Puppy feeding schedule by age: from 8 weeks to 12 months
New puppy owners tend to overthink feeding. I get it. You've got this tiny creature who depends entirely on you, and the internet is full of contradictory advice about how often to feed, what to feed, and how much. Let me walk through what actually works, broken down by age.
The basics: why puppies eat differently than adults
Puppies burn through calories at a wild rate. A growing puppy needs about twice the calories per pound that an adult dog of the same breed will need. Their stomachs are also small relative to their calorie requirements, which is why you can't just give a puppy one big meal and call it a day. They need multiple smaller meals spread throughout the day.
Puppy food exists for a reason. It's more calorie-dense than adult food and has different calcium-to-phosphorus ratios to support bone development. Feeding adult food to a puppy means they'd need to eat a physically uncomfortable volume to meet their calorie needs.
8 to 12 weeks: four meals a day
When you first bring a puppy home (usually around 8 weeks), feed four meals a day. Space them out roughly evenly, something like 7 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM.
Portion sizes at this age are surprisingly small. A typical 10-pound puppy needs about 500-600 calories per day, split across those four meals. That might be a quarter cup of kibble per meal, depending on the brand's calorie density.
One thing that tripped me up with my first puppy: they sometimes skip meals. That's usually fine at this age, especially in the first few days when everything is new and overwhelming. If they skip more than two meals in a row, call your vet.
3 to 6 months: three meals a day
Around 12 weeks, you can drop to three meals. Most puppies handle this transition without any fuss. You'll notice they're eating more enthusiastically at each meal since they're hungrier.
This is the fastest growth phase for most breeds. Your puppy might double their weight in this window, and portions should increase accordingly. Weigh your puppy weekly and adjust. Don't just eyeball it.
A 20-pound puppy at 4 months might need 800-1,000 calories daily. By 6 months, if they're 35 pounds, you're looking at 1,200-1,400 calories. These numbers vary a lot by breed, so use them as rough starting points.
| Age | Meals/day | Example schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 8-12 weeks | 4 | 7 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, 7 PM |
| 3-6 months | 3 | 7 AM, 12 PM, 6 PM |
| 6-12 months | 2 | 7 AM, 6 PM |
| 12+ months | 2 (or 1 for some) | 7 AM, 6 PM |
6 to 12 months: two meals a day
Most puppies can move to twice-daily feeding around 6 months. Some smaller breeds are ready a bit earlier, some giant breeds do better staying on three meals until 8 or 9 months. Watch your individual dog. If they seem ravenous or have low energy between meals on two feedings, keep the third meal a while longer.
Growth slows down in this period but doesn't stop. Large and giant breeds (Great Danes, Mastiffs, etc.) keep growing well past 12 months. Small breeds like Chihuahuas are often at adult size by 9 or 10 months.
The large breed problem
This deserves its own section because people get it wrong a lot. Large breed puppies (expected adult weight over 50 pounds) need controlled growth. Growing too fast causes skeletal problems, specifically a condition called developmental orthopedic disease.
The fix isn't to underfeed them. It's to feed a large-breed puppy formula, which has lower calcium levels and controlled calorie density. Regular puppy food gives these dogs too much calcium, which messes with cartilage development in ways that can cause lifelong joint issues.
If you have a lab, golden, shepherd, or any breed that'll be over 50 pounds as an adult, make sure the bag says "large breed puppy" specifically.
When to switch to adult food
General rule: switch when the dog reaches about 80% of expected adult weight. For most small and medium breeds, that's 9-12 months. For large breeds, 12-15 months. For giant breeds, sometimes 18-24 months.
Do the switch gradually over 7-10 days. Start with 25% new food mixed with 75% puppy food, and shift the ratio every couple of days. Sudden switches cause digestive upset, which is unpleasant for everyone involved.
Mistakes I see all the time
Free feeding (leaving food out all day) is the biggest one. It makes it impossible to track how much your puppy is eating, and puppies with unlimited food access tend to overeat. Measure portions. Put the food down for 15-20 minutes, then pick it up whether they've finished or not. They'll learn the schedule quickly.
Second most common mistake: too many treats during training. Training treats should be tiny, like pea-sized. A lot of people use full-size biscuits as training rewards and then wonder why their puppy has diarrhea and is gaining weight too fast.
Third: not adjusting portions as the puppy grows. If you're feeding the same amount at 6 months as you were at 3 months, something's off. Weekly weigh-ins take 30 seconds and keep you on track.
Not sure how many calories your puppy needs right now? Our feeding calculator adjusts for age, breed size, and growth rate.
A note on water
Fresh water should be available all the time except possibly right before bed if you're still housetraining. Some people restrict water thinking it helps with house training, but dehydrated puppies are a real veterinary concern. Just pick up the water bowl an hour before the last bathroom trip of the night and leave it out the rest of the day.