Help!-Hungry Pup

WV Jaz · Post by **WV Jaz** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:10 pm

I am new to Beagling but have had several other breeds dogs and raised puppies but I've never had this problem before. My 4 month old female Beagle (being raised in the house) acts like she's simply starved all the time! She training and runs about 3 times a week for a little while, but she's ALWAYS acted like she's starving even if she's slept most of the day. I've tried Purina Puppy Chow, Pride Puppy and now I'm trying Pedigree. Is this a Beagle trait or could she be needing some mineral/vitamin, etc? Thanks for any help anyone can give me. SJ

Ronnyg · Post by **Ronnyg** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:33 pm

Worming up to date? If a dog has worms it'll cause it to eat excessively. That would be where I'd start.

WV Jaz · Post by **WV Jaz** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:57 am

Worming up to date, vet says she's fine. She's not underweight, coat looks real good, lots of energy and developing physically on schedule. I found out her litter mates are all exactly the same way. If it isn't diet, I wondered if it could have something to do with fighting for food when she was with her litter as they were all fed from same bowl when they first started eating. Any thoughts on that? What do you guys feed your pups? SJ

oakhill · Post by **oakhill** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:16 am

Typical dog if ya ask me.

beagle crazy · Post by **beagle crazy** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:39 am

Yep, typical. All mine act that way. How often do you feed her? I've been told it is better for some dogs if you feed them twice a day.

oakhill · Post by **oakhill** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:32 am

I usually keep my 4 month old pups on free feed. But you just need to watch her and if she is getting over weight change the plan. Usually at about 6 months old I will start feeding them once a day with the big dogs.

Windkist · Post by **Windkist** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:30 pm

Sounds like a typical beagle PIG! I would suggest a little better grade food maybe. Pedigree is OK but, full of fillers which just go through the dog rather than digest well. I'd go with something that the very first ingredient is meat. chicken/lamb etc. Proplan,euk, or one of the premium foods. Feed her 2 x or 3 x a day on a schedule. She is just food crazy most likely ;-)

Leah

sammiller03 · Post by **sammiller03** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:39 pm

I Dont know where your from in west virginia but alot of us around here feed pride. I love it and have talked to alot of people around here that feel the same way. I had alot of clean up on purina and the dogs always seemed hungry. might want to give it a try.

DIXIEDOG · Post by **DIXIEDOG** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:17 pm

Sounds like a typical beagle to me. All mine are little piglets that eat all there food and look for more. Beagles just love to eat , especially puppies.

green river · Post by **green river** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:26 am

Yep, All mine act like they've never been fed.

TC · Post by TC » Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:56 am

SHOOT i have a couple that literally INHALE thier food...
beagles are FOOD ORIENTED...
I once had 2 4 mo old pups get into a 5 lb bag of food ATE IT ALL!!!!!!!!!
And acted like they wanted MORE!!!!!!!

WV Jaz · Post by **WV Jaz** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:26 am

Thanks everyone for the feedback, I'm probably just an anxious beagle parent

She's fed x3 a day at same time each day, just a little bigger portion in morning if she's going to the puppy pen to run. Not overweight...looks real good. Since she's in the house I watch her exercise needs pretty close. Of course I don't have to watch her because her energy levels won't let me forget when she HAS to go run.

Thanks Leah for the info on the food. I've already noticed the Pedigree is causing more potty breaks. Thanks for the feedback on Pride Sam. I talked to some other trialers around here yesterday and they really like it too. When this bag of food is gone I'll probably put her back on it.

I' really appreciate all the feedback from this post. I'll check out the board when I get back from Va. field trial this weekend. SJ

warddog · Post by **warddog** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:51 pm

Yep, got to agree that dogs and hogs are about the same when it comes to eating. I've got automatic feeders that hold 25 pounds each that I don't use becuase these liitle ole hounds will polish one off in less than a week. I carry their ration and dump it into the automatic feeders and use them as feed bowls.

tiffinis · Post by **tiffinis** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:58 am

I free feed a high quality kibble. 3 beagles and 2 labs and nobody hangs on the feed dish and the only overweight is my neutered male lab and he eats the least of anybody. Vet told me they cant retain muscle mass once they have been neutered.