When you are finding the best diet for your Whoodle, you need to consider a few things: how often to feed them, how much to feed them, and what you can and can’t feed them.
How Much Should I Feed My Whoodle?
The amount of food you feed your Whoodle can differ based on their size, age, food type, and activity.
Size
- 2 to 4 lbs – Feed 1/3c – 1/2c per day
- 5 to 8 lbs – Feed 1/2c – 3/4c per day
- 8 to 10 lbs – Feed 1/2c – 3/4c per day
- 10 to 12 lbs – Feed 3/4c – 1c per day
- 13 to 16 lbs – Feed 1c – 1 1/4c per day.
How Often Should I Feed My Whoodle
When your Whoodle is a puppy, they will have a much different eating schedule than an adult Whoodle. As they get older, they will eat less and less often.
2-3 Months Old
For your Whoodle puppy that just came home, it is best to have food available throughout the day. To convert them to the food you want to use, mix it in the food they have been eating before they came to your home.
3-12 Months Old
At 3-12 Months old, your Whoodle should be eating around three times a day. Treats can be included, but you should prioritize their primary use as rewards during training. Encourage your dog to earn treats instead of snacking.
After 1 Year Old
After the first year, you will convert them to adult food, and they should eat about twice a day. Your 1-year-old Goldendoodle is now old enough to try out different feeding styles.
Adult Feeding Methods
There are a few feeding methods you can use while optimizing your Whoodle’s nutrition. The three most common methods are: free-choice feeding, controlled portions, and timed feeding. You need to make sure you cater to your dog’s needs and not restrict your dog if your vet hasn’t said to do so. Your dog’s dietary health should be your number one priority.
Free-Choice Feeding
This style is a better fit for more active dogs and eats tiny portions throughout the day. Free-choice feeding is also an excellent style for mother dogs that are breastfeeding. She will need to have food throughout the day to ensure her milk flows.
You will have the food out all the time, so you will need to use dry food to ensure it doesn’t spoil. Spoiled food can also attract bugs and other animals, especially if the food is outside. For those reasons, it’s best not to leave food out for extended periods.
Controlled Portions
Again don’t use this option if your vet didn’t recommend it. You will first want to ask your vet what the ideal weight for your dog is and ask how to get to that weight. You won’t have the bowl out all the time, and the feeding times will need to be adjusted while feeding your Whoodle.
Timed Feeding
If you aren’t as worried about your dog’s weight because you know how much they eat, you can use this method to ensure you don’t attract anything like bugs or raccoons.
You will need to fill the bowl about three times every 6 hours. It should take about 30 minutes for your dog to eat then you can continue with your day. You will need to measure the food to make sure you are feeding your dog enough; for example, if you have them wait more than 8 hours, it will be best to put more food into the bowl.
What Kind of Food
We use an excellent brand for our dogs: Purina Pro Plan. Many Whoodles can have chicken allergy, that’s why we use “Purina Pro Plan Salmon & Rice“. It is meant to meet the needs of puppies with a sensitive gut, it is a dry dog food made of salmon and rice blended with probiotics. Probiotics are incredibly beneficial for Whoodles! These probiotics aid in digestion and strengthen the immune system of your dog!
Unhealthy Foods for Whoodles
When talking about feeding your Whoodle, it’s critical to put their health first. Feeding an unhealthy diet to your dog can result in several different severe disorders, including emaciation, obesity, allergies, and fur loss. Here are some of the foods that you shouldn’t feed to your Whoodle:
- Grapes and Raisins – Can be poisonous to dogs, even in small doses.
- Chocolate – All chocolate is toxic to dogs.
- Salt – Although small doses are okay, large quantities could cause kidney issues.
- Onions – Onions can be harmful to your dogs’ red blood cells, which is why it’s not good to feed your dog table scraps.
- Coffee, Tea, Soda – These drinks can cause your dog to have seizures and even go into a coma. No amount of coffee or tea is worth life-threatening side effects.
- Fruit Seeds and Pits – While dogs may enjoy some healthy fruits, certain seeds or pits could cause some medical issues that could potentially be fatal.
I hope this has answered many of your questions about feeding your Whoodle. If you still have some questions, you can look into our other article, About Whoodles.
Also, feel free to check out our available puppies for a Whoodle of your own!