🐶 Rottweiler Puppy Feeding Guide

🍽️ A Practical Guide to Raising a Healthy, Thriving Rottweiler Puppy

🍼 0–4 Weeks (Neonatal Stage)

• 🐾 Nursing exclusively from the mother.
• 🚫 No supplemental feeding unless medically necessary (bottle-fed formulas if needed).

🥣 4–8 Weeks (Weaning Stage)

• 🍲 Introduce soft, moistened puppy food (kibble soaked in warm water or goat’s milk).
• ⏱️ Offer small amounts 3–4 times daily.
• 🥩 Some breeders start introducing raw ground meats to prepare for raw feeding.

🏠 8–12 Weeks (Transition to New Home)

• 🕒 Meal Frequency: 2–3 times per day.
• 🍖 Options:
• High-quality large-breed puppy kibble
• OR a carefully balanced raw diet (ground meats, organs, bone).
• ⚖️ Important: Control calcium and phosphorus intake to protect growing joints.

🐕 3–6 Months

• 🕒 Meal Frequency: 2–3 times per day.
• 🍽️ Continue large-breed puppy kibble or raw meals.
• 🔁 Rotate proteins (beef, chicken, fish) and include organ meats and edible bones.

🦴 6–12 Months

• 🕒 Meal Frequency: 2 times per day.
• 🐾 Maintain puppy-specific nutrition until at least 12 months old.
• ⚖️ Continue careful calcium/phosphorus management.

🎯 12–18 Months

• 🔄 Transition slowly to adult large-breed food (kibble or raw).
• 💪 Maintain lean body condition for joint health.
• 📈 Monitor growth — slow, steady development is best.

⚖️ Raw vs Kibble: Key Notes

🍪 Dry Kibble:
✅ Convenient, complete when formulated for large-breed puppies.
📏 Watch calcium/phosphorus levels and ingredient quality.

🥩 Raw Diet:
🌟 Excellent when properly balanced.
⚠️ Must carefully manage nutrients and pathogen risks.
🔀 Many breeders combine kibble and raw for flexibility.

📅 Sample Daily Feeding Plan (10-Week-Old Puppy)

Feeding OptionMeals Per DayAmount Per Meal / Notes

Large Breed Puppy Kibble.      3–4.       1–1.5 cups / Adjust by growth. Monitor body condition.

Raw Diet (balanced).                   3–4.       ~4–5% of body weight/day / Variety of proteins, bone, organs.

Mixed Kibble + Raw.                    3–4.      75% kibble + 25% fresh / Kibble plus raw beef heart, chicken necks, etc.

💡 General Tips

• 🚰 Always provide fresh water.
• 🔄 Transition foods slowly over 7–10 days.
• ⚖️ Keep puppies lean — extra weight stresses growing joints.
• 📅 Scheduled meals (not free-feeding) encourage healthy growth.
• 👩‍⚕️ Consult a veterinarian or pet nutritionist if feeding a homemade raw diet.