BASIL'S - THE PAW-FECT WAY TO FEED YOUR NEW PUPPY! 🐾

🐶 Settling In 🐶

Bringing home a puppy aged 8-10 weeks is exciting, but can also be an anxious time.  The first few days are going to be a big adjustment for both you and your puppy and you’re going to need time to settle them in.

Try to keep visitors limited for the first few days so as not to overwhelm your new addition.  Your puppy needs time to gain your confidence and take in their new surroundings while adjusting to a new routine.  Take time to sit with them and play, as well as enjoying lots of cuddles as puppies need plenty of sleep.  If you are able to ask your breeder for a blanket that has familiar smells on it, this will help with the settling process.

🦺 Keep Your Puppy Safe 🦺

Puppies are curious creatures and naturally check everything with their noses and mouths!  It’s really important to keep a close eye on them and here are a few things to bear in mind around the house:

·         Wires and cables are a real risk; never leave a puppy unattended in a room with live wires to appliances.

·         All food should be kept out of reach of your puppy; some human food like chocolate and grapes can be lethal to your little one.

·         Lock away any medicines and cleaning products.

·         Ensure that chairs are kept away from tables, etc., as your puppy will love the chance to climb!

Puppy stair gates are a great way to keep your pup contained in a safe room/space or a crate can also be useful.

The garden can also be a dangerous place for your little one.

·         Ensure all fencing is secured; remember puppies like to dig as well as climb!

·         Check our other blogs to find out which plants in your garden may be toxic to your pup; remember that puppies love to chew!

·         Composting food can also be extremely dangerous to your puppy so a compost bin with a screw top will stop your pup eating anything they shouldn’t.

Extendable pens are great for outside areas, making a safe space for your puppy while you get your garden ‘puppy safe’.

🥣 Switching Your New Puppy to Raw Food 🥣

8-10 weeks is the perfect time to switch your puppy from processed weaning foods to a raw diet. It's a safe and healthy choice, especially with Basil’s, a Defra registered and reputable raw food brand known for strict quality control in all our products.

📑 Guidelines on How Much to Feed 📑

Puppies have higher calorie requirements than adult dogs, so we suggest following the % of body weight rule as the simplest way to determine your puppy's food intake. Our guidelines include:

• 8% to 10% of their body weight at weaning, divided into three meals a day, gradually decreasing to
• 5% of their bodyweight at six months of age, still in three meals a day, then continually decreasing to
• 2-3% at adulthood, fed once or twice daily

This approach is adaptable to your pup's activity level and metabolism. If you're concerned about your puppy's weight, our team is on hand to offer tailored nutrition advice.

Quick View amounts – as a Guide Only

1kg (at 10%) is 100gms – ¼ of a chub daily
2kg (at 8%) is 160gms – around  ⅓ of a chub daily
3kg (at 8%) is 240gms – just over ½ of a chub daily
4kg (at 8%) is 320gms – just over ¾ of a chub daily
5kg (at 6%) is 300gm – ¾ of a chub daily
8kg (at 6%) is 480gm – almost 1¼ of a chub daily
12kg (at 4%) is 480gm – almost 1¼ of a chub daily
Calculations are based on 400gm standard chubs.

All of the Basil’s flavours can be included in your pup's raw menu, in fact we would encourage you to include a variety of proteins from a young age to build your dog’s range of tastes and also their vital microbiome (gut health) diversity.

Feeding a variety of proteins also ensures a variety of different nutrients are fed, as each meat holds a unique set of amino-acids, vitamins, and minerals. This is a vital step in achieving a balanced diet.

🍗 Treats and Meaty Bones 🍖
You may also want to introduce your puppy to some raw chicken wings and venison necks which you can purchase from a reputable raw dog food supplier.  These are suitable raw meaty bones for your new pup. Even a puppy has strong stomach acid, able to break-down and digest these softer types of bones that have meaty sections still attached to them.
(Please be aware if you are feeding a Brachycephalic breed you may need to wait longer before considering meaty bones in the diet.)

🥕 Vegetables and Offal 🥩
Your puppy will need around 10% of their daily feed as Offal.  Our Country Kitchen Range contains heart in most of the flavours, while in our Superfood Range, liver & kidney are also included in most of the flavours.

Vegetables are included in all of our flavours, across both ranges, and our Superfood Range contains additional nutrient rich ingredients such as shiitake mushroom, barley grass, kelp and more.

We only use prime 100% British human-grade meat, so with Basil’s, you can be sure you’re getting your puppy off to the best start! 🐾