Why Puppies Need Puppy Food
Puppy food is formulated to support rapid growth, with higher levels of protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorus than adult food. Feeding an adult food to a growing puppy means they may not receive adequate nutrition for bone and muscle development.
How Often Should You Feed a Puppy?
| Age | Meals per day |
|---|---|
| 8 to 12 weeks | 4 meals |
| 3 to 6 months | 3 meals |
| 6 to 12 months | 2 to 3 meals |
| 12 months+ (small and medium breeds) | 2 meals |
How Much Should You Feed a Puppy?
Follow the feeding guide on your puppy food packaging. Because puppies grow rapidly, adjust the amount every two to four weeks based on their weight. Do not feed to appetite.
For large and giant breeds specifically: do not over-supplement with calcium. Excessive calcium and too-rapid growth are linked to developmental bone disease. Use a large-breed-specific puppy food which controls calcium and phosphorus levels.
Feeding Guide by Breed Size
Small breeds (under 10kg adult weight): Switch to adult food at 9 to 12 months.
Medium breeds (10 to 25kg adult weight): Switch to adult food at 12 months.
Large breeds (25 to 45kg adult weight): Feed large-breed-specific puppy food. Switch to adult food at 12 to 18 months.
Giant breeds (over 45kg adult weight): Feed giant-breed puppy food. Switch to adult food at 18 to 24 months. Consult your vet on transition timing.
What to Feed a New Puppy
Continue feeding whatever the breeder or rescue was using for at least the first week. Moving to a new home is already stressful -- a simultaneous food change significantly increases the risk of digestive upset.
Foods Toxic to Dogs
Keep these away from puppies at all times: grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, leeks and chives, chocolate, xylitol (found in some peanut butters, sweets and chewing gum), macadamia nuts, avocado, cooked bones, alcohol.