How Much to Feed a Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy

Bernese Mountain dog is a large, furry purebred breed that is commonly called “the gentle giant.” Their loving nature makes them perfect family companions. They are gentle, active, intelligent, and affectionate, so you will love to have them as your cuddling buddy.

If you are thinking about adopting a puppy, you must take into consideration his size as well as diet. Before bringing them home, you need to ensure that there is enough space in your house so that they can live comfortably. Besides, you should be sure that your monthly income can accommodate your adorable pup’s appetite. 

Now, just like many other first-time pet owners, you might be wondering how much to feed a Bernese mountain dog puppy on a regular basis? Well, with the growing age, their food intake will increase gradually.

Normally, an 8 to 10 weeks old pooch will eat approximately ¾ to 1 cup or ½ cup of food in every meal. During the age of 2 to 6 months, you can feed them 2 to 4 cups a day. After 6 months, you can serve them 2 to 3 cups a day.

In this thorough guide, we are going to educate you about what Bernese Mountain puppy’s diet should be consist of, how many times a day you should feed them, and much more. So, continue reading.  

Vital Nutritional Needs Of Bernese Mountain Puppy

Whether it’s wet food, commercially-made dry kibble, or homemade food, you should feed them a high-quality and balanced diet to provide them the nutrition they need to stay healthy and active. A proper diet will keep their immune system in great condition to fight any intruders. Here are the vital nutrients that must be included in their diet.

Water

Water is critical for a growing puppy to stay healthy. Without drinking enough water, he won’t be able to function properly. Water helps their body to dissolve and transport necessary nutrients to cells and tissues, absorb food, maintain body temperature, and much more. As a puppy parent, you need to ensure that your canine has access to fresh and clean water 24/7. They should drink one ounce of water per kg of their body weight per day.

Carbs

They are the fundamental source of fuel and a puppy’s biggest source of glucose. They are not an important part of a pup’s diet, but they are loaded with minerals, vitamins, and many other nutrients. You can feed your pooch potatoes, sweet potatoes, barley, brown rice, etc.

Protein

Protein is responsible for generating energy and distributing it to the whole body. It helps in creating strong nails, bones, and muscles. Their bodies can’t deposit protein, so you should provide them a constant supply. It is made up of amino acids, and growing mutts require a minimum of 22 amino acids to create proteins to survive. To ensure you are feeding them enough protein, choose foods that are manufactured of real chicken, lamb, pork, fish, or beef as their primary ingredients.

Fat

Fat is another significant nutrient that puppies need to stay in good physical condition. It safeguards organs, promotes a healthy nervous system, and performs many other functions. Extremely low levels of fat could lead them to dry skin and dull, thin coats. Remember, not all fats are good for Bernese Mountain dogs. So, take into consideration the quality, source, and amount of fat while buying puppy food.

Minerals

Minerals perform various important functions in a dog’s body, such as bone formation, oxygen flow, nerve function, and more.

• Iron: Carries oxygen in the entire body.  
• Calcium: Necessary for bone and teeth maintenance, strong heart and muscle building.
• Sodium: Maintains proper nerve and muscle function.
• Zinc: Vital for immune system function.

Vitamins

Just like minerals, they are also critical for a dog’s proper development and health maintenance. As long as you feed them a whole and balanced diet, they will be getting several vitamins essential to keeping them healthy and in good spirits.  

• Vitamin B12: Important for a healthy nervous system.
• Vitamin A: Boosts immune system.
• Vitamin K: Prevents blood clotting.
• Vitamin E: Good for the liver, heart, and various other parts of the body.
• Vitamin C: Hunts for the free radicals in the body and reduces the hazard of inflammation.

How Much To Feed A Bernese Mountain Dog Puppy?

As they are large-sized puppies, so you will need to feed them more food than a standard breed pup. Many people feed them 4 to 5 meals every day. And in every meal, you can give them 3/4 to 1 cup of food.

In the growth stage, they need extra food. At the age of 2 to 6 months, feed them three times a day. After six months, you can feed them twice a day. The quantity of food a canine needs to stay healthy will be different depending on his activity level and metabolism.

As a rule of thumb, Bernese Mountain dogs eat 3 to 6 cups of food per day. A 4 months old pooch will eat 1 to 2 cups of food every day. However, a 6 to 12 months old dog will eat three to six cups per day. At this age, you can give them food twice a day. After the age of one year, you can expect him to consume 4 to 6 cups daily.

How To Pick The Right Food For Bernese Mountain Puppy?

While selecting food, make sure to consider their size, weight, and age. In the growth years, their digestive and immune systems are developing. So, you will want to avoid feeding them any food that could contain bacteria or parasites. All mutts need a comprehensive and well-balanced diet regularly. The exact formula is offered for different life stages of a dog.

As a Bernese puppy belongs to large breed dogs, so you will need to feed them a puppy recipe that is specifically formulated for large breed doggies. Then, you can transition him to adult dog food that is made for large-sized dogs. And then you can move him to senior dog food for large breed pooches.

To choose the perfect time of transition, you can take help from your vet. If you want to feed them homemade, raw, or commercially-made food, make sure to consult with the vet to be sure you are feeding them the correct amount of nutrients for each life phase.

Conclusion

We hope, after reading our article on how much to feed a Bernese mountain dog puppy, all your confusions are clear, and you have learned some valuable information from this guide. Complete knowledge of nutrition will help you properly take care of your sweetheart. It will also safeguard you from spending money on overpriced and imbalanced foods that are unhealthy for your pet.

References:

• https://www.prodograw.com/dog-feeding-guide/bernese-mountain-feeding-guide/#cookie-notice-close
• https://www.msdvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-and-related-diseases-of-small-animals
• https://www.bmdca.org/breed_education/pdf/05_bernese_dogcare_puppy_first_year.pdf
• https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Bernese-Mountain-Dogs
• https://www.bmdca.org/