How often to feed a puppy: Puppy feeding schedule

You should feed a puppy according to what he or she needs for their development - and small puppies need feeding more regularly. Here's how we break it down.

In their first few weeks of life, puppies rely on their mother's milk for nutrients. Newborn puppies nurse every 2-4 hours, or 8-10 times a day. All you need to do is keep mum happy and well-fed so she can take care of her babies until it’s time for them to develop some independence. 

If you're caring for an orphaned puppy, you should feed them on a strict schedule. Once they're 2 weeks old, they'll need milk around 4-5 times a day.

These younger puppies need their mother's milk for proper puppy nutrition. Orphaned pups can have puppy formula milk.

At 2-4 weeks, pups will start to open to the world and be ready to experience puppy food for the first time, gradually mixed into their milk replacer. 

When can puppies start drinking water? Start introducing water to your puppy's diet at around 2-4 weeks of age, as you wean them off milk.

When you bring your new puppy home at 8 weeks until they are 10 weeks old, you should feed them four meals a day.

The feeding interval should be every 3 hours.

Keep them on a diet of nutritional puppy food. For how much food to give them at each serving, check out our puppy food calculator. This also factors in your puppy's breed size.

Once your puppy is 10 weeks old until they are 12 weeks old, you should continue to feed them four meals a day.

The feeding interval should be every 4 hours.

As before, keep them on a diet of nutritional puppy food. For how much food to give them at each serving, check out our puppy food calculator.

Once your puppy is 12 weeks old until they are 6 months old, you should feed them three meals a day.

The feeding interval should be every 5 hours.

It's still important to keep them on a diet of nutritional puppy food. For how much food to give them at each serving, check out our puppy food calculator.

Once your puppy is 6 months old, you should feed them two meals a day.

The feeding interval should be every 8-10 hours.

It's good to introduce this routine and stick to it as your puppy ages, eventually switching to adult food as your puppy reaches 18 months (about 1 and a half years) old.

Best feeding times for your puppy

Thinking about how often to feed a puppy will naturally have many dog owners wondering about the best times to feed a puppy. The table below is our suggestion for mealtimes based off best puppy food intake requirements:

5 meals a day (8-10 weeks old)	7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm
4 meals a day (10 weeks to 4 months)	7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm
3 meals a day (4-6 months old)	7am, 12pm, 5pm
2 meals a day (6 months and older)	7am, 6pm

 

So, now you know that as your puppy grows, they'll need a different routine. Older puppies don't need to eat as often as tiny newborns, and as your pup develops into an adult dog, they'll need to eat even less frequently - though they'll need a larger portion to feel full.

We know that many new puppy owners have questions beyond "how often should I feed a puppy?". Discover more answers to the most-asked questions about your puppy's food below.

What’s the difference between adult and puppy food?

Puppy food is comprised of all the macronutrients and minerals that young dogs need for healthy growth. This includes higher protein, calcium, fat and phosphorous levels, which also aid in muscle and bone growth for small and medium-sized breeds. Puppy foods also often contain much smaller and easier-to-chew kibbles to aid with digestion.

As puppies grow, they need fewer calories. Adult dog food is much leaner.

What happens if a puppy eats adult food prematurely?

If you find you’ve mixed up your puppy food and adult food, you shouldn’t worry too much as it’s still dog food at the end of the day.

You may notice your puppy experiencing soft bowel motions after a sudden change in food, but returning to normal after a few days when back on the right nutritional track.

If I feed my puppy adult food, do they need to eat less often?

It's important that your puppy's food accurately reflects the stage they are in their development.

A growing puppy needs certain nutrients that are different to an adult dog's needs, and therefore it's important to feed your puppy the correct puppy food, rather than switching to adult food too early.

Two meals a day is not enough to help support your puppy’s growth - even if they're eating adult food. In fact, it's very important that you stick to puppy food at this stage, to help your puppy's growth.

Should I feed my puppy more calories?

All that growing your puppy is doing is burning up a lot of calories! In fact, healthy puppies can burn twice as many calories as adult dogs. This is why it's important to feed your puppy a balanced diet that meets their high energy needs.

Look for puppy food that is:

• High in calories
• Protein rich
• Packed full of essential nutrients
• Easy to chew and swallow

Make sure your pup gets frequent meals for healthy weight gain.

Do large breed puppies need to eat more than small breeds?

Short answer: yes.

Large breed puppies do need to have slightly bigger meals - but it's important not to overfeed them.

Large-breed puppy food includes less of the growth-supporting nutrients, like calcium, to help moderate the rate of growth in bigger dogs. This is important because it’ll help prevent issues in large breed and giant breed dogs that come from growing too fast, like elbow and hip dysplasia.  

Check out our puppy food calculator which factors in your puppy's breed size, so you can give them the correct helping.

New puppy teeth mean sore gums, so it's worth thinking about how you'll keep your pup's teeth healthy and serve them puppy food they'll be able to eat.

In the early stages, dry food - even dry puppy food - might be a little painful for your pup. Switch to wet puppy food which is softer on a dog's mouth for now.

Later, having something satisfying to chew on will be just what your puppy wants. Dry puppy food, or even raw carrots will help them dislodge their baby teeth - and will help remove the temptation of chewing your furniture.

What foods help bone development in puppies?

It's important you feed your puppy a balanced diet for healthy development. For strong bone growth, Vitamin D, vitamin A, copper, zinc, and manganese should be in their diet.

Don't forget fresh water, either - this is essential to a healthy diet.

Can I feed my puppy table scraps?

It can be tempting to feed your puppy human food whenever you eat - however, this brings an increased risk of health problems.

Cooked bones can splinter and cause your puppy injury. These should never be part of your dog's diet, even as they grow. So - while we know most dogs love gnawing a juicy bone, it's vital that you don't give them ones from your plate!

Typical human food is often far too rich and fatty for dogs, let alone your new puppy, to eat. Your furry friend won't be able to properly digest it. Too much fatty food can even lead to heart disease. Especially in the early stages of their development, it's important to give your puppy nutritious food to help them grow healthily.

How much food should be in each meal?

It's not just your puppy's age that determines how much to feed them. small breeds need to eat different amounts of puppy food than large breed puppies or giant breeds.

For how much food to give your puppy, whatever size they are, check out our puppy food calculator.

Should puppies have access to food all day?

We recommend feeding your puppy according to a schedule. Free feeding lets your puppy eat whenever they feel hungry, and is usually fine at a very young age, but as your puppy grows, having unregulated access to food leads to overeating in most puppies.

Most dogs' eyes are much bigger than their tummies, so free feed is a bad idea. Introduce a routine and your puppy will grow into a much healthier and happier dog.

Will a puppy stop eating when it's full?

This completely depends on the puppy! Some pups will stop after they've eaten enough, while others will eat until there's no more puppy food available. Some puppies will eat so much that they feel sick.

This is why it's important for owners to watch how much their puppy eats.

How long can a puppy go without food at night?

Most puppies can typically go about 12-14 hours without food at night - but this varies on their age and needs. Use our feeding schedule as a guideline.

If you want to help your puppy sleep through the night, a good rule is no food or water just before bed. Going to sleep on a full bladder and/or stomach can lead to accidents. Do your best not to feed your puppy less than three hours before bedtime and try to withhold water for the last hour of the evening.

Is 8pm too late to feed a puppy?

Yes. Your puppy's last meal should be earlier in the evening. As a tiny puppy eating more frequently, their last evening meal should be around 7PM. As you switch to fewer meals a day, your pup should be eating at 5PM or 6PM at the latest.

Puppy feeding schedule by age: the right food at the right time

With our handy feeding guide, we hope you’re now feeling super equipped to raise a happy, healthy puppy that enjoys a long and joyful life. Remember, tailored nutrition is crucial to your dog's health, so consider their life stage and size. No two dogs are the same, but catering to their needs as far as you can works wonders on their wellbeing.   

If you have any concerns regarding your puppy’s development, feeding habits or general health, consult your vet for bespoke advice. Remember to soak up every moment of puppyhood – it really is precious – and take pride in seeing your furry family member grow into a barkingly brilliant adult.

More reading

Want to read more about keeping your puppy healthy and happy? Check out these articles:

• Puppy feeding chart: What & how much to feed your puppy by weight & age
• How to puppy-proof your home
• How to introduce a new puppy to your dog