When you get a little puppy for the first time it is very exciting. Although it is fun having a new family member it can be a little stressful if you are not sure how to feed your puppy properly. Today we are going to talk about a few basic tips, discovering how much to feed your pup, the times to feed and when/how to switch over from puppy food to adult dog food.
Remember it is best to always consult with your vet about proper quantities and getting the best advice when it comes to feeding your puppy. But have in mind that they have little tummies and benefit from eating smaller quantities of food at more times throughout the day.
As your puppy gets older then you can reduce the quantity and times you feed them everyday to 2 meals depending on what works for you and your dog.
HOW MUCH TO FEED A PUPPY BY WEIGHT
Remember that the quantities fed to your dog can be adjusted depending on your Veterinarian’s recommendation or your dog’s condition and activity level. This information is provided as a guide while eating Delicate Care All Breeds Puppy Food and is based on energy requirements for growth. Pregnant and lactating dogs can be fed “ad libitum”. Also below we have indicated when to switch your puppy to dog food based on their weight.
Dogs 5Kg and under who are 3 months weaning should try and get 55 to 75 grams per day. Also dogs who are 3 to 6 months weaning should aim for 85 grams per day. From 6 months onward at 5Kg and under they should transition to Adult food.
Small Dogs 5Kg to 10Kg – who are 3 months weaning should get 110 to 140 grams per day. Dogs who are 3 to 6 months weaning then 150 to 160 grams per day, 6 to 9 months weaning 160 grams per day. Then from 9 months after weaning small dogs between 5Kg and 10Kg can go on Adult food.
Medium Dogs 10Kg to 25Kg – within 3 months after weaning should get 210 to 250 grams per day. 270 to 310 grams per day when 3 to 6 months weaning and for 6 to 9 months after weaning 310 grams per day is ideal. Then to adult food after this period.
Large Dogs 25Kg to 50kg – should try and get 330 to 440 grams within 3 months after weaning. Then from 3 to 6 months after weaning, 500 to 550 grams. 550 grams from 6 to 9 months, from 9 to 12 months your dog should aim for 550 to 560 grams per day. When your dog reaches 12 to 18 months after weaning then 520 to 550 grams per day. From 18 months onward, Adult food.
Giant Dogs 50kg and over – 430 to 600 grams per day within 3 months after weaning. Between 3 to 6 months after weaning 700 to 800 grams per day. 800 grams from 6 to 9 months and 9 to 12 months. 12 to 18 months after weaning, 790 to 850 grams per day. When your dog reaches 18 to 24 months after weaning then you are looking at 850 grams. After 24 months your dog should be transitioning over to Adult food.
Here is a more visual look at this guide :
| Size of Adult Dog | Weaning – 3 monthsgrams/day | 3-6 monthsgrams/day | 6-9 monthsgrams/day | 9-12 monthsgrams/day | 12-18 monthsgrams/day | 18-24 monthsgrams/day | 24 monthsgrams/day |
| Toy < 5kg | 55 – 75 | 85 | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult |
| Small 5-10kg | 110 – 140 | 150 – 160 | 160 | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult |
| Medium 10-25kg | 210 – 250 | 270 – 310 | 310 | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult |
| Large 25-50kg | 330 – 440 | 500 – 550 | 550 | 550 – 560 | 520 – 550 | Adult | Adult |
| Giant > 50kg | 430 – 600 | 700 – 800 | 800 | 800 | 790 – 850 | 850 | Adult |
PUPPY FEEDING TIMES
Now that you have a understanding for how much to feed your puppy. How many meals can your puppy have at each of their ages cycles?
2-3 MONTHS – 4 MEALS/DAY
When your is young let them graze at food or give them 4 meals per day. You can use part of their daily portion to potty train and socialise them. Every time he/she encounters a new thing, pair it with food to create a positive association. Also use your puppies food as a reward for doing the right thing during training.
4-6 MONTHS – 3 MEALS/DAY
Now that your pup is getting bigger we can now divide their daily portion into 3 meals per day. The socialisation period will start by this time. You can continue working on it as a part of this daily portion. This is the period where you may want to start teaching your dog basic manners, like sitting politely to eat.
6 MONTH AND ONWARD – 2 MEALS/DAY
From 6 months onward your dog can now eat 2 meals per day. You may want to get interactive dog toys and slow feeding bowls to enrich your dogs life.
AVOID TUMMY UPSETS
When you bring your puppy home for the first time it is important to make sure the journey to their new home is as stress free as possible. To avoid any gastrointestinal upset take note what your puppy was eating before hand. And if you choose to make a transition to another food make it a slow and gradual transition. We recommend that you allow 7-10 days for transition. Introduce Delicate Care Dog Food slowly by mixing with your dog’s previous food, and gradually increase the amount of Delicate Care Dog Food until you are feeding this exclusively. This gradual transition will reduce the chance of stomach upsets.
OTHER PUPPY FEEDING TIPS
- Make sure to pick a good spot for your puppy to eat. Place the food and water bowl some place where he/she won’t be bothered by activity, with a clean floor is ideal.
- Remove the bowl after it has been available for 30 minutes. This will prevent overfeeding, puppies shouldn’t be able to snack like humans.
- Make sure to regularly wash your puppies food and water bowls. If they are made of plastic than they should be replaced from time to time.
WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY PUPPY?
You want to feed your puppy food that promotes optimum brain development. The neural development of growing puppies if important, it should support their cognitive and learning function, and improving trainability.
Immune support through a optimised blend of prebiotics can help against pathogenic bacteria and other common pathogens in your dog. Resulting in a healthy gastrointestinal tract.Food that provides energy for your puppy to grow and promoting lean muscle development. Gluten free for stomachs sensitive to wheat glutens. The Delicate Care Puppy Food provides all these benefits and much more. You can find out more about our Puppy Food here.
