- Puppy's energy requirements are high
- Puppy's digestive system is still forming: to prevent stomach overload, divide the daily ration into 3 meals per day
- Puppy's immune system is still immature
When a Puppy becomes a Dog
WHEN A PUPPY
BECOMES A DOG
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8 MONTHS
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12 MONTHS
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18–24 MONTHS
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6 MONTHS
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10 MONTHS
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15 MONTHS
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6 MONTHS
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8 MONTHS
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10 MONTHS
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12 MONTHS
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15 MONTHS
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18–24 MONTHS
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| PHASE 2 | |||||||||||||
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Toy dogs | 6 to 8–10 months | |||||||||||
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Small dogs | 6.5 to 10 months | End of growth phase, | ||||||||||
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Medium dogs | 7 to 12 months | transition to adult diet | ||||||||||
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Large dogs | 8 to 15 months | |||||||||||
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Giant dogs | 9 to 18–24 months | |||||||||||
| PHASE 1 | |||||||||||||
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6 MONTHS
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9 MONTHS
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6.5 MONTHS
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8 MONTHS
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7 MONTHS
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GROWTH PHASE 1 CORRESPONDS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPY'S BONE STRUCTURE AND INTERNAL ORGANS:
GROWTH PHASE 2 BEGINS WHEN THE PUPPY REACHES 80% OF THEIR ADULT WEIGHT:
- Muscles begin to develop
- Energy requirements drop
- Digestive system is more mature and can support a greater food load; the puppy can move from 3 to 2 meals per day
- It is an appropriate time for neutering
