Rottweilers are common dog breeds that many people prefer. These make excellent guard dogs, while also being lovable pets for the entire family. One of the first things that people tend to note that Rottweilers would be their size. For this reason, people generally think that Rottweilers need to eat a lot of food. But how much should a rottweiler puppy eat?
Rottweilers are relatively slow growers. Some of these dogs take up to two years before they reach their full adult size. During the initial 12 months, a Rottweiler will grow in height mostly. Muscle and weight are gained during the next year.
So It’s important to figure out how much to feed your rottweiler. Additionally, you also need to educate yourself on how often the puppy should be fed. In this post, we address these common concerns. We will also consider how you can know when you are feeding your Rottweiler puppy too much or too little food.
Table of Contents
How Much Should A Rottweiler Puppy Eat?
When looking at how much a Rottweiler puppy should eat, it is important to consider their age. This is one of the most crucial factors that are involved in the process. The specific amount of food depends on how old the Rottweiler is. At an earlier age, the Rottweiler puppy will generally eat much less compared to the time they reach adulthood.
The age of the puppy is not the only factor that is taken into consideration. You should ensure you have a dog scale that can be used when you adopt a Rottweiler puppy. The weight of the puppy also plays a role in helping you determine the most appropriate amount of food to feed them each day.
Another factor to consider is the appetite changes that a Rottweiler puppy is likely to go through. There are times when a Rottweiler puppy will experience a reduction in their appetite. Following a growth spurt, however, appetite is generally much higher compared to other times.
There are some general guidelines that you can follow when feeding a Rottweiler puppy. These, however, are not set in stone. You need to monitor your puppy while they grow up. This will allow you to adjust the diet as needed.
Even when following the recommendations for a Rottweiler puppy, there may be times where you need to reduce or increase their food intake. This helps you avoid overfeeding or underfeeding your Rottweiler.
When using dry kibble, many people tend to prefer to use the fixed cups measurement method. This reduces the time needed to prepare a meal for a Rottweiler puppy, while still providing an adequate amount that will help them grow up without problems like overfeeding or underfeeding.
The general recommendations when using dry kibble as a food for a Rottweiler puppy is as follow:
Puppies between three and 10 pounds in body weight should be fed between ¾ cup and one ¾ cup of dry kibble.
Puppies that weigh between 10 and 20 pounds should be fed between 1 ¾ cup and three cups of dry kibble food.
Rottweiler puppies between 20 and 40 pounds need more food. They generally require between three cups and five ¼ cups of dry kibble per day.
A Rottweiler that weighs between 40 and 60 pounds should be fed from 5 ¼ cup up to seven cups of dry kibbles every day.
As the Rottweiler grows and reaches a weight between 60 and 80 pounds, food consumption increases. At this weight range, between seven and 8 2/3 cups of dry kibble should be provided each day.
Thus, to determine how much should a Rottweiler puppy eats, it is important to consider several factors. This includes the weight of the Rottweiler, their age, and the type of food you feed them.
(Find out what to do if your rottweiler puppy is growling and biting.)
How Often Should You Feed A Rottweiler Puppy?
It is not only important to know how much a Rottweiler puppy should eat. You also need to understand how often you should be feeding your dog.
Again, this is a topic that may need some customizing. Not all Rottweiler puppies are the same. Thus, the frequency of feeding that works for one puppy may not be as great for another puppy.
Before a puppy reaches the age of four months, it is generally advised to feed them three times each day. These puppies will not be able to consume all of their daily food requirements in a single meal. By separating the food into three meals, you can ensure your Rottweiler puppy eats enough food to ensure they grow up healthy and strong.
There is another important benefit when feeding your Rottweiler puppy three times each day. And that’s that it will help to keep their appetite satisfied throughout the day. The result is a lower risk of your puppy scavenging for things on the ground.
Once the puppy reaches the age of 16 weeks, you can start to reduce the frequency at which they are fed. By 16 weeks, you can stop feeding them three times a day. Instead, consider reducing the frequency to only two times per day. The puppy should be able to eat enough food by this time so that their daily supply can be divided into just two servings.
It is important to continue feeding your Rottweiler puppy twice daily, at least until they reach the age of 16 months. At this time, you can decide to reduce the frequency to only once per day. Many people do still choose to feed their Rottweiler twice daily – even after they reach 16 months of age.
Again, be sure to take a look at how your Rottweiler puppy responds to the frequency. If you find that they cannot finish a bowl of food when you feed them twice each day, then you should consider increasing the frequency to three times per day.
(Find out how to crate train a rottweiler puppy.)
How To Know If You’re Feeding A Rottweiler Puppy Too Much?
Recognizing the signs of overfeeding in Rottweiler people is very important. Recent studies show that there is an increasing concern about obesity in dogs. Obesity in dogs causes a reduced qualify of life. The excess fat is also likely to reduce the dog’s lifespan. A Rottweiler puppy who eats too much may also suffer from other potentially long-term side effects.
The most obvious sign that you are feeding your puppy too much is a significant increase in their weight. Consider what weight would be considered normal for their age. If you find that they are over this weight, then you may be feeding your puppy too much food.
In such a case, consider reducing the amount of food you give your Rottweiler puppy each day.
(Are you sure you’re feeding your rottweiler puppy the right food?)
How To Know If You’re Not Feeding Them Enough?
Underfeeding a Rottweiler puppy can be just as harmful as overfeeding. You deprive your Rottweiler puppy of the essential nutrients their body needs to grow. This can lead to several complications in the long run.
A Rottweiler should have a bulky body. If you notice that your Rottweiler puppy is too slim, compared to other Rottweiler puppies, then you may be underfeeding them.
Also, look out for signs like your Rottweiler puppy constantly scavenging the floor for anything they can find to eat. Your Rottweiler puppy may enter the trash and other areas to find something to eat. This is due to their appetite, not being satisfied by insufficient feeding.
If you find that you are not feeding the dog enough, increase the daily food provisioning appropriately – without overfeeding them.
FAQ
Here are some answers to your most frequently asked questions about feeding a Rottweiler puppy!
What Should I Feed My 8 Week Old Rottweiler Puppy?
At 8 weeks old you should be able to begin feeding puppy food to your Rottweiler. They should be completely weaned off their mother’s milk at this point. However, even at 8 weeks old their tummies are small and sensitive so make sure you’re dividing their meals up. Three meals a day is often recommended.
As well as this, if you’re swapping your Rotties food, make sure you’re doing it gradually and not all at once. Otherwise, you’ll upset their stomach.
Can You Feed A Rottweiler Puppy Raw Meat?
Rottweiler puppies are able to eat raw meat, however, you shouldn’t feed it to them. The main reason being that raw meat alone isn’t going to be able to provide your growing pup with all the nutrients they need. As well as this bacteria that cause food poisoning can also linger in their mouths, and then be passed on to you and your family.
WhenShould You Stop Feeding Your Rottweiler Puppy Food
It’s recommended that you should progress your puppy to adult food when they’re at about 90%+ of their adult size. However, if your Rottweiler isn’t there yet, or they’re still skinny when they’re adults, it may be recommended to keep them on puppy food for longer. Although you should definitely take them to a vet to make sure nothing is wrong.
Do Rottweilers Have Sensitive Stomachs?
Unfortunately, Rottweilers are known to have sensitive stomachs and can suffer from a couple of ailments. IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) is the most common and if your Rottweiler has it you may notice they’ll suffer from the same symptoms skin allergies cause.
Can You Feed Your Rottweiler Puppy 2 Times A Day?
At about 6 months old you can begin feeding your rottie pup two times a day. However, before this, they’ll need to be fed more frequently as their stomachs are still tiny. At four months old your puppy should be fed about 3 times a day, and any younger than this they may even need to be fed four times a day.
Is Milk Good For Rottweiler Puppies?
In small doses, there’s nothing wrong with giving your rottie pup milk! A few tablespoons of cow or goat milk can be the perfect reward for them when they’ve been good. However, it definitely shouldn’t be a staple part of their diet.
Interested In Training Your Rottweiler The Right Way?
If you haven’t trained your Rottweiler properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your Rottweiler completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior, or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here, to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
Recap
Rottweilers can take up to two years before they reach their full size. During this time, there is generally a need to constantly change the amount of food they are provided with.
Asking how much a Rottweiler puppy should eat is important. This helps you understand exactly how much food to offer at specific ages. You should also be able to recognize signs of both underfeeding and overfeeding, as both of these can cause long-term complications.
