So I just got the dogs their first box of Keen. How much should I be feeding them a day if they're going strictly THK?

Keen is..
* Protein, 21% min
* Fat, 15.5% min
* Fiber, 5% max
* Moisture, 8.64% max
* 470 Calories per cup

THK recommends for a dog 31-50lbs that are of average activity level, 1 – 2 dry cups, and then 1 1/2 – 3 cups of water.

I was looking back through a lot of threads and everyone was saying that they recommended too much and it made the dogs have a lot more BMs.

My dogs are not very active, they go to the dog park once a day for an hour, they probably run around 2 miles there. Otherwise they're sleeping..

How many dry cups should they get a day? and then how much water should I add?

When I fed THK I gave my moderately active, 50 lb sibe 1 cup of Keen mixed with about 1.25 cups of water. The different formulas have different consistencies which will vary the amount of water you'll want to add. Typically it's a one to one ratio but Keen is a thicker formula because of the oats, so I found it necessary to use more water with it. I do mix a little something extra in his food all the time so on any given day I'll mix in a little bit of canned food (maybe 2 tbsp worth, I don't measure), or maybe some cooked or raw bits of meat, or a little Ziwipeak, or sometimes a little bit of kibble to his 1 cup of Honest Kitchen. Whatever extra I added in was not substantial by any means and his weight stayed on target (he was 55 lbs back when he ate THK). And I do give treats 3 times a day if that makes any difference to you.

I'm feeding Grandma Lucy's and actually do the same as I did with THK.

Ginger is 51 lbs, walks on the average of 1.5 miles a day, and once or twice a week we will add in the dog park.

Ginger gets (per day):
3/4 c dry Zeal (which is a little less calories) (I mix 1/4 c Zeal to 1/3 c hot water)
3/8 c Orijen 6-Fish
1 regular Zukes Z Bone
2-3 small treats a day

This maintains her weight, and she has 3-4 small BM's a day. (She goes more than the average, but they're small. If she goes 2-3x a day, they're a little bigger.)

Huskyluv wrote:

Typically it's a one to one ratio but Keen is a thicker formula because of the oats, so I found it necessary to use more water with it.

Yep, with the Keen I normally add 1 1/4 cup of water per 1 cup. If not, its too thick and nasty I feed mine Keen (except Asia) and this is what they get:

Kody (trying to get him to gain a little weight. He's at 45lbs, but looks too skinny still, I think)

1 cup kibble (morning)
1 cup Keen/ 1/2 cup kibble (evening)

Mya (trying to maintain her weight, she's at 47lbs)

1/2 cup kibble (morning)
1/2 cup keen/ 1/4 cup kibble (evening)

Baby carrots as treats throughout the day (give him half a baby carrot normally)

Thanks ladies

Val, when Dakota was on it, was it one cup for the whole day? 1/2c each feeding?

Jennet&Embry wrote:

Val, when Dakota was on it, was it one cup for the whole day? 1/2c each feeding?

Yes, one cup for the whole day. However I feed meals once a day so he got the full cup at his evening feeding. I give my dogs treats 3 times a day, in the morning, then midday, and again right before bed.

One of the things I really like about Keen is how much more it expands compared to other HK formulas which helps them feel fuller. Of course every dog is different so you may feed a different amount than others do.

Huskyluv wrote:

Jennet&Embry wrote:

Val, when Dakota was on it, was it one cup for the whole day? 1/2c each feeding?

Yes, one cup for the whole day. However I feed meals once a day so he got the full cup at his evening feeding. I give my dogs treats 3 times a day, in the morning, then midday, and again right before bed.

One of the things I really like about Keen is how much more it expands compared to other HK formulas which helps them feel fuller. Of course every dog is different so you may feed a different amount than others do.

Okay sounds good I'll probably cut up some chicken quarters and add it to their THK. I'm thinking since mine are still pretty young, 1/2c in the morning and 1c in the evening..

Okay today was their first day on THK.

I did 1/2c of THK with 1 cup of water for breakfast and then another 1/2c for dinner. Then they each got a pig ear for a snack before bed...

They seem content, I know they don't eat much in the summer, it was 81 out today and they haven't begged and seemed full.

Am I underfeeding or just right?

Every dog is different. You'll have to monitor their weight and adjust feeding amounts as necessary if you notice changes. But I think 1 cup/day is a good starting point.