- Although many pet nutrition enthusiasts recommend making dog food from scratch to ensure all-natural ingredients, it is hard to argue with the ease of using a good commercial dog food that can be easily opened and poured. Make sure to select a dry dog food manufactured for puppies. These brands have been designed with the correct balance of protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for young dogs. Your vet or breeder can advise you as to which kind they recommend. Stay with puppy dog food until the dog turns one year. Do not give your cocker spaniel wet dog food, as this is designed for older dogs having a hard time with chewing and/or digestion, or semi-moist food that can harbor bacteria in your puppy's mouth. Do not feed your dog table scraps as this can lead to diarrhea to bad habits down the road.
- How much to feed your cocker spaniel puppy depends on its weight and age. According to "Small Animal Clinical Nutrition" calculations published in mycockerspaniel.com, a one-month-old cocker spaniel puppy requires 194 calories a day, while a six-month old puppy needs close to 900. Convert calories into measurable amounts using the calculator listed in the Resources section below.
- The jury is out on feeding frequency. Some experts believe in "free feeding" where one bowl is poured each day and the puppy regulates its own intake. Others prefer a food schedule that includes measured amounts of food several times a day to ensure the dog does not overeat and become obese. Which method you choose will ultimately depend on if you have other pets in the home and what works best for your schedule. Check with your vet to get his opinion on the matter.
Should you choose to serve many smaller meals, three portions should be given to your cocker spaniel puppy until he reaches four months, at which point you can switch to twice a day.
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