Smart Tips On How To Feed Tiny Dog Breeds

Tiny dog breeds, also known as teacup dog breeds, as the name suggests are canines that are extremely diminutive in their respective sizes. The AKC or American Kennel Club has only recognized 17 tiny dog breeds so far and these include: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Dachshund, English Toy Spaniel, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher, Pomeranian and the smallest breed, the Chihuahua… just to name a few. However, feeding these tiny little pets can pose certain problems to first time owners.

For starters, these dogs do have small constitutions, so feeding them a lot of food can make them sick. At the same time, not feeding them enough can make them lethargic and prone to more shedding. So how do you balance these issues out? Here are some tips.

1. You feed them only at their assigned meal time. Try to resist the urge of feeding your pets with table scraps when you are eating, or any other food for that matter. Tiny dog breeds are known to be notorious when it comes to being picky with food, but that only happens when the owner actually encourages such behavior. Feed your dog its formulated meal like clockwork, and avoid tempting it with food during other times of the day. And try to limit sweet treats too.

2. Formulated meals are the best. These small dogs need to be fed about 2 to 4 times a day, but table scraps usually lack the nutrients needed for your little canine companions to get by with the day. Formulated meals are usually packed with enough calories so that your dog does not feel lethargic after meals, and that complete nutrition ensures that abnormal shedding does not happen. But due to its high calorific count, formulated meals should also be given out in small portions.