Under normal circumstances, puppies of the Golden Retriever breed will feed off their mother until the age of approximately seven weeks. However, once they have reached the age of three weeks, you should start providing them with puppy dog food, which you can soak and mix into some kind of grub. An occasional try of soaked dog food will at least give them a chance to learn what it taste like and slowly make the change in preparation for when their mother refuses to let them feed off her anymore.
When the time comes to bring your puppy home with you, make sure to make a note of what he has been eating in order to continue with the same diet he is accustomed to. The puppy trainer at the kennel will have probably started the dog in some kind of diet, it is your responsibility to keep feeding the dog whatever he has been eating so far. The Golden Retriever breeds have very sensitive stomachs, and will act on any sudden changes with undesirable results.
The change in surroundings when you first take your puppy home may result in your dog refusing to eat. The move from the kennel to your home can be very stressful, give him some time, and by no means attempt to force food on him. The changes are not only limited to his surroundings and the people around him, he will also make a note that there is no competition for the food in the bowl and that other dogs are not present in the litter. This too will pass after some time.
After the puppy has spent the night, take him for a walk, or try to play a few dog games with him in order to break the ice. Some exercise will be wonderful, since it will make the puppy hungry at increase the probability of eating at home. Plan of fixing a feeding schedule that includes three meals a day. The plan should follow determined hours of the, which you should be committed to following since the puppy will come to expect food at those pre determined times.
Remember to monitor his eating behavior, such as speed at which he eats, and how much food is left on the bowl after he is finished. If you notice that by the last feeding time at night, he stills seems eager to eat, don’t be afraid to toss him a snack. Furthermore, it is very important to take your dog to his potty place after every meal. The potty place could mean taking him outside, or the some newspapers spread around somewhere around your home.
Start off by adding some water to his food in order to make it easier on him. As the dog develops, his stomach will grow larger as well as his teeth, and he will easily be able to tolerate dry food on its own. Always keep water for him to drink at all times.
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