Best Feeding Schedule for Puppies (By Age)
Getting your puppy on a consistent feeding schedule is one of the most important things you can do in those first few months. A regular schedule helps with housetraining (predictable eating means predictable bathroom breaks), reduces anxiety, and prevents the dreaded puppy food guarding.
Recommended feeding schedule by age
| Age | Meals Per Day | Suggested Times | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-8 weeks | 4 | 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm | Small, frequent meals; still transitioning from mother's milk |
| 8-12 weeks | 3-4 | 7am, 12pm, 5pm (+ 9pm optional) | Drop 4th meal when puppy leaves some food |
| 3-6 months | 3 | 7am, 12pm, 5:30pm | Most puppies do well on 3 meals through this stage |
| 6-12 months | 2 | 7am, 5:30pm | Transition to twice daily; some large breeds stay on 3 |
| 12+ months | 2 | 7am, 5:30pm | Most adult dogs thrive on twice-daily feeding |
Why consistency matters
Dogs are creatures of habit, and puppies especially thrive on routine. Feed at the same times every day — within a 30-minute window is fine, but don't be wildly inconsistent. A puppy that eats at 7am one day and 10am the next will have unpredictable energy levels and bathroom habits.
Put the food down for 15-20 minutes. If the puppy walks away, pick the bowl up. No free-feeding. This teaches your puppy to eat when food is offered and prevents them from becoming picky eaters or overeaters.
When to drop a meal
The transition from 4 to 3 meals (around 8-12 weeks) and from 3 to 2 meals (around 6 months) should happen naturally. Signs your puppy is ready to drop a meal:
- Consistently leaving food in the bowl at one meal
- Showing less enthusiasm for the smallest meal
- Maintaining steady weight gain on the growth curve
When you drop a meal, redistribute that food across the remaining meals. The total daily amount stays roughly the same — you're just dividing it fewer ways.
What about treats?
Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories. For a puppy eating 800 calories a day, that's 80 calories in treats — roughly 4-5 small training treats. Subtract treat calories from meal portions to avoid overfeeding. Training sessions are great for puppies, but don't forget to account for those calories.
Large breed vs. small breed schedules
Large and giant breed puppies (expected adult weight over 50 lbs) often benefit from staying on 3 meals a day until 9-12 months rather than switching to 2 at 6 months. Their rapid growth requires more consistent energy delivery. Small breed puppies, on the other hand, may be prone to hypoglycemia and benefit from the 4-meal schedule slightly longer.
For breed-specific portion sizes, try our feeding calculator.
Get personalized feeding amounts → Feeding Calculator