Puppy feeding chart: how much and how often to feed your puppy

How many times a day should a puppy eat?

Puppies eat little and often, then move to fewer, bigger meals as they grow. The American Kennel Club's feeding timeline sets out the steps:

The drop from four meals to three can happen any time between 3 and 6 months. A puppy should be losing its potbelly by about 12 weeks; if yours is still round at that age, the AKC suggests keeping portions puppy-sized until its body matures.

How much food does a puppy need?

Growing takes a lot of energy. The Merck Veterinary Manual puts puppies under 4 months at three times their resting energy requirement (RER), and puppies over 4 months at twice their RER, until they are fully grown.

Puppy calories = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 × 3 (under 4 months) or × 2 (4 months and older)

The calculation uses the puppy's weight today, which is why you need to weigh it often: the right amount at 10 weeks will be far too little at 16 weeks. The table shows daily calories and cups for an example puppy food with 400 kcal per cup.

These are starting points. Needs fall as a puppy gets close to its adult size, so a puppy that is nearly grown may need less than the "twice RER" figure. As the AKC puts it, watch the dog, not the dish: adjust the amount so you can feel the ribs easily and see a waist.

Sample puppy feeding schedule

Spread the meals evenly through the day. If the first meal is at 7 am and the last at 7 pm, the timings work out like this (the calculator lets you set your own first and last meal):

If you are house training, the puppy potty schedule and puppy sleep schedule fit around these meals.

When should a puppy switch to adult food?

According to the AKC, small-breed puppies can move to adult food at 7 to 9 months, while larger breeds stay on puppy food until 12, 13 or even 14 months. If in doubt, a little too long on puppy food is better than switching too early. The calculator uses your puppy's expected adult weight to pick the right window. When the time comes, change foods gradually over about a week; the food transition schedule gives you a dated day-by-day plan, and the dog feeding calculator takes over for adult portions.

Feeding large and giant breed puppies

Big puppies need the most care. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that large and giant breeds have the highest risk of growth problems, so the calcium in their food matters: choose a puppy food formulated to AAFCO standards for large-breed growth. VCA also says that moderate energy restriction during growth can lower the risk of hip dysplasia, and that leaving food out all day increases the chance of excess body fat and skeletal problems. Measured meals and a lean puppy are the goal.

Toy breed puppies and low blood sugar

At the other end of the scale, very young or very small puppies can develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially young toy-breed puppies. The AKC recommends small, frequent meals as directed by your vet. Watch for extreme tiredness, wobbliness, collapse or seizures. Rubbing a little honey or light corn syrup on the gums can buy time in a puppy that is still conscious, but it only helps briefly: take the puppy to a vet straight away.