Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Bolognese Food Calculator
- Bolognese Feeding Chart
- Best Food for Bolognese. Bolognese Feeding Guide
- How Much Food to Feed the Bolognese
- How Many Times to Feed the Bolognese a Day
- Conclusion
Introduction to Feeding the Bolognese
Most dog owners do not know how to properly feed their dogs.
Also, most dog owners overfeed their dogs.
That explains why 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, according to research.
Overfeeding your Bolognese will make your Bolognese overweight and obese. Obesity leads to worse health problems for your Bolognese.
Unfortunately, the Bolognese is a dog breed that can become overweight very easily.
Therefore, you need to pay careful attention to what you feed your Bolognese and how much food you feed your Bolognese.
Furthermore, when you overfeed your Bolognese, you waste dog food. Wasting dog food is the same as wasting money. Dog food is a recurring expenditure that adds up to a lot of money over the lifespan of your Bolognese.
Bologneses have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years.
When you feed your Bolognese the right type of food and the right amount of food, your Bolognese will be of the right body weight and the right body condition (not overweight or underweight).
Similarly, underfeeding your Bolognese is as bad of a problem as overfeeding your Bolognese.
When you underfeed your Bolognese or feed your Bolognese an incomplete or unbalanced diet, you reduce your Bolognese`s quality of life.
The right amount of food that your Bolognese needs depends on six important factors.
You need to take all these factors into account when developing a meal plan for your Bolognese. These six factors are:- The life stage of your Bolognese (puppy, adult, or senior)
- The current weight of your Bolognese
- The body condition of your Bolognese (normal weight, overweight, underweight)
- How active your Bolognese is (inactive/obese prone, or active/athletic)
- If your Bolognese has been spayed/neutered
- The type of dog food that you feed your Bolognese
This article will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly feed your Bolognese based on the above factors as recommended by veterinarians.
This article also includes the Bolognese food calculator that you can use to estimate how much food to feed your Bolognese based on the six factors we have just mentioned.
Our Bolognese food calculator uses the dog food formula and feeding guidelines developed by the veterinarians from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center and by veterinarians from the Mark Morris Institute.
Moreover, our calculator knows the calorie content per cup in over 800 popular dog foods (data from the Frankin Animal Clinic). Thus, the calculator can automatically calculate the right amount of each popular dog food that your Bolognese needs daily.
Importantly, since the nutrient requirements of the Bolognese puppy are different from the nutrient requirements of the adult Bolognese, this article contains recommendations on the best food to feed the Bolognese at different ages.
Bolognese Food Calculator
The Bolognese Food Calculator above lets you estimate how much food to feed your Bolognese.
Similarly, to calculate how much water your Bolognese needs, check out our Bolognese water calculator
.Our dog water calculator lets you estimate how much water your Bolognese needs to drink in a day.
How to Use our Bolognese Food Calculator
To use the dog food calculator:✔ Select the name of the dog food that you feed your Bolognese from the list.
✔ If the name of the dog food that your feed your Bolognese is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.
✔ Enter the current weight of your Bolognese.
✔ Select your Bolognese`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.
✔ If your Bolognese is overweight or underweight, and you want your Bolognese to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your Bolognese for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your Bolognese is of normal weight.
CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.
How the Bolognese Food Calculator Works
First, the calculator estimates what is known as the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Bolognese.
The RER is the amount of energy that your Bolognese needs when it is `resting`, that is when doing nothing. The calculator uses the current weight of your Bolognese to calculate your Bolognese`s resting energy.
Next, the calculator scales up the resting energy by a factor that corresponds to your Bolognese`s life stage (puppy or adult) and lifestyle (activity level, spayed/neutered, etc). This scaled up energy value (called the maintenance energy) is the energy that your Bolognese needs to maintain its life when not resting.
Finally, the Bolognese food calculator divides the maintenance energy by the amount of energy in one cup of dog food to calculate how many cups of dog food your Bolognese needs.
Monitoring Your Bolognese`s Growth
The answer from the Bolognese food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Bolognese.
Start by feeding your Bolognese the amount of food recommended by the Bolognese food calculator every day.
While feeding your Bolognese this daily amount of food, weigh your Bolognese at least once a week to ensure that your Bolognese is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Bolognese is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Bolognese`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Bolognese grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Bolognese body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Bolognese body condition score here.
Bolognese Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Bolognese. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Bolognese.
If you want a more accurate estimate of how much food to feed your Bolognese, use this Bolognese food calculator.
| Age | Typical Weight | How Much Food |
|---|---|---|
| 14 weeks | 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 15 weeks | 5.3 lbs (2.4 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 16 weeks | 5.6 lbs (2.5 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 18 weeks | 6.1 lbs (2.8 kg) | 0.8 cups per day |
| 5 months | 6.6 lbs (3.0 kg) | 0.8 cups per day |
| 6 months | 7.4 lbs (3.4 kg) | 0.9 cups per day |
| 7 months | 8.1 lbs (3.7 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 8 months | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 9 months | 9.0 lbs (4.1 kg) | 1.0 cups per day |
| 10 months | 9.3 lbs (4.2 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 11 months | 9.6 lbs (4.3 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 12 months | 9.7 lbs (4.4 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 1 years | 9.8 lbs (4.5 kg) | 1.1 cups per day |
| 2 years | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 0.9 cups per day |
| 3 years | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) | 0.9 cups per day |
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Bolognese
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
See how and how not to measure ONE cup of dry dog food in the picture below:
Note that one cup of dog food equals 8 oz of dog food or ~237 milliliters of dog food.
You can buy standard dog food measuring cups here on Amazon.
Best Food for Bolognese. Bolognese Feeding Guide
The Bolognese has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Bolognese at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
For example, during its puppy stage, your Bolognese needs the type of dog food that has been designed to help boost a puppy`s weak immune system.
On the other hand, the adult Bolognese should have already developed a good immune system. So, during the adult stage, you should feed your Bolognese the type of dog food that has been designed to prolong the life of a dog.
Nevertheless, some dogs still do well eating the same food at every stage of their lives.
However, feeding your Bolognese dog food that has been optimized for its age will ensure that your Bolognese grows well, lives well, and lives long.
Feeding Guide for the Bolognese Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Also, a good puppy food should have the nutrients that support brain development and good vision.
Finally, a good dog food for the Bolognese puppy should be the type that will not make your Bolognese fat. The puppy food should also help increase the health of your puppy`s bones.
See our list of the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food for the Bolognese puppy below.
These dog foods have all the right amount of nutrients that the Bolognese puppy needs to grow well during its puppy years.
Best Dry Food For Bolognese Puppy: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Bolognese Puppy: Purina Pro Plan High Protein Wet Puppy Food
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Bolognese: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Bolognese should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Bolognese should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Bolognese getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Bolognese should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Bolognese
Best Dry Food For Young Adult Bolognese: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult Oral Care for Dental Health Dog Food, Chicken Rice & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Young Adult Bolognese: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Bologneses: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Bolognese food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Bolognese below:
Best Dry Food For Mature Adult Bolognese: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
Best Wet Food For Mature Adult Bolognese: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Beef & Barley Recipe
Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
One way to slow down the effects of aging in dogs is to reduce the amount of food you feed old dogs by 20 to 30% of normal while meeting essential nutrient needs.
Reducing a senior Bolognese`s food slows the aging process and reduces the risk for cancer, kidney diseases, arthritis, and immune-related diseases.
AAFCO-Certified Dog Food for the Bolognese
No matter which commercial food that you feed your Bolognese, make sure that the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
AAFCO is an expert body that rigorously tests dog food to make sure that the dog food is safe.
Also, AAFCO ensures that a dog food has all the nutrients (not just calories) that a dog needs to grow well before AAFCO approves the dog food.
Unlike homemade dog food, most commercial dog foods are AAFCO-approved. Double-check the label of your dog food to make sure it has been certified by AAFCO before feeding it to your Bolognese.
How Much Food to Feed the Bolognese
How Much Food to Feed a 12-Week-Old Bolognese Puppy
You should feed your 12-week-old Bolognese puppy 0.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Bolognese puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 12-week-old Bolognese puppy assumes that the weight of your Bolognese is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 12-week-old Bolognese puppy is 4.3 lbs (1.9 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Bolognese, and other factors, use our Bolognese food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 19-Week-Old Bolognese Puppy
You should feed your 19-week-old Bolognese puppy 0.8 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Bolognese puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 19-week-old Bolognese puppy assumes that the weight of your Bolognese is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 19-week-old Bolognese puppy is 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Bolognese, and other factors, use our Bolognese food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 6-Month-Old Bolognese Puppy
You should feed your 6-month-old Bolognese puppy 0.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Bolognese puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 6-month-old Bolognese puppy assumes that the weight of your Bolognese is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 6-month-old Bolognese puppy is 7.4 lbs (3.4 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Bolognese food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese.
How Much Food to Feed a 9-Month-Old Bolognese Puppy
You should feed your 9-month-old Bolognese puppy 1.0 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Bolognese puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 9-month-old Bolognese puppy assumes that the weight of your Bolognese is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 9-month-old Bolognese puppy is 9.0 lbs (4.1 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Bolognese food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese.
How Much Food to Feed a 6-Year-Old Bolognese
You should feed your 6-year-old Bolognese 0.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Bolognese over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 6-year-old Bolognese assumes that the weight of your Bolognese is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 6-year-old Bolognese puppy is 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Bolognese food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese.
How Much Food to Feed a 11-Year-Old Bolognese
You should feed your 11-year-old Bolognese 0.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Bolognese over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 11-year-old Bolognese assumes that the weight of your Bolognese is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 11-year-old Bolognese puppy is 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Bolognese food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese.
How Much Food to Feed a 7-Pound Bolognese
You should feed your 7-Pound Bolognese 0.7 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Bolognese over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Bolognese is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Bolognese is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Bolognese food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese.
How Much Food to Feed a 9-Pound Bolognese
You should feed your 9-Pound Bolognese 0.9 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Bolognese over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Bolognese also assumes that you feed your Bolognese a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Bolognese is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Bolognese is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Bolognese food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Bolognese.
How Many Times to Feed the Bolognese a Day
When it comes to how many times to feed a dog, there are three different ways to feed the Bolognese
One way is to make food available to the Bolognese at all times (free-choice feeding).
Another way is to feed the Bolognese two or three times a day (food-restricted feeding). This is the feeding method that works the best for most Bologneses.
The third way is to make food available to your Bolognese for a short time (about 10 minutes) once or twice a day (time-restricted feeding).
Each of these feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed next.
Free-Choice Feeding
This is a feeding method when you make food available to your Bolognese all the time.
Food-Restricted Meal Feeding
Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the Bolognese’s daily energy requirements divided into two or three meals per day.
This is the method of choice for feeding puppies that are at risk of developing bone diseases due to rapid growth. Restricting the food of a rapidly growing dog will ensure that the dog grows normally.
Time-Limited Feeding
This is a dog feeding method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a short period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day).
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free-choice feeding |
|
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| Food-restricted feeding |
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| Time-restricted feeding |
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Effect of Neutering/Spaying on How Much Food your Bolognese eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Bolognese`s appetite for more food. Also, your Bolognese`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Bologneses because neutered dogs roam less (which means less exercise).
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Bolognese should be reduced after you neuter your Bolognese to prevent weight gain.
Use our Bolognese food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Bolognese.
Effect of Weather on How Much Food Your Bolognese Needs
Bologneses that live in cold environments need more food (especially, food high in fat) than Bologneses that live in hot environments.
Hot weather, on the other hand, does not increase the amount of food your Bolognese needs. Hot weather only makes your Bolognese need more water.
Since most Bologneses live in a temperature-controlled environment as their owners. Therefore, owners do not need to increase or decrease the amount of food they give to their Bologneses based on the outside weather.
Important Note on Treats and Table Food
Because meeting a dog`s nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of dog treats, most commercial dog treats do not contain the essential nutrients that your Bolognese needs.
However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are approved by AAFCO, or some other credible dog food regulatory agency. Check the label on your dog treat to know if the dog treat has a complete and balanced nutrient profile.
Nevertheless, dog treats, either balanced or unbalanced in nutrients, are valid sources of calories for your dog. Therefore, if you give your dog lots of treats, you should reduce the amount of the regular dog food that you give your dog accordingly to account for the treats. That way, you will not overfeed your dog.
Also, human table foods do not contain the important nutrients that your Bolognese needs for healthy growth.
Also, human table foods may contain very high levels of fat or sodium and other minerals that are harmful to your Bolognese.
Moreover, know that when you feed your Bolognese table food, you fill your Bolognese`s stomach with dog `junk food`. This will suppress your Bolognese`s appetite and thereby make your Bolognese unable to eat its normal dog food that contains the essential nutrients for your Bolognese`s growth.
We do not recommend giving your Bolognese table food.
Conclusion
Most commercial dog food labels contain recommendations on how much of the food to feed a dog. However, their recommendations are very general.
Therefore, in this article, we have provided your specific advice on how to properly feed your Bolognese.