Puppy Feeding Guidance

1. Weaning Stage:
Up to 8 weeks: Puppies usually start with their mother’s milk. If not possible, use a high-quality puppy milk replacer.

8 weeks onward: Transition to a nutritious and well-balanced complete food that is suitable for Puppies. Follow the feeding guidelines on the packaging to transition slowly. If you are feeding dry food, you may wish to soak the kibble in warm water at these early stages to soften it slightly.

2. Choosing the Right Complete Food:
There are many brands and recipes that are labelled ‘Puppy Food’. Puppy foods tend to be higher in Calcium, Phosphorous and Protein levels than adult foods as these nutrients and minerals aid their growth. Unfortunately, many foods that are labelled as ‘Puppy Food’ still do not contain anywhere near the levels of Protein that a dog should naturally be consuming. Therefore, it is important to choose a high-quality food that is suitable for all life stages, such as an 80/20 food or better which should contain higher Protein levels; essential for puppy development. An 80/20 food is one that contains a minimum of 80% animal ingredient and ideally a minimum of 35% protein if it is a dry food.

3. Frequency:
Up to 3 months: 4 meals a day.
3 to 6 months: 3 meals a day.
6 to 12 months: 2 meals a day.
Ultimately 1 meal per day would be the most natural way to feed a dog, as their digestive system is not designed to be eating complete meals so frequently. We recommend changing the times of day that you feed your dog, so they do not get into a routine and habit of demanding food at the same time every day.

4. Portion control:
Use the feeding guidelines on the packaging as a starting point, but always start of on the low end of the recommendation to avoid overfeeding. Consult with the food manufacturer if you have and queries over how much to feed. Check if the food you have chosen is classified as being for ‘working dogs’. If this is the case, you may need to reduce your feeding quantities further from those found on the packaging – since these quantities will typically be targeting more active dogs.

5. Monitor weight and adjust portions:
Regularly weigh your puppy. Adjust portions based on your puppy’s growth, activity level, and overall condition. They may go through periods where they appear underweight or overweight, as their frame goes through varied rates of growth. If you have any concerns due to this, you should seek advice from the food manufacturer to double check your feeding quantities based on your dog and their lifestyle.
If you imagine feeding quantities displayed on a graph, it will typically move in a wave shape throughout the first 12 months or so. Below is an example of what the feeding quantities might look like for a Cocker Spaniel with an expected adult weight of 14kg, being fed Bentley’s Taste of the Ocean:
2-6 months – 160gm per day
6-9 months – 260gm per day
9-12 months – Gradually reduce to 150gm per day by adult age/development
Any of the above changes should be made gradually, to avoid any potential digestive issues.

6. Water:
Always provide fresh, clean water.

7. Treats:
Use treats sparingly, especially during the early stages of puppyhood. This helps to eliminate any possible causes if your dog has an upset stomach. You may consider using a portion of your puppy’s daily food as treats during training. Only use healthy, natural grain free treats. Many of these can be just one single ingredient such as White Fish Jerky, which will be very low in fat and offer great health benefits such as teeth cleaning if used on a regular basis.

8. Teeth Cleaning:
Following the previous point, teeth cleaning is very important from a young age. The sooner you can get your puppy used to having you in and around their mouth the better. If you regularly brush their teeth, it can save them undergoing anaesthetic for dental work at the Vets later in life and helps to avoid other health issues.

9. Avoid dangerous foods:
Some human foods are toxic to dogs. Ensure your puppy doesn’t have access to these. We will leave a list of human foods to avoid below, but it will not include EVERYTHING. If you are thinking of giving a specific food, you should first research if it is safe to do so. Consider what foods are in your cupboards in case of any kitchen invasions while you are out of the house!
Avoid: Onions, garlic, chives, leeks, chocolate, macadamia nuts, corn on the cob, avocado, grapes and raisins, alcohol, unripe tomato, raw potato, blue cheese, cooked bones, milk & dairy, mushrooms, bread dough, sweets, ice cream, salt, Xylitol (artificial sweetener), tea/coffee, fatty meats such as bacon, cinnamon, medicines, seeds from apple, apricot, cherry & plum.

10. Special considerations:
Large and giant breeds may have specific nutritional needs; consult your food manufacturer to see if any changes should be made from the guidance on their packaging or website.