Overview
How much should I feed my puppy, and how often, is one of the most common questions new puppy owners ask. Getting your puppy's nutrition right is important for their development. During their rapid growth period, puppies need up to twice the calories of adult dogs of the same breed. This guide will help you understand feeding schedules and portion sizes for your puppy.
Puppy feeding chart
How many calories does a puppy need?
Brand-specific puppy feeding guides
Top puppy diet tips
How often to feed a puppy
Monitoring your puppy's weight
Common puppy diet questions
What does the science say about feeding puppies?
Merck Veterinary Manual, 2021. Feeding Growing Puppies. [online] Available at: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/feeding-growing-puppies
Case, L.P., Daristotle, L., Hayek, M.G. and Raasch, M.F., 2011. Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals. 3rd ed. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Freeman, L.M., Chandler, M.L., Hamper, B.A. and Weeth, L.P., 2013. Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat–based diets for dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 243(11), pp.1549-1558. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.243.11.1549
Merck Veterinary Manual, 2021. Feeding Growing Puppies. [online] Available at: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/feeding-growing-puppies
WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, 2013. Global Nutrition Guidelines. [pdf] World Small Animal Veterinary Association. https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines
National Research Council (NRC), 2006. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-and-cats
Royal Canin, 2025. Giant Puppy Feeding Guide. [online] Available at: https://www.royalcanin.com/uk/dogs/products/retail-products/giant-puppy-dry
The Waltham Petcare Science Institute, 2023. Puppy Growth Charts. [online] Available at: https://www.waltham.com/resources/puppy-growth-charts
WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association), 2019. Body Condition Scoring for Dogs and Cats. [pdf] https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Body-Condition-Score-Dog.pdf
Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA), 2023. Feeding Your Puppy. [online] https://www.pfma.org.uk/puppy-feeding
Hall, J.A., 2021. Feeding growing large breed puppies: What makes them different? Veterinary Focus, 31(2), pp.10–17. [Royal Canin Scientific Publications].
Nestlé Purina. (n.d.) How much should I feed my puppy? [online] Available at: https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/puppy/feeding/how-much-to-feed-a-puppy-chart
Hill’s Pet Nutrition. (n.d.) Feeding puppies: How much, how often & when to stop [online] Available at: https://www.hillspet.co.uk/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/feeding-puppies
Royal Canin. (n.d.) Puppy feeding and nutrition [online] Available at: https://www.royalcanin.com/uk/dogs/puppy/puppy-feeding-and-nutrition
Scrumbles. (n.d.) How much to feed a puppy chart UK [online] Available at: https://scrumbles.co.uk/blogs/dog/how-much-to-feed-a-puppy-chart-uk
Nature’s Range. (n.d.) Puppy food [online] Available at: https://www.naturesrangepetfood.co.uk/dog-food/puppy
Larsen, J.A., Parks, E.M., Heinze, C.R., Fascetti, A.J. and Rollins, C.E., 2013. Evaluation of recipes of home-prepared maintenance diets for dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 242(11), pp.1500–1505. Available at: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/242/11/javma.242.11.1500.xml
Ferro, S., Gizzarelli, M., Giovannini, A., Luciani, A., Iacopetti, I., Ferlito, R., Stabile, F., Mancusi, C., D’Addio, L. and Dall’Aglio, M., 2023. Evaluation of the Nutrient Composition and Essential Fatty Acid Content of Commercial Wet and Dry Puppy Foods. Applied Sciences, 13(21), p.11791. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/21/11791
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Published on 30/09/2020 • Reviewed on 30/04/2025