I feed my dogs a frozen raw food, but to make it convenient and easy for puppy families, I suggest to all of them to get a new fabulous freeze dried raw food that I love as it has the ease of a kibble but it is instead a dehydrated nugget; it doesn't need to be stored in a fridge or a freezer, but in your pantry; it is a human grade high quality protein, grassfed, wild caught, with organic ingredients; it has minimal carbs, it is not highly processed, it has no un-digestible grains, no wheat, no corn, no soy, no glutten, no cheap fillers, no artificial preservatives, no by-product like A.G.E, no artificial dyes, and no synthetic vitamins, or high-temp processing, therefore making it a very healthy and easy food to store and prepare by just adding water, broth or goat milk (it is great for traveling too).
A Simple Food Project has 6 different types of food that should be rotated throughout the year (for variety), plus smaller-sized nuggets for very young puppies, and a whole-food Puppy Balancer powder that should be sprinkled on top until 1 year old.
Just add some liquid to the nugget, wait a few minutes, and voilà: BON APPÉTIT !
BEEF & SALMON
Ingredients:
Beef, Wild-Caught Salmon, Beef Liver, Flaxseed, Beef Heart, Organic Carrots, Organic Cranberries, Wild-Caught Whole Ground Krill, Organic Green Peas, Ground Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Spinach, Organic Ginger, Sea Salt, Dried Kelp, Dried Yeast, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).
CHICKEN & TURKEY
Ingredients:
Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Hearts, Flaxseed, Sweet Potato, Chicken Liver, Organic Carrots, Wild-Caught Whole Ground Krill, Ground Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Blueberries, Organic Spinach, Organic Cinnamon, Sea Salt, Dried Kelp, Dried Yeast, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).
DUCK & TROUT
Ingredients:
Duck, Beef, Beef Liver, Flaxseed, Lentils, Wild-Caught Trout, Organic Green Beans, Organic Apples, Wild-Caught Whole Ground Krill, Ground Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Spinach, Organic Turmeric, Sea Salt, Dried Kelp, Dried Yeast, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative).
BISON
Ingredients:
Bison, Bison Liver, Egg, Flaxseed, Organic Green Beans, Organic Spinach, Organic Pumpkin, Whole Ground Krill, Organic Beets, Coconut Oil, Whole Ground Eggshell, Potassium Salt, Cod Liver Oil, Dried Kelp, Dried Yeast, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative), Sage, Guava.
LAMB
Ingredients:
Lamb, Lamb Spleen, Lamb Heart, Flaxseed, Organic Yams, Organic Spinach, Whole Ground Krill, Organic Cranberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Coconut Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Whole Ground Eggshell, Potassium Salt, Sea Salt, Dried Yeast, Dried Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative), Mint, Guava.
DUCK
Ingredients:
Duck, Duck Neck, Duck Heart, Flaxseed, Organic Squash, Organic Kale, Organic Carrots, Whole Ground Krill, Organic Blueberries, Chia Seeds, Organic Turmeric, Sea Salt, Cod Liver Oil, Dried Kelp, Dried Yeast, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative), Black Pepper, Fennel, Guava.
FOR A YOUNG PUPPY, YOU WILL NEED TO BUY 4 THINGS:
(1) FOOD - (2) VITAMINS - (3) MILK - (4) PUMPKIN
• 1 - THE SIMPLE FOOD PROJECT: REGULAR-SIZED NUGGETS (not puppy mini: it will save you money)
Buy in 18 pounds/ 288 oz bulk and with autoship to save money and use code: SAVINGPETS
Comes in 12 bags you can keep in your pantry (never store in mold-promoting plastic jars; only glass if you have to store them).
Then, soak overnight when younger than 4 months, and after you can just prepare a few minutes in advance as written on package instructions (I suggest starting with lamb as softer and then always rotating) / this is the cheapest place to get it if you use the promo code)
https://simplefoodproject.com/products/simple-food-project-for-dogs?variant=50681544540292
• 2 - PUPPY BALANCER: PUPPY VITAMINS (mandatory, only for 1st year when a puppy)
(1/2 tsp per meal will do the trick / I only find this on The Simple Food Project main website)
To save some money, don't forget to buy the biggest size as you need it for the 1st year, and use the code: SAVINGPETS
https://simplefoodproject.com/products/puppy-balancer?variant=50702014546052
• 3 - DEHYDRATED GOAT MILK: GREAT TO HAVE (not mandatory, but so helpful for the first 6 months)
Good for puppy to add if your puppy likes it - I use it too as I love the taste - you could buy regular goat milk or even better raw goat milk, but it goes bad really fast)
• 4 - ORGANIC PUMPKIN POWDER: FIBER (not mandatory, but so helpful for whole life)
For the usual puppy stomach problems, and also to give it on weekends at each meal as a life habit (like brushing your teeth) to prevent annal glands problems (it firms poop and helps annal glands work naturally).
Until 6 months, when 3 meals a day, use 1/4 tsp per meal / when older 2 meals a day at 6 months 1/2 tsp per meal)
CLICK ON PICTURES BELOW FOR LINK
FEEDING DOSAGE PER AGE:
- You will only use GOAT MILK for 6 months.
- You will only use the PUPPY BALANCER for a year.
- Try to be FLEXIBLE in your feeding hours, as you want a puppy that is flexible and won't mind if you are running late or have to leave the house earlier that day for an appointment, and that way your cavalier won't go crazy when changes.
- Don't forget to ROTATE the 6 different foods that The Simple Food project makes, as they are all great, and variety is great for your munchkin.
- And don't forget to take into account all the training TREATS you will be giving your new puppy... if a lot, reduce the meals a touch so puppy doesn't get sick.
- UNTIL 12 WEEKS: 3 MEALS A DAY (from a presoaked batch for softness)
PRESOAK & PREMIX FOOD OVERNIGHT RECIPE (keep in fridge)
• 4 cups FOOD
• 4 cups WATER
• 2 tbs GOAT MILK powder
• 2 tbs PUPPY BALANCER
• 2 tbs PUMPKIN
EACH MEAL:
• 2.5 oz of presoaked pre-mixed overnight FOOD from fridge (use scale, or roughly 1/4 cup).
For very young puppies, I feed 2.5 oz per meal of presoaked food overnight that I keep in fridge; see recipe above.
Then, I mush with a fork lightly.
Serve room temperature/ not cold out of the fridge.
By 12 weeks, 10 minutes is good enough for rehydration or even less (I do about 1 cup of water for 1 cup of nuggets).
Some puppies are turned off if you put too much water...
You could also use goat milk when young, or dog bone broth (not human broth, as loaded with toxic salt and onions).
- 12 WEEKS TO 6 MONTHS: 3 MEALS A DAY (dehydrate 10 min before)
EACH MEAL:
• 1/3 cup dehydrated FOOD
• 1/3 cup WATER
• 1 tsp PUPPY BALANCER
• 1 tsp GOAT MILK
• weekend only 1/4 tsp PUMPKIN
Rehydrate food in 10 minutes or less, letting it sit on the counter
(Feel free to add all kinds of yummy toppers).
For some puppies, it will be too much, and for others, perfect or not enough…
Adjust as needed, and don't forget that you are giving treats too, so adjust if needed.
If hungry, you could increase the meals a little with sweet potatoes, avocado, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese…
FOR DOSAGE THAT NEEDS ADJUSTMENT: Look at the chart below and note that expected adult weight is 15 pounds.
- 6 MONTHS: 2 MEALS A DAY (dehydrate 5 min before)
EACH MEAL:
• 1/2 cup dehydrated FOOD
• 1/2 cup WATER
• 1 tbsp PUPPY BALANCER
• weekend only 1/2 tsp PUMPKIN
Rehydrate food in 5 minutes or less, letting it sit on the counter
(Feel free to add all kinds of yummy toppers).
At 6 months, you can feed the same amount in two meals, as your puppy's stomach will be bigger.
You no longer need goat milk unless you want to.
To transition from 3 meals to 2 meals, simply diminish the lunch meal over a few days as you increase the morning and evening meals... and then, for the first week, try feeding breakfast 30 minutes later, lunch give a few treats, and feed dinner 30 minutes earlier. In a week, you should be transitioned and rapidly stop giving lunch treats. Then feed whenever you wish just 2 meals.
- 1 YEAR: 2 MEALS A DAY (dehydrate 3 to 5 min before)
EACH MEAL:
• 1/2 cup FOOD
• 1/2 cup WATER
• weekend only 1/2 tsp PUMPKIN
Rehydrate food in 5 minutes or less, letting it sit on the counter
(Feel free to add all kinds of yummy toppers).
At 1 year old, you can feed just the food rehydrated in water (no more puppy balancer needed or goat milk).
Depending on the size of your dog, you will probably be feeding 1/2 cup food twice a day (add all kinds of yummy toppers).
FOOD CHART FROM SIMPLE FOOD PROJECT:
Know that Cavaliers usually have a low metabolism, so you usually end up with a bit less than the recommended amount. Take into consideration that you would be feeding treats.
Also, my puppies' parents are all around 15 to 16 pounds at the most, so if you reach 18 pounds, start questioning the amount you are feeding your dog, as a heavy dog is doomed to have health problems.
So, expected adult weight is about 15 pounds.
TO HELP WITH THE FEEDING:
- A set of CUPS and TBSP, and TSP:
This set might help you out after if you don’t have the 1/3 cup, the 1/2 cup, the 1/2 tbs, the tsp, the 1/2 tsp, the 1/4 tsp
https://amzn.to/4bKadvi
I use a food scale in ounces until 12 weeks, here is a link if you need a cheap one
https://amzn.to/4wrzguu
As it mimics the wild and my cavaliers love them (easy to clean in dishwasher)
Use coupon: adorable10
https://minepetplatter.com/all-products/ols/products/small-bone-platter-goldenrod
So no dirty food on your baby's ears.
MAPLE & PAWS (I ONLY BUY MEDIUM FOR ALL MY CAVALIERS)
These have become our favorite as light and easy to put on
… and look so cute!!!
Use discount code: SnoodloveLBC20
https://www.mapleandpaws.com/
ORDERING TIPS ON FOOD:
- The first time you order on THE SIMPLE FOOD PROJECT website, you will get a 15 percent discount with the code WELCOME15: that's only for their sample bags... the promo code SAVINGPETS is better, so you might want to skip.
- How to rotate: As you want to vary your puppy's food but you order 12 bags of one kind, you might want to cancel an autoship after a month and order a different kind, so you start building a collection at home that you rotate, and order another kind a month later... Basically, that food is dehydrated, with a very long shelf life of one or two years, so you can store it for a long time.
- You can store the 12 bags of food in your pantry or in a container, but no matter what, do not empty the bags into mold-promoting plastic containers; only use glass jars if you want to empty the bags (not needed).
Here is the link to big jar containers that I have used in the past:
2.5 Gallon Glass Jar: https://amzn.to/4wzEmWD
- The regular-sized nuggets are also found on AMAZON or CHEWY (not the puppy balancer), but I have no code for those websites / you might want to check them when you hear of special holiday sales.
TO CONCLUDE ON FEEDING:
I would advise you to add all kinds of yummy stuff with any food you choose, as dogs are like humans and get bored, plus variety in their diet is essential to ensure a healthy life. You will find a lot of suggestions in email #2 for toppers, snacks, treats, and even cookies. Have fun, and spoil your dog.
I feed the puppies 3 times a day, plus snacks in between meals, especially for training… at 6 months, I feed 2 meals a day, and all my adult dogs get two meals a day too.
Regardless if you decide to feed something else, remember that when picking any dog food, you want:
- HUMAN GRADE
- USDA ORGANIC INGREDIENTS
- NO GRAINS (dogs do not have the same intestines as humans and poorly digest them)
- VERY LOW CARBOHYDRATES (dogs do NOT need carbs; it causes inflammation, can lead to diabetes)
- NO FILLERS like corn, wheat & soy
- NO MEALS
- NO GMO
- NO GRAINS
- NO FILLERS
- NO ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES
- NO SYNTHETIC VITAMINS
- VERY LOW LEGUMES, PEA STARCH, LENTILS, BEANS, POTATOES (in excess, they block the function of TAURINE needed for the heart, and thus risk dilated cardiomyopathy)
This is a disclaimer to affirm that I am not being paid to advertise products mentioned in the La Bastide Cavalier website, and I am not affiliated with any of the companies of these products; I just like these products and use them myself for my own dogs.
