The Ultimate Puppy Feeding Chart

Puppies are one of the world’s cutest creatures. They’re pudgy, cuddly, and playful. But puppies are so much more than simply adorable. They require a great deal of attention, time, and care. One aspect of puppy-rearing that can be quite confusing is diet. Our puppy feeding chart and guide will help you navigate the bewilderment of puppy feeding.

Puppy Needs Vs Adult Dog Needs

Would you try to feed a 3-month old human pizza for dinner instead of milk? How about an omelet for breakfast rather than a bottle? Of course not! You would never even consider feeding a baby regular food rather than milk or formula because she won’t be able to eat it safely, digest it easily, or receive the nutrition she needs.

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Puppies are no different. Puppies require vastly different foods, nutritional requirements, and calorie requirements than adult dogs. Your puppy’s body is working incredibly hard as she matures. In order for her body to grow and her organs to develop properly, she needs far more than run-of-the-mill adult dog food. Her tiny mouth necessitates small morsels that she can safely chew, swallow, and digest. Your pup is at risk of choking on anything that’s not meant specifically for a little one to eat or chew. Because she needs to put on weight and play often, she should eat high-calorie food. What’s more, your puppy’s fragile organs need more amino acids, fat, and protein than an adult needs. If she doesn’t eat a wholesome diet tailored to her needs as a baby, she could face preventable health issues later on in life. (1)

How Often to Feed Your Puppy

For people who have older, larger dogs, feeding is pretty straightforward. Dogs like this eat 1-2 meals a day, and that seems to sustain them well.
However, feeding a puppy requires significantly more planning and preparation. In order to give your puppy a routine and help her body maintain regularity, it’s necessary to develop a feeding schedule for her.

Typically, puppies eat three meals a day. You can sync them with your own if you’re a regular diner. For example, if you generally eat breakfast at 8 am, lunch at noon, and dinner at 6 pm, she can follow that schedule, too. What’s important is that she eats at regular intervals so that her bowel movements and potty training schedule become regular. Feeding her at set times also allows her to have some predictability in her life. If you only feed your puppy once a day, she might not be getting sufficient calories or nutrients. Her energy and immune system could suffer as a result. (2)

Feeding Chart – By Size and Age

There are many things to consider when deciding how much food to serve your furbaby. It’s important to note that different breeds have different calorie requirements. Toy breeds require far fewer calories than Great Danes, for example. Be mindful of your dog’s breed as you decide how much to feed her.
An important trick when determining your puppy’s daily feeding amount is to first determine how much you think she will weigh as an adult. If you have a pure breed or know the breeds that mixed to make your puppy, this will be easy to do. If you don’t know what breed your puppy is, have your vet give you her best guess or have your puppy’s DNA tested. Once you determine her average adult weight, then you can follow these guidelines.
It is important to understand that the amount and calorie-intake we display here are over a 24-hour period. If you feed your puppy three times a day, simply divide the amount by three, and feed her ⅓ at each meal. If you feed your dog twice a day, divide in half. (3)

Toy Breed (3-12 pounds at adult weight): ½-1 cup
Small Breed (13-20 pounds at adult weight): 1 ¼ – 2 cups
Medium Breed (21-50 pounds at adult weight): 1-4 cups (1 cup at 1-3 months, 2-4 cups at 3-6 months, 4-6 cups after 6 months)
Large Breed (51-100 pounds): 1-6 cups (1 cup at 1-3 months, 3-5 cups at 3-6 months, 4-6 cups at 6-12 months)

Additional Considerations

You may notice that the range in cup numbers varies quite a bit. That’s because puppies are so diverse. As a puppy parent, you will need to know your individual pup well and be as objective as possible about her weight and health. If your puppy is underweight., she should be eating more calories each day. If your furbaby is a bit pudgy or downright overweight, she will require fewer cups per day. (4)

Types of Food

All foods are not created equal. You know the difference between French fries and broccoli. You understand that one of those foods will cause unpleasant side effects, while the other will benefit your health. Dog food is just as varied as human food, so choosing a brand that’s wholesome rather than doggy junk food, is imperative. This is particularly important during puppyhood and early adulthood.

Many store brands of dog food are filled with highly processed ingredients, cooking out the essential ingredients your dog needs. When analyzing store-brand dog food labels, many times, you won’t even recognize the ingredients because they’re so unusual and unnatural!

However, many health-conscious pet-parents are now turning to freeze-dried and dehydrated raw dog food. Crafted from simple, nutrient-rich ingredients, TruDog’s premium raw food is made from quality cuts of raw meat. There are never any artificial flavors, coloring, or fillers in TruDog premium dog food. In fact, you won’t even find common allergens like wheat, soy, gluten, or corn in TruDog’s dog food. When you feed your dog a wholesome diet like Lamb and Cranberry Rawgo Dehydrated Raw Dog Food, for example, you are supporting your furbaby’s healthy gums, digestion, and overall health.

Your Puppy is Depending on You

When you brought your puppy home, you made a lifelong commitment to keep her safe and healthy her entire life. Feeding her well is essential to her wellbeing. Now that you know how much to feed your precious pup and what types of food to give her, you’re prepared to care even better for her.
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