Feeding Stages of Puppies

Puppies are fast-growing animals that require the right blend of food and nutrients to ensure they grow up healthy and strong. Different breeds of puppies have different nutritional needs, so always consult your vet and your food manufacturer's recommended feeding guidelines with regard to the appropriate feeding stages of puppies in your care.

  1. The First Eight Weeks

    • During the first week of a puppy's life, its weight doubles. During its first eight weeks, a puppy generally is kept its mother, who will nurse the pup as often as it needs. When the puppy is weaned from mother's milk, it should be given a puppy food that is high in protein and enriched with vitamins, minerals and fats. Certain breeds of dog need specialized food blends to support their particular growth and development. For example, large breed dogs that are susceptible to joint problems as adults should be given a puppy food fortified with a special growth formula that regulates how fast bones and joints grow; specially formulated small-breed food provides concentrated nutrition in bite-size kibbles that meet a smaller animal's high metabolic needs.

    Age 8 to 12 Weeks

    • From 8 weeks to 12 weeks of age, a puppy generally needs to eat two to four times as much as an adult dog to support its growth. As it grows, a puppy can be expected to gain 1 to 2 grams per pound of anticipated adult weight each day. For example, if you have a Labrador puppy expected to reach 75 pounds at full adult size, expect it to gain 3 to 5 oz. per day for the first year of its life.

    Age 12 Weeks to 6 Months

    • Puppies generally should be fed small, frequent meals as very young puppies, but as they begin to mature at 4 to 6 months, you can reduce the feeding times to just twice day, as long as you still are following the food manufacturer's guidelines for how much food you are giving your puppy. For example, if you feed your puppy a total of 2 cups of food every day, you can break that down into two servings of 1 cup, four serving of ¼ cup, or any variation in between.

    Age 6 Months to 1 Year

    • By the time a puppy is 6 months of age, it should be down to two regularly scheduled feedings per day. You may have to adjust the food manufacturer's feeding guidelines based on the activity level and appetite of your puppy. In general, you should be able to feel but not see a puppy's ribs, and it should have a visible waist when you look down at it. Overweight dogs are susceptible to medical conditions as they age, so overfeeding a puppy is never a good idea.