How much should I be feeding my puppy?

HeatherNicole

I am a first time EBT owner and I have a beautiful 6 mo female named thibodaux. She weighs 30 lbs and is pretty lanky. I've heard different things about how much to feed a Bullie pup. Some say follow instructions on the bad for dry food. Others say to feed them as much as they will eat. Up until now I have fed her the recommended amount. She eats one cup of canyon creek ranch puppy food twice a day. However, my sister has a scottish terrier and if he doesn't finish his food she obsessively runs over and gobbles it up. She doesn't have any ribs showing and is starting to show muscle definition but I am wondering if I should be feeding her more. I am worries to let her eat without restraint because she is so good driven that she will eat until she vomits. Suggestions? Thanks!

BulliesofNC

At her age it is natural to be lean and lanky but with muscular definition. 30 pounds at 6 months isn't abnormal for a female Bull Terrier puppy. The Sire and Dam of your puppy may not have been real big either which can play a natural part of her height and weight proportions.

I do recommend that you change her diet to one more appropriate for the Bull Terrier breed. Canyon Creek Ranch food is a mid level (3 star) food high in rice and grain. The grain is something many Bull Terriers don't do well on. This food is also low in Protein and Fat. I encourage you to put her on a grain free diet that contains higher amounts of protein.

Please review your current food:
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/canyon-creek-ranch-dog-food/


Now Review these:
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/blue-buffalo-dog-food-wilderness-dry/
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/victor-grain-free/
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/taste-of-the-wild-dog-food-dry/

Additionally, I feel you should be providing your 6 month old puppy with 2 cups of food per serving vice one. You may also wish to add a couple spoonfuls of canned food of the same brand into the dry food.

Here's a link to more information on recommended foods and supplements:
http://bulliesofnc.com/bull-terrier-nutrition

HeatherNicole

Yikes! I'm gonna go to the pet store tomorrow and buy Blue Buffalo to start to transition her. So I should feed her 2 cups twice a day? It's hard having such a unique breed that needs special care with no support. I have never even seen another bull terrier in person. I'm so glad that I found this website. Fortunately, I have experience training another stubborn breed (scottish terrier) so training her has not been too overwhelming. I'm convinced that she is the most beautiful gal in the world and I love her to pieces and want to make sure I am doing everything I can to help her thrive. Thanks for your advice!

HeatherNicole

She and her Scottie brother.

BulliesofNC

Thibodaux looks great. I think you'll find many good articles on this forum which will provide good information on the breed. Feel free to post anytime with any questions or concerns and we welcome new photos and updates of Thibodaux.

Xtracho

Welcome to the Forum Heather and Thibodaux! She's beautiful. And yes, this is the go-to place for info, advice, and help with bullies. We are also blessed a female bullie named Maya. She just turned 5 months. We are fixing to transition her to one of the Blue Wilderness products for her kibble and mix that with a healthy portion of Darwin's Pet Products raw diet. She also gets her supplements and a squirt (or two) of Grizzly Oil once a day.

philsergeant

Thibodaux is wonderfully pretty, you can see from her face she is going to be an absolute treasure.... she looks somewhat like our Isabella, attached, who is also 6 months last week and weighs 45lbs.... She eats about 3 cups of food, twice a day... 1/3 TOWT, 1/4 Boiled Chicken breast, 1/4 Raw duck/chicken/beef, 1/6 Merrick's Puppy Plate canned.

HeatherNicole

Ah Isabella is gorgeous! I've been thinking about supplementing her dry food with chicken a few times a week and eventually daily. She sheds horribly and her toenails seem very dry. Perhaps some fish oil would help? Thanks for sharing! This is the baby as i write this post. Such a cuddler. If
You are sitting she is on top of you hehe.

philsergeant

Yeah! You can see she's special.... she's lanky, she'll fill out nicely... Grizzly Oil is a must...for the shedding too. it's all about diet.... with Bullies you have to find the diet that they like and that likes them,.... sometimes takes time!  There's lots on this site about nutrition.. lots to read.
Is she getting a good workout every day?

BulliesofNC

A 6 month old BT shouldn't be shedding at all. If she's losing hair it's from her current diet. Phil is right about the diet. You will see a huge improvement once her diet is changed.

HeatherNicole

I take her to a park a few blocks away everyday for an hour or hour and a half. There are always at least 5 dogs there and she runs around and plays the whole time. It's nice because she sleeps better and is calmer at night

bigbear

I never knew puppys shouldnt shread fur sophie does but very little.

Blackr6

Mine 12 week female sheds a little. I notice it when I wear a black shirt.....she's currently on wild buffalo puppy food.

BulliesofNC

Losing a couple loose hairs is one thing, shedding a lot of hair is another.

HeatherNicole

She's been eating 2 cups twice a day for the past week of half her old food and half blue buffalo for the past week just adjusting to the new food and I swear she is already filling out! She looks so good! Thanks for all the support and advice.

BulliesofNC

That's great news! A much better diet for a gorgeous Bullie that deserves it!

philsergeant

She is so so beautiful ...careful no one steals her.... It happens... And I would,...
Weigh her every couple of days at the same time to see how the bulking out is going

HeatherNicole

That's exactly what the breeder told me, Phil. I live on one of the busiest streets in a big city so she doesn't have a yard, but she sure as heck doesn't get tied up outside of
Places while I run in. She'd get snatched so quick! I get stopped by at least 5 people
On every walk wanting to talk about her and pet her. It's made her very social!

[Deleted User]

Yea I live in the New York City and you definitely can't leave an expensive dog outside while you go in a store etc , sad but true

SpudsKaiser

Blue buffalo is a good food to feed them its what i feed me hey Heather are you Cajun by any chance or from Louisiana cause the name Thibodeaux is a Louisiana Cajun name down here lol

HeatherNicole

I am 3/4 Cajun French 1/4 canary islander,, born and raised in St. Bernard parish, Louisiana my moms first language was Cajun French and none if my great grandparents spoke English. To answer your question- I VERY Cajun haha. So is thibodaux I want to get a male and name him Boudreaux when she's 5 or so.

SpudsKaiser

thats cool im born and raised I Acadia parsh  but now live in lake charles La

Beth1708

Hello everyone. I'm so happy to join this group. I have  a beautiful 10-week old male named Barney, and I need some advice from seasoned  BT owners. My first question is about how much I should be feeding him. He's been on Nutri Source chicken puppy food since being weaned, and he loves it. However, he seems ravenous all the time. We've had him less than a week. He's eating about a half a cup, three times a day. He's constantly checking out his bowl to see if there's more food, and when he does have kibble in the bowl, he acts like he's starving. Am I starving my beautiful boy?

philsergeant

Most welcome to the Forum.... Yes. Is the short answer. 1 1/2 cups of kibble alone (I don't know whether Nutri-Source is good or bad, I am sure others will pipe up),,... but even of a good kibble... is not enough nutrition for a whole day.   Hopefully he gets a lot of exercise and there are tons and tons of threads here that talk about the best diets and amounts for growing EBT's. Rather than repeating it all here, I suggest you look under nutrition and tell us what you find or still need.
Here's a link to more information on recommended foods and supplements:
http://bulliesofnc.com/bull-terrier-nutrition
We are really anxious to hear how it all works out and to follow Barney's progress.  Let's have some pics of the beautiful boy... we absolutely know that you have a Bullie when you choose those the words that only an EBT owner can relate to!

exiled

Yay!  Some fellow Louisianans on the forum.  I had no idea, but then again, I'm just getting on the forum.  We're in the city, life-long uptowner New Orleans.

Beth1708

Beth1708

Thank you so much for the advice. I'm looking around the site for advice on how much to feed him. We have an appointment with the vet on Tuesday, but I'd rather hear solid advice from seasoned owners. I'll post pictures of my little guy as soon as my phone finishes uploading to the computer. I'm so happy to have found this site! I've wanted an EBT since I was a little girl, and I'm just delighted to finally have one. He's a bit of a handful so far, but I'm up for the challenge. He's sweet and spirited.

philsergeant

If he wasn't a handful he wouldn't be a Bullie!... But a beauty like that you'll end up killing for, believe me... Love the ears!!!!

Stoges_mom

That little love bug is a doll!

Beth1708

Thank you! I love him!

exiled

Oh my goodness, he is GORGEOUS!  Look at him on the sofa, what a snuggly little guy. 

exiled

Philsergeant, how do you get Isabella so white.  Her fur is amazing! 

BulliesofNC

I want so badly to see a photo of Isabella rolling around outside in the mud or dirt. I don't think she ever get's any dirt or grime under her finger nails. Come on Phil, send us a photo like this one. )

philsergeant

Actually I have one... From when she was 9 weeks... Since then she's been too much of a princess.... No, she really gets muddy sometimes ... I'll snap a pic next time.... ( who are those wolves?)

Stoeger

@Beth1708 you've gotta feed you pup more, he's gotta have all the food he can get to grow into those ears!!!

On a serious note, I think he's bulli-ful

What is his name?

Welcome to the forum <):)

BulliesofNC

@Phil - That's a Bullie named Tank beating up on Kolohe when she was younger.

Leslie

Try again Phil!!!!! That's not dirty!!!

Beth1708

Thanks to everyone who has given advice and welcomed me. I've upped his food considerably, and he's even more glossy and beautiful. He looks a bit like a pygmy goat from above.  His name is Barney, and he's a delightful puppy -- very spirited, curious, and clearly smart!

Stoeger

I love that name, it might just be perfect for that little guy!

BulliesofNC

Barney is as cute as can be. I want to see more photos of him!

Beth1708

Here's a close-up of Barney that my daughter took on her i-phone. I'm an English teacher, and this is my crazy season, but all I can do is kiss his little face!

philsergeant

You daughter has great talent! That's a special shot, she should become a photographer.  Barney has a very precious face. The "experts" here at the forum wish to assure you that you will not destroy it with all those kisses... (as much as you are trying) 
)

Beth1708

He has a face made for kissing!

Stoeger

Aww, look at that little Bullie-Face!