, so you'll have to convert to cups)

2.0% body weight for WEIGHT LOSS
2.5% body weight for weight MAINTENANCE
3.0% body weight for slight weight gain
3.5% body weight for significant weight gain
4.0% body weight for puppies that are 8 weeks - 1 year
4.5 - 8.0% body weight for puppies that are 4 weeks - 8 weeks old

You should also tell your mom that typically it's best to split your meals between breakfast and dinner! And that free-range feeding can really make you gain too much weight. If your mom sticks to this chart and finds that you're loosing too much weight on the weight maintenance program, then maybe she can up your food a little bit -- if you're really active then you'll burn all your food up quicker.

The Dalmatian Club of America recommends 3-5 cups/day. But an overweight Dalmatian is an unhappy Dal! You wanna look kinda lean and your mom should be able to feel your ribs easily without being able to see them.
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Louie and- Laika

Ain't no- mountian too- high for them!		 
 
Barked: Sun Jul 8, '07 10:15am PST 
Here is a good article on how much food to feed your dog..

Dog Food Information

Good luck!
Brooke smile
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Diesel

"Love me!"		 
 
Barked: Sun Nov 4, '07 5:14pm PST 
Just a comment on quality vs quality of food. i was rescued recently and was eating 6 cups of "poor quality" food at my old home. In my new home, I'm eating 2.5 cups of good food and I am doing just fine, I am getting more exercise, gaining muscle and not losing weight! Just something to think about for those who don't want to feed higher quality food because it "cost more"...
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