Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time, filled with planning and preparation. Among the most important aspects to consider is your puppy's diet. This guide provides essential information on feeding your 8-week-old puppy, ensuring they receive the proper nutrition for healthy growth and development.
Puppy Needs
Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. Because they are growing so rapidly, they need more calories, fat, and minerals from their food. That is why puppies shouldn’t be given adult dog food for their regular diet.
Quality of Food
The quality of the food you feed matters. Poor-quality foods tend to have a lot of "fillers" and not a lot of nutrition, which your puppy desperately needs. Consequently, your puppy will probably end up eating more of the poor-quality food to make up for the lack, and you won’t be saving any money in the long run.
How Many Meals a Day?
An 8-week-old puppy should be eating 3-4 meals per day. The amount of food will vary depending on the size and breed of your puppy. Toy or miniature puppies will have different nutritional needs than medium and large breeds. A more active puppy will need more food than a less active one because they burn more calories. Generally speaking, toy and miniature breed puppies should have 3-4 meals per day, while medium and large breed puppies should have 2-3 meals per day. However, this is just a general guideline. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best feeding schedule for your individual puppy. As well, the amount of daily feedings will change as the puppy grows.
Feeding Schedule
Establishing a puppy feeding schedule will benefit you and your new pet for months and years to come. Dogs (and puppies) are creatures of habit, and helping them establish a routine with their feeding (and all parts of their life generally) will help them to become more consistent in their potty time. That, in turn, will help make potty training much easier and faster!
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While each puppy is different, it can be helpful to get a general idea of a feeding schedule according to your dog's age. So, let's check out different schedules starting with 8-week-old puppies! These breakdowns will help you make sense of how many times you should feed your puppy.
Once your puppy has been weaned off of their mother’s milk (around 8 weeks), you can start feeding them soft or wet puppy foods like canned or dehydrated dog foods. You won’t want to start feeding your pup any dry foods until they are at least 9-10 weeks old. At such a young stage in their life, puppies are growing like crazy! In this early stage of their life, you’ll want to feed them 3-4 times per day.
Here is an example of a puppy feeding chart and schedule for 8-12 week old pups. Not only will this schedule help with creating a feeding routine, but it will help you work on crate and potty training.
| Age | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks old | 7 AM (⅓ daily kcals) | noon (⅓ daily kcals) | 5 PM (⅓ daily kcals) |
| 12 weeks old | 7 AM (½ daily kcals) | 5 PM (½ daily kcals) |
Dry vs. Wet Puppy Food
Although dry kibble is a popular choice, it’s not the only option. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy foods. This can make it harder to decide what to feed your puppy. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence. You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option.
Wet food is generally softer in texture and can be easier to help wean puppies off their mother's milk and onto a more solid formula. For those puppies with smaller mouths, feeding wet food can be easier for them to chew. Wet food also has a higher meaty aroma than dry food, and for those fussy puppies who might be a little stubborn, the smell of wet food can help entice fussy eaters to get those nutrients into their bodies. Wet food also has a higher moisture content, which can benefit urinary health and help with hydration. However, due to this higher moisture content, more wet food is generally needed to be fed compared to its dry food equivalent.
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Dry food on its own provides all of the necessary nutrients your puppy requires. It also helps maintain dental health through the crunching of the kibble itself.
What to Feed
When puppies first begin weaning and still occasionally nurse off their mother, you should serve commercial-grade kibble softened with a bit of water. By four months old, they should be completely transitioned to a high-quality kibble formulated for puppies.
Puppy Nutrition
Puppies need puppy food. Feeding puppies a complete and balanced puppy food ensures they get the proper nutrition to develop and grow into healthy adult dogs. Puppy foods are formulated with a balance of nutrients to help puppies grow up healthy and happy. Look for formulas rich in high-quality proteins to support their growing bodies. Fat and carbohydrates supply the energy active and playful puppies need, while calcium supports developing teeth and bones and DHA helps support healthy brain and vision development.
Newly weaned puppies (puppies who have recently stopped drinking their mother’s milk) require the most protein. To support their growing bones, puppies need more calcium and phosphorus than adult dogs. Puppies can develop copper deficiency if it isn’t in their food. A puppy’s digestive tract is still maturing, so their food should be highly digestible to reduce gastrointestinal discomfort or upset. Arginine, an amino acid, is essential for puppies, meaning that their bodies cannot make it on their own.
Feeding Puppies Large & Small
Not only do puppies need puppy food, but certain breed sizes can benefit from size-specific formulas. If you have a large breed puppy, he may benefit from a large breed-specific puppy formula. Small breeds can also benefit from small breed-specific puppy formulas. Regardless of breed size, the food should be complete and balanced for growing puppies.
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The difference in formulas comes down to the unique needs of large and small breeds. Large dogs have a higher risk of developing joint problems, so a large breed puppy food should include proper levels of nutrients to support their healthy growth and development.
Small breeds may prefer smaller kibble so they can more easily chew their food, which helps ensure they get all the nutrients they need. Small breed-specific dog food is important due to their increased metabolism. This results in a nutrient-dense, high-energy formula which adults and puppies need to support a healthy lifestyle.
How Much to Feed
One of the most important aspects of a growing puppy is identifying how much food they need to be fed while they are growing. The best way to do this is to understand how to read a puppy feeding guide on the package of your puppy food. Most puppy feeding guides will be based on the estimated adult weight of your puppy and not their current weight. As we now know that different size puppies have different nutritional needs, this will enable us to ensure our puppy is getting the correct calorie requirements suited for their breed and size. The estimated adult weight can be based on a variety of factors, including the sex of your puppy, genetics, and breed. If you are unsure of your puppy's estimated adult weight, you can reach out to your breeder or your veterinarian, who can do a general body condition score.
Free Feeding vs. Feeding on a Schedule
Free feeding might sound convenient, but it is recommended to start your puppy on a scheduled feeding routine for a few reasons: First, it’s a good idea to monitor your puppy’s food intake and weight, especially as they are transitioning into life in your home. You can also prevent obesity by feeding on a schedule because a lot of puppies will gobble down any food that’s available whether they are hungry or not. Second, feeding on a schedule helps potty training! Puppies almost always need to relieve themselves shortly after eating and drinking. It’s like clockwork! That predictability gives you a wonderful opportunity to take your puppy outside for some successful potty trips!
Puppy Feeding Chart
The puppy feeding chart is a starting point to help you determine how much dry kibble to feed your puppy. Consult the puppy food package for more specific feeding instructions or talk with your veterinarian.
| Weight at Maturity (lbs) | Weight at Maturity (kg) | 1-1/2 to 3 Months (cups) | 4 to 5 Months (cups) | 6 to 8 Months (cups) | 9 to 11 Months (cups) | 1 to 2 Years (cups) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 12 | 1.4 to 5.4 | 1/2 to 1 | 2/3 to 1-1/3 | 1/2 to 1-1/2 | Feed as Adult | Feed as Adult |
| 13 to 20 | 5.9 to 9.1 | 1/2 to 1-1/4 | 1-1/8 to 2 | 3/4 to 1-1/3 | 1 to 1-1/2 | Feed as Adult |
| 21 to 50 | 9.5 to 22.7 | 1/2 to 1-1/2 | 1-1/2 to 2-3/4 | 1-1/8 to 2-1/3 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 4-1/4 |
| 51 to 75 | 23.1 to 34.0 | 5/8 to 2-1/3 | 1-1/2 to 4 | 1-1/2 to 3-3/4 | 2-1/2 to 4-3/4 | 2-5/8 to 6-1/4 |
| 76 to 100 | 34.5 to 45.4 | 1 to 2-2/3 | 2-7/8 to 3-3/4 | 2-7/8 to 6-1/3 | 3-7/8 to 7 | 5-5/8 to 11 |
| 101 lbs and over | Over 45.4 kg | 2-2/3 cups plus 1/3 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs | 3-3/4 cups plus 1/3 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs | 6-1/3 cups plus 1/3 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs | 7 cups plus 1/3 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs | 11 cups plus 1/3 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs |
These are generic recommendations only. Please check the package for product-specific feeding recommendations. It is important to avoid overfeeding puppies, as maintaining ideal body condition is key to encouraging proper growth in all puppies, especially large breeds. The indicated amounts are only a guideline. If your puppy becomes overweight, a reduction of your puppy’s daily food intake may be appropriate. As puppies near adulthood, their calorie needs may drop, and your puppy may begin leaving some food in the bowl. Don't misinterpret this as an indication of dislike for the food. Instead, begin offering less so your puppy doesn't overeat and stays in ideal body condition. You may wish to consult your veterinarian about a weight control program.
How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?
As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to feed a puppy about five to six percent of his or her estimated body weight in adulthood each day. As they get older, the amount of food should be reduced to two to three percent of their body weight in accordance with their nutritional needs.
- Growing puppies: 5-6% of their predicted weight in adulthood
- Underweight or high-energy dogs: 3% of their body weight
- Overweight dogs: 2% of their body weight
If you're not sure about how much food to give a puppy, you can calculate the ideal amount in a few simple steps. First, measure how much your dog weighs in pounds. Then, multiply that number by 16 to calculate their weight in ounces. Finally, find 5 to 6 percent of that value to see how much food to give your puppy.
Keep in mind that the amount of food your puppy needs will depend on its weight at maturity, so larger dogs will require more food when they’re young. All puppies are different, so if you have any questions or concerns regarding your puppy’s diet, be sure to talk to your vet.
How Many Calories Should My Puppy Eat?
Like all living beings, dogs need a certain amount of calories to perform vital bodily functions. This is called their "resting energy requirement" (RER), expressed as kilocalories (kcals). Vets use a specific formula to calculate a dog's RER:
Resting Energy Requirement (kcals) = (70 x Bodyweight in kg)0.75
To calculate the target number of calories for a puppy, adjust the formula as follows:
- From birth to half-mature weight: RER x 2.2
- From half-mature weight to full maturity: RER x 1.5
The output of this calculation shows you how many kcals your pet needs to satisfy their RER on a daily basis. Use it to determine how much food to give your puppy based on the number of kcals per cup or per ounce, as indicated on the nutrition label of the kibble. You can also refer to the manufacturer's recommended serving sizes, which can vary by formula.
Puppy food is usually higher in calories and protein because they require more energy to fuel their growth in development, especially during the first five months of life. In fact, young puppies need double the amount of food as an adult dog of the same size just to move, grow, and digest food!
Supplements
You might buy the highest quality puppy food on the market, but there are some important nutrients that are almost never included in dry dog food. To fill that void, you can add supplements to your puppy’s daily meal routine to help strengthen their immune system, promote a healthy skin and coat, reduce itching and scratching, support ear and eye health, and improve digestion.
Treats
Treats are fun to give and useful for training, but we have to tread carefully and not give too many. Treats typically don’t provide the balanced nutrition that a puppy needs for healthy growth, unlike their puppy food. So, as a rule, puppies shouldn’t get more than 10% of their daily calories from treats. For the treats you do give your puppy for training, aim for something small and soft so they can chew it quickly. Safe “human food” treats are: Watermelon, Carrot slices, Green beans, Salmon, Broccoli florets, Berries, Apple slices, Popcorn, Banana slices, Rice cakes, Scrambled eggs, Cooked chicken (no bones), Cheese, and Yogurt.
If you are going to buy puppy training treats from the store, look for treats with simple, minimal ingredients, soft and chewy, and the stinkier the better!
Other Rewards
You don’t always have to use treats as rewards for training. Sometimes some enthusiastic praise, a good belly rub, or a game of fetch are satisfying enough for your puppy to count as a reward for good behavior.
Foods to Avoid
We all know chocolate isn’t good for dogs, but did you know that grapes, macadamia nuts, and raisins aren’t good for them? It’s important to avoid giving your dog the below foods:
- Alcohol
- Artificial sweetener (Xylitol)
- Avocado
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Cooked and uncooked Bones
- Corn on the cob
- Grapes and Raisins
- Garlic
- Fruit Pits and Seeds
- Macadamia nuts
- Onions
- Yeast Dough
If you feel as though your puppy had ingested any of these ingredients, call your veterinarian right away.
Changing Foods
Most people know this, but I feel we should cover it anyway. If you want to change the type of food you are giving your puppy (either to a different brand or a different blend within the same brand family), always do so gradually. Gradually changing your puppy’s food will help prevent digestive issues like diarrhea (which is awful when you are potty training!). We recommend changing the food gradually over 7 days. Start by giving a little of the new food and a lot of the old food. The next day give a little more of the new food and a little less of the old food.
Here is an example of how to switch your puppy's food:
- Day 1: 25% new diet and 75% old diet.
- Day 3: 50% new diet and 50% old diet.
- Day 5: 75% new diet and 25% old diet.
- Day 7: 100% new diet.
Preventing Bloating and Gas
One of the most common problems when feeding puppies is bloating and gas. This can be caused by several things, including feeding them too much at one time, not getting them to chew their food properly, or feeding them food that's not easy to digest.
Here are some tips to help prevent bloating and gas in puppies:
- Feed smaller meals more often. This will help prevent your puppy from overeating and will also help their digestive system break down the food better.
- Get your puppy to chew their food well. This may take some patience on your part, but it's important to get them to really chew their kibble so that it's easier for their stomach to digest. You can use a slow feeder to help with this.
- Choose a high-quality dry dog food that's easy to digest. For puppies that are too young or too small to chew dry dog food well, look for a food that is highly digestible and has little or no fillers. Puppies have sensitive stomachs, so it's also important to avoid foods that are high in fat or contain artificial preservatives.
- Make sure they are getting enough water. A good rule of thumb is to give them one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. Clean, fresh water should always be available for your puppy and it should not be in a plastic bowl.
Establishing Good Habits
Setting boundaries for your puppy at a young age will hopefully help to limit unwanted behavior as they get older in life. Set the ground rules from day one. Generally, we would not advise giving your puppy table scraps while you’re sitting at the dining table. This can lead to begging behavior and the expectation that when you are sitting down your puppy will get food. The added leftovers will also add to your puppy's daily calorie count and can increase weight gain.
- Consistent meal times help create consistent potty times!
- Being able to monitor your pup’s appetite can help you notice any changes that might be caused by health problems.
- Meal manners are important for multi-dog homes or if you ever want to have other pups visit.
- Whether you have a multi-dog home or not, your dog learning not to be protective of their food is a vital skill for them to possess.
- Helps to keep away ants, mice, or other unwanted pests.
- Mealtime can double as training time!
Transitioning to Adult Food
Dogs should eat food specially formulated for puppies' developmental needs until they stop growing, which usually takes between 10 and 18 months depending on the size of their breed. Smaller breeds tend to mature more quickly, sometimes as early as 10 months old. Medium-sized dog breeds weighing between 30 and 60 pounds mature between 12 to 16 months old, while large breeds may require 18 months. Given this longer growth period, it's crucial to provide appropriate nutrition, such as specialized dog food for large breed puppies. Giant breeds can continue growing for over two years.
| Size | Age |
|---|---|
| Small Dog Breeds | 10-12 mo |
| Medium Dog Breeds | 12-16 mo |
| Large Dog Breeds | 16-18 mo |
| Giant Dog Breeds | 18-24 mo |
Some vets may recommend switching from puppy food to adult dog food after your pet is spayed or neutered, which also occurs around this time, thereby lowering your pet's energy requirement.
Benefits of Proper Nutrition
The decisions you make about your puppy’s nutrition will affect his growth, development, and even his behavior. Feeding your puppy a high-quality, complete, and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog. A great diet with proper nutrition and supplements will keep your puppy healthy and happy, which is absolutely invaluable.