At what age do you stop feeding a puppy 3 times a day?

The feeding requirements of a puppy vary depending on a number of factors including breed type, sex of your dog, age and their activity level.

From birth to about 3-4 weeks of age, a mother's milk should satisfy a puppy's nutritional needs. From 4 weeks onwards a puppy will need solid food supplements. Solid food should contain quality nutrients which are balanced and are highly palatable (yummy).

Moving to solid foods can cause some changes. Your puppy may develop an upset stomach or diarrhoea. If diarrhoea persists longer than 24 hours or is severe, please contact us immediately. We also suggest any feeding changes be done gradually and if possible over a 4 day period.

When to feed your puppy

Depending upon your pet's age, breed and size we recommend feeding 4 meals a day up until 4 months of age. This can be reduced to 3 meals per day up until 6 months and then 2 meals until your dog is an adult. Obviously for some pet owners these time frames may not be possible. As a minimum feed at least twice per day during puppy-hood. Adult dogs should ideally be fed 2 meals a day particularly in large breeds which helps to prevent bloat.

Which puppy food is best?

Premium dog biscuits offer the best all round diet for growing puppies. Premium ranges are developed by veterinary science experts and take into consideration the development of your dog's body including the immune system and vital organs, skin and coat health as well as stool formation (faeces texture, smell and amount).

Introducing solid food to your dog is easiest done with a small kibble. There are also some brands which offer a rehydratable option. This means the kibble (biscuits) are soaked before feeding which makes it easy for weaning.

Depending on the breed and size of your puppy they should be fed a puppy growth product. There are several products available offering a small breed or large breed variety.

When should you stop feeding your dog puppy food?

The age for transitioning from puppy to adult dog food is based on your dog's own characteristics, health, lifestyle and the brand of dog food they are being fed. Every dog is different so we strongly recommend you speak with our healthcare team before changing to an adult food. As a basic guide small dogs (<25kg) can change at around 12 months of age, and large dogs (>25kg) can change around 15 months of age. We provide this information with great caution and would prefer for you to contact us at any time to discuss your puppy's nutritional program.

There’s a lot to plan for a puppy’s arrival. At the top of the list is how much to feed a puppy. Your puppy’s portions depend on his breed, weight, and age. Plan ahead and create a puppy feeding schedule that is consistent, nutritionally balanced and meets his energy requirements.

Why feeding puppies puppy food is important

Puppies need a lot of calories, extra protein, and more fat to help sustain growth, so puppy food is balanced accordingly. Typically, puppy food also includes some of the nutrients found in mother’s milk, like the Omega Fatty Acid DHA.

To ensure you’re selecting a puppy food, make sure it is labeled specifically for puppies or says “for all life stages” somewhere on the package.

Puppy feeding chart

How much to feed a puppy and how often to feed a puppy depends first and foremost on his age. The easiest way to remember how much to feed a puppy is to create a puppy feeding chart that matches your puppy’s breed and weight at maturity.

Very young puppies need to eat a high-quality puppy food diet approximately 3 to 4 times per day. The frequency of feeding puppies goes down to 3 times per day at around 3 to 6 months of age, and 2 times per day at around 6 to 12 months.

After about a year, most puppies can transition to a nutritionally balanced adult dog food diet 2 times per day.

*Toy and smaller breeds may be able to transition to adult food a little earlier (some as early as 7 to 9 months), while some giant breeds don’t reach adulthood until around 18-24 months. Ask your veterinarian for specific guidance here, and if you have any doubts as to when your puppy has officially become a full-grown dog, keep him on puppy food a little longer. When it comes to feeding puppies, it’s better to give a few extra nutrients than not enough.

What to feed puppies in the first year

As a new pet parent, you’ll find no shortage of dog food choices for feeding puppies. Puppies grow at a rapid pace, and a few food transitions are to be expected.

Starting Solids: 8 weeks old

1. Typically, solids introduced at 8 weeks of age.
2. Transition the pup slowly to solids, usually over 5 – 7 weeks.
3. At first, wet the kibble with water.
4. Allow the kibble to soak for a few minutes so that’s it’s soft.
5. Continue to wet the kibble with water over several weeks.
6. Each week use 1 tsp less water to soften the food.
7. By week 3 – 4, your puppy’s meals should be mostly crunchy kibble.
8. At week 7, he should be fully transitioned onto the dry dog food.

Regular Feeding: 6 – 12 months old

1. At 6 to 12 months establish regular eating times.
2. Start serving 2 feedings per day.
3. Create your own puppy feeding schedule routine.
4. The first step on the schedule is to leave the bowl of food on the floor for a set amount of time.
5. For beginners, start with 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how fast your dog eats.
6. Be consistent with the schedule and always use the same place to feed your dog, same time, and same time period.
7. Your dog will learn how this schedule works for the next 2 weeks.
8. Once your puppy is familiar with regular meal times you’ll find that they’re followed by regular potty times.
9. Bonus! More solid foods make picking up after your pup a lot easier.

Switching to Adult Dog Food: 1+ years

1. Adult dog food is introduced from a year old.
2. Transition your puppy slowly by mixing the new food into his puppy portions.
3. Meals should be a mix of 75% puppy food to 25% adult food.
4. Continue to serve mixed portions for about 2 – 3 days.
5. Gradually increase the adult food and decrease the puppy food by 10%.
6. By day 5 or 6, your puppy should be fully transitioned, eating 100% adult food.
7. Patience is key and a slow transition will help your puppy’s stomach adjust.
8. The whole process should take about a week.

Which dog food diet is healthier: Wet vs Dry vs Raw

Selecting a puppy food can be daunting. Most major dog food companies work with pet food nutritionists and adhere to strict guidelines for creating complete and balanced nutrition.  The most important thing to remember when choosing a dog food diet is that it’s appropriate for your pup’s life stage.

While there are many pros and cons of what to feed a puppy, the best food for your pup is the one that he enjoys eating, fits in with your budget and your family’s needs, and has your veterinarian’s seal of approval.

* Always follow veterinarian recommendations and/or instructions on the bag.

4 Tips to maintain a puppy feeding schedule

You’re well on your way to feeding your pup a perfectly healthy diet. Just don’t overdo it on treats. Keep in mind that treats should take up no more than 10% of your puppy’s total food quota for the day.

Finally, pay attention to your pup’s cues and always keep the following in mind:

• Stick to dog food and skip the table scraps; some human foods can make your dog sick.
• Keep fresh water out along with any food, and clean both food and water bowls regularly.
• Don’t start a medical diet or supplements without a prescription or recommendation.
• Always consult a veterinarian with any questions you may have.

Learn more about feeding a dog

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