How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?
Hereâs the recommended amount to feed your puppy so he wonât get too chubby đ˝

Puppies seem to be hungry all the time, and who can resist those big puppy-dog eyes staring at you for a second serving of dinner?
But just because your puppyâs the cutest thing in the world doesnât mean you should be feeding him all day long (or adding extra scoops of food to his meal).
The Dodo spoke to Dr. Graham Brayshaw, director of veterinary medicine at the Animal Humane Society in Minnesota, to find out how much you should feed your puppy (and how often).
What affects how much to feed a puppy?
How much your puppy needs to eat depends on his age and his weight, since dogs of different sizes and life stages have different nutritional needs.
âBigger dog breeds need more food than smaller dog breeds, which is why most pet food packaging gives feeding recommendations based on your dogâs size,â Dr. Brayshaw told The Dodo. âYounger dogs have a higher metabolism and are usually more active, so they need more food per pound than an older dog.â
How much to feed a puppy chart
This chart can help you decide how much you should feed your puppy. Most dog foods will also have recommendations on the bag for how much to feed him since every food is slightly different, so be sure to check that out, too.
âRemember that every diet is a little different when it comes to how calorie-dense it is,â Dr. Brayshaw said. âItâs best to follow the directions on the food packaging first, and then make adjustments based on your dogâs needs from there.â

If youâre still not sure exactly how much food to give your puppy, ask your vet for advice. They know your puppy, so theyâll be able to tell you the perfect amount for him.
âYour veterinarian can give you personalized recommendations for your puppy, and following the directions on the food packaging is a good place to start,â Dr. Brayshaw said.
How often to feed a puppy
Puppies need to eat a lot more often than adult dogs (which is part of the reason why they need to go to the bathroom more frequently, too).
âFrequency of feeding is based on your dogâs ability to control their own blood sugar levels,â Dr. Brayshaw said. âThis ability increases the bigger and older the dog is. A puppy may need to eat every few hours because they canât control their blood sugar levels as well, whereas an adult large-breed dog may only need to eat once a day.â
According to Dr. Brayshaw, you can start off by feeding your puppy four times per day until heâs 6 months old. At that point, you can switch him to two meals a day.
Keep in mind that you should try to avoid leaving your puppyâs food out all day for him to graze. Heâll benefit from having a set feeding schedule â and so will you â since it helps set up a routine.
âYour puppy should be able to eat their meal in about 10â15 minutes,â Dr. Brayshaw said. âIf your puppy doesnât eat all the food you offer, remove the uneaten food after 15â20 minutes. Itâs best to avoid letting your dog snack all day. Regular feeding times establish regular elimination patterns, which will make your life easier!â
When to switch a puppy to dog food
You should wait until your puppyâs fully grown to start feeding him adult dog food.
âYouâll want to make the change as a puppy slows their growing and when their metabolism starts to slow as they approach adulthood,â Dr. Brayshaw said.
The best time to transition to adult dog food depends on the dogâs size. For example, small dogs reach maturity faster than large-breed dogs, who can continue growing up until theyâre around 2 years old. Small dogs can be done growing as early as 6 months old, and medium-sized dogs will grow until theyâre around 1 year old.
âIn general, you should change to adult foods between 6 months and a year,â Dr. Brayshaw said. âYouâll want to change earlier in that window for smaller dogs and later in that window for larger dogs.â
Changing your puppyâs food too quickly can upset his stomach, so any time you make a change to his diet, you should do it slowly by mixing his old food with the new food.
âAbrupt changes in diet can lead to diarrhea, so gradually change diets over the span of two weeks,â Dr. Brayshaw said. âTo transition your dog to adult food, slowly start adding more and more adult food and less puppy food to your dogâs meals over the course of two weeks until they are fully transitioned to adult food.â
What to look for in puppy food
Not only should you make sure to feed your puppy the correct amount of food, but you should also make sure youâre feeding him high-quality food.
Puppy foods are specially formulated to have all the protein, fat, calories and minerals they need to keep them healthy while they grow. There are even puppy foods made just for small breeds and large breeds, since they have their own nutrient needs.
âI would recommend starting with a good, complete, larger brand diet, like Purina, Hillâs, Royal Canin, Iams or even Kirkland [Signature] or something similar,â Dr. Brayshaw said. âIf you have a history of your dog doing well on a certain kind of food, then stick with it.â
âCompleteâ foods meet the nutritional requirements set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for puppy foods to contain at least 22.5 percent protein, 8.5 percent fat and 1.2 percent calcium.
Dr. Brayshaw also recommends working with your veterinarian so you can make sure that your pup gets all the nutrients he needs.
While it might seem like your puppyâs always hungry, heâs still growing, so he needs a lot of food. Just be sure to feed him the right amount for his size and age and get him a healthy puppy food.
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