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The Ultimate Puppy Feeding Guide (2023)

Puppy Feeding Timeline

We all know that puppies only get one chance to grow up, and so it is crucially important that we provide them with the right nutrition to help support them during development so that they can grow into a healthy active and happy dog. However if you are a new puppy owner it can sometimes be a little confusing where to start and so we have provided this puppy nutrition guide to help get you going.

For the first four weeks of your puppies life, your puppies nutrition will rely mostly from their mothers maternal milk which is called colostrum. This nutrient dense milk will help provide important immunity properties which will help your puppy grow. At about four weeks of age your breeder will begin the weaning process which is transition your puppy from the mother's milk over to a formula suited for puppy growth. This will will generally begin with softening the kibble so it is almost a porridge like consistency for those young developing mouths to process and digest and is gradually introduced into the diet.

Over the next few weeks your puppy will begin to develop and personalities will begin to show, during this time their digestive tracts and baby teeth are also developing more and they will begin to gradually adjust to more fimer kibble pieces. At 8 weeks of age your puppy should be able to happily eat a complete and balanced diet tailored for puppy growth.


HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT DIET FOR MY PUPPY.

Generally speaking by the time your puppy is ready to go home, your breeder would have already selected a diet which they have been feeding for the past few weeks. It will be important to take note of this and have some of the same food ready to help ease the transition into a new household, this will help to avoid any digestive upsets caused by changing the food too quickly. If you wish to change the diet, it is important to do it gradually over a 7 day period.

Puppies themselves have unique nutritional needs and need a diet which will be suitable for growth rather than a diet tailored for maintenance. Puppy diets will generally be higher in protein, fat and calories to supply this extra energy needed. They will also include selected vitamins and minerals to help boost the immune system and DHA an omega 3 fatty acid vital for brain development.

However not all puppies are the same, for instance a smaller breed puppy will have a faster metabolic growth rate compared to a large breed puppy and so therefor will need different nutrient levels in their diet to support the different growth needs. This is where size health nutrition plays an important role, a puppy with an estimated adult weight of 10kg and under would need to go on a small breed puppy diet, a puppy with an estimated adult weight of 11kg to 24kg will need to go on a medium puppy diet, and a puppy with a estimated adult of 25kg and over would need to be placed on a large breed puppy diet.

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How Much Should You Feed A Puppy?

One of the most important aspects of a growing puppy is identifying how much food they need to be fed whilst they are growing. The best way to do this is to be able to understand how to read a puppy feeding guide on the package of your puppy food.

Most puppy feeding guides will be based on the estimated adult weight of your puppy and not the current weight. As we now know that different size puppies have different nutritional needs this will enable us to ensure our puppy is getting the correct calorie requirements suited for their breed and size. The estimated adult weight can be based on variety of factors, this can include the sex of your puppy, genetics and breed. If you are unsure of your puppies estimated adult weight you can reach out to your breeder, or your case veterinarian who could do a general body condition score.

The first 5 months of your puppies life is an important developmental stage, not only are the muscles and bones developing but their digestive system is also developing too. This means that puppies can only handle smaller quantities of food at a time to avoid getting diarrhoea as a result from a larger number of nutrients to digest. We would advise from 8 weeks of age up until 5 months of age to feed the daily portion of your puppies food into three meals, this will help ease the stress on the digestive system. When your puppy reaches 6 months of age you can divide the daily portion of food into two meals per day ongoing.

Some breeds of puppies may be more active than others, and as a result can tend to burn more calories a little quicker than most. It is important to monitor your puppies body condition while they are growing and adjust the feeding recommendation if needed. If you are unsure with how your puppy is progressing, check in with your veterinarian who can guide you along the way.

Should I Be Feeding My Puppy Wet or Dry Dog Food?

When choosing the right puppy food for your growing puppy, one of the many questions asked is what is better While both have nutritional benefits, the goal is a complete and balanced diet with all the essential nutrients required for growth. 

While Eukanuba dry food offers this, wet food is generally softer in texture and can be easier to help wean puppies off their mother's milk and onto a more solid formula. For those puppies with smaller mouths, feeding wet food can be easier for them to chew.

Wet food also has a higher meaty aroma than dry food, and for those fussy puppies who might be a little stubborn, the smell of wet food can help entice fussy eaters to get those nutrients into their bodies. Wet food also has a higher moisture content, which can benefit urinary health and help with hydration. However, due to this higher moisture content, more wet food is generally needed to be fed compared to its dry food equivalent. 

Dry food on its own provides all of the necessary nutrients your puppy requires. It also helps maintain dental health through the crunching of the kibble itself. Dry food, once opened, will also have a longer life span of up to two months if kept in the right conditions (wet food needs to be used within three days and kept in the refrigerator.) 

As Eukanuba dry food is complete and balanced and tailored to your puppy's needs, it is a great option that can remain as your pup’s staple diet as they turn into healthy and happy, active adults.
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What Are The Best Times To Feed a Puppy?

The right time to feed your puppy depends on various factors, what time do you wake up in the morning or what times does your puppy wake you up. It is important however to set a routine from the moment your puppy gets home, this will make feeding time a lot easier for you as your puppy develops. Ideally between the age of 8 weeks until 5 months your puppy should be having at least 3 meals a day. Smaller meals will be easier to digest for a developing intestinal system.

The first meal of the day would generally be around 7am to 8am, generally speaking not long after your puppy has eaten they will need to relieve themselves so setting an ideal routine can also help with house training. After they have exercised or played in the morning, they have most likely burnt some calories and will develop and appetite and so lunchtime should be around 12pm-1pm. The same rule would then apply around the house training. We could suggest dinner would be around 5pm-6pm allowing your puppy enough time to digest their food and go to the toilet before they sleep.

Once your puppy reaches 6 months of age then you can begin to divide the daily portion of food into two meals a day rather than three, on a general rule feeding morning and night suits most routines.

Should I Feed My Puppy As Soon As They Wake Up?

When getting a new puppy it is important to set the rules from day one and create a time table suitable to your needs and your puppies. As your puppy is learning the ins and outs of toilet training, they are most likely learning to hold their bladder overnight. As soon as your puppy wakes up it would be important to take them outside to where you want them to toilet so they can focus on the toilet training, this will create a positive routine for you and your puppy.

Once they have relieved themselves they are most likely going to have an excess burst of energy so they may want to play and interact with you first. Once they have settled you can look at providing them their first meal for the day. Try and be consistent with the time you feed your puppy, generally while they are young this can be between 7am to 8am, depending on how early they wake up. It is important to note do not exercise your puppy right after feeding as this may cause them to be sick. We would advise to wait until at least one hour after feeding time to begin the walk to allow them to digest their meal first.

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When To Stop Using Puppy Food & Transition to Adult Dog Food

As much as we would love them to, puppies do not stay puppies forever, and so as they begin to enter into adulthood we need to look at transitioning them onto an appropriate diet. Due to the different growth requirements puppies have, this transition will be begin at different ages depending on the size and breed of your puppy. Small breed puppies (estimated adult weight 10kg and under) can reach adulthood at 10 months of age, medium breed puppies (estimated adult weight 11kg to 24kgs) from 12 months of age, large breed puppies (25kg to 44kg) from 15 months of age and giant breed puppies (45kg and onwards) from 24 months of age.

Choosing the right adult diet for puppy will be dependant on a number of factors, things you need to consider are the breed of your puppy and what their energy requirements are like, for instance if you have a very active puppy you might want to consider transitioning over to an active dog formula once they reach maturity. It is important to remember not to switch your puppies food right away even if you are feeding the same brand. Puppy diet formulas will indeed be different to an adults dogs and so a gradual transition over a 7 day period will be important to help ease the digestive stress and to allow your puppy get use to their new diet.

Should I Feed My Puppy Treats?

For any new puppy owner, it can be quite challenging to get your new puppy to learn some basic obedience skills while there are so many distraction going on around them. One of the easiest ways to help get your new puppies attention is to reward them with treats. As owners we provide treats to our puppies for many reasons, as mentioned it can be a great way to encourage training and it is also a way for us to show affection to our new loved one. However their is such a thing as too many treats, and the risk of this can lead to pet obesity.

It is important to remember that the majority of treats are not providing a complete and balanced diet, so any treat that is fed along side your pets meal is counted as added calories. Treats should not make up more than 10% of your puppies diet and should be given sparingly.

Instead of using treats to reward your puppy, try using their own kibble as a reward which will also provide a high nutrient value. This amount of food should then be included into your pets daily calorie count to avoid excess calories. Once your puppy has mastered their training try replacing the treats with positive reinforcement such as pats or play behaviour with toys. Try to avoid using bones as a reward as they can sometimes be damaging to your puppy. As your puppies teeth are still developing you could risk mouth injuries such as broken teeth, splinters or even serious obstructions.

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Puppy Feeding Advice and Tips

Settings boundaries for your puppy at a young age, will hopefully help to limit unwanted behaviour as they get older in life. Set the ground rules from day one.

Generally we would advise not to give your puppy table scraps while you are sitting at the dining table. This can lead to begging behaviour and the expectation that when you are sitting down your puppy with get food. The added leftovers will also add to your puppies daily calorie count which can increase weight gain. Although we may like to treat our dogs as a sign of affection, their are some food that can be dangerous to our four legged canine companion. It is important to avoid giving you dog the below food.
  • Alcohol
  • Artificial sweetener (Xylitol)
  • Avocado
  • Caffeine
  • Chocolate
  • Cooked Bones and uncooked
  • Corn on the cob
  • Grapes and Raisins
  • Garlic
  • Fruit Pits and Seeds
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Onions
  • Yeast Dough

If you feel as though your puppy had ingested any of these ingredients call your veterinarian right away. Before bringing your puppy home, ensure that all wires and any chewable is out of reach. We would also advise check the plants you have indoors and outdoors in the yard as some can cause harm if ingested.

We believe that every dog is born to be active, however to start them on their journey they need the right nutrition to help fuel their growth and of course their play. Giving your puppy the right nutritional diet and the right portions the moment they step into your house sets them up for future success. If at any point you are unsure are the correct diet or nutritional needs for your young puppy we would always advise to check in regularly with your veterinarian. To learn more about our Eukanuba diets and setting up your new puppy visit the link below.