Dear Tempting: Young puppies under one-year-old require double the nutrients of older dogs. They also have higher protein, fat, vitamin and water requirements than their adult counterparts. No matter how many times you feed the puppy it is important to feed them a formula specifically for puppies so that their caloric and nutritional needs are met.

Regularly scheduled feeding times allow you to monitor how well the pup is eating. Whether he is eating all his food right away and desires more or if what you are feeding him is too much. Puppies have different levels of appetite and growth rates depending on their breeds and genetic make-up. Sometimes pups don’t eat because they are teething or have the occasional upset stomach. Never force-feed a puppy, give him table scraps or leave his food out all day long or it can lead to harmful rapid growth, obesity or  finickiness.                  

Eating several small meals a day (three to four) helps since a puppy’s stomach is not full size and they can’t eat all the food required to meet their nutritional needs is just one feeding. Feeding a pup several times a day helps with housebreaking as well as you can coordinate outdoor elimination after some quiet time following the feedings. Some experts say you shouldn’t change from three daily feedings until they are six months old.

At the Purina website www.purina.com they recommend beginning twice daily feedings at from four- to five months-old and at one-year-old to feed once daily. If your dog is well on his way to being housebroken and is a good eater I see no harm in feeding him twice daily, once every twelve hours. Just divide his daily ration in half. If in the beginning he has trouble finishing his food, then you may need to wait until his is a little older to cut back the number of feedings.         

Dear Lisa: My dog just started an obedience class and the instructor uses lots of treats for training. Feeding my dog all these extra treats has me worried she is going to get very fat. How can I keep her from getting as large as a house? – Tricks or Treats

Dear Tricks: Many breeds of dogs thrive on food motivation for training. For some breeds it is the only method that works. All the praise and “good dogs” in the world aren’t going to get the job done. However, you are wise to worry about all those extra calories adding up.

Canine nutrition experts agree that treats should never account for more than 10 percent of a dog’s daily calories. The reason behind this is that most treats are not as nutrient dense or balanced as a food ration. Many commercially prepared treats lack healthy protein sources and are filled with excess salt, sugar, cereal and fat. Sound likes human snacks!

Search for treats that most resemble balanced dog food. Try using liver treats. Liver is the closest treat for what dogs need in their diet. It is available in small freeze-dried squares from pet suppliers. It’s important to give them a treat they love or they will not be as motivated to please during training. You can try a low-cal treat like carrots, but many dogs know this isn’t worth their effort as a reward.

Another trick is to use your dog’s own food, especially if you feed dry kibble, as a treat. If your dog gets two cups of kibble per day try using one cup of that kibble as her training treats. That way the caloric intake stays the same. Some dog food manufacturers, like Abady, make treats out of their regular dog formula. If you do use other treats, then cut back on her food ration, but remember no more than 10 percent.    

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Send questions to elvemel@aol.com or P.O. Box 197, Newtown, CT 06470.