puppy food intake

I have not owned a great Pyrenees prior to the new pup, Violet, we have just purchased, but I am ready for the challenge. She is barely 8 weeks old. Owning her only a few days now, she has become very comfortable with our family. I have read on other websites of specific amounts of food to consume at her age (1/2 cups, three times daily). She will consume 3/4 to 1 cup per meal. My concern is that she is interested in eating more than the 1/2 cup per meal. I understand different breeds have different needs. I want her to receive the proper nutrition she needs to become "The Great Pyrenees". She will become uninterested in food if she is not hungry anymore.
My question is... Should I let my puppy eat as much as she wants? With measuring the intake, of course. or should I stick to the 1/2 cups three times daily?

I do not want her to eat in excess of her needs causing problems down the road.

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Feb 20, 2015
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by: Mary

We also wrestled with this issue with our pup, and he also is our first Pyr. Pay careful attention to a few signs that your pup will give you. Losing weight, a sure sign she needs more. As is her searching for more after she's eaten all her food. If she gulps her food because she's hungry she may swallow a lot of air. So heavier meals may cause a serious problem known as "bloat" (air+bulk=belly pain) This is a potential with Pyrs. Small meals more often worked well for our pup. We fed 6 small meals/day at 1 1/2 cups until he was 4 mos. old. Same with water. Provide fresh and in small amounts so she cannot overload. Now 6 mos old, our pup receives 3 meals/day of 2 cups kibble. Do feed the best puppy food you can afford. But avoid "large breed" puppy food, as that can cause too rapid growth. Keep checking body condition with the hands (a pleasure)...you should find a nice layer of flesh over her bones, without the bones being prominent. Rest before and after meals is a good practise. Good luck and enjoy your lovely Violet (nice name, by the way).
Feb 23, 2015
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by: Sandra

Pyr Puppies grow a lot and need good food in order to develop properly. Pyrs also tend to eat only when they are hungry and normally will not overeat. I always had food down 24/7 (still do) and I found my dogs ate about 4 cups a day - usually eating 4 times a day (breakfast,lunch, dinner and midnight snack). However, when they were going through a growth spurt, they were hungrier and would increase from 4 to 6 then up to 8 cups and once or twice for a day or two, 12 cups. Then go back down to 4. You literally could see them grow as they were eating. They would usually only eat the larger amounts for a day or two and the go back down the same way.

Eventually, they would still eat 4 cups a day, but cutting out one meal and then another meal. However, they all still snacked - it is funny to see them eat a mouthful of kibble and then walk away as if to say I am now full.

Violet will let you know if she is hungry especially when growing as she will look for more food.

Good luck with her and enjoy her

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