Training & Socialization

Puppies under six weeks of age need four meals a day. Most people don’t get their puppies until they’re at least seven to 10 weeks old. By seven to 10 weeks, three meals a day is appropriate. They should be fed three meals a day until they’re six months old. At six months, you can drop to two feedings a day. Two meals a day are appropriate after six months of age for the rest of their lives.

Until then, feed three meals a day because their stomachs, colons, and intestinal tracts are small. The rule of thumb is that for every stool a puppy has in a day, you should feed one meal. So if they’re having four stools a day, you should feed four meals a day.

Feed the Amount on the Bag

If you’re feeding dry kibble, which is absolutely appropriate, the bag provides a good guide based on the puppy’s weight or the expected future weight.

I prefer puppy food over all-life-stage foods. I like to feed puppies food specifically formulated for puppies. There are large-breed puppy foods, medium-breed puppy foods, and small-breed puppy foods. These aren’t just about kibble size; they also affect the calcium and phosphorus balance, caloric intake, and fat and protein content.

Treats

There’s something truly magical about the bond formed when you hold a piece of food, and it disappears down the gullet of another creature, leaving them happy. Whether you’re a Jewish grandmother or a puppy owner, there’s something special about the act of feeding that strengthens relationships. I’m in no way going to interfere with that relationship because I believe it is absolutely critical for building strong connections.

The Marty & Laura Show is produced by Pure Dog Talk Inc., with sound design and editing by Premium Audio Services.

Easy Fix for Top Reason People Rehome Pets

Hot Take #1: Crate training is a good thing. It’s an amazing thing. It’s a great tool. 

And Hot Take #2: Housebreaking is really simple when you crate train your dog.

“It’s not easy, but it’s simple and it’s absolutely essential, because the number two reason people don’t keep their dogs is housebreaking issues. Number one is biting, and number two is housebreaking. In the cat world, it’s the other way around. Cats that don’t use the litter box—that’s the number one issue,” Marty noted.

“A lot of people have unrealistic expectations for how quickly a puppy housebreaks. In my world, it takes many puppies until they’re between 4 and 4 1/2 months old to understand the concept and to have the physical ability to control it, get to the door, communicate that, and get outside in time.”

“With crates, with bells, there are a few tools that we can use to make it better, but if you expect every dog to housebreak by 7 weeks of age, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and failure.”

Marty and Laura walk you through the simple steps to housebreak your puppy or litter box train your kitten for a happier start to the rest of your lives together.

The Marty & Laura Show is produced by Pure Dog Talk Inc., with sound design and editing by Premium Audio Services.

We have advice for both dogs and cats and maybe even some small critters. Cats do better when they are brought into the home at the same time and age.

“When you double the number of cats, you quadruple the number of litter box issues that you have,” Marty says. “Number one, cats need to have one litter box per cat plus a spare, no matter what. So if you have eight cats, you need nine litter boxes. 

“If you think you’re just going to bounce a new cat into the household, then it’s all going to be peachy. It’s not likely to go that way. 

“So you have to be prepared for that. And that’s why having two kittens at a time can really help because those two kittens then are going to be a lot more accepting of other cats than a cat that’s lived by itself for 10 years. And then you try to bring one or

two kittens into the house. That gets pretty rough.”

Marty’s Book Recommendation:

The Natural Cat

Feeling Outnumbered? – How To Manage & Enjoy A Multi-Dog Household

The Marty & Laura Show is produced by Pure Dog Talk Inc., with sound design and editing by Premium Audio Services.

Dogs, cats, and even rats are on the topic list for Marty and Laura today as they discuss how to choose the best pet to fit your home and family.

They’ll guide you through the process of finding the perfect companion for your lifestyle, making sure your new pet is a good match for your home and everyone in it.

“Home is where someone runs to greet you when you walk in the door.” Let’s make sure that someone is the right fit! Marty blows up Laura’s brain with news about cat collar tags that trigger automatic feeders for multiple cats. 

Laura reminds Marty about the Human Animal Bond Research Institute which provides empirical research into the benefits of pet ownership.

We’re excited to bring you these fun, fact-based conversations about pet health. From professional tips on selecting your new dog to understanding your cat’s cough and what you should do about it, we’ll meet you wherever you are—whether you’re in the car, on the treadmill, or walking the dog—and provide a good laugh, a great story, and a fresh idea every week.

We hope you’ll join us on social media and visit our website to sign up for an extra pet tip of the week. While you’re at it, please take a moment to leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts.

The Marty & Laura Show is produced by Pure Dog Talk Inc., with sound design and editing by Premium Audio Services.