[ Diet ]

How We Feed Our Puppies

At Silky Ears Spaniels, nutrition is an important part of how we support healthy growth, development and long term wellbeing. Our puppies are raised on a balanced, high quality diet designed to meet the demands of early growth while supporting digestive health, body condition and overall development.

We raise our puppies on a combination of:

Fresh, wholefood based meals

Premium puppy specific dry food

High quality single protein options

Having a variety of foods regularly provides balanced nutrition while introducing puppies to different textures and protein sources early in life. This early exposure supports adaptability and helps ensure a smooth dietary transition into their new homes.

The quality of food you feed your puppy has a direct impact on their growth, development and long term health.

Premium diets are formulated with:

1. High quality, identifiable protein sources

2. Balanced vitamins and minerals for growth

3. Ingredients that support digestion and nutrient absorption

These diets are designed to meet the specific nutritional requirements of growing puppies, helping to support strong bones, healthy joints, a robust immune system and overall vitality.

In contrast, many lower cost or supermarket pet foods often prioritise affordability over nutritional quality. They may include:

• Lower grade or unspecified protein sources

• Fillers and bulk ingredients with limited nutritional value

• Less precise nutritional balance for growing dogs

While these foods may meet basic feeding requirements, they often do not provide the same level of nutritional support during the critical stages of development.

Investing in a high quality diet early in life helps lay the foundation for long term health, condition and wellbeing.

Puppies are fed multiple times per day in line with their developmental stage. Frequent, structured feeding supports stable energy levels and consistent growth. As they mature, feeding frequency is gradually reduced, transitioning toward a twice daily routine as they approach adulthood. Meals are offered at set times, with uneaten food removed to encourage healthy eating habits and routine.

We place a strong emphasis on maintaining appropriate body condition throughout development. Puppies are raised to be healthy weights and well proportioned, supporting controlled growth. This helps reduce unnecessary strain on developing joints and supports long term structural health.

Our puppies are introduced to a variety of proteins, flavours and textures during early development.

This exposure supports:

1. Confident feeding behaviour

2. Reduced food sensitivity

3. Ease of transition between diets if required

Each puppy goes home with familiar food to help the transition period from our home to yours.

Maintaining consistency in diet during the first few days helps minimise digestive upset and supports a smooth adjustment into their new environment.

During early development, our puppies are also exposed to supplementary feeding such as goat’s milk and milk replacer.

This can be continued or stopped if desired.