How much to feed a puppy​? A puppy feeding schedule guide

Do you know how much to feed a puppy? Well, if you’re about to become a new pet parent, you definitely need to know. Here’s everything you need to know about puppy foods, how to create a puppy feeding chart, and switching from puppy food to adult dog food.

Key takeaways

• The best puppy foods are high quality and rich in proper nutrients. If you’re unsure what these are, talk to your veterinarian first.
• The amount you feed your puppy depends on whether they’re a small breed or large breed puppy, their activity levels, and overall growth and development.
• Puppies will need to be on their puppy food until at least 12 months old, but some larger dogs might need to be fed this longer as they continue to grow.

Proper nutrition and food for puppies

Baby snuffles are growing machines! This means they need the proper nutrients to help their growth and development alongside a balanced diet to keep them healthy. Puppies can start eating solid foods (weaning) from about three weeks old, but although they no longer need mom’s milk, they still need a lot of the same fats and proteins in their puppy food.

Most puppy foods on the market make their foods with this in mind (and is a reason you shouldn’t give puppy food to adult dogs as it’s too fattening). Whether you decide to go with wet or dry food is up to you and your pup - some will have a preference for one over the other, and some will literally eat anything. It’s okay to start with a mix and see how you go, but be sure to introduce new foods into their diet slowly.

How much to feed a puppy​?

A large breed puppy will need a lot more protein and fat in their food than a small breed, so this is where portion sizes are super important. Each pup will have its own individual puppy feeding schedule which will be tailored to its breed, age, wellbeing, and exercise levels.

Puppy feeding schedule

Here are the puppy feeding guidelines from the American Kennel Club (AKC). Remember to talk this through first with your veterinarian. Together you can use these tips to create your own puppy feeding chart: 

6–12 weeks

Growing puppies should be fed puppy food, a diet specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of puppies for normal development. Feeding your puppy with adult dog food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Four feedings a day are usually adequate to meet nutritional demands. Large breed puppies should be fed unmoistened dry puppy food by 9 or 10 weeks; small dogs by 12 or 13 weeks.

3–6 months

Sometime during this period, decrease feedings from four to three a day. A puppy should be losing their potbelly and pudginess by 12 weeks. If they are still roly-poly at this age, continue to feed puppy-size portions until their body type matures.

6–12 months

Begin feeding your puppy twice daily. If your puppy is spayed or neutered during this timeframe, it’s important to note that altering lowers your puppy’s energy requirements slightly. If they’ve had this procedure, switch from nutrient-rich puppy food to adult maintenance dog food. Small breed puppies can make the switch to adult food at 7 to 9 months; larger breeds at 12, 13, and even 14 months. Err on the side of caution: Better to be on puppy food for a little too long than for not long enough.

After age 1

Most owners will choose to feed adult dogs their daily amount of food split between two meals.

Treat food for puppies

If your puppy is food motivated - and we haven’t yet met one who isn’t) - it’s almost impossible to raise a puppy without some tasty treats to hand. Of course, these still need to be rationed! Try mixing up their daily training by rewarding them with toys, playtime, and attention rather than just simply offering snacks. A few treats throughout the week are fine but beware of overfeeding, particularly when they give you those cutie little puppy dog eyes.

Switching from puppy food to adult

Puppies have sensitive tummies, despite how quickly they can snaffle their food. To avoid any stomach upsets, introduce adult dog food alongside their puppy food (with a reduced portion size). Some puppies can begin to go full-time onto adult food from about 12 months. However, large breed puppies might need to be on their puppy diet for several months longer - they take a bit longer to grow.

Going away and looking to keep up your puppy’s feeding schedule? Find loving dog sitters near you who can care for your precious pooch surrounded by the comforts of home.