Welcoming a new puppy into your family is such an exciting time in your life and one you will not easily forget.

You’ve prepared carefully for this moment, from finding the perfect bed, toys, veterinarian, down to where they can go for daycare when you’re away for work.  Now you have to find the perfect food but how much should you be feeding?

It is important for your puppy to grow at a healthy rate so that they don’t become underweight or overweight by the time they reach adulthood.  Different breeds will have different rates of growth but a good guideline is for your puppy to reach about 50% of its adult weight between 4 to 5 months of age.  Smaller breed dogs should be expected to reach their full adult weight at around 12 to 15 months and larger breed dogs at around 18 to 21 months.

A rough guideline for frequency of feeding can be the following:

8 weeks to 4 months old – Feed every 4 hours in a 16 hour day = 4 times daily, then gradually wean down to 3 times a day

4 months to 6 months old – Reduced to 2 times a day

After 6 months old – can be 1 to 2 times a day

Remember, tailoring your diet plan to your puppy can be done with the help of your veterinarian.  They can help you assess the puppy’s current body condition and calculate feeding amounts and change it accordingly.