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Feeding Puppies and Dogs by Age

What a dog needs from its food changes as it grows, from fast-growing puppy to settled adult to older dog. This guide covers the basics at each stage. Your vet can tailor advice to your dog's breed, size and health.

Choose a Complete Food for the Right Life Stage

Pick a commercial food that is labeled complete, which means it contains all the nutrients a dog needs in the right amounts. In the US, look for a nutritional adequacy statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the label. Choose a food made for your dog's life stage, such as puppy, adult or senior. Homemade diets are very hard to get right, so if you want to feed one, do it with your vet's guidance.

Use the feeding guide on the pack as a starting point, then adjust to keep your dog at a healthy weight. Weighing food on kitchen scales is more accurate than using a cup. If you give treats, reduce meals to make up for them. Make sure fresh, clean water is always available.

Meals a Day by Age

Stage Meals a day Food
Young puppy 3 to 4 small meals Puppy (growth) food
Older puppy, as growth slows Usually 2 to 3 meals Puppy food until fully grown
Adult Usually 2 meals Adult maintenance food
Senior Usually 2 meals Ask your vet whether to change food

Puppies have small stomachs and high energy needs, so they need their daily food split into several small meals. Small puppies and small dogs may need up to four meals a day. Most adult dogs do well on two equal meals a day. Smaller, more frequent meals mean less time feeling hungry and less gobbling.

Don't leave food out all day for puppies to help themselves. This free feeding can lead to obesity and bone or joint problems as they grow.

When to Switch to Adult Food

Keep feeding a food made for growth until your puppy has finished growing.

Adult size Fully grown at about Switch to adult food
Small and medium breeds 10 to 12 months Start mixing in adult food around 10 months, fully switched by about 12 months
Large breeds Up to about 18 months Large breed growth food until about 18 months
Giant breeds Up to about 24 months Large or giant breed growth food until about 24 months

Large Breed Puppies

Large and giant breed puppies, such as German Shepherds, Labradors and Golden Retrievers, need extra care. If they are overfed, their bodies may grow faster than their skeleton can keep up with, which can lead to bone and joint problems. Feed a food made for large breed puppies (in the US, one with an AAFCO statement for the growth of large dogs), measure portions carefully and keep them lean rather than chunky. Your vet can track their growth at puppy checkups.

Changing Food

When your puppy first comes home, keep feeding the food and routine they are used to while they settle in. If you want to change food later, do it gradually over a couple of weeks. A sudden change can cause an upset stomach or put a dog off eating.

Senior Dogs

Older dogs often do better on food that is easy to digest. Some owners move to a senior food at around half the dog's expected life span, which is often around seven years for small dogs and five for larger dogs. Weight gain in older dogs raises the risk of health problems, so keep checking their weight and talk to your vet about any change in appetite.

Foods That Are Dangerous for Dogs

Avoid feeding table scraps, which can cause weight gain and upset stomachs. Some human foods are dangerous for dogs, including:

If you think your dog has eaten something harmful, contact a vet or an animal poison helpline straight away.

See also Dog Age in Human Years, House Training and Dog Breeds.

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